Kakuzu had been injured in the heart and fallen into a coma. Unable to move him carelessly, Ruri immediately used the Four-Pillar House Technique to construct a building right on the spot and summoned all the village doctors.
Medical ninjutsu was not yet widespread in this era. As far as Ruri knew, only Hashirama, Mito, and Tobirama had some grasp of it. But these three were all Konoha shinobi. Although it was a time of peace, it was unrealistic to expect these high-ranking individuals to leave Konoha and come to Takigakure to treat Kakuzu.
Since no one else knew it, they would have to develop it themselves. Gritting his teeth, Ruri selected a few shinobi with precise chakra control and assigned them, along with the doctors, to the house where Kakuzu was recuperating, hoping they could develop medical ninjutsu. To facilitate this, Ruri had to send people to the river daily to catch fresh, live fish for research material...
Fortunately, Kakuzu had time. Shinobi of his level had extremely tenacious vitality. Even with a piece of his heart missing, the doctors' crude treatments had managed to keep him alive.
"L-Lord Takikage... Is Lord Kakuzu unconscious because he was injured in the heart? C-Can I... give him my heart?" Chie asked timidly. She was from the Tsuchigumo Clan, but now her clansmen had vanished, leaving her alone in the village. She didn't know if her identity had been exposed.
Hearing Chie's words, Ruri finally paid her proper attention. According to the Fūma Clan leader, Kakuzu had been stabbed in the heart precisely because he tried to protect Chie from being caught in a ninjutsu crossfire. Otherwise, with Kakuzu's skills, he could have easily held his own until Ruri returned.
Sigh. Ruri sighed inwardly. With the Tsuchigumo Clan's disappearance, Chie's presence had become awkward. Kakuzu believed Chie was a survivor of the coup who had risked everything to bring them a warning, which was why he protected her so desperately. Who knew how he would react if he later found out her true identity?
For now, he would let her stay here, keeping Kakuzu company. This young girl also had Genin-level strength. The fact that she hadn't attacked Kakuzu during the chaotic battle spoke volumes. The entire Tsuchigumo Clan had retreated without taking her, and the system's evaluation mentioned she wasn't valued by her clan; she was clearly a pawn sacrificed and abandoned.
"Chie, from now on, your name is Tsuchimura Chie. Understand? Kakuzu saved you, so his care is entrusted to you."
This wasn't blind trust on Ruri's part. Chie truly posed little threat. She wasn't alone in this room; many shinobi and medical staff were present day and night. Entrusting Kakuzu's care to her was also a way to keep her under surveillance.
"Yes..." Chie felt that Ruri seemed to have sensed something but didn't elaborate. Though young, she understood one thing clearly: if her identity as a Tsuchigumo was exposed, she would meet a terrible end.
"By the way, who was that person who brought Kakuzu to me earlier? He seemed unfamiliar." Ruri asked Hagane Maemori beside him. After Kakuzu was injured, it was a short, young man who had delivered him to Ruri. To break through the Fūma shinobi's encirclement required considerable skill.
"He seems to be a culinary-nin who arrived in the village last night. We were all imprisoned at that time, so the details are unclear, my apologies. However, he shouldn't be an enemy. According to the villagers, when Rihee used the forbidden jutsu, he helped evacuate many people and also held off quite a few Fūma shinobi," Hagane Maemori explained apologetically.
A culinary-nin? Could this be the 'Sushi Master' from the system's gacha draw? He has that kind of combat power? Is Teuchi, the ramen guy, hiding his strength too?!
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that. The village needed rebuilding from the ground up. Rihee's final forbidden jutsu had affected many villagers, and the buildings in the northern part of the village were flattened. Reconstruction would take time. The Fūma Clan and the remnants of the Kubisaki Clan also needed to be dealt with.
After arranging treatment for the villagers, Ruri dispatched messengers to inform the Daimyo. The shinobi problem was resolved, but Takigakure was severely weakened. They needed the Daimyo to supplement the population, send more doctors to treat the wounded, and provide countless other supplies. Ruri was finally experiencing the busy life of a Kage.
Fortunately, after some initial arrangements, things began to improve. First, the Hagane Clan pledged their unwavering loyalty. Then, the Daimyo sent a large shipment of supplies.
Somehow, the Tsuchikage got wind of the events and sent a diplomatic envoy, due to arrive soon. The envoys were skilled in Earth Release and included construction craftsmen. Besides bringing gifts to establish friendly relations and offer condolences, they also intended to assist with Takigakure's reconstruction.
Upon learning of this, the Hokage and Mizukage also sent letters. The Kazekage had already dispatched Suna shinobi to search for traces of the Tsuchigumo Clan. Reto's motives were transparent—he either wanted the Hero's Water or had designs on the Land of Waterfall's waterfalls. Ruri didn't mind; Takigakure needed the goodwill of allies at this time.
After hastily using the Four-Pillar House Technique to rebuild some houses in the village, Ruri had to begin preparing for the funerals.
Holding such a sorrowful event just days after Takigakure's founding was inauspicious. However, if handled well, it could also help unite people's hearts.
The funeral was scheduled for the third day. The survivors had already collected the bodies. The village was filled not only with the smell of blood but also a heavy, sorrowful atmosphere.
The villagers who had moved to Takigakure believed the shinobi village's powerful force would bring them stable lives. They never expected a coup to occur within days. Family, friends—all dead. Besides grief, there was probably some resentment too.
While handling these琐事, Ruri discovered a talented individual, a middle-aged man named Takenaka Masakata.
[Name: Takenaka Masakata]
[Overall Strength: Jōnin]
[Talent: Elite Chūnin]
[Chakra Nature Affinity: Water]
[Special Ability: Summoning: Conch]
[Evaluation: His combat strength is weak, but he possesses extremely high intelligence. An ideal candidate for squad leader and excellent at support work.]
Masakata was one of only seven Jōnin currently in Takigakure. What made him stand out to Ruri, compared to the others, was his mind.
The fact that he had broken through his talent limitations to reach Jōnin level was commendable. More valuable was Masakata's apparent aptitude for politics, making Ruri feel he could become a strategic mind like Shikaku or Shikamaru. When Ruri mentioned the funeral, Masakata proposed the strategy of a Memorial Stone.
During the Warring States Period, with frequent wars, death was commonplace. Ordinary deaths went unnoticed. If battles were intense, even the deaths of clan elders or leaders wouldn't warrant a formal funeral; they were mostly buried on the spot, with a marker at best.
But now was an era of peace. This aspect needed attention. While other villages hadn't experienced internal strife or major wars yet, as the first shinobi village to hold a funeral for its shinobi and residents, Takigakure's funeral had to be solemn enough to demonstrate their care for the people, soothe emotions, and unite hearts. The Memorial Stone was the perfect proposal.