Three months had passed since the Iwa-nin envoy corps departed, and Takigakure was developing steadily.
The iron ore mining efficiency was remarkably high. After a one-month observation period, Ruri assigned the Fūma clan shinobi and the survivors of the Shuzuki clan to work in the mines. The productivity of these shinobi was incomparable to that of civilians. Furthermore, the Fūma clan included shinobi skilled in Earth Release, making the safety factor infinitely higher than using ordinary people.
This decision initially met with strong opposition from Fūma Fūma. He had assumed his clan would only face some initial hardship and never predicted his clansmen would be sent to mine. He immediately joined forces with several Jōnin to petition Ruri in protest, even managing to sway the Kōmae clan to their side.
But Ruri remained unmoved. Where else could he find such excellent labor? Moreover, he had a legitimate reason: the Fūma clan were prisoners atoning for their crimes! Using regular shinobi for mining would have been a genuine waste.
Of course, to ensure the Fūma clan worked diligently, Ruri made certain concessions. After three years, the Fūma clan could claim half a percent of the mined iron ore for themselves.
While half a percent didn't sound like much, this iron mine, even with shinobi extraction, could be operational for nearly a hundred years—probably long enough for the Boruto era to arrive. Accumulated over such a long period, it would become a substantial amount. Additionally, as the Fūma clan had high demand for ninja tools, Ruri also granted them a purchase quota for the high-quality Refined Steel.
Fūma Fūma was not a short-sighted leader. He had witnessed Takigakure's transformations over the months. By his estimation, once the Fūma clan developed normally again, with this half-percent share of the mine, access to Refined Steel, and Takigakure's series of shrewd policies, in ten or twenty years, they might not be inferior to Konoha's Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
Consequently, to facilitate mining, the Fūma clan relocated their settlement right next to the iron mine. Below the mine, Ruri had already constructed numerous residences, and relocated villagers had moved in, formally integrating the waterfall, iron mine, paddy fields, lake, and Takigakure into a single, connected area.
The total area of Takigakure had doubled, now roughly matching the scale of Konoha.
Today coincided with the rice sowing season, and the paddy fields were ready for use. To expedite the first planting, Ruri specifically dispatched a ten-man Chūnin squad to assist.
Water channeled from the waterfall flowed into the fields via the new-style waterwheels. Having been unused for three months, some weeds had sprouted in the fields, but this was easily solved. Ruri incinerated them with a single Amaterasu. Thanks to the flame's properties, nothing else was damaged—truly worthy of its 'civilian-use' label!
Ruri summoned the squad. The idle paddy fields were finally about to prove their usefulness. He had procured a large quantity of high-quality rice seeds through the underground exchange; it was time to sow.
Over these months, Takigakure's high mission completion rate and growing reputation had attracted an increasing number of clients. These came not only from small nations near the Land of Takī but also included merchants from the border regions of the Land of Fire and Land of Earth who specifically came to Takigakure to post requests.
Sanjō Munetatsu had come all this way precisely to post a highly important mission.
According to the Jōnin responsible for mission grading, this mission reached an unprecedented SS-rank, a level never seen since the village's founding. The village was short-handed, and accepting such a mission required prior approval from the Takikage.
However, our esteemed Takikage had gone to the paddy fields first thing in the morning... to farm with the peasants.
So Sanjō Munetatsu, eager to post his request, went directly to the fields, where he witnessed a scene that defied his understanding.
Five Chūnin were using Earth Release to till the soil. That alone would have been remarkable, but these five coordinated with exquisite precision, simultaneously dividing the land into perfectly uniform, small, squared plots while tilling. Even more astonishing was the absolute consistency in the size of each plot!
Next, several villagers brought over bamboo baskets filled with the purchased high-quality rice seeds.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" The other five Chūnin formed hand seals in unison. Having practiced thoroughly, their movements were perfectly synchronized, down to the split second. Propelled by the powerful wind-nature chakra, the bamboo baskets soared into the air above the paddy fields!
The five Chūnin maintained the Wind Release while spreading out around the field. One Chūnin suddenly increased his chakra output, causing the baskets to move and tilt towards his position, scattering seeds along the path!
This process repeated. Under the control of the Wind Release, the baskets soon sowed seeds across the entire field. The Earth Release users weren't idle either, using their jutsu to bury the seeds slightly deeper.
Sanjō Munetatsu stood to the side, utterly dumbfounded. He had farmed before; his family owned rice paddies. But when had he ever seen ninjutsu used for farming? Ten shinobi had accomplished in a short while what would take villagers days of work?!
Ruri was quite satisfied. At this stage, this direct seeding method—bypassing the steps of raising seedlings and transplanting—could only be achieved through ninjutsu. The field surface for direct-seeded rice must be perfectly leveled and ridged, with the ridge surface height difference not exceeding an inch. Ordinary villagers lacked the tools for such precise control, but for shinobi skilled in Earth Release, it was simple.
The ten Chūnin, their chakra exhausted, were drenched in sweat and utterly fatigued. Yet they bore no complaints, instead telling the nearby villagers, "Well then, we'll leave the rest to you!"
According to Ruri, the villagers nearby only needed to tend the fields diligently for a bountiful harvest the following year. Although the villagers had their doubts about this direct seeding method, these Taki-nin, who already revered Ruri as a deity, dared not voice a single word of dissent.
"Ahem... Excuse me, are you Lord Takikage?" Only after watching the entire sowing process did Sanjō Munetatsu remember his purpose. He hurried over to the man standing at the center.
"Hmm? And you are..." Ruri's approachability was well-known in the village, so no one intercepted Sanjō Munetatsu, assuming he was a newly arrived refugee.
As for assassins? That was impossible. Two months prior, Kusagakure had sent a Jōnin to assassinate him. This Takikage had given him a single slash on the spot and mercifully let him go. When the assassin returned to his village to report, he split in two right before the Kusa leader's eyes. It was said the delayed sword intent, manifesting after four or five days, scared the leader so badly he wet his pants. Since then, no foolhardy assassins had dared to come.
"I am the leader of the Sanjō clan from the Land of Craftsmen. I have come to post a request with Takigakure." Sanjō Munetatsu's expression was grave; this matter concerned his clan's survival.
"Let's hear it." Ruri signaled for the Chūnin to return to the village. He used the Four-Pillar House Technique on the spot, creating a simple structure to discuss matters with Sanjō Munetatsu right there. A mission important enough to seek him out personally was likely an SS-rank or higher—a level the village shinobi couldn't handle alone. A mission of that caliber was certainly no ordinary matter.