Outside Sunagakure stood a newly renovated temple exuding an ancient and sacred aura.
Although the ninja villages were secretly engaging in various schemes, for most civilians, these activities had little impact on their daily lives.
In fact, the increased demand for goods due to wartime preparations had instead stimulated economic prosperity.
As a result, civilians came in an endless stream to the temple to burn incense and pray.
However, frequent visitors to the temple noticed a peculiar change: the terrain around the temple had inexplicably risen significantly.
Many attributed this phenomenon to "divine intervention," but those with ninja family members overheard intriguing conversations revealing a different story.
It was said that the so-called "Guardian Spirit" of the Land of Wind had grown up in this very temple.
This rumor elevated the temple's fame to new heights, attracting even foreign merchants who came to pay their respects.
Behind the temple, in what was once a vast forested area, a massive pit had been excavated.
Standing on the courtyard wall and looking down, even the bravest individuals would feel their legs tremble.
The dark pit seemed bottomless, as if it led to a mysterious underground world.
To those skilled in sealing techniques, the pit emitted a powerful yet concealed barrier pulse that would instantly draw their attention.
Surprisingly, at the bottom of the pit, the scene was unexpectedly bright. Contrary to its ominous appearance from above, sunlight filtered through the barrier, illuminating the area.
The sound of rushing water echoed below.
Sōmi stood atop a golden cloud, surveying the underground stream flowing beneath him. The walls of the pit were dotted with numerous water tunnels, resembling a honeycomb.
"Finally, the underground water systems of Asuka District and Ryukawa District have been connected here..."
Only a portion of the tunnels carried flowing water, so the overall volume wasn't substantial. The underground currents carried a faint chill, a natural feature of subterranean streams.
Since the conquest of the Land of Rivers and the Land of Birds, the water diversion project had proceeded non-stop.
Excavating rivers and underground waterways had become a training ground for Sunagakure's ninja to practice their Earth Release techniques.
Puppet masters also used the project to hone their skills, controlling multiple puppets equipped with sharp blades to carve through the hard rock relentlessly.
However, the project encountered numerous challenges: water seepage causing tunnel collapses, overly hard soil making excavation difficult, or sandy soil being too loose and unstable.
Both Sōmi and Sasori had activated Sage Mode multiple times, using Sage Art Earth Release to assist with the construction.
This led Sōmi to marvel, "Ninjutsu truly is the greatest productive force!"
The entire project was carried out solely by Sunagakure's ninja, with no civilian involvement, resulting in remarkably swift progress.
Even so, it took over two years to finally bring the first batch of underground water to the outskirts of Sunagakure.
With the village's growing population, the daily transportation of fresh water was no longer necessary.
At the center of the pit stood a thick tree root, about two meters long. Its surface was covered in rough, weathered bark, a testament to its ancient age.
What was unusual about this root was that its tendrils floated above the water, rather than anchoring into the soil.
No matter how the water flowed beneath it, the root swayed gently but showed no signs of toppling.
The root seemed to enjoy this state, as if it were leisurely sipping a cool drink on a summer day.
Upon closer observation, one could see the root "breathing" subtly, its movements resembling a person savoring a refreshing beverage.
With each "breath," faint blue phosphorescence flickered within the root, creating a magical sight that was clearly no ordinary phenomenon.
Through his sensory abilities, Sōmi discovered that this "sacred tree" from Takigakure was slowly gathering Natural Energy from its surroundings.
More astonishingly, through a unique "respiration" process, the tree purified the energy and released it back into the environment.
It was as if the tree acted as a natural filter.
"This isn't like the Divine Tree, which forcibly plunders Natural Energy. Instead, it's a symbiotic relationship..."
"Could this tree be related to the Divine Tree?"
Sōmi studied the massive root before him, marveling at the extraordinary species that existed in the ninja world.
Just like the trees used to produce sealing scrolls or the sap for explosive tags, this tree possessed its own unique and wondrous properties.
When Sōmi had initially harvested this "sacred root," he discovered that the claim of Hero Water only being produced once every hundred years was false.
The reason Takigakure took so long to collect Hero Water might have been a deliberate fabrication to deter other villages from coveting it.
A more practical explanation was that their collection methods were overly primitive, resulting in significant loss during the process.
However, the newly transplanted sacred tree wouldn't produce Hero Water immediately. It would need time to grow and adapt.
After thoroughly inspecting the sealing barrier and confirming everything was in order, Sōmi ascended on his golden cloud, quickly reaching the temple's courtyard.
"Sōmi!"
"Why did you dig such a massive pit? What are you planning?"
An elderly monk standing beneath a ginkgo tree called out to Sōmi.
The ginkgo tree, as if just awakening from its winter slumber, was sprouting green buds along its trunk. Small leaves, resembling delicate green fans tinged with a hint of yellow, hung from its long stems, exuding a sense of renewal and vitality.
"Planting a tree!"
"I've got an extraordinary sapling. In a few years, when it grows, it'll shelter the entire temple. We can even rename this place Mōrin Temple then!"
Sōmi replied with a cheerful smile.
"Mōrin Temple... That's a fine name!"
"Who would've thought we'd one day see a forest in Sunagakure..."
The old monk sighed wistfully.
"Indeed, Master!"
"And as they say, people rely on fine clothes, and temples rely on grandeur. I'm just adding a touch of divinity to the temple!"
Sōmi chuckled as he approached, taking the broom from the old monk's hands and casually sweeping the fallen leaves on the ground.
So much has changed!
As Sōmi grew older, the temple, the land, and even the nation underwent constant transformation...
The old monk smiled with contentment. Watching Sōmi sweep the courtyard, he was reminded of the boy's younger days. Back when Sōmi was barely taller than the broom, he would always insist on sweeping the courtyard himself whenever he saw the monk doing it.
The monk turned his gaze to the distance. The once endless expanse of yellow sand was gradually being replaced by patches of green.
Having spent his life amidst the light of oil lamps and Buddhist scriptures, the monk finally understood why Sōmi never placed his faith in gods or Buddha.
Because these changes had nothing to do with the deities worshipped by the people for over a thousand years.
He recalled teaching Sōmi Buddhist scriptures long ago. The boy's peculiar yet insightful remarks still lingered in his memory...
"Buddha says: All beings are equal!"
"Ah, Master... It's precisely because beings are born unequal that people place their hopes in gods and Buddha, seeking solace in their hearts..."
"Buddha says: All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows; like dew and lightning, they should be viewed as such."
"That's a reasonable statement..."
"But, Master, I've learned this long ago. Life is always chasing after illusions, but those who see illusions as illusions sink into an endless sea of suffering."
"The path lies beneath our feet, created by our own efforts, not by praying for divine mercy!"
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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