The fervent atmosphere of the mobilization meeting still echoed over Konoha.
Villagers gathered in groups of three or five, excitedly discussing the envisioned reservoir and how Lord Danzo was going to create another miracle.
And as for the central figure of this frenzy, Shimura Danzo.
"A brand-new power... lighting up the entire Konoha..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's seductive words at the barbecue restaurant that night had been swirling in his mind for several nights, making him itch with anticipation.
But he knew very well that any grand blueprint must be built on a solid foundation.
Before dreaming about that, he had to ensure that this reservoir could stand firmly on this land.
No matter how magnificent the architectural blueprint, it had to start with the first shovel of dirt.
"Kagami, I'll leave the personnel list and preliminary allocation arrangements to you."
"Understood."
Uchiha Kagami nodded. He was already used to Danzo's vigorous and resolute style.
"The rest of you, come with me!"
Danzo waved his hand and, without even returning to his office, led several Root elites who had been following him, speeding towards the upper reaches of the Naka River.
The Root ninja were all elite among elites.
They followed silently behind Danzo, their figures leaping rapidly across the rooftops of Konoha. Soon, they arrived at the upper reaches of the Naka River, at the canyon that Danzo had heavily circled on the map.
The terrain here was treacherous, with steep cliffs on both banks. The river channel in the middle was squeezed narrow, making the water flow exceptionally turbulent.
"This is it."
Danzo stood at the edge of the cliff, looking down at the rushing river below, excitement shining in his eyes.
"Bring me the latest survey map."
Danzo stood on a protruding rock and ordered the Root ninja behind him.
A Root ninja immediately took out a detailed topographical map from the huge scroll on his back and respectfully handed it over.
It detailed the width and depth of the canyon, as well as the material and structure of the rock walls on both sides.
Danzo took the map, scanning it quickly, his brow gradually furrowing.
"Not enough."
He murmured to himself.
Danzo wasted no more words. He directly took off his special work jacket, revealing a lean and powerful muscular physique, though not as exaggerated as the Raikage's.
Then, he did something that stunned all the Root ninja.
...He jumped straight down.
The moment Danzo hit the water, he had already gathered chakra under his feet, standing firmly on the riverbed.
The turbulent current couldn't shake him in the slightest.
"There are longitudinal cracks in the rock stratum on the front left, not suitable for the main dam foundation."
"This is sedimentary sandstone, loose structure, ruled out directly."
Danzo sometimes walked into the deep water, letting the cold river water submerge him up to his chest.
Sometimes he walked to the shallows, bent down, scooped up a handful of mud and sand from the river bottom, and carefully rubbed it in his palm, analyzing its composition.
The sunlight shone on the water, sparkling.
The man known throughout Konoha and the entire ninja world for his ruthlessness and coldness.
At this moment, he was like the most ordinary hydraulic engineer, walking back and forth in the river channel.
On the cliff, the Root ninja were all dumbfounded.
They looked at each other, seeing the same shock in each other's eyes hidden under their masks.
...The Lord Danzo they followed.
At this moment, under the sunlight, standing in the most conspicuous place, measuring every inch of land for the future of the village.
A young Root ninja felt a sting in his nose.
He remembered the scene when he joined Root.
At that time, Lord Danzo told him.
"Open a path in the deepest darkness, so that the light of the Will of Fire can illuminate every inch of the land ahead."
He had always regarded this sentence as his guiding principle.
Now looking at that back.
The young man suddenly felt that perhaps the flame of protecting Konoha in Lord Danzo's heart was far hotter and purer than they had imagined.
An advisor who would personally use Earth Release to reinforce the foundation to build a road.
A Root leader who would disregard his status and personally survey the geology to build a reservoir.
Just as the Root ninja were collectively moved to tears, Danzo finally finished his work.
Shimura Danzo spread the map on the ground, took a pen from a Root member, and began to quickly mark something on it.
"Here, here, and here... can serve as support points for the main dam body."
"This line is the best diversion route, minimizing the impact on the downstream ecology."
"At the mouth, the water flow is most turbulent and the drop is greatest... that brand-new energy Hiruzen mentioned can be applied here..."
He muttered as he drew.
"Come and take a look too."
The Root ninja immediately gathered around.
They were no longer killers, no longer spies.
At this moment, they had become a group of the most focused discussants.
The setting sun plated the canyon with a layer of warm gold.
A group of ninja who mostly lived in darkness were now gathered together.
By the light of the setting sun, they discussed a great project that would illuminate the future of the entire village.
This scene was unusually harmonious.
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