In the early days of Taki Hidden Village, to commemorate the villagers who died during the coup, the first Taki Shadow, Amami Ryuuri, personally organized a grand funeral.
"The sun is blinding; it's a bit harsh…"
Ryuuri squinted against the sunlight, forming seals to invoke Kirin.
Using only half of the jutsu, he created a cloud of rain, transforming the bright day into a gloomy one. Before long, heavy rain began to pour down.
"How could a funeral in the Hidden Leaf not be on a rainy day!"
The black attire set the tone for the funeral. Many people had hurriedly made their clothes the day before, while some simply draped black cloth over themselves. Yet, despite their makeshift attire, no one mocked them. It was a sign of respect for those who had sacrificed their lives for the village.
"Life spans fifty years; compared to heaven and earth, it is long-lasting yet fleeting, like a dream or a fantasy. Those who live once shall surely perish…"
Ryuuri quietly sang these words behind the scenes, unheard by anyone. Fifty years seemed too long; during the Warring States period, a ninja reaching forty years old was already considered a long life.
Slowly, he walked up to the stage and began to read the eulogy. All the ninjas and civilians present fell into a solemn silence.
"For those who sacrificed for the village, their names shall be eternally remembered!"
Finally, Ryuuri shouted, and several ninjas appeared on stage, pulling the white cloth off his back.
Ten square steel pillars, crafted overnight by the Kōzen clan ninjas, stood before him. The first pillar was densely inscribed with names.
"This is... I think I see my brother's name…"
"I see Kyoko's name…"
"Grandfather…"
Whispers of disbelief spread among the crowd. No other country or ninja village had recorded the names of fallen civilians in such a manner, but this method undeniably showed the surviving relatives the village's sincere efforts.
"Today they have sacrificed. Perhaps tomorrow it could be you, or the day after it could be me, or perhaps Chimoto, Kishimoto, Toshiken, Oda... But the memorial tablet will faithfully record these names. They sacrificed for the village; they are heroes of the village and will never be forgotten!"
The word "hero" was particularly stirring. Ryuuri's speech, along with the memorial tablet behind him, melted the hearts of many who harbored grievances.
Taki Hidden Village might not be the best at the moment, but it would improve over time. What mattered was that the people of the village would never forget those who contributed and sacrificed their lives for it.
As the rain gradually stopped, the artificial downpour couldn't last long. The Taki Hidden Village, fresh after the rain, looked particularly rejuvenated. With the old gone, new lives would witness the rise of Taki Hidden Village.
After the funeral, Kōzen Masaru and Takenaka Masakata walked alongside Ryuuri. The two were now his assistants and were heading back to the Taki Shadow's office.
"Shall we go eat sushi?"
Halfway through their walk, Ryuuri suddenly suggested. He still hadn't officially met the sushi chef who had been drawn from the system, and since he saved Kakuzu, he felt the need to express his gratitude.
"Understood."
Though Kōzen Masaru and Masakata were unsure of Ryuuri's intentions, they knew that the chef who opened a sushi restaurant wasn't ordinary. After only one day of opening, he had already garnered much praise from the villagers, making them eager to try the food and relieve some recent stress.
"Sukiya" was written on a crooked signboard at the entrance, and through the open doors, they could see Ono diligently preparing sushi.
The layout of the sushi shop was similar to that of Ichiraku Ramen, with a simple arrangement of a counter and a few round stools. Due to the recent funeral, Ono had just returned to the shop to open for business and was alone.
"Lord Taki Shadow?" Ono looked surprised as the three entered, easily recognizing Ryuuri's straw hat.
"Don't be formal, owner. We're just here to eat. We heard your sushi is excellent and wanted to give it a try," Ryuuri said, smiling as he removed his straw hat and set it aside.
"What would you three like to eat?"
Ono was well-versed in customer service and didn't show any nervousness in front of Ryuuri, asking in a friendly manner.
"Just whatever you recommend."
Ryuuri was curious whether Ono was a character created by the system or an actual wandering chef from the ninja world. According to the legendary wandering chef from the Land of Water, Ono was indeed a renowned cooking ninja.
"Cooking is not something to be taken lightly, but since you are Taki Shadow, you should try the sturgeon roe sushi, made from the unique sturgeon of Taki Hidden Village. I traveled from the Land of Water specifically for these fish."
Ono set down the ingredients he was working with and looked up seriously.
"Then make it three servings of sturgeon roe sushi. Thank you."
Ryuuri thought of the river that ran through the entire Land of Taki nearby. Were the sturgeons truly a local specialty?!
[Name: Ono]
[Overall Strength: Jounin]
[Talent: Elite Jounin]
[Attribute: Water]
[Special Ability: Sushi God (Mastery in sushi-making)]
[Evaluation: A ninja who has abandoned the way of the ninja, now a dedicated chef. He has chosen the path of sushi, creating dishes that truly bring happiness to people!]
Well, this was the only upright middle-aged man Ryuuri had met who didn't have strength commensurate with his talent. Perhaps calling him a ninja was inaccurate; he was more of a chef. But… could his fried rice really glow?!
In no time, three servings of sushi were served before the trio. Each one was on a delicate white porcelain plate, with six pieces of roe sushi arranged on each.
Sushi, being cold food, didn't have a strong aroma. Kōzen Masaru could not discern anything particularly special and simply swallowed one whole.
After chewing once or twice, his eyes widened in surprise. He slowed down, beginning to savor the taste. Ninja life, focused on war, typically meant that meals were eaten hurriedly, except on special occasions like family feasts.
One… two… the plates gradually emptied, and Kōzen Masaru finished eating. When had he ever tasted such exquisite cuisine?!
"Owner, I want more!" As a ninja, a single plate of sushi barely filled him a third of the way.
"Sorry, but during non-holiday times, we can only serve one serving per person," Ono said with an understanding expression. Although he had his rules, it was best not to provoke influential figures in the village.
"Take mine." Ryuuri offered. Although the sushi was indeed delicious, his primary purpose was to confirm Ono's identity. Now that he had achieved that, the sushi was secondary. Giving it to Kōzen Masaru was a nice gesture, especially since he would soon be relying on him as a laborer.
"Is that okay?"
Kōzen Masaru protested, but his body was honest. Seeing Ryuuri nod, he quickly finished the remaining sushi.
"Thank you for your patronage. That will be 210 ryou."
Ryuuri glanced at the price list posted on the wall. Each serving of sturgeon roe sushi was 70 ryou, and there were no discounts for the Taki Shadow.
As the one treating, Ryuuri was unfazed. He had already sent people to the underground market to gather resources. Rebuilding and developing Taki Hidden Village required significant funding, and he had to supplement it from his private funds.
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