The Land of Whirlpools...
After the morning speech, both the citizens of the Land of Whirlpools and the civilians who had not yet joined were excitedly heading to their respective posts.
"Taira." Yasunaka Yosh called out to Taira, who was planting rice seedlings in the distance, while smoking his pipe. "Come here for a moment."
"Uncle Yosh." Hearing someone call him, Taira stood up and turned around in confusion. When he saw it was Uncle Yosh, his face broke into a smile as he walked over.
"What brings you here today?"
After all, since the large-scale construction projects began, they had all been very busy and hadn't seen each other for a long time. He had heard that Uncle Yosh had been promoted again.
"Heh, coming to find you must mean good news." Yasunaka Yosh smiled and said. "The team leader just notified us that we can now officially register as citizens of the Land of Whirlpools, so I came to tell you."
"What about you?"
"Aren't you going to work? Farming at home now?"
"Not at all!" Taira laughed. "I'm on the night shift, so I don't have to go to work until the afternoon."
"Oh, I see." Yasunaka Yosh nodded. "I remember you and your wife haven't gotten your ID cards yet."
"That's right." Taira said excitedly. "You mean this time..."
"Yes!" Yasunaka Yosh smiled. "Today is an important day, and the higher-ups have lowered the requirements. That's why I came to tell you."
"Ah, thank you, Uncle Yosh." Hearing the news, Taira grinned foolishly. "Why not stay for lunch?"
"No, no." Yasunaka Yosh waved his hand. "I still have to notify some other people. No time." He glanced at the nearby houses. "Your house... huh? You've already bought a house? That's great."
"Of course." Taira puffed out his chest proudly. "I heard it was designed by His Highness Jun. Of course it's great."
"As for buying it..."
"Heh." Taira scratched his head sheepishly. "I still have seven installments left to pay it off."
"No need to be embarrassed." Yasunaka Yosh chuckled. "Being able to buy a house on your own is already an achievement. And it's just seven installments—you'll probably pay it off this year. Not bad!"
"Alright, I can see you're excited. Go tell your wife. Hurry and get registered, or there'll be a crowd later."
"Right, right. How silly of me." Taira smacked his own head hard, stammering. "I... I..."
"Go on." Yasunaka Yosh nodded with a smile.
"Thank you, Uncle Yosh."
Watching Taira run off, Yasunaka Yosh shook his head helplessly. "That kid..." He sighed. "Better hurry and notify the next household."
"These old bones of mine..."
...
"Kyoko, Kyoko!" Taira shouted excitedly. Before even entering the house, he couldn't wait to share his excitement with his wife. "Kyoko..."
"Coming!" A gentle-looking woman, wearing an apron, opened the door with a smile. Seeing her husband panting as if he had something urgent to say, she shook her head helplessly and reached out to wipe his sweat. "Look at you. Can't you take things slower? You're drenched in sweat."
"Heh—" Taira grinned foolishly, enjoying his wife wiping his sweat. "I'm just happy!"
"Since you're back, breakfast is ready. Let's eat first." Kyoko said gently.
But...
"Ah!" Kyoko suddenly let out a small scream as Taira suddenly hugged her. She lightly smacked him, blushing. "What are you doing? People are watching!"
"It's fine, it's fine!" Ignoring the onlookers, Taira continued holding Kyoko tightly, burying his face in her hair. "Let them watch."
"You..." Kyoko didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Really..."
"Heh." Taira closed his eyes, inhaling the fragrance of her hair, murmuring contentedly. "Meeting you was the best thing..."
Both of them were refugees who had come from outside. In the end, they had somehow ended up together. It was truly unbelievable...
"I..." Hearing Taira's words, Kyoko also hugged him tightly, whispering. "Me too..."
Coming to the Land of Whirlpools was such a fortunate thing.
"Oh, Uncle Yosh just told me something." Taira suddenly remembered, still holding Kyoko tightly. "Later, we can go register as citizens of the Land of Whirlpools and become its official citizens."
"Really?" Kyoko pulled back slightly, her eyes wide with excitement. "Are you serious?"
"Heh, of course!"
"Then shouldn't we hurry?"
"Let me hold you a little longer." Taira still didn't let go, murmuring. "Just a little longer."
Hearing this, Kyoko also relaxed, but a smile remained on her face as she wrapped her arms around Taira again.
"Let's have a child." Taira suddenly whispered into Kyoko's ear. "When the time comes, they can attend school in the Land of Whirlpools. I heard that as long as you're a citizen, education is free."
"..." Kyoko's face flushed red, then she nodded softly. "Mm..."
...
"Shijō, why aren't you out playing with your friends today?" Keita looked helplessly at the child staying at his house. This kid was supposed to be staying at the orphanage, so why did he keep showing up at his place every few days?
And now he had been here for several days in a row...
"Is the orphanage not good? Or are you being bullied? Tell me."
"No." Shijō shook his head. "The orphanage is great. Everyone is great."
"Then why?" Keita frowned. Today, a girl had asked him out on a date. After being single for so long, this was a rare opportunity...
It wasn't easy!
"If you have something to say, just say it." Seeing Shijō's hesitant expression, Keita sighed. "Maybe I can help."
Hurry up and say it so you can go play. Your big brother Keita has a date to get to!
"I..." Shijō hesitated for a moment before finally making up his mind. He looked up at Keita and said, "I want to become a ninja!"
That's it?
Keita stared at Shijō blankly. So it was just about becoming a ninja? Was there any need to be so conflicted...
"I remember they're planning to build an academy. If you want to be a ninja, you can go to school when it's ready." Keita said. "Hasn't the orphanage registered you as a citizen of the Land of Whirlpools yet?"
Only citizens of the Land of Whirlpools could attend school for free, but the conditions for orphans to become citizens were relatively more lenient.
"I want to start now..." Seeing Keita frown, Shijō seemed to realize his request might be too much. He lowered his head in embarrassment.
"Becoming a ninja isn't that easy." Keita frowned. "Your thinking is just..."
Too unrealistic!
But seeing Shijō's dejected expression, Keita sighed and didn't say it outright.
"Can you tell me why you want to become a ninja?"
"I..." Shijō took a deep breath. "I want to protect the Land of Whirlpools. I want to protect my friends."
"If that's the case..." Keita fell silent for a moment. Just as Shijō thought he was about to be rejected...
"I'll help you." Keita smiled and said. "Here's a scroll on chakra refinement." He took out a scroll from the bookshelf. "Read it yourself first."
Shijō excitedly took the scroll and looked at Keita curiously. "Big Brother Keita, do you have something to do today?"
He seemed to be in a hurry...
"Kids shouldn't ask so many questions. Just focus on reading!"