Mizukage's Pokémon Ninja Scroll

Chapter 395 Broadening Horizons

Whirlpool Island, the city of sea mist.

Looking at the city still under construction in front of me.

Whether it's Tachibana Kanagawa or Hikaru Uchiha, there's a feeling of being in another world.

However, in Tachibana Kanakawa's memory, Uzushio Island was a heavily fortified frontline camp, the ruins of the dilapidated Uzushio Kingdom, and a battlefield engulfed in war.

In Uchiha Hikaru's memory, Uzushio Village was somewhat retro, but warm and welcoming.

However, what they saw before them was a bustling new trading city, half-finished construction site, teeming with people.

Yes, although the infrastructure in all parts of Whirlpool Island is not yet fully completed.

However, the most important trading port was completed much earlier.

Thanks to Whirlpool Island's excellent geographical location, traders from the Land of Water, the Land of Fire, and even the Land of Lightning have long been eager to use it as a transit point for trade.

Even in the trading hubs near the port, Jianchuan Ju could be seen.

Many merchants from various countries stopped there because they did not want to continue their sea voyages and waste unnecessary costs.

They directly engaged in trade with other merchants passing by.

The scale of some of the transactions left even Tachibana Kanagawa, a water keeper who had begun to engage with economics and politics, somewhat astonished.

The port is filled with all kinds of merchant ships and cargo ships.

The bustling scene was filled with busy freight workers, merchants, customs guards, and ninjas.

It even gave Jianchuan Ju the illusion of seeing a trading port from his previous life.

"Tachibana, is this the city you built on Whirlpool Island?"

Looking at the thriving scene before him, Uchiha Hikaru asked Kenkawa Tachibana, who was standing next to him, with a face full of curiosity.

Upon hearing this, Jianchuan Ju stroked his chin and carefully considered his words before speaking.

"Urban construction is mainly the responsibility of Daming; at best, I can only be considered an administrator."

Actually, what he said wasn't untrue.

After Minister Mashiro succeeded to the position of Daimyo, Kirigakure had a friendly negotiation with him.

The entire project for this Sea Fog City will be funded and constructed by the Water Kingdom.

However, due to its special geographical location, it is a very important strategic location.

Therefore, in terms of its status, Sea Mist City is an overseas subordinate city of the Hidden Mist Village, and its management and garrison are the responsibility of the Hidden Mist Village.

As for the tax revenue, it is split 30/70 between the Land of Water and the Hidden Mist Village.

However, although Tachibana Kanagawa is the Mizukage, Kirigakure is not his private property.

So when he said that the city was under his jurisdiction, it wasn't just a humble statement.

However, after Jianchuan Ju said this, a middle-aged businessman passing by laughed and joked.

"Hey, young man, you can't just say things like that."

"Even if this is just a joke between you and your girlfriend, it wouldn't be good if the ninjas in charge heard it."

After the businessman finished speaking, the dockworkers behind him also gave Jianchuan Ju and his companion friendly smiles.

Upon hearing this, Jianchuan Ju was slightly taken aback.

He then looked down at his own attire and shook his head with a smile.

After leaving the ruins of the ancient Loulan Kingdom, the two of them decided not to rush back to Kirigakure because they wanted Uchiha Hikaru to familiarize himself with this time and space.

After contacting the village and confirming that there was no emergency, Tachibana Kenkawa took Hikaru and walked towards Kirigakure, enjoying the scenery and culture along the way.

Since becoming the Mizukage, Tachibana Kanagawa has stopped wearing the Mist-Hidden Headband.

Uchiha Hikaru had not yet truly joined Kirigakure.

At this moment, the two were dressed as a boy and girl who looked somewhat like ninjas, but in a vague and ambiguous way.

However, Tachibana Kanagawa did not feel looked down upon because of the other party's words. Instead, she nodded and smiled at the other party.

The other person didn't mean to be malicious or insulting; it was more of a friendly joke and advice.

On the contrary, Jianchuan Ju felt that the security management of Haiwu City was quite good.

It should be noted that even though the two were dressed as ordinary ninjas and had no ninja village insignia.

But under normal circumstances, ordinary people wouldn't think of offending a stranger carrying a weapon.

"Young man, you're not a local, are you? Are you here looking for work? Or are you here to shop and sightsee?"

Seeing that Jianchuan Ju didn't seem angry or embarrassed, but instead nodded at him in a friendly manner, the middle-aged businessman felt a desire to strike up a conversation.

He also happened to be looking to recruit a few more guards, and although the young man in front of him was a bit boastful, he seemed to have a good personality.

And if they're not from the Hidden Mist Village, then they must be from out of town. For someone their age to be able to travel alone, they must have some skill.

"Yes, and most importantly, the price should be negotiable for young people!"

When Jianchuan Ju heard the middle-aged businessman's question, he licked his mouth and showed off his neat row of white teeth.

It seems there's some truth to the other person's assessment that I'm from out of town.

However, the middle-aged businessman's last words piqued his interest slightly.

"I just arrived today, but Sea Fog City isn't even fully completed yet. Are there people who come here specifically for sightseeing?"

His question seemed to have opened the floodgates of conversation for the middle-aged man, who then began to talk on and on.

That's pretty much the feeling that you've hit the nail on the head.

"Haha, calling it sightseeing isn't quite accurate. But this Sea Fog City is something else entirely; it's a hub for goods from all over. While most transactions are large-scale, quite a few retail shops have also opened. It has all sorts of rare items from different regions. Most people say they're here for sightseeing, but they're really here to shop!"

Upon hearing this, Jianchuan Ju nodded slightly. He was familiar with retail shops, which was also the development direction he had previously decided on.

Of the shops in the several pre-reserved commercial streets, some were purchased by the daimyo, while the rest were mostly rented to well-known businesses in the ninja world.

He just didn't expect that the commercial street would start operating before the city was even finished.

Moreover, judging from this person's tone, the project is progressing quite rapidly.

The middle-aged businessman seemed afraid that verbal explanations wouldn't be intuitive enough, so he secretly gestured with his lip in one direction, indicating that Jianchuan Ju should look over there.

"See those big black guys and long white legs over there? They're all nobles from the Land of Thunder."

"Don't be fooled by the fact that the war is still raging in the Land of Lightning. There are quite a few nobles and wealthy people from the Land of Lightning who come here to shop."

Jianchuan Ju looked over as instructed.

Sure enough, there were several people from the Land of Lightning dressed in fine clothes, chatting and laughing as they walked together toward the city's commercial street.

Judging from their attire, they were clearly not the kind of merchants who traveled around at sea.

"Tsk tsk, I've really learned something new."

Jianchuan Ju first sighed, and then very cooperatively cupped his hands in greeting to the middle-aged man.

Those people were chatting and laughing, and they didn't even bring any guards.

It also made him feel once again the very obvious sense of division between the war between ninjas and these ordinary people and nobles in this world.

Just then, the middle-aged businessman realized that his knowledge and words had broadened the young man's horizons. The young man, in turn, readily flattered him.

I wanted to keep trying to recruit them.

But the next moment.

"Swish, swish, swish~"

A dozen or so ninjas dressed as Hidden Mist Village members instantly appeared in front of them.

(End of this chapter)