Chapter 61
Haruki and the Third Kazekage planted a sapling in the sandy soil together, marking the official end of the opening ceremony.
The surrounding sand ninjas immediately burst into enthusiastic applause.
They have been staying in Sunagakure for almost a month.
Haruki's daily routine involved taking Tsunade to various newly established departments, such as the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Electricity, etc., to inspect and guide.
Today marked the first day of the Ministry of Environment's afforestation plan.
Recalling the groundbreaking ceremonies from his previous life, Haruki suggested that the Third Kazekage personally plant the first sapling.
Out of a desire to curry favor and show gratitude, the Third Kazekage invited him to join in.
Haruki did not refuse.
Logically, afforestation tasks could be greatly expedited by a ninja skilled in wood release like him.
However, Haruki had no need to reveal himself and could also provide jobs for those who lost their livelihoods due to war.
Just like with railway tunnels, his earth release was naturally suited for such tasks.
But Haruki was in no rush.
Fruits and other such things take time.
Currently, gold from the sand was making money.
But such important resources could not be transported by rail.
He planned to use the Flying Thunder God Technique for transport or have Sunagakure use sand control for air transport.
Haruki casually tossed the shovel to a nearby sand ninja.
The young sand ninja received it with reverence, a stark contrast to the hatred he had shown when they first arrived.
Not only him, but all sand ninjas who interacted with Haruki had a complete change of attitude within a month.
In a sense, if Haruki were not a Konoha ninja, he might even be a contender for the next Kazekage.
Additionally, Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Mikoto had also been making a lot of appearances and building goodwill lately.
To keep his two disciples from getting too bored, Haruki had the Third Kazekage assign them numerous tasks.
They completed these tasks quickly and efficiently, reaching the average level of a chunin in terms of workload.
Haruki planned to apply to Hiruzen Sarutobi for their promotion to chunin upon their return to Konoha.
In fact, their achievements in the great battle with Sunagakure last time could have already earned them a special promotion.
But Haruki had been too busy and forgot.
"Speaking of which, I still find it somewhat unbelievable."
Tsunade stood by, watching the bustling scene, "Can they really achieve the effect you mentioned and make the desert disappear?"
"Completely disappearing is difficult, but expanding the oasis is relatively easy."
Haruki skillfully stroked her silver hair, "Besides, isn't the most precious thing the smiles on these people's faces compared to these?"
Tsunade's gaze shifted.
Thanks to Haruki's suggestion, over two-thirds of the participants in the afforestation effort were civilians.
They all came from the borders.
When they first arrived, they were all panicked, viewing ninjas almost as the culprits who destroyed their homes.
But after Sunagakure provided food, clothing, shelter, and jobs, they felt completely different, with many moved to tears.
This scene was unforgettable for Tsunade.
Growing up, she had a hard time understanding their feelings but was still moved by the emotion.
In a month, Tsunade had seen things she had never seen before.
Once again, her aversion to war reached its peak.
She had never known before that those who suffered the most were not Konoha, not ninjas, but these innocent civilians.
"Tsunade, being Hokage should not be the goal, nor the ultimate result of power struggles, nor should it be a dream."
Haruki said softly, "In its position, seek its duties, and fulfill its responsibilities. Hokage is just a beginning. I hope one day everyone will be friendly and helpful to each other, every family will live and work in peace and contentment, with no disparities and no wars."
He suddenly recalled a passage from "The Book of Rites" about the idea of great unity in the world.
The elderly have a way to end their days, the strong have a place to use their abilities, the young grow up, and the widowed, orphaned, lonely, and sick all have someone to support them...
Tsunade looked up.
Her eyes reflected Haruki's handsome face.
The golden sunlight enveloped him, making him seem to glow.
She lowered her head, her heart suddenly pounding like a young girl seeing her beloved idol, her gaze hot with endless longing.
She feared she might lose control the next moment and rush to him.
Tsunade finally understood why she liked him.
As the saying goes, serious men are the most handsome.
But men who pursue their ideals are equally captivating.
When they first met, Tsunade had just seen Haruki as an orphan with a pitiful background but some medical ninja talent.
During the Second Shinobi World War, while others feared or respected her for her identity and strength, he was the only one who truly understood her actions and ideals.
After that, their roles reversed, and she, usually strong-willed, began to understand Haruki because of her affection for him.
No, it should be said that she only truly understood now.
A man with unique and lofty ideals in the ninja world, moving forward without hesitation towards those ideals.
She had never heard of or seen such a person.
No, maybe her grandfather, Senju Hashirama, was a similar person.
But the two were completely different, and although it was a bit presumptuous towards her grandfather, she more agreed with Haruki's approach.
She thought to herself, she really was an unqualified girlfriend.
"What are you thinking about?"
Seeing her in silence, Haruki wondered if his words had such a great impact.
Was it incomprehensible? Or had her mindset not completely changed yet?
He had brought Tsunade along with him in everything these days to let her learn.
When she becomes Hokage, he wouldn't need to teach her hand in hand.
The most important thing was the elevation of her thinking.
From birth until now, she had always been prepared and thought like a ninja.
"Am I even more handsome now?" Haruki pondered for a moment, and since it was Tsunade, he wasn't in a hurry and started teasing her.
"Shameless!" Tsunade slapped his hand.
"Oh, so I can be handsome even without this face?"
"…"
Tsunade was both angry and amused. What kind of crazy explanation was this? Although in a way, it was true now, but it was too annoying!
If not for being in a small forest outside, she would have made Haruki apologize loudly!
Haruki's gaze involuntarily moved downwards.
Killing intent.
Tsunade's little face was full of killing intent.
He laughed and said, "Haha, Tsunade, what do you want for lunch today? I'll make it for you. Or we can have Minato and Mikoto make it. This past month, their culinary skills have barely reached half of mine."
Tsunade rolled her eyes at him and snorted, "I think Minato's skills are almost surpassing yours."
"What! Impossible!" Haruki was furious, "Even if you gave him a hundred years, he couldn't surpass me!"
"What's with a strange sense of competitiveness?" Tsunade couldn't help but laugh. She wasn't really angry in the first place.
"Others can say it, but you can't." Haruki felt a bit aggrieved.
All the compliments you used to give can't match the insult of this one sentence.
This was a unique man's dignity.
Tsunade was stunned, looking at him, and beckoned him over.
Haruki bent down.
Tsunade kissed his cheek, pressed a finger to his lips, and smiled, "In my heart, even after a thousand years, no one will surpass you."
In culinary skills and in her affections.
End of Volume 1: Red Dawn