Naruto: I Roamed the Ninja World as a Woman

Chapter 238 Ambition and Trust

How to green a desert?

Considering that ninjas possess the extraordinary power of chakra.

The simplest way is to learn Wood Release and then proceed through the map to "green the desert," illuminating the vast yellow sands of the Land of Wind with Wood Release.

But Ayane Amamiya did not choose to do that.

There are many reasons, and it's not simply a matter of being stingy with achievement points.

Firstly, while the greening of the desert can be summarized by the word "planting trees," it is by no means as simple as just "planting trees."

Hidden behind tree planting are supporting projects such as soil improvement, windbreak and sand control, which need to be implemented simultaneously to provide a stable environment for vegetation growth.

If the foundation is not solid.

Even though Wood Release is incredibly powerful, it can only quench thirst temporarily.

Secondly, as the saying goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him

Ayane Amamiya officially launched the project to "green the desert" as a long-term undertaking.

From improving tree species to enriching the soil with organic fertilizer, and then to windbreak and water diversion projects.

Every part was thoroughly studied.

She even planned to create several special ninjutsu of the "water-diverting and sand-fixing" type, and then pass them on to her subordinate ninjas to learn.

As long as you hold this trump card in your hand.

In the next few years, the relationship between the Land of Rivers and the Village of Sunagakure will only become closer!

The connecting effects produced by this kind of cooperation are naturally far more tangible than arms deals and military alliances.

Moreover, beyond these.

Ayane Amamiya also had a secret thought buried deep in her heart that she had never told anyone else.

The land area of ​​the River Country is not large.

Since entering the country at the beginning of the year, the infrastructure projects within the country have been mostly completed, and a few talents have been trained in the meantime.

So what should we do next?

We can't just build and demolish existing projects, can we?

The vast deserts of the neighboring Wind Kingdom are naturally the best training ground.

Once the "Oasis Project" targeting the hidden sand dunes has truly achieved its intended effect...

At that time, the profession of "engineering ninja" will naturally and successfully emerge!

If the establishment of a ninja academy in the Land of Rivers and the commencement of arms trade with the Sand Village demonstrate Ayane Amamiya's ambition in military preparedness—

So.

This process gradually guides the ninjas to change their mindset, helping them break free from their original identity as "killing machines" and embrace a new identity and new responsibilities.

It is Ayane Amamiya's political ambition!

The previous "River Country Infrastructure" project, or the current "Oasis Project," are actually serving this purpose!

As for the economic benefits generated, they were an unexpected surprise.

In short.

Ayane Amamiya's governing strategy in the Land of Rivers continues the "look and see" approach she adopted when she first entered the field.

It may not be the most ingenious approach, but we try our best to make every step purposeful.

Therefore, considering the above multiple factors, this field trip is indeed necessary.

The desert is solitary and straight, and the long river falls into the sun.

a few days later.

As Ayane Amamiya stood on the oasis and gazed at the desert, she finally understood what the scene described in Wang Wei's poem truly looked like.

Before me stretched an endless desert.

The fine sand was tinged with a deep orange-red and dark brown by the afterglow of the setting sun, like a solidified crimson ocean stretching all the way to the horizon.

Wind erosion has etched itself onto every sand ridge.

The desert is crisscrossed with ravines, silent and desolate.

The boundary marker on Mount Kikyo marks the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire.

But facing the Land of Wind on the other side, there's absolutely no need to draw up any borders—

The geographical features on both sides are simply too obvious!

Ayane Amamiya glanced back at the two kingdoms of Kaze and Kawa behind her.

Because of its proximity to the desert, the surrounding vegetation is already somewhat sparse, but the woodland is still full of vitality, and the vibrant green that represents life is refreshing.

This contrast is simply too exaggerated!

No wonder Sunagakure is always so unruly —

If I were living in such a harsh environment, I'd probably be thinking about starting a war with Konoha every day too.

Ayane Amamiya thought to herself with a self-deprecating smile.

(PS: Image source: XJ Turpan Desert Oasis, a tribute to forest rangers)

"It's getting dark... Shall we not go back tonight?" Ye Cang asked as he took out the tent.

"If we're not going back, we'll just spend the night in the desert."

Ayane Amamiya nodded in agreement and clapped her hands.

The surrounding yellow sand was pulled by an invisible force, spreading outwards and forming a low wall that enclosed the tent in the middle.

"It's windy at night."

She explained with a smile, "It will be quieter if we put up a wall."

Seeing this, Ye Cang gave a thumbs up and joked, "Your movements are even more skilled than mine. Looks like you're a seasoned deserter too!"

""

The two lit a campfire in front of the tent.

At this time, the sky is high and the land is vast, and the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold, making it a rare good time of day in the desert.

It was like Yekura performing a magic trick.

Taking advantage of the girl's momentary lapse in attention, she took out a yellow gourd from somewhere.

Ye Cang lifted the gourd's spout, brought his nose close, took a deep breath, and exclaimed with delight, "Ah~ It smells so good!"

Before Ayane Amamiya could speak...

She then took out two small wine glasses, filled them both, and handed one of them over: "Here, please try the royal wine that our daimyo of the Wind Kingdom loves the most."

The wine in the glass is a light rose-red color, crystal clear, with a faint aroma of wine emanating from it.

Ayane Amamiya took the wine glass, then hesitated before asking, "The Three Commandments of the Ninja?"

"What 'Three Commandments of Ninja'? It's all just stuff to fool kids—"

Ye Cang waved his hand magnanimously: "Even if you call on Pigsy today, it won't do you any good! If you really feel bad about it, just consider all the broken precepts transferred to me!"

Since things had come to this point, Ayane Amamiya naturally stopped making excuses.

The girl raised her glass, took a small sip, and then drank it all in one gulp.

have to say.

Compared to the sake made from white rice favored by samurai, this wine with its subtle fruity aroma was definitely more to her liking.

It has a light fragrance and a slight sweetness.

Only in the final sip can one perceive that subtle richness that belongs to the wine.

Ye Cang asked expectantly, "Hey, how does it taste?"

Ayane Amamiya answered with her actions: "Another cup, please!"

Yecang immediately filled her glass with satisfaction and then explained to her, "Wine is a low-alcohol beverage, so ninjas can enjoy it to their heart's content without worrying about getting drunk."

I don't believe you for a second.

Ayane Amamiya inwardly scoffed, but feigned reassurance, blinking as she said, "So—"

"So what I mean is, since we're having a good time tonight, let's just drink to our hearts' content!"

Ye Cang finally revealed his true colors, putting his arm around the girl's shoulder and grinning, "Now that we're in the desert, let me do my duty as a host!"

Even Ayane Amamiya, who is usually quite reserved, was moved by the other person's intense emotions.

The girl did not refuse, raised her glass, and gently clinked it against the other person's.

In the blink of an eye, two glasses of wine were downed.

The glow from the campfire fell on the girl's face, making her look rosy.

"By the way, why didn't you discuss cooperation with Konoha during the First Five Kage Summit?"

"After all, Wood Release is definitely good at things like greening the desert."

Ayane Amamiya shook her head and asked a question that had been puzzling her for a long time: "Besides, I've heard that Hashirama Senju is a very tolerant and kind person. If you made such a request, he would probably agree, right?"

The reason for using "approximately" is...

It wasn't that she questioned Hashirama Senju's helpful nature, but rather that she simply felt that Tobirama might take the opportunity to make some unreasonable demands.

Ye Cang scratched his head: "I don't know much about these things either."

She leaned closer and whispered, "But I guess it's because the First Kazekage is unwilling to bow down to Konoha?"

"Think about it, our village was so poor back then."

"People in other villages are picking and buying tailed beasts, but our village, because we don't have money, actually sold a Seven-Tails to Takigakure."

"It's so embarrassing to even think about it—"

Amidst the crackling of burning firewood, Yekura launched into a reasoned analysis: "The First Kazekage, Lord Retsuto, started from the very bottom of society, without even a surname. But he built up the village's foundation from scratch."

The female ninja took a sip of her drink and countered, "Even if someone like him isn't as strong as the First Hokage, he must still be considered a remarkable figure, right?"

Ayane Amamiya nodded.

The First Kazekage, Retsuto, was able to survive the chaotic Warring States period and establish Sunagakure, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. He was undoubtedly a ruthless individual.

However, Hashirama Senju was simply too dazzling during the same period.

So much so that when people mention that era, they always think of this one and only ninja god in a thousand years, but ignore the other four first kage of the ninja villages.

So—

"If I were the First Kazekage, I probably wouldn't be able to bend down and make a request to the Hokage to plant a tree."

Upon hearing this, the girl thought to herself that it made sense.

The first Kazekage was also a hero who conquered the desert.

How could someone who is "comparable to a founding monarch" not have a backbone of pride?

For such an outstanding individual, admitting that there are things they cannot do is actually more difficult than for ordinary people.

"Besides, even if we disregard the issue of personal face..."

Ye Cang gazed into the distance, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and continued, "This boundless desert before us is like family to every citizen of the Wind Kingdom. We both love and hate it; we love it for nurturing countless lives, and we hate its brutal and merciless ways that bring endless disasters—"

—

"But no matter what, why would someone want to become a laughingstock unless absolutely necessary?"

After hearing this, Ayane Amamiya seemed to understand something: "No wonder Chiyo and Ebizo were so resistant when we were discussing ceding part of the desert for testing."

She took a sip of her drink: "At the time, I thought you just didn't trust me."

"These are just some personal grumbles that can't be brought to the table."

Ye Cang shook his head: "Putting aside these emotional factors, the doubts we had about you back then were indeed the main reason."

"By the way, you know what?"

She pouted, somewhat annoyed: "Back then, when Elder Chiyo and I returned to the village, we reported your ideas to Lord Kazekage."

That guy Luo Sha is still firmly resisting your request at the village meeting. He said something like, "This is some kind of obedience test you've put on us, and we absolutely cannot back down," and what he said was absolutely awful.

Ayane Amamiya couldn't help but chuckle.

She thought to herself that Rasa had quite the imagination; instead of practicing proper gold dust ninjutsu, he was learning PUA techniques.

"But I'm different from them."

Yecang hadn't finished speaking.

She leaned closer, her breath carrying a faint scent of alcohol, and earnestly said to the girl, "I've always trusted you completely, even revered you like a god!"

She raised her glass and proudly downed the wine in one gulp.

Then he said loudly, "So, I gave that idiot Luo Sha a good dressing down. He was so angry that his hands were trembling, but he couldn't argue with me. After leaving the meeting room, he couldn't even form proper hand seals!"

Just thinking about what happened back then made Ye Cang burst into laughter. He was extremely happy and leaned against the girl, twisting and turning.

Amamiya Ayane was stunned.

The opponent's sudden straight shot left her feeling both bewildered and pleasantly surprised by their trust.

"It's truly—both surprising and heartbreaking."

Ayane Amamiya picked up her wine glass, took a sip, and used this action to hide her emotions: "So I actually hold such a high place in your heart."

Then Ye Cang's tone suddenly lowered.

She murmured softly, "Yes, sometimes I wonder why I trust you so much—"

"I thought about it carefully—"

"Besides witnessing firsthand the many amazing things you've done."

"Perhaps it's because, deep down, I've always longed to be you?" she drawled.

The campfire in front of him flickered in the night wind.

The flames crackled, and the flickering light danced across her face, sometimes bright, sometimes dim, but her bright eyes remained clear.

Ayane Amamiya was taken aback by what she heard.

"Become me?" she repeated, somewhat puzzled.

"That's right."

"I want to become a great ninja like you."

Although he had sworn before drinking that he would never get drunk.

However, under the influence of alcohol, Yekura impulsively confessed her feelings to Ayane Amamiya.

The female ninja spoke with utmost seriousness about her aspirations: "Just as you led the suffering nation of Amegakure forward—I will also lead my village toward a brighter future!"

"besides."

"I have never forgotten what you told me back then."

She said, word by word, "For the peace described in the agreement to truly come to pass, for the sake of reuniting and never again engaging in warfare, I will continue to work tirelessly!"

Even this trust.

This is already one of the few things I can do.

Ye Cang kept Ye Cang's words to himself, and Ye Cang never managed to say them aloud.

>