"Orochimaru."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at him and said in an incredibly solemn tone, "Danzo is planning to build the Naka River Reservoir. I need you to turn this conceptual drawing into reality."
"In the name of the Hokage, I will establish a brand-new research team—Team Zero."
"I appoint you as the captain of Team Zero, fully responsible for this S-rank top-secret research project—Energy Transformation Jutsu."
"You can choose personnel freely from among the ninja and craftsmen."
"I have only one request."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked into Orochimaru's eyes. "I hope that every family in Konoha can use this energy called electricity. Let the nights of Konoha no longer be lit only by flickering candles."
Orochimaru's body shuddered violently.
Looking at the longing for the future in his teacher's eyes, that determination to change the world.
An unprecedented sense of mission welled up from the bottom of his heart.
——————————
The next day.
Konoha's newly built central square was the first masterpiece of Danzo's "Konoha Construction Team."
The flat bluestone ground was wide enough for the Akimichi clan's Human Bullet Tank to drift on.
In the center of the square, the Heroes' Monument shone brightly in the sunlight.
And today, it was bustling with people again, even livelier than the memorial service last time, and the atmosphere was completely different.
A huge red banner was hung high on stone pillars raised by two Root ninja using Earth Release. On it, written in Danzo's powerful calligraphy, was a line of provocative large characters—"Konoha Reservoir Construction Corps Establishment Mobilization Meeting."
Danzo was not wearing his signature gloomy black clothes today, but a special dark blue work uniform designed by himself for ease of movement.
He stood on the temporarily built high platform, looking at the dense crowd below, a sense of pride surging in his heart.
Among these people were the backbone of his construction team, ninja inspired by his charisma, Hyuga and Uchiha clansmen assigned with mission quotas, and many villagers who had come to watch the excitement upon hearing the news.
"Ahem!"
Danzo gave a low cough, and his voice, amplified by a secret technique, spread clearly throughout the square.
The originally noisy square fell silent in an instant.
Everyone's gaze focused on the man on the high platform who looked spirited, even radiant.
"Everyone!"
Danzo looked around the audience. Unlike Hiruzen, he didn't start with grand principles but directly threw out a question. "Do you know what this land beneath our feet, the village we depend on for survival, fears the most right now?"
The people below looked at each other.
What do we fear most? War? Rogue ninja?
"It's drought! It's hunger!"
Danzo's voice suddenly rose, full of power. "Without water, the land will crack! Without water, we can't even drink a bowl of steaming miso soup!"
These plain words instantly resonated with many civilians below.
Especially the elderly who had experienced difficult times, they nodded with deep feeling.
"Therefore, with great foresight, the village has proposed a great vision!"
Danzo's tone was filled with pride in this matter. "We are going to build a reservoir upstream of the Naka River! A Konoha Reservoir that can store enough water for the whole village to use for many years!"
"We will not only let the villagers use clean and hygienic water! But also let the fields have water for irrigation! We will let Konoha's granaries always be full of grain, and let the Akimichi family's barbecue restaurant never lack high-quality pork!"
"Roar!"
In the crowd, several youths from the Akimichi clan cheered, eliciting laughter from those around them.
Danzo was very satisfied with this effect. What he wanted was this kind of practical mobilization that everyone could understand.
"This reservoir is not just a building!"
A fanatical flame burned in Danzo's eyes. "It will be the cornerstone of our Konoha's prosperity! Another monument under the wise leadership of Lord Hokage! And the most precious wealth left by our generation to our descendants!"
"Therefore, I, Shimura Danzo, hereby announce! The Konoha Reservoir Construction Team is officially established!"
He pointed his finger at several distinct formations in the crowd.
His gaze swept over the old members of the construction team and the newly joined retired ninja. "You may not have powerful Kekkei Genkai, but you have the richest experience and the most tenacious will! You are the backbone of the construction team!"
"This reservoir will be the crystallization of all our efforts!"
"It will stand on the Naka River, witnessing the prosperity of Konoha for a thousand years! It will tell our descendants what efforts their ancestors made to protect this home!"
"Ooooooh—!"
The entire square was completely ignited by Danzo's provocative speech.
Cheers like a tsunami resounded through the clouds.
Countless ninja and civilians were infected by the grand blueprint Danzo described at this moment, their eyes filled with longing for the future and admiration for Danzo.
On this day, the image of the name Shimura Danzo in the hearts of Konoha villagers completely transformed from the gloomy and cold leader of "Root" to the far-sighted, iron-blooded, and practical "Cornerstone of Konoha."
His popularity was unmatched for a time.
On the top floor of the Hokage building, Sarutobi Hiruzen quietly watched the impassioned scene below, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Seeing that Danzo could integrate the powerful Hyuga clan so smoothly into the village's construction system, Hiruzen was very satisfied.
"Making the best use of everything and everyone. Very good, very good."
...
Meanwhile, the news flew to the Konoha Ecological Farm on the outskirts of the village as if it had wings.
In front of the largest pigsty in Farm Area A, a commendation meeting was also being held.
Hatake Sakumo, the former White Fang of Konoha and now the general manager of the farm, with a serious face, hung a medal carved from a carrot around the neck of a large, sleek-looking sow.
"Big Black Flower 2.0!"
Sakumo's voice, amplified by ninjutsu, spread clearly throughout the pigsty. "In view of your outstanding performance in this quarter's production work, ranking second! You successfully gave birth to several healthy piglets, overfulfilling the production target, and made outstanding contributions to the meat reserve cause of our Konoha Ecological Farm!"
"After unanimous decision by the farm management, you are awarded the glorious title of Annual Meritorious Sow! Rewarded with several catties of special secret feed! And enjoy the treatment of an independent single room!"
"I hope you continue to work hard and make new contributions to the cause of barbecue freedom in Konoha!"
"Oink oink—grunt grunt"
Big Black Flower 2.0 seemed to understand, wagging her tail excitedly and making satisfied noises.
The onlookers, Akimichi clan breeders and Inuzuka clan "sheepdogs," gave enthusiastic applause and cheerful barks.
Nara Shikaku stood aside, watching this absurd yet harmonious scene, yawned lazily, feeling his intelligence was insulted.
Just then, a Nara clansman responsible for message delivery ran over in a hurry and whispered a few words in his ear.
??? Konoha Reservoir? This guy... is playing so big?
After listening to the report, Nara Shikaku's expression became very strange.
He walked up to Hatake Sakumo, who was putting a big red flower on the meritorious sow, and said in a complex tone, "Sakumo."
"Mm?"
Sakumo didn't turn his head, concentrating on adjusting the angle of the medal. "What is it? Is there a problem with the pig feed ratio in Area B, or is the irrigation canal in Area C blocked?"
"Neither."
Nara Shikaku sighed. "It's that guy Danzo. He held some reservoir construction mobilization meeting in the central square today. The scene was huge. He publicly announced that he wants to build an immortal monument that will protect Konoha for a thousand years."
"Immortal monument?"
Sakumo's movement of putting the flower on the pig stopped.
He silently wiped the... pig saliva from his hand.
His eyes instantly became incredibly sharp.
That was the look belonging to the "White Fang of Konoha."
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