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The Land of Grass, despite its small size and vulnerabilities, has endured the consequences of its country's destruction, resulting in a sparse population. Therefore, the need to recruit manpower for the village's development is inevitable.
As the suggestion of recruiting from outside was presented, a solemn silence engulfed the conference room, signaling the rarity of a village seeking workers from other countries to contribute within its borders.
Although the Land of Grass has previously recruited the Uzumaki clan and the Chinoike clan, their combined numbers, amounting to only around a hundred people, are insufficient to meet the country's needs. However, judging from the leader's expression, it seems that a significant number of employees will be recruited this time.
Moreover, even when the Uzumaki clan and the Chinoike clan were recruited, there were certain individuals who expressed their grievances. However, the trust placed in the leader prevails. Despite lingering concerns about potential infiltration by spies, the suggestion originating from the leader himself has quelled further objections, albeit with a hint of hesitation.
The progress of the Land of Grass is evident to all. From the outset, the leader has proposed numerous remarkable ideas, and any doubts regarding his decisions have long been voiced and addressed. At present, their only recourse is to place their unwavering trust in the leader.
Even Mubuki, who secretly relishes in "defaming" the leader, wholeheartedly agrees that the leader's vision surpasses that of ordinary individuals, often foreseeing future developments with exceptional clarity.
With the absence of objections, Akihiko's demeanor turned serious. His gaze fell upon the assembled high-ranking officials, and he spoke with gravity, "In that case, let the meeting for the official commencement of the Land of Rain worker recruitment plan begin."
A resolute response echoed in the room, "Yes!"
Having reached a consensus, it was now time to delve into the details and fine-tune the plan. The recruitment of workers is a matter that requires careful consideration. Preparations must be made in advance for provisions and accommodations.
Safety and confidentiality emerged as paramount concerns. This recruitment differs from the previous acceptance of the Uzumaki clan and the Chinoike clan. Therefore, discussions and decisions regarding post-recruitment arrangements must be thoroughly addressed. The workload ahead is substantial.
As the meeting progressed, the outside gradually grew darker, signifying the passage of time. Akihiko and the Grass Village leaders concluded their deliberations and finalized the "Land of Grass Large-Scale Worker Recruitment Plan."
The plan's central theme is "If you come to the Land of Grass to work... um, you will become one of us!" This theme represents the forward-thinking, open, and inclusive values of the Land of Grass. It reflects the village's commitment not to discriminate against outsiders, but rather to work together with them in constructing a better future for the Land of Grass.
Once again, Akihiko, as the leader of the Land of Grass, will take charge of the recruitment process.
…
Time pressed on, and as soon as the meeting concluded, Akihiko hastened back home to inform Kana about taking charge of the affairs in the Land of Grass. He assured her that he would return promptly. Using the Paper Style: Body Flicker Technique, he transformed into a paper form and effortlessly leapt over the wall, making his way to Nagato's nearby house.
However, upon encountering Nagato's resentful gaze fixed upon him, Akihiko forced a smile and swiftly repositioned his feet away from the meticulously tended flowers. Sincerely apologizing, he said, "I'm sorry! I'll be more cautious next time."
Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Nagato replied, "Ah, Akihiko-sensei, you said the same thing last time! And yet, you still manage to step on them every time! This time, I deliberately chose a different spot!"
"It was entirely unintentional this time. I assure you," replied Akihiko with a sheepish smile. In truth, after mastering the Paper Style, Akihiko had further developed it by merging it with the Body Flicker Technique, resulting in the Paper Style: Body Flicker Technique.
As part of his training for the Body Flicker Technique, he incorporated ninjutsu into his daily routine. Therefore, for a period of time, he would employ the Body Flicker Technique whenever he went out.
Consequently, during his previous visits to Nagato's house, he had used the technique directly. Initially, teleporting accurately proved challenging, but now... it happened purely by accident. You see, this time he intentionally shifted to the left, but to his surprise, the flowers in Nagato's vicinity also shifted in the same direction.
Observing Nagato's eyes filled with resentment and his impassive countenance, Akihiko's expression grew serious. He sternly inquired, "Have you completed your assignments? Have you finished your ninjutsu training? What about taijutsu and sealing techniques? Have you mastered them all? Why do you have so much idle time to stand here and admire flowers? I have dozens of test papers awaiting me! Since you seem to have free time, fetch them for me later. When I return, I'll bring you several hundred more! If you haven't completed them to my satisfaction, I will need to have a serious conversation with your mother."
As expected, as soon as Akihiko finished speaking, Nagato immediately stood upright, his resentful expression vanishing as he became dumbfounded.
Internally, Nagato complained about Akihiko's bothersome behavior, 'Although Akihiko-sensei is good, sometimes he can be unnecessarily strict!'
After a moment, appearing to have forgotten the previous incident, Nagato spoke with a puzzled expression, "Flowers? What flowers? Never mind! They're not important."
A slight frown formed on Akihiko's brow as he pondered for a moment, then asked, "Akihiko-sensei, are you planning to go to the Land of Rain?"
"Yes! I came here to inform all of you that you should not slack off in your studies and training while I'm away!" Akihiko emphasized. "When I return, I will personally review those dozens of test papers!"
Nagato rolled his eyes and was about to respond when suddenly two small figures emerged from the side. They carried a large package and approached with a slightly embarrassed expression. "Ah, Akihiko-sensei, we might not be able to complete our assignments! We also plan to accompany you this time!"
Akihiko was taken aback by the three pairs of eager eyes fixed upon him. After a brief moment of hesitation, he remarked, "Could it be that the reason you're considering running away from home is because of the overwhelming number of assignments? Is that the excuse you're using?"
"...No!" The three of them had perplexed expressions and sighed internally, 'Are we being seen as the type of people who would neglect their assignments?'
"I simply want to revisit the Land of Rain!" Yahiko sheepishly scratched his head and smiled. "Even though I've found a new family in the Land of Grass, it's been a while since I checked on the kids at the orphanage."
Yahiko crossed his arms and burst into laughter. "Now that I've become a formidable ninja, I'll show those who used to mock me just how powerful I've become! Hahaha!"
Akihiko was left speechless, thinking that Yahiko seemed determined to return to his hometown and show off his skills.
Turning to Konan, Akihiko asked, "And what about you?"
"Ah, Akihiko-nii, I want to go back and visit my mom and dad," Konan said, sticking out her tongue with a hint of embarrassment. "It's been so many years since I last saw them."
Despite her parents having passed away, Konan still had the desire to visit their graves.
Before Akihiko could inquire about Nagato's reasons, Nagato spoke up, "Yahiko dragged me into this, but..." he hesitated for a moment, "I've lived in the Land of Rain for so long, yet I have no idea about the current situation back home. So, I thought it would be good to go and see for myself!"
Akihiko wore a puzzled expression as he asked, "...You three, Aren't you members of the Akatsuki organization? Aren't you searching for a poop-ghost student?" Just as Akihiko finished speaking
"It's fine! We haven't found anything after all this time, so it doesn't matter if we postpone it! I will definitely unravel the mysteries of the academy!" Yahiko exclaimed with determination.
"I'm not searching for that kind of stuff, Akihiko-nii~" Konan quickly clarified her stance.
"Who said I'm searching for it? Besides, I'm not one of those comedic organization members!" Nagato chimed in, expressing his dislike for the Akatsuki.
The three of them, except for Yahiko who was enthusiastic, made it clear that they had no such intentions. Konan swiftly clarified that she had no plans to go on a search, while Nagato distanced himself from the Akatsuki organization, firmly stating that it was merely a comedic group.
Hearing this, Akihiko was left speechless. It was amusing how the original members of the Akatsuki organization regarded it as a comedic group. The future of the Akatsuki seemed uncertain, to say the least.
Nevertheless, he remained silent, and the three of them, thinking they were about to be rejected, looked at him with pleading eyes. "Oh, Akihiko-sensei~" "Oh, Akihiko-nii~" "Oh, Akihiko... sensei~"
Akihiko observed their attempts to be endearing, and finally, he seemed to accept his defeat as he consoled himself, "Forget it, forget it! In any case, I had planned to bring along a few people for assistance."
He swiftly recruited some individuals and promptly returned with them, completing the task quickly. Since the three of them wanted to go, it was alright! Moreover, he needed a few people to help distribute flyers.
Akihiko nodded helplessly and said, "Alright."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the three of them jumped up in excitement. "That's fantastic!" "Oh, Akihiko-sensei (nii), you're so kind!" They cheered at his words. However, just as the three of them were happily celebrating...
At that moment, Akihiko revealed a teacher-like smile, looked at them kindly, and said, "Let's consider this a social practice activity! It's an excellent opportunity to see how your recent training and academic performance have been. When we return, remember, each of you must write a reflective essay of no less than 6,000 words for me!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the previously joyful expressions on the faces of the three immediately stiffened. They simultaneously raised their heads, their expressions devoid of emotion, and stared at their mischievous Akihiko-sensei.
"To be honest, I never really wanted to go anyway. Those guys have been bullying me all this time! What am I supposed to do there?" Yahiko quickly changed his expression as he expressed his pitiful sentiments.
"As long as my mom and dad know that I'm doing well, that's enough! I'll go back when I graduate!" Konan awkwardly smiled and made an excuse too.
"Well, I never had the desire to go in the first place! My mom still needs me to be by her side!" Nagato also thought of a mother's excuse after a moment.
Unfortunately, it was already too late. Akihiko looked at them kindly, starting with Nagato. He patted the heads of the three of them and smiled devilishly, "Sorry, but it's decided that now you are coming with me"
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