Takuno nodded in satisfaction; this was exactly the attitude he wanted.
It seemed that rewarding Fubuki Kakuyoku with the Gelel Stone had been quite effective.
"Now, I will explain what you need to do," Takuno finally stated the real reason for his visit.
"Please speak, my Lord. We will definitely complete it perfectly!" Kazahana Dotō couldn't help but say, his envy toward Fubuki Kakuyoku was overflowing.
"First, I want you to secretly construct a prison capable of holding over a thousand people before the end of this year," Takuno stated directly.
"Isn't that time a little too short?" Kazahana Dotō couldn't help but ask.
"Short?" Takuno glanced at Kazahana Dotō. While it would be challenging in his original world, it was still feasible, not to mention the miraculous power of Ninjutsu available here.
"No, it's not short. We will definitely finish on time!" Kazahana Dotō shuddered and immediately replied.
"It is best if Kazahana Sōsetsu is unaware of the existence of this prison. Can you manage that?" Takuno continued with his request.
"Yes, the Land of Snow is not large, and there are many uninhabited areas. Some places haven't been visited by anyone in decades," Kazahana Dotō had no objection to this requirement.
"Furthermore, you must build an experimental base for me near the prison."
Upon hearing this, all four were startled. Combining this request with the previous one, the purpose of the thousand-person prison became self-evident.
At this moment, a chill ran down their spines.
But thinking that the person before them was their boss, and that they were still useful to Takuno, they were relieved that he wouldn't use them as test subjects.
"Of course. We will use the Land of Snow's most advanced technology to construct an experimental base for you, my Lord!" Kazahana Dotō promised.
Takuno nodded, then spoke again.
"Second, I need you to construct another hidden railway line leading directly to the prison."
Although there was already a railway and train leading to the Land of Snow, using it for transportation would be too conspicuous, so a separate route had to be established specifically for moving materials.
"My Lord, surely this railway doesn't also have to be finished this year?" Kazahana Dotō wiped the sweat from his forehead.
This task was not easy. To keep it hidden, they would need to tunnel through mountains, which would take a considerable amount of time.
"It can be postponed by five months at most. However, if you complete it within three months, the Gelel Stone I just mentioned will be yours."
Takuno knew the difficulty of laying tracks, but the Land of Snow itself was not large, so the railway wouldn't be very long.
Moreover, the trains in this world were not fast, and consequently, the requirements for the railway were much lower.
Coupled with the decent Chakra Armor technology in the Land of Snow and the highly efficient workforce of Shinobi, completion was not impossible.
Immediately, the eyes of the three men lit up.
"Leave it to us! It will definitely be completed by March next year!" Kazahana Dotō declared loudly. He was already preparing to distribute some Chakra Armor to the lower-ranking Shinobi to boost efficiency.
Roga Nadare and Fuyukuma Mizore, who were standing nearby, rubbed their fists. With such a tight deadline, it seemed they would have to serve as laborers too.
"Good, confidence is what matters." Takuno also nodded in satisfaction.
Takuno then laid out his requirements for the railway. In short, it needed to be concealed and capable of transporting materials; speed was irrelevant.
Hearing these requirements, Kazahana Dotō breathed a sigh of relief; this would make the task somewhat easier.
"Furthermore, if you need to contact me, you can do so through this."
As Takuno spoke, he summoned beast a crow. It stood on the table, preening its glossy, black feathers.
"However, I hope you won't disturb me unless it's necessary," Takuno said, his tone turning slightly cold.
"Of course, we will be mindful," Kazahana Dotō was drenched in cold sweat, shouting internally that even if Takuno hadn't said it, they wouldn't dare disturb him.
To bother this demon, were they insane or did they have a death wish?
"Also, I hope you will take good care of it. If anything happens to it..." Takuno narrowed his eyes, and the Chakra fluctuations around him began to boil.
In an instant, the four individuals below him knelt on the ground, cold sweat beading on every forehead.
Roga Nadare took the lead and said, "We will certainly look after your summoned beast, my Lord. Even if we die, we won't let anything happen to it!"
"Good." Takuno nodded contentedly and reached out a finger to tease the crow on the table.
Although his crows were somewhat expendable, training them was troublesome, and he didn't want to waste them unless absolutely necessary.
Although the crow could not speak, as a summoned beast, it was already much smarter than an ordinary crow. It knew that its master had just been giving instructions for its future.
Thus, it affectionately rubbed against Takuno's finger.
The four people below watched this scene and offered wry smiles. It seemed that the one with the highest status here in the future would not be any of the four of them, but this crow.
They just hoped it wouldn't interfere too much.
At the same time, they knew that besides being able to contact Takuno, this crow probably also served to monitor them.
However, since they had no intention of slacking off or betraying him, they didn't really care.
"Well then, I hope that the next time I come, I will see it safe and sound, and that the prison, experimental base, and railway will all be constructed," Takuno said, standing up.
Since his business here was finished, he had to move on to the next task.
There were still many matters to attend to, and he had no time to waste here.
"My Lord, won't you stay in Hidden Snow Village for a while?" Kazahana Dotō saw that Takuno was about to leave. Although he secretly hoped the man would depart sooner, he certainly couldn't say so out loud.
"Heh, don't be hypocritical. You are all probably hoping I leave sooner, aren't you?" Takuno said with a chuckle.
"Not at all, we are completely sincere!" Kazahana Dotō replied without batting an eye.
"You have quite the nerve. I have other things to attend to, so I won't linger here." After Takuno finished speaking, his figure vanished from the conference room.
After Takuno left, the four finally let out a sigh of relief and leaned back against their chairs. The pressure the man exerted on them was simply too immense.
Just as they were about to rest, the crow stared at them with a completely emotionless gaze.
Immediately, the four men's faces froze. It seemed—they wouldn't be able to slack off.
The Land of Water.
Takuno walked down a small road, wearing the familiar fox mask.
After leaving the Land of Snow, he rushed here without stopping.
During this mission period, he first completed the experiment to activate the Sharingan, and then went to the Land of Snow to resolve the issues concerning the experimental base. The remaining time until his deadline was now short.
Therefore, he soon arrived at a small bridge.
At this time, a very disheveled child stood on the bridge, looking at the calm water below.
"What are you looking at?" Takuno walked up beside the child and asked.
"Are you talking to me?" Haku looked at Takuno with disbelief. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to him in such a tone.
When he was begging before, people not only spoke to him unkindly but always looked at him with disdain.
This gradually made him realize that he seemed to have been abandoned by the world, that he was an existence the world didn't need.
Yet now, someone was actually speaking to him again?
"Well, there's no one else here besides you and me, is there?" Takuno asked, amused by the child's startled, fawn-like reaction.
Haku looked around him and realized there truly was no one else.
Then his eyes dimmed slightly. Actually, there had been people when he first arrived, but they probably left after seeing a beggar like him come closer.
"So, you still haven't answered my previous question," Takuno spoke again.
"I'm looking at how calm the water is. If it's the water, it might accept someone abandoned by the world," Haku said in his young voice, speaking words that brought silence. His tone carried a dense sense of death.
Perhaps this wasn't the first time Haku had stood there, hesitating.
"Heh, the world doesn't abandon anyone," Takuno chuckled.
"Hmm?" Haku looked at Takuno upon hearing this. Was he comforting him?
Takuno immediately continued, "Because it never casts its gaze upon anyone, nor does it care about anyone's life or death. If you want to be abandoned by the world, you can't manage it."
Haku fell silent immediately, feeling confused. The man didn't seem to be comforting him; rather, he seemed to be twisting the knife, implying that Haku didn't even qualify to be abandoned by the world.
"So, come with me," Takuno said softly while Haku was silent.
"Huh?" Haku's eyes widened instantly. He looked at Takuno in disbelief. Had he—heard correctly?
"Trust your own ears. You awakened Ice Release, didn't you? And I need your Ice Release," Takuno said.
"You need me?" A flicker of color seemed to return to Haku's eyes, which had been like dead ash.
"That's right. There aren't many people in this world who possess a Kekkei Genkai. I am a Shinobi who enjoys collecting unusual things, so you are also a target for my collection," Takuno said.
Immediately, Haku smiled for the first time since that incident.
He didn't want to think about why the man needed him; he only knew that someone in this world still needed him, and that was enough.
"Mister, I'll follow you," Haku said firmly.
Takuno fell silent immediately. It seemed this was the first time he had been called "Mister."
Although his age certainly warranted being called "Mister" by many, he usually didn't go out much, so he had genuinely never heard anyone call him that.
Fine—
Takuno shrugged helplessly. He was 27, no, 28 in this life.
Thinking about what he had been doing lately, he had been so busy that he almost forgot he had aged another year.
It was perfectly normal for a three or four-year-old Haku to call someone his age "Mister."
"Mister?" Seeing Takuno unresponsive, Haku's tone immediately filled with panic.
At this moment, he was like a rabbit easily startled; even a slight silence from the other party was enough to frighten him.
"Alright, let's go." Takuno said nothing more, turning and walking forward.
Haku's eyes widened, revealing a brilliance completely different from before.
Then, he moved his feet, chasing after Takuno.
Soon, Haku looked at the man's hand, wanting to reach out and hold it, but he worried the man might get angry, so he stopped himself.
"If you want to hold my hand, you need to wash up first." Takuno looked slightly disdainfully at Haku's filthy rags.
"Okay." Haku nodded.
After thinking for a moment, Takuno took Haku to a river, tossed him a set of clothes, and sat on a tree branch to wait.
Haku understood. He didn't dare touch the clean clothes with his dirty hands. He first washed himself thoroughly before putting on the slightly oversized clothes.
Takuno glanced at Haku and realized that the clothes he brought were indeed a bit too big for him.
Or rather, the child was simply too skinny.
"Come." Takuno said.
"Yes." Haku nodded, following Takuno.
At this moment, he recalled Takuno's previous words. Since he had already washed up, did that mean...
Haku felt a little nervous, but he still reached out and held the man's finger. Then he cautiously looked at Takuno, seemingly afraid of making him angry.
When he realized the man didn't seem to mind, he immediately showed a happy expression.
Takuno, looking ahead, had seen all of Haku's actions. At this moment, he felt a little helpless—
Why did he feel like he was raising a child when he was still single?
Just then, the crow that had been watching Haku slowly flew over and landed on Takuno's shoulder.
"Eh? It's the crow that was following me!" Haku's eyes widened when he saw the crow. He looked at Takuno and asked, "So this crow belongs to you, Mister?"
"Yes." Takuno nodded. After thinking for a moment, he handed the crow to Haku. "Then let this crow follow you directly."
"Really?" Haku's eyes widened, and he asked in surprise.
"Yes." Takuno nodded.
"I will definitely cherish it!" Haku swore immediately.
"That's good." Takuno nodded. In fact, Haku didn't need to feed it; the crow, already a summoned beast, could fend for itself.
But mentioning that now would only spoil the mood.
"Here, take these." Takuno took out some food and handed it to Haku.
After Haku accepted the food, he looked at the crow on his shoulder, then at the food in his hands.
At this moment, he felt like crying.
After his mother died, was there still someone who cared about him?