The military reform carried out in the Land of Demons, integrating ordinary soldiers with ninjas into one collective, hasn't stirred much of a ripple in the Ninja Realm.
People's attention is concentrated on the incredibly powerful Five Great Nations and the ongoing Third Ninja War, with little interest left to focus on such a remote Neutral Country.
Even if they hear about it, they merely acknowledge it with an "Oh," and don't find it strange that the Land of Demons would undergo such a reform blending ordinary soldiers and ninjas.
Being the only country in the Ninja Realm without a Daimyo, the appearance of this military system reform is unsurprisingly normal.
This aligns perfectly with Hakushi's expectations; their lack of attention is precisely the result Hakushi desires.
While the outside world is chaotic due to the Ninja War, the Land of Demons, where Hakushi resides, remains stable.
As roads are steadily paved, each town now has one or more main highways.
Even some rural areas are incorporated into the main road network, facilitating urban and rural integration.
Currently, half of the towns in the Land of Demons have implemented school enrollment policies; Hakushi understands that establishing schools is entirely different from road repairs.
Adequate teaching resources are crucial and necessary.
Hakushi plans to address the remaining school implementation issues over the next two to three years.
Of course, these schools are ordinary, not militarized ninja training schools. Presently, there is only one Ninja School in the Land of Demons, located in Shion City within a military district off-limits to regular citizens, where secret Natural Energy training methods are taught, with strict confidentiality.
With the improvement of roads in the Land of Demons, observant citizens and local merchants have noticed an increasing number of foreign businesspeople coming to discuss commercial cooperation, bringing with them a variety of goods and substantial investments.
Some sharp-eyed merchants see the significant changes following the road repairs in the Land of Demons. Though it's not a daily transformation, if you miss a visit for a month, upon returning the next month, you'll discover many new things.
"It seems those merchants will start road construction upon returning to their own countries. Will this affect our market here?"
Initially, Ruri felt that Hakushi was wasting money on road construction, but after witnessing the amazing changes following the roads' improvement, she found it unbelievable.
It has fueled the economic development of the entire country.
This naturally enriched her personal funds quite a bit.
For Ruri not only holds a large share in the Shion Flower Pharmaceutical Company, but the parent company, Shion Flower Merchants Association, was founded by her parents, Uchiha Sosuke and Uchiha Miyoko, and they fully own most of the enterprises under its umbrella.
Aside from the pharmaceutical industry, businesses under the Shion Flower Merchants Association also engage in food, liquor, tea, tourism, clothing, hotels, and real estate industries.
Though these companies may not be at the forefront of their respective industries, their combined force is immensely powerful.
Ruri naturally has shares in this, accounting for a considerable portion.
Even without working, the daily increase in her account balances is enough for a lifetime of financial security.
After the roads in the Land of Demons were improved, the funds flowing into her account increased faster than before.
This is thanks to the completion of roads and the insulation from the war in the Five Great Nations, providing a stable and safe platform for cooperation.
"It's normal for them to have such ideas, but it's not that simple to execute."
Hakushi shook his head.
"Why? Is there a problem?"
"Their idea's fine, but who will fund the road construction?"
This question stumped Ruri.
Will the merchants fund it?
Even pulling together a bit from each merchant amounts to an astronomical figure.
Since this involves the main roads across an entire country, the duration, manpower, and resources required would dishearten most merchants.
As for those Daimyo and nobles, it's even less likely.
It's easier said than done to secure funds for national road construction from them.
Moreover, to successfully build roads across the entire Land of Demons, Hakushi not only employed ordinary construction workers but also enlisted a significant number of ninjas, whether locals or those recruited from the Underground Black Market—all were welcomed.
Even his clones worked tirelessly, twenty hours a day, to achieve in mere months what would otherwise seem an impossible feat.
Under normal circumstances, it would take at least a decade or two to accomplish.
The full support from Shion Flower Merchants Association was a significant contributor.
The Mire Witch also opened policy gates wide.
Ninja workers, immense funding, and official support collectively set the stage for the unobstructed progress.
"Given the current system in the Ninja Realm, including the Five Great Nations, it's hard to achieve this swiftly. Those who sincerely want to build don't have the money, and those with money aren't willing. Hastily constructing narrow and uneven roads might be considered charity work. It's akin to being trapped in an unsolvable cycle, leaving roads to decay."
Hakushi laughed, thereby identifying the Land of Demons' upcoming position.
The economic lifeline of the Land of Demons unequivocally lies in the hands of Shion Flower Merchants Association, controlling most of the country's wealth—an essential foundation for development.