Today holds immense significance for the Village Hidden in the Grass. The previous night, news of the leader's successful arrival at the border of the Land of Grass has already reached the village.
This afternoon marks the arrival of the first batch of workers recruited from the Land of Rain. As a result, swift preparations are in order.
"Keep your spirits high, stay focused, and never underestimate those individuals from our neighboring Land of Rain," a Grass ninja addressed the others with a stern expression. "Let us uphold the honor of the Village Hidden in the Grass!"
Upon hearing these words, the other Grass ninjas fell momentarily silent. They pondered whether they still retained the pride that came with being ninjas. However, they quickly nodded, lifted their heads, and responded with determination, "Yes!"
"Remember your mission for today! Embody the spirit of the New Grass, maintain a cheerful demeanor, and exemplify the values of our New Grass ninjas!" The Grass ninja surveyed the responsive crowd and nodded with satisfaction. "Once they arrive, guide them to receive their uniforms, freshen up, and have a meal! Then, assign them suitable accommodations. Remember, there can be no compromises on essential matters! Otherwise, you'll all be writing it a hundred times!"
"Understood!" the crowd chorused in agreement.
While the responsible Grass ninja was issuing instructions, another Grass ninja hurriedly entered the scene and exclaimed, "The leader has returned!"
Upon hearing these words, the crowd paused momentarily before the leading Grass ninja at the front shouted loudly, "Attention, everyone!"
"Yes!" the crowd responded energetically.
"Prepare yourselves!" the Grass ninja declared.
…
As the sun began to set, Akihiko led everyone to the Village Hidden in the Grass, finally reaching their destination. The workers from the Land of Rain behind him raised their heads, taking in the breathtaking sight before them. A modern-style village unfolded, with wide and well-maintained roads, neatly arranged buildings, and bustling activity that emanated an aura of peace and tranquility—a stark contrast to the Land of Rain they left behind.
Everyone stood in awe, their eyes filled with a mix of admiration and envy. They knew too well the scarcity of peace and tranquility in their former home. At this moment, their hearts swelled with both excitement and trepidation. Had they truly arrived? Could they truly start anew here? The prospect of a fresh beginning ignited their spirits, but the fear of it being too good to be true lingered in their minds.
Their attention turned to the leader of the Land of Grass, standing before them. From the previous night, they recognized him as their leader—the one who had single-handedly brought an end to the chaos in the Land of Grass, restored order, and rekindled hope. They couldn't fathom a leader of a nation going through all this trouble just to deceive them. It simply didn't add up. And so, they chose to believe in him. Perhaps, just perhaps, he had not deceived them after all.
"Leader!" "Akihiko!" At that moment, high-ranking officials of the Village Hidden in the Grass rushed out, relieved to see their leader return safely.
However, as they scanned the surroundings, they realized that the three young individuals who were with Akihiko were absent. Where were they? Why were they not by the leader's side?
Although curiosity tugged at their thoughts, no one dared to inquire at that moment. Instead, upon witnessing the smile on their leader's face, they assumed that the three young ones must be safe.
Akihiko nodded to everyone and then turned to Kana Uzumaki, who stood beside him with a joyful expression and smiled. "How are the village houses coming along?"
"With the assistance of the ninjas, we have managed to construct the employee housing area over the past half month," Kana Uzumaki replied, regaining her composure as she flipped through the notebook in her hand. She spoke sincerely, "Most of the houses are simple, but they provide comfort."
The past half month had been dedicated to the construction of houses in the village.
"As long as they can accommodate people, that's sufficient," Akihiko nodded, taking out a stack of documents from his pocket. "These contain everyone's information. It's in your hands from here on. We can discuss other matters later."
With those words, Kana Uzumaki couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity about the whereabouts of the three young individuals. However, upon hearing Akihiko's command, she solemnly nodded, accepting the documents. Blinking her eyes, she said, "Yes, I promise to fulfill the mission!"
…
"Taichi!"
"Here!"
"Tanjui!"
"Y..."
"...."
"Koujou!"
"Here!"
As the names were called out, the workers were organized into teams, separating men and women. If there were children, they were grouped with their respective parents or other individuals would take care of them when necessary. Although they didn't fully understand the reason behind this arrangement, they followed the instructions given by the ninja and joined their assigned teams.
Koujou glanced at his wife and daughter, who were also separated from him and felt a sense of confusion in his heart. However, at that moment, he didn't know how to voice his concerns.
"Now each team has its own captain. If you have any questions, you can ask your respective captains," the red-haired woman in charge instructed.
"The captains will come to collect clothes for each team later! If there aren't enough, please be patient. They will be sent over in a few days," she informed them.
"The washroom is prepared with hot water! Everyone, follow your captain and enter the washroom. Those who haven't been called yet, please wait for a moment! Remember, men and women must be separated. It's a matter of principle," she emphasized, pointing to the Grass ninjas who would act as captains.
"If you feel unwell or have any health concerns, inform your captain as soon as possible. They will report it, and rest assured, the Land of Grass will provide medical treatment for you," she assured them with a serious demeanor, trying to alleviate any worries.
Under the serious tone of the red-haired woman, everyone listened quietly. They followed along, feeling a mixture of confusion, nervousness, and hope. Koujou was among them, his gaze fixed on his wife and daughter. His heart was filled with tension.
Suddenly, a voice called out to Koujou, breaking him out of his momentary daze. "Hey, you there! Why are you still daydreaming? Hurry up and catch up! Time is running out, move faster!"
"I'm sorry! I'm coming now!" Koujou snapped back to reality upon hearing the words of his assigned Grass Ninja captain. He hurried to catch up, bowing his head. "I apologize!"
After regaining his focus, Koujou cast another longing look at his wife and daughter, who had been separated from him. He silently prayed in his heart, hoping for a positive outcome and longing for their reunion. Although he didn't understand the reasons behind the separation, he was determined to protect his family no matter what.
"You... never mind," the Grass Ninja captain responded, following Koujou's gaze before returning her gaze to him with a calm expression. She continued, "Those were your wife and daughter, right?"
Taken aback by the ninja's question, Koujou collected his thoughts and nervously replied, "Yes... yes, they are, ma'am."
"They are lovely individuals. Don't worry, you'll see them again soon," the Grass Ninja reassured him.
Confused by her response, Koujou couldn't help but wonder about her words. However, before he could inquire further, the Grass Ninja captain calmly instructed them to enter the bathhouse. "Let's go! Inside! It's time to take a bath," she said, without offering any additional explanation.
"Alright... alright," Koujou replied, shaking off his thoughts and nodding quickly. Although he still didn't fully understand the situation, her words brought him some relief.
This ninja, she seems different from the ninjas in the Village Hidden in the Rain. Koujou raised his head slightly and observed the captain assigned to their group, murmuring to himself, "Maybe, what the leader said... is true?"
They soon entered the spacious bathhouse as directed by the Grass Ninja, which could comfortably accommodate a significant number of people at once.
"Hurry up and wash! Time is limited. Once you're done, others need to wash too! No whispering! Now, immediately!" the captain urged them, emphasizing the need for efficiency.
Led by the Grass Ninja, they silently began washing, refraining from engaging in conversation. Koujou, too, avoided asking too many questions and focused on cleaning himself.
After all, they had been on the road for two days, enduring rain showers that had left them quite dirty.
Within the allocated time, they finished washing and received the clothes provided by the Grass Ninja captain. Koujou, puzzled, changed into the new attire. Weren't they here to work? Why were they given clothes?
Koujou stared blankly at his green attire, similar to the clothes worn by the three children on the poster. He touched the fabric and realized it was sturdy and comfortable.
"What are you looking at? Hurry up and come out! Others still need to bathe!" another shout interrupted his thoughts, urging him to move along.
"Alright!" Koujou regained his senses and nodded, quickly following suit. As they exited, another group of people entered the bathhouse. Koujou followed the Grass Ninja captain back to the main hall.
The main hall was now crowded with many individuals, most of whom were wearing the green clothes provided by the Grass Ninja. It seemed that they had completed their bathing.
"Daddy~" an excited and familiar voice called out, followed by another voice sharing the same enthusiasm. "Koujou~"
As Koujou curiously looked around, he heard the familiar voices and turned his head, spotting his wife and daughter running towards him, both dressed in the same attire as him.
Koujou couldn't help but be taken aback when he noticed that even his daughter had been provided with a smaller-sized outfit. He marveled at how much more lively and energetic she seemed after the bath. Today had been full of surprises for him. Overwhelmed with emotions, he bent down, scooped up his daughter, and planted a loving kiss on her cheek.
"Hey, Daddy!" Ruko exclaimed, turning her head and beaming mischievously. "I just finished bathing!"
"You little rascal!" Koujou couldn't help but smile at his happy daughter. He looked around and noticed that the nervous expressions from before had been replaced by relaxed and contented smiles on everyone's faces.
He turned to his wife, who was also wearing a smile. Seeing his family dressed in new clothes, his heart swelled with warmth. Perhaps, that leader truly is different from the Village Hidden in the Rain. Maybe he is a genuinely good person.
Just then, their captain's voice resonated once again. "Regroup." Following the captain's command, Koujou gently set his daughter down, and as a family of three, they joined their respective teams. The captain paused briefly before continuing, "Next, it's time to eat!"
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