Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

He pointed in the direction of the abandoned commercial street that Hozuki Shiori had just mentioned.

"That street was too narrow, had a chaotic layout, and an unstable foundation. Most importantly, it lacked a proper sewage system."

A series of professional and pragmatic questions left Hozuki Shio completely stunned.

She...she really hadn't thought about that.

They only care about whether it tastes good or not, they don't think about sewage discharge.

Mei Terumi and Yagura also fell into thought.

Indeed, Hozuki Kaigetsu's question is very relevant.

"Then... then what do you suggest we do?" Hozuki Shio said, somewhat deflated.

Hozuki Kaigetsu's lips curled into a smile that was completely different from his usual cold demeanor, and carried a hint of fanaticism.

"What to do? Tear it down and rebuild!"

He turned around, opened his arms, as if to embrace the entire Hidden Mist Village.

"We're not just building a food street! We're using this street as a starting point to completely re-plan the entire port area! The main roads need to be widened to accommodate the flow of people and goods for the next ten years!!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, a light shining in his eyes.

What he had seen and heard in Konoha these past few days, and the ideas about urban development he had formed, had taken root in his heart like seeds. Now, catalyzed by the food street, they had finally sprouted and grown into towering trees.

Hozuki Shio, Terumi Mei, and Yagura were completely bewildered by his grand plan.

They just wanted to open a small restaurant and eat some good food, how did it... how did it get so close to urban redevelopment? Isn't this a bit too much of a leap?

"Brother...you?"

Hozuki Shio cautiously reached out her hand, wanting to feel her brother's forehead.

"I'm perfectly sober!"

Hozuki Kaigetsu slapped her hand away, his gaze fixed intently on Yagura and Terumi Mei. "This is an opportunity! An opportunity to transform Kirigakure! We can't just focus on the immediate present; we must consider the long-term future of the village!"

"A project spanning a century..."

Yagura murmured to himself, his heart burning with excitement as he was captivated by Hozuki Kaigetsu's imposing aura.

Meanwhile, in the distance, Hiruzen Sarutobi was holding a cup of warm barley tea, taking in all of this.

He watched Hozuki Kaigetsu gesticulate wildly and deliver his impassioned speech, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

It became.

One Danzo fell... oh no, one Danzo shone brightly in Konoha, and now, another "little Danzo" is about to rise in Kirigakure.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could even imagine the future, when these two infrastructure powerhouses were connected by the "Pancontinental Railway Network," arguing endlessly about what type of sleepers to use for the tracks and what grade of concrete to use.

The scene was too beautiful for him to even imagine.

Just as several future high-ranking members of Kirigakure were getting into imagining the future with Hozuki Kaigetsu, a few teenagers from Konoha also gathered around.

"Wow! That sounds amazing!"

Obito Uchiha's eyes were sparkling. He had just won the last skewer of grilled beef tongue and came running over to join the fun, completely satisfied. "Are you building a new street? Then there has to be a spot for our Uchiha BBQ restaurant! Let me tell you, the meat I grill with my Fireball Jutsu is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, absolutely fantastic!"

"Come on, that's a cremation site." Kakashi Hatake, hands in his pockets, glanced at Obito with his dead fish eyes behind his mask and retorted mercilessly, "Don't burn down the street they just built."

"You bastard! How dare you talk like that!" Obito immediately bristled.

"Alright, alright, you two stop arguing," Nohara Rin gently consoled, then looked curiously at Terumi Mei, "Are you really going to build a new street? Like the Hokage Avenue in Konoha?"

"Yes, I have that idea."

Mei Terumi smiled and nodded. She found that chatting with these energetic young men and women made her feel relaxed and happy.

"If you need a medical station, I can help you plan it!"

Lin volunteered, her eyes sparkling with anticipation for the future.

The discussion, sparked by a bowl of soup, snowballed and grew bigger and bigger.

What started as a simple suggestion has escalated into a city redevelopment plan, and now even the genin of Konoha are actively offering their advice.

Hozuki Kaigetsu simply grabbed some paper and pen, and pulled Yagura, Terumi Mei, and several Kirigakure high-ranking officials who had rushed over upon hearing the news together to hold a planning meeting on the spot.

"I believe the new street should be located on the east side of the port, where the terrain is flat, making construction easier, and it's also close to the deep water area, which would be beneficial for the future construction of a cargo terminal!"

"No, the wind is too strong on the east side, which is not suitable for catering. The fumes and smells will affect the entire port. I think the west side is better, with mountains as a natural barrier."

"But the west side is all reefs, and the cost of blasting and clearing them is too high!"

A group of people were arguing heatedly around a hastily drawn sketch.

Of all these people, Yagura suffered the most.

He not only had to deal with all sorts of technical jargon thrown at him by Hozuki Kaigetsu, but also had to mentally reassure the Mitsuo Isobu, who had completely become a "food critic."

Hey kid, tell them that barbecue restaurants have to be located near well-ventilated areas so the aroma can fill the whole street!

[And that soup restaurant, it has to be by the sea, using the freshest fish!]

[What about a sashimi restaurant? A sashimi restaurant absolutely needs an icehouse! How about using an ice-style ninja as a refrigeration unit?]

Yagura's forehead was covered in cold sweat. He felt as if he wasn't attending a high-level meeting, but rather having a brainstorming session with the most difficult client in history.

Finally, when everyone was still arguing, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been silent all along, put down his teacup.

The crisp sound of the collision quieted down the noisy scene.

All eyes were on the old man.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't launch into a long speech; he simply pointed to the sketch of the ruins in the center of the port, which had been razed to the ground by the Kaguya clan due to the previous rebellion.

"Isn't the location already there?"

One sentence made everyone suddenly realize the truth.

Yes!

That ruin was once a scar of Kirigakure, and proof of the Kaguya clan's madness.

But now, it can also become fertile ground for new life.

"To transform a land of destruction into a land of creation. To build the most prosperous streets of Kirigakure from the ruins left behind by the rebels themselves." A startling light flashed in Hozuki Kaigetsu's eyes. "Nothing could be more symbolic! Hokage-sama, you truly..."

He couldn't find the right words to describe this visionary thinking.

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.

He just silently thought to himself: "They've saved on demolition compensation, how great is that?"

Now that the location was set, the subsequent discussions went much more smoothly.

Hozuki Kaigetsu made the decision that the Kaguya clan would be responsible for clearing and compacting the foundation, carrying out labor reforms, and making the best use of resources.

Hozuki Shio managed to secure the rights to operate the first pilot shop—a small barbecue stall, where she personally took charge of the cooking, with the Akimichi clan providing technical guidance.

Everything seemed so thriving.

After the banquet ended, everyone dispersed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was also preparing to return to his cabin to rest. This day-long "diplomacy" had truly left this older office worker feeling quite exhausted.

As he passed by the ship's side, he saw Kakashi, Obito, and Rin sitting side by side, enjoying the sea breeze, chatting about something.

Obito was still the most talkative one, gesturing wildly as he spoke.

Kakashi crossed his arms and occasionally chimed in, leaving Obito speechless.

Lin, on the other hand, rested her chin on her hand and smiled quietly.

The warm light shone on them, making them look as beautiful as a painting.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped in his tracks, not wanting to disturb them.

He simply watched quietly from a distance.

Just as I was about to turn and leave, I saw Yagura walk past.

The mature-beyond-his-years elder from Kirigakure sat down next to the three Konoha youths, holding a glass of juice.

When Obito saw him, he immediately greeted him warmly: "Yo! Elder Yagura! You've come to enjoy the breeze too!"