More than ten days later, Shun's children returned to the "Heavenly Road," famous throughout the Ninja World.
This passage is over two hundred meters wide, extending from the border of the Uzushiogakure all the way to the coastline of the Land of Water.
The incredibly wide "Heavenly Road" is not an ordinary passage or trade route, but a symbol of the Land of Water's acceptance of all beings and protection of life.
At this moment, the road was bustling with a large number of refugees.
On both sides of the road, refugees occasionally stopped, reaching out to touch the meteorite fragments and large trees on the road, their eyes filled with awe.
Some refugees from the Land of Fire exclaimed, "I've seen news about Heavenly Road, but this is my first time seeing it."
Another middle-aged man with a cloth bag on his back stroked the black meteorite on the ground and said excitedly, "I heard that Shun-sama summoned meteorites to fill the sea and then built this with Ninjutsu. It's simply a miracle."
Hearing this, the surrounding refugees nodded in agreement.
Someone pointed towards the Land of Water in the distance and said, "I heard that Cloud Dream City ahead was also built specifically for us. There are houses, fields, and we won't have to fear war anymore."
Shisui raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead and shouted, "Everyone, hold on a little longer, we're almost at the Land of Water!"
Behind him, Hamamaru, Seishin, and Shiryu were also orderly guiding the team.
As the squad that brought back the most refugees on this mission, they escorted over five thousand refugees.
During the more than ten days of travel, the few of them took turns on watch, not only dealing with wandering ninjas along the way but also caring for the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled.
Shiryu held the hands of several children, pointing to the outline of the Land of Water in the distance. "Look, that's Cloud Dream City ahead. You'll live a stable life there from now on."
"Shiryu-nii."
A little girl with pigtails suddenly spoke, her eyes sparkling, "I heard people say you're the prince of the Land of Water. Can I marry you when I grow up?"
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Shiryu's ears flushed slightly.
He reached out and patted the little girl's head, smiling somewhat awkwardly. "Lots of people like me. You have to study hard and learn skills well, then maybe you'll have a chance."
"Then can I be your little wife?"
The little girl tilted her head and said seriously, "If I'm a little wife, does that mean I don't have to work hard?"
As soon as she said this, the surrounding refugees all laughed. Hamamaru, standing nearby, couldn't help but shake his shoulders.
He was already used to Shiryu being "confessed to" by children, it always made people roar with laughter.
Before Shiryu could retort, another little girl in a floral dress quietly tugged on Hamamaru's sleeve, her voice soft. "Hamamaru-nii, I think you're better than Shiryu-nii. I want to marry you when I grow up."
Hamamaru knelt down, looking at the little girl's serious expression, and couldn't help but smile. "Then you need to eat well and grow tall. When you grow up, if you still like me, how about we talk about it then?"
The little girl nodded emphatically and handed Hamamaru the candy she had clutched the whole way. "This is for you. My mom gave it to me before she left. It's really sweet."
Hamamaru took the candy, feeling a warmth in his heart.
Just as he was about to thank her, Shiryu tugged his arm. "Brother, look over there. Sasuke seems to be there."
Hamamaru followed the direction he pointed and saw Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura. They were also tending to refugees by the roadside.
He waved to Sasuke and said, "Sasuke! Over here!"
Sasuke heard the voice, turned around, and seeing Hamamaru and the other two, a hint of warmth flashed in his eyes.
"Kakashi-sensei, I'm going to say hello to my brothers."
With that, he walked towards them.
Hearing someone call Sasuke, Manaka, Shion, and Karin also noticed the commotion.
Izumi smiled and said to the three, "You've also worked hard on this mission. Go say hello to them."
A moment later, the seven gathered by the guardrail in the center of the road.
Karin immediately saw the bandage on Hamamaru's arm and quickly opened her medicine box. "Hamamaru-nii, what happened to you? Let me re-dress it for you, otherwise it will get infected."
Hamamaru quickly waved his hand, a smile on his face. "It's nothing. Just a minor injury. I just encountered dozens of wandering ninjas earlier and got a scratch. It's almost healed. But what about you all? You brought so many children, it must have been harder than for us, right?"
Hearing the discussion about children, Shion took over the conversation.
She sighed helplessly, rubbing her waist, "There are many little boys who constantly clamor for candy and cry if they don't get it. Luckily, Karin brought a bag beforehand, otherwise, I would have been driven mad by them."
Karin gently patted Shion's arm, her tone softening. "Shion, don't talk about them like that. Those children's parents were lost in the war, and they're all alone. Eating candy is their only thought."
Manaka nodded, looking at Sasuke, her eyes full of concern. "Sasuke, I heard that the border of the Land of Akatsuki is quite chaotic. Did you encounter any dangers on your way?"
Sasuke pulled a water bottle from his pocket, took a sip of warm water, and spoke calmly as if discussing an ordinary matter, "We encountered over a hundred wandering ninjas who tried to steal our food, but we dealt with them all. Naruto charged at the front, and Sakura helped treat the injured. Nothing major happened."
"Naruto is still so eager for excitement." Seishin smiled.
He pulled out a few pieces of dried meat jerky from his backpack, and shared them with everyone. "I roasted these on the way. Try them to replenish your energy. Oh, by the way, Shiryu, you said you were going to teach those children Ninjutsu basics. How's that going?"
At the mention of this, Shiryu's eyes immediately lit up, and he said excitedly, "They learn so fast. Some of the little boys are only six years old, and after just three days, they can already gather a bit of Chakra. They might become amazing ninjas in the future."
"Really? Then I want to try it too if I get the chance." Karin's eyes also lit up, as if she had discovered something fun.
And so, the seven of them chatted back and forth, recounting interesting stories from their journey.
Hamamaru looked at the sky. The sun was already directly overhead, so he quickly reminded them, "It's almost time. We need to return to our teams, or sensei will worry."
Everyone nodded, exchanging a few more words of caution.
Seishin said with a smile, "When we get to Cloud Dream City, let's find a place to gather. I'll make you my specialty grilled fish."
Shion immediately responded, "Great. I want to go too. I also want to try the sweets in Cloud Dream City."
Manaka said softly, her eyes full of reluctance, "Then, we'll see each other in Cloud Dream City. Everyone, be careful."
The seven returned to their respective teams.
After only a few steps, they heard Naruto call Sasuke.
"Sasuke! Who were you just chatting with? Do you still have any jerky? Give me a piece, I'm hungry too."
Sasuke turned around, helplessly pulled a piece of jerky from his pocket, and threw it to Naruto. "Eat less, save it for the refugees."
Sakura saw Sasuke giving out jerky and tugged his arm. "Sasuke, I want some too."
Hamamaru watched this scene and smiled slightly.
Although the journey had been tough, seeing his younger siblings all well and the hope in the refugees' eyes made it all worthwhile.
"Everyone, don't rush. Hold on a little longer. The people of Cloud Dream City are already waiting for us ahead."
Cloud Dream City is a newly built city in the Land of Water, specifically for receiving this batch of refugees.
In the center of the city is a huge plaza, surrounded by granaries, medical stations, schools, shops, parks, and even a cinema.
Farmlands were even specially cultivated to ensure the refugees could be self-sufficient.
The end of Heavenly Road was lined with officials and volunteers from Cloud Dream City. They were dressed in splendid clothes, holding vibrant flowers and delicious food, their faces beaming with enthusiastic smiles, awaiting the arrival of their new compatriots.
These officials and volunteers all had extraordinary pasts.
Years ago, they too were a group of helpless refugees, trudging along Heavenly Road, eventually reaching the Land of Water. Here, they found a new home and began a new life.
Today, through their efforts, they have gradually integrated into the society of this country, living stable and happy lives.
However, they did not forget their former identities, and so they voluntarily came here to help these refugees.
Above this city, Shun, like a deity, quietly overlooked the scene below.
When the refugees orderly entered Cloud Dream City, this newly built city was infused with a new vitality.
The streets immediately became lively, and people's laughter intertwined, forming a joyful symphony.
The officials warmly welcomed each refugee, handing them flowers and food, and expressing their welcome and blessings with warm words.
The refugees, in turn, excitedly accepted the gifts, tears glistening in their eyes, feeling the warmth and kindness of the city.
Soon, the streets were filled with the laughter of refugees, rising and falling.
Refugees who had already received relief supplies were shopping, strolling, or seeking out relatives and friends to gather with.
Everyone's face was filled with happiness and contentment.
This bustling scene stirred an indescribable sense of accomplishment in Shun's heart.
More than ten years ago, when he first took over the Land of Water, it had only over eighty million people.
And due to years of war, the economy was depressed, and talent was scarce.
Other countries often waged war to compete for wealth, food, and territory. However, the Land of Water, which he led, was different.
He believed that strength lay in numbers, so he extensively rescued displaced refugees, providing them with a new home.
After many years of effort, the Land of Water finally underwent earth-shattering changes. It not only became a paradise nation in the Ninja World, but its population also broke through to over six hundred million people.
Among them, over two hundred million people were sent by him to Ancestral Star to open up new homes.