A profound silence fell over the Kazekage's office.
It wasn't that the attendees disagreed with the Kazekage's words; rather, they were unsure how to proceed. The atmosphere was thick with contemplation.
Breaking the silence, Ebizō, who had come to respect Rasa after their recent mission, spoke up with a question.
"May I ask, Kazekage-sama, what are your plans moving forward?"
Rasa surveyed the room, his gaze lingering on each person before he responded, his voice steady and deliberate.
"For a ninja village, the number of ninjas is the most crucial factor. Over the years, Sunagakure has struggled to match Konoha's ninja school system. Although we've tried to adopt a similar model, the lack of funds has hindered our progress. We have never been able to ensure that all capable children can attend the ninja school as Konoha does. But now, the situation is different."
After the explanation, Rasa surveyed his gazes over the people present in the office.
"Who is currently in charge of the education department?"
Though Rasa clearly knew the answer, he asked the question to reaffirm his authority as Kazekage.
A seemingly gentle-hearted jōnin stood up, addressing him respectfully.
"It's me, Kazekage-sama. I am Goshima, the head of the education department, responsible for overseeing the ninja school in the village."
"Mm, Goshima. From now on, I need you to develop a plan. If you're uncertain, you can follow Konoha's example. My request is simple: from this moment forward, any child in the village who is of the appropriate age and capable of channeling chakra must attend the ninja school. I want tuition and other associated fees to be waived as much as possible."
"Understood, Kazekage-sama. I will begin preparations immediately upon my return."
Goshima responded.
"Good."
Rasa acknowledged, then paused for a moment before issuing another instruction.
"The entry requirements for the ninja school can be relaxed. As long as the children are capable of refining chakra, it's acceptable if they don't have the inherent talent to perform ninjutsu. We can focus on training them in taijutsu instead."
Rasa's mind recalled a famous taijutsu ninja from Sunagakure, whose name he couldn't quite remember but whose martial arts style had been akin to the Eight Gates of Death. This individual had eventually become Gaara's disciple. Even if no such individual existed now, Rasa had received the Peacock Mystic Arts Hoshigakure. The technique did not require chakra attributes, and he could adapt it for taijutsu training in the future.
"I understand, Kazekage-sama. I'll pass on your orders immediately."
Rasa nodded again, signaling his satisfaction. Seeing that no one else had any objections or further questions, Rasa continued.
"In addition to the ninja school, we must also revise the village's pension system. Who is currently in charge of that?"
A ninja with a scar on his face, exuding an intimidating presence, stepped forward.
"It's me, Kazekage-sama. I am Ryūji, the head of the logistics department. I oversee the distribution of ninja salaries and the care of orphans left behind by fallen ninjas."
"Mm. The ninjas who sacrificed their lives for the village are heroes, and the village must not neglect their families. So, starting today, you are to devise a comprehensive plan for the pension system to ensure that the families of these heroes are well cared for. The village is no longer lacking in funds, so do not hesitate to think big."
"Understood, Kazekage-sama!"
Ryūji responded, his tone firm and resolute.
Rasa's words stirred the room, motivating everyone present. After all, as ninjas, none of them could guarantee their safety on the battlefield. Rasa's assurances alleviated their concerns for the future.
"Furthermore, the village needs to establish a thorough system for orphan adoption. This should include not only orphans within the village but also children who have lost their parents due to the ravages of war. Our village can adopt them as well."
Everyone immediately understood Rasa's intent. To build a strong village, one must cultivate a sense of belonging among its youth. And there was no group easier to nurture than the orphans displaced by conflict.
"Understood, Kazekage-sama!"
They all responded in unison.
"Aside from education, pensions, and orphan care, we also fall behind Konoha in the medical field. Konoha boasts a complete system of medical ninjas, with every ninja team having at least one member skilled in medical ninjutsu. This is why Konoha's ninjas tend to survive longer in battle. Our village also has a medical department, but it is still too rudimentary compared to Konoha. Who is in charge of the medical department here?"
A busty female ninja dressed in purple clothing stepped forward, respectfully kneeling.
"It's me, Kazekage-sama. I am Iris, the head of the medical department. I am responsible for overseeing the medical ninjas in the village."
(AN: Yeah, I know it doesn't fit the Japanese setting, but remember, names like Killer B exist.)
"Good. I plan to expand the medical department. While we may not reach the level of Konoha, we cannot afford to fall too far behind. Please prepare a detailed plan."
Iris felt a surge of excitement. As a medical-nin, with a healer's heart, she was deeply pleased to see the Kazekage prioritizing the well-being of the village's ninjas. However, she had a question.
"Excuse me, Kazekage-sama. There is one limitation to expanding the medical ninja force, aside from funding. The biggest hurdle is the lack of high-level medical ninjutsu. At present, our medical ninjas rely on basic medicines to treat injured ninjas, and they are powerless against many injuries caused by ninjutsu."
"Is that so?"
Rasa mused, thinking carefully.
Indeed, Konoha's medical system had developed to its current state largely due to Tsunade's genius in medical ninjutsu. However, Sunagakure...
Rasa glanced at Chiyo, who seemed to be deep in thought.
"Chiyo-sama, you are likely the most skilled in medical ninjutsu in the village. Therefore, I'll need your assistance in helping Iris resolve this issue," he said.
Chiyo snapped out of her reverie. In the past, she might have used her age as an excuse to decline such a request, but now she nodded in agreement.
"I understand."
With Chiyo's approval, Iris's excitement grew even more.
"Thank you, Chiyo-sama!"
Iris exclaimed, her gratitude evident.
With that, the main changes in the village's administration were settled. Although Sunagakure had gained unimaginable wealth from this mission, Rasa knew that money could easily dwindle if not spent wisely, so the village had to remain cautious in its spending.
"Next, I want to discuss something crucial for the future of our village, although it will take a considerable amount of time to achieve."
Rasa continued, drawing everyone's attention once more.
"As you all know, the biggest obstacle to the development of our village has always been the harsh environment in which we are located."
His words caused a collective sigh of helplessness among the ninjas in the room.
"But we have no choice. When the First Kazekage decided to establish Sunagakure here, it was because this location was the best option available at the time. Now, with no alternatives, we must find solutions ourselves. To be honest, I don't have a perfect answer, but I will share two ideas, and we can brainstorm together."
"First, there is the issue of transportation. Our village's harsh environment makes it extremely difficult for people from other countries to come here to issue missions. They have to cross the vast desert, which is too challenging for ordinary people. This is one of the primary reasons our village has remained impoverished. Therefore, I hope everyone can use their intellect to come up with a solution. Anyone who presents a feasible idea will be generously rewarded by the village."
Rasa turned to his most trusted ally, the head of Anbus.
"Baki, please announce this to the village and gather everyone's ideas. Reward those who contribute, no matter how practical or impractical the suggestions may seem."
"Understood, Kazekage-sama!"
Baki replied.
"Additionally, aside from the transportation issue, there is another problem with the village's environment. While we can't change the entire Land of Wind, we can improve the area surrounding Sunagakure. Planting more trees, for example, could help. This is something the common people can contribute to. However, as ninjas, I want you to think of other ways to improve the environment. Just like with the transportation issue, whether the ideas come from you or the civilians, anyone who comes up with a workable solution will be rewarded."
Rasa's voice grew more resolute as he continued.
"Everyone, the future of the village is in our hands. I hope we can all work together to restore the glory of Sunagakure, as it was during the time of the Second Kazekage."
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