Kakuzu had sustained a serious injury to his heart and fell into a coma, unable to move freely. Ryuuri quickly used the Four Pillar House Technique to create a sturdy house on the spot and summoned the village's doctors.
In this era, medical ninjutsu hadn't been widely developed. To Ryuuri's knowledge, only Hashirama, Mito, and Tobirama had made any significant progress. Unfortunately, all three were Leaf Village ninjas. Even in this peaceful time, it was unrealistic to expect these highly esteemed figures to leave the Hidden Leaf Village and come to Taki Hidden Village to treat Kakuzu.
Since there was no one available, Ryuuri decided to develop the medical ninjutsu himself. He nervously selected some ninjas with precise chakra control and assigned them, along with the doctors, to assist in Kakuzu's care. This meant that Ryuuri had to send people daily to the river to catch fresh fish for research materials.
Fortunately, Kakuzu still had time. At his ninja level, his life force was incredibly resilient. Even with a small piece of his heart missing, the crude treatment from the doctors managed to keep him alive.
"Lord Taki Shadow, is it because Kakuzu's heart was injured that he can't wake up? Can I... give him my heart?"
Chihiro, a little anxious, spoke up. As a member of the Tsuchikumo clan, she was now alone in the village, not knowing where her clan had retreated to, and uncertain if her identity had been revealed.
Ryuuri, hearing Chihiro's words, turned to her. He remembered that Shokuzaki Ichirou had mentioned that Kakuzu had been injured while trying to protect Chihiro from an attack during the chaos. If it weren't for his strength, he would have easily evaded the rebels until Ryuuri returned.
Ryuuri sighed. With the disappearance of the Tsuchikumo clan, Chihiro's existence became awkward. Kakuzu likely believed Chihiro was a survivor of the coup, which was why he risked his life to protect her. If Ryuuri later revealed her true identity, who knew what would happen?
For now, he decided to let her stay. It was good for her to be with Kakuzu. Despite being a child, Chihiro had displayed enough strength not to harm Kakuzu during the chaos, which spoke volumes. The fact that the Tsuchikumo clan had retreated without her and that the system indicated she was not valued by her clan suggested she had been treated as a disposable pawn.
"Chihiro, from now on, your name will be Tsuchikawa Chihiro. Do you understand? Kakuzu saved you, so you'll take care of him."
Ryuuri didn't blindly trust Chihiro, but she posed no threat. This room wasn't just for her; it was filled with ninjas and medical staff who would keep a close watch on her. Assigning her to take care of Kakuzu also served as a way to monitor her.
"Um…" Chihiro felt as if Ryuuri had noticed something but didn't press the matter further. Despite her young age, she understood one thing very clearly: if her identity as a member of the Tsuchikumo clan were to be exposed, she would face a terrible fate.
"By the way, who was that person who brought Kakuzu here? He looked unfamiliar."
Ryuuri turned to Kōzen Mamoru. After Kakuzu was injured, a young man of short stature had delivered him to Ryuuri. The ability to break through the siege of the Kazekage ninjas indicated he had considerable strength.
"It seems he's a cooking ninja who arrived in the village last night. At the time, we were all imprisoned, so we're not clear on the details. I'm sorry, but he shouldn't be an enemy. According to villagers, he helped evacuate many people during Rihei's forbidden technique and even held off several Kazekage ninjas," Kōzen Mamoru explained, looking a bit embarrassed.
A cooking ninja? Could this be the Sushi God that Ryuuri had drawn from the system? He actually possessed such combat strength? Could that old man Ichiraku have been hiding his capabilities all this time?!
However, now was not the time to ponder such matters. The village had fallen into disrepair after the chaos; Rihei's final use of Angry Heaven's Wrath had destroyed numerous buildings in the northern part of the village, and it would take time to rebuild. The Kazekage clan and the remaining members of the Shokuzaki clan would also need to be addressed.
After arranging treatment for the villagers, Ryuuri sent a messenger to the Daimyo. The issues with the ninjas had been resolved, but Taki Hidden Village had suffered significant losses. They needed the Daimyo to replenish their population and send more doctors for the injured, along with countless other supplies. Ryuuri was finally beginning to confront the busy life of a Taki Shadow.
Fortunately, after establishing some initial arrangements, things began to turn for the better. First, the Kōzen clan pledged their loyalty, followed by a large shipment of supplies from the Daimyo.
The Tsuchikage seemed to have learned of these developments and dispatched a delegation to Taki Hidden Village. The envoys were skilled in Earth Release, and among them were construction workers. They not only brought supplies to establish good relations but also intended to assist in the village's reconstruction.
Upon hearing this, the Hokage and Mizukage also sent letters. The Kazekage had already sent Suna ninjas to search for any remaining members of the Tsuchikumo clan. If anyone believed that Rendou's actions were motivated by a desire for heroism, they would have a hard time convincing anyone otherwise, as he also aimed for the Land of Taki's waterfall. Ryuuri, however, was indifferent. Taki Hidden Village needed allies' goodwill at this moment.
After quickly using the Four Pillar House Technique to rebuild some houses in the village, Ryuuri began preparations for the funerals.
Just days after the establishment of Taki Hidden Village, they were to hold such a somber event. It felt rather inauspicious, but if done well, it could foster unity among the people.
The funeral was set for the third day. Survivors had already gathered the bodies. Besides the lingering smell of blood, the village was steeped in a heavy, sorrowful atmosphere.
The villagers who had moved to Taki Hidden Village initially believed that the strength of the ninja village would provide them with a stable life. However, they had encountered a coup just days after settling in, losing family and friends. Besides their sorrow, there was also a sense of resentment.
While handling these matters, Ryuuri discovered a talent—a middle-aged man named Takenaka Masakata.
[Name: Takenaka Masakata]
[Overall Strength: Jounin]
[Talent: Elite Chunin]
[Attribute: Water]
[Special Ability: Summoning Beast - Sea Conch]
[Evaluation: Weak in strength, but possesses high intelligence, making him an ideal choice for a team leader and capable of excellent support work.]
Masakata was one of the seven Jounin in Taki Hidden Village. Compared to the other Jounin, Ryuuri valued him for his intellect.
To reach Jounin level despite his talent limitations was commendable. It was rare for Masakata to have some aptitude for politics, giving Ryuuri the impression that he could become a brain like Shikaku or Shikamaru. When Ryuuri mentioned the funeral, he proposed the idea of a Memorial Tablet.
In the Warring States period, deaths were commonplace, and the passing of ordinary people was often ignored. During times of conflict, even the deaths of clan elders or leaders often didn't warrant proper funerals, with bodies usually buried hastily and only marked with a simple sign.
However, now that they were in a period of peace, such matters needed attention. Other ninja villages hadn't yet fallen into chaos, nor were there large-scale battles. As the first ninja village to hold a proper funeral for their fallen ninjas and residents, Taki Hidden Village needed to conduct the ceremony with great solemnity to demonstrate their respect for the deceased and to soothe the community's emotions. The memorial tablet was the perfect proposal.