Even when it rains, the convenience of transportation can be maintained.
As for the issue of schools, it has basically been implemented. Only some remote villages haven't set up school institutions. In all other places where there is a population concentration, regardless of size, schools have been built according to local development needs.
The next step is to recruit educated intellectuals, allowing them to start teaching in schools according to the textbooks edited by Hakushi, thus beginning educational reform across the Land of Demons.
Hakushi visits Ruri at the shrine only once a week, spending the rest of his time immersed in work.
Occasionally, Ayane returns to reorganize her equipment and spends a moment with Hakushi.
Unnoticed, summer and autumn passed, and the cold, bleak winter arrived.
Ruri's due date also approached.
——In the annex of the shrine.
The four Jonin guarding Ruri were playing cards outside.
A Hyuga Clan Jonin held his cards in front of his eyes, suddenly glaring sharply.
Byakugan!
Though his actions were very subtle, the Chakra changed for a moment, making it impossible to hide from the Uzumaki Clan's perception ninjutsu specialized in sensing Chakra.
"Hey, that's so despicable of you, using Byakugan to peek at others' cards!"
The Uzumaki Clan Jonin complained discontentedly.
"Haha, well, I couldn't help it. Aren't you also constantly using perception ninjutsu?"
"What I use can't see through objects to see cards; it only senses Chakra. I keep it active to prevent strangers from approaching here."
The Uzumaki Clan Jonin sighed.
"Mine is also to prevent enemies from getting close."
The Hyuga Clan Jonin blushingly retorted.
His words immediately earned the disdainful gazes of the other three.
At that moment, the device hanging on the wall started beeping.
"Looks like Lady Ruri is about to give birth. Stop playing and get ready for protective work."
The four put down their playing cards and, as usual, stood at their respective positions to guard the delivery room.
Inside the delivery room, two female medical ninja were already on standby, ready to assist, while the guards only needed to do their jobs well.
Outside the delivery room, there was a layer of rebound barrier. Even space-time ninjutsu couldn't easily break through when the barrier was activated; it would be repelled instead.
Furthermore, with the double insurance of Byakugan and perception ninjutsu, any strangers approaching would be sensed immediately.
Hakushi arrived about ten minutes later.
Following Hakushi were Ruri's parents, Uchiha Sosuke and Uchiha Miyoko.
Standing outside the delivery room, you could hear Ruri's faint groans of pain from inside. Though she tried hard to endure the pain of childbirth, she couldn't help but cry out in agony.
Hakushi's heart was restless, unsure about the situation inside. Wasn't Ruri screaming in pain? Shouldn't it be alright?
He hadn't even sat on the chair for a few seconds before standing up abruptly, feeling like the wait was an eternity.
Why isn't it over yet?
"Hakushi, being anxious won't help. Just calm down and wait. Ruri is a strong child; she'll be fine. The Uchiha bloodline isn't so fragile,"
Miyoko, an experienced parent, advised.
Sosuke walked to Hakushi's side, patted his shoulder, saying nothing, but it was the best encouragement.
As a man, he naturally understood the mixed feelings of tension and excitement Hakushi was experiencing.
Hakushi finally calmed down a bit.
Time seemed to stretch on, and with the end of Ruri's cries of pain, the sound of a baby crying came from the delivery room.
It was the wailing of a newborn.
The barrier outside the delivery room opened, and Hakushi was the first to reach the door. The female medical ninja inside opened the door first, and Hakushi urgently asked, "How is it?"
The female medical ninja smiled at Hakushi, saying, "Rest assured, Lord Hakushi, nothing unexpected happened."
Hakushi's taut nerves relaxed as he walked inside quickly, followed by Uchiha Sosuke and Uchiha Miyoko.
Inside the room, Ruri had just calmed down from the pain of childbirth, lying weakly on the delivery bed, breathing heavily and looking very tired.
Sweat streamed down her face, gluing her hair to her cheeks.
Next to the delivery bed, a female medical ninja stood holding two babies.
"Congratulations, Lord Hakushi, it's a boy and a girl, both healthy."
She placed the two babies in Hakushi's arms. He thanked the female medical ninja, then lowered his head to look at the boy and girl in his arms.
Before this, Hakushi had used medical instruments to check the state of the fetus in Ruri's belly, so he wasn't surprised that they had twins.
But actually seeing the babies still stirred inevitable excitement in him.
"...Let me see..."
Ruri weakly said from the delivery bed. With Miyoko's help, she slowly sat up.
Hakushi brought the two children in front of Ruri, letting her have a closer look at the babies she had given birth to.
Seeing her boy and girl twins, a tired smile appeared on Ruri's pale face.
"Ruri, you're very weak right now. You should rest more."
Hakushi placed the two children into Miyoko's arms, then supported Ruri's back, letting her lay down to recover.
"Okay."
She weakly responded, not forcing herself.
After giving birth to the two children, Ruri also felt her body was considerably depleted.
Although not a perception ninja, Ruri could sense from previous observations that both children had extraordinary life force, naturally possessing an affinity with natural energy.
Was it because of the Sage Art Chakra and the Sharingan?
As for Hakushi's blood, it was automatically overlooked by Ruri.
"By the way, have you decided on names for the two children?"
Miyoko asked, feeling a little nervous in her heart.
Although the young couple might not care about whose surname the children carried, Ruri, as the Clan Leader of the Uchiha Clan of the Land of Demons, couldn't casually let the children take Hakushi's surname.
Aware of Miyoko's concerns, Hakushi understood Ruri's role in the Uchiha Clan and realized that the succession issue couldn't be dictated by personal feelings. After some thought, he told Miyoko, "We discussed this before. The boy will take Ruri's surname, and the girl will take mine."
Miyoko felt a weight lift from her heart upon hearing Hakushi's words.
"That works, one with each surname."
Miyoko smiled.
"I don't mind. Maybe by then, another family's genius from the clan will emerge to inherit my position."
Ruri remarked bluntly. Even if it was her flesh and blood, she couldn't change her determination.
The role of clan leader wasn't her private property.
Her words unsurprisingly irritated Miyoko.
"You bring too much self-interest as merchants, always wanting to claim public things as your own. That's why you haven't yet mastered the Sharingan fully. Uchiha is synonymous with 'power', and the position of clan leader isn't our family's private property."
Ruri's words made her parents, Uchiha Sosuke and Uchiha Miyoko, cough awkwardly.
They indeed intended for Ruri's child to inherit the role of the next leader of the Uchiha Clan of the Land of Demons.
About to say more, Ruri coldly uttered, "The capable are appointed, the incompetent dismissed. That's the Uchiha rule."
Hakushi didn't want to get involved in Ruri's family matters, so he moved to the side to play with the two babies in his arms.
The boy was still wailing, while the girl was quiet, unusually so for a newborn.
Hakushi was surprised and gave the baby girl a serious look.
The proud and glaring eyes, how much they resembled Ruri's when she was a child?
Sensing a bad premonition arise in his heart, Hakushi couldn't help but worry.