Summer.
The setting sun plated the entire village in a layer of gold, and the air was filled with a dry heat.
Hokage Avenue, which had been completed not long ago, was bustling with people and activity.
On both sides of the road, the newly planted street trees had sprouted tender green branches, adding a touch of life to this "Konoha's No. 1 Road" personally supervised by Danzo.
At the end of the avenue, in front of a newly opened shop, the voices of people were even louder, and the aroma was overflowing, attracting almost half the pedestrians on the street.
On the shop's signboard, written in the bold calligraphy unique to the Akimichi clan, were four large characters that danced like dragons and phoenixes—"Akimichi Barbecue."
"Come, come, don't be shy! It's my treat today, eat as much as you want!"
In the most spacious private room of the shop, Akimichi Torifu's resonant voice was like thunder. He was bare-chested, wearing only a loincloth around his waist, his massive body taking up almost two seats.
While laying thick slices of pork belly on the grill with his hands, he warmly greeted the people present.
Sizzle—
As soon as the bright red meat slices touched the hot grill, they made an enticing sound. The rich aroma of meat mixed with the sweet scent of the secret sauce instantly filled the entire room.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat at the head of the table, looking at the lively scene before him, a rare relaxed smile on his face.
Since the end of the war, he had been like a fully wound spinning top, dealing with mountains of official duties every day. To be able to sit down with old friends and eat a meal peacefully like today was truly a luxury.
Sitting to his left was Shimura Danzo.
This former root of darkness, now an infrastructure maniac, still wore that unsmiling, gloomy look.
But as he watched the sizzling meat on the grill, his eyes also held a touch of worldly warmth.
Uchiha Kagami sat next to Danzo, his temperament gentle as jade, smiling as he poured sake for everyone.
Since the Hyuga problem was resolved last time, he seemed to have unloaded a heavy burden, looking much more cheerful than before.
"Hiruzen, try this!"
Akimichi Torifu used his special oversized chopsticks to pick up a piece of pork belly that was grilled crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, glistening with oil, and involuntarily put it into Sarutobi Hiruzen's bowl. "This is produced by our Konoha Ecological Farm! The Konoha No. 1 Pork you named!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up the piece of meat, blew on the steam, and put it in his mouth.
The meat was firm, fatty but not greasy. As he chewed, a rich meat juice exploded in his mouth, carrying a faint scent of grass and wood.
"Mm! Not bad!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen praised sincerely. "Torifu, your barbecue skills are getting better and better. The taste of this pork is indeed extraordinary."
"Of course!"
At the mention of food, Akimichi Torifu immediately became spirited. He stuck out his round belly and bragged, spit flying, "This is no ordinary pig! This pig was personally herded to the back mountain every day by that guy Sakumo, along with the brats from the Inuzuka clan!"
"It ate special ingredients from the Nara clan, and I heard Sakumo even insanely planned to... have people from the Uchiha clan use genjutsu to create happiness for them!"
"Pfft—"
Uchiha Kagami almost spat out the mouthful of sake he had just taken.
Using genjutsu on pigs? This Hatake Sakumo was truly a talent.
"I heard about that."
Danzo rarely spoke, but he picked up a grilled mushroom and said slowly, "That guy Sakumo, his prestige in the farm now is no lower than mine as the general manager of the construction team. Two days ago, a meritorious sow in Farm Area A overfulfilled this year's piglet production KPI, and Sakumo even held a commendation meeting for it and personally hung a medal on it."
"Hahahahaha!"
This time, even Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He could almost imagine the scene.
Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha known for his coldness and precision, with a serious face, putting a medal on a grunting sow.
This style was simply too peculiar.
"Sakumo has indeed managed the farm in an orderly manner."
Uchiha Kagami said with a smile, "I heard from people in the Military Police Force that the security level of the farm is very high now. Any wild rabbit that wants to steal crops can't escape the noses of those ninja hounds."
"Hmph, naturally."
Akimichi Torifu looked proud. "Our Konoha's food isn't for wild rabbits to eat."
"Speaking of which, it's all thanks to this road built by Danzo."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and raised his glass, looking at Danzo opposite him. "If not for this Hokage Avenue, business at Torifu's shop wouldn't be this booming."
Danzo, having been named, slowed down his chewing.
He looked up, glanced at the bustling scene outside the window, then at the steaming barbecue on the table and the old friends chatting and laughing beside him.
An emotion called "sense of accomplishment" quietly spread in his heart.
He picked up his glass, clinked it with the others, and downed it in one gulp.
"This is just the beginning."
Danzo put down his glass, his voice gloomy as always, but with a hint of mystery in his tone. "When my five-year plan is fully completed, the entire Konoha will take on a completely new look."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was interested.
"Ahem."
Danzo took out a neatly folded drawing from his robes and spread it on the table. "The renovation of roads and residential areas is just the first step. Next, I want to completely transform Konoha's water supply system!"
He pointed to a river on the drawing. "This is the Naka River. It flows through our village and is our most important water source. However, its utilization rate is too low!"
"I plan, at the upper reaches of the Naka River, right here,"
His finger pressed heavily on a canyon on the map, "to build a reservoir dam!"
"A reservoir dam?" Akimichi Torifu asked vaguely, his mouth full of meat.
"That's right, a dam!"
A fanatical flame called "infrastructure" began to burn in Danzo's eyes. "With this reservoir, we can store a large amount of fresh water. At that time, let alone Sakumo's current farm, even if we reclaim all the wasteland around the village, the irrigation water will be more than enough!"
"Moreover, we can establish an independent tap water pipe network covering the entire village, allowing every villager to use clean and hygienic water! No more going to the river to fetch water!"
The more Danzo spoke, the more excited he became, as if he could already see that magnificent future.
Uchiha Kagami and Akimichi Torifu were dumbfounded.
Build a wall on the river to hold back the water?
This idea was too bold, and too... genius!
"Danzo, this idea of yours..."
Akimichi Torifu's tone was filled with admiration. "Is truly... amazing."
"Naturally."
The corner of Danzo's mouth twitched upwards.
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