After successfully completing the initial split of the Heavenly Curse of the Five Phantoms and embedding the identity of Uchiha Kaede within the Leaf, Shiraishi turned his full attention back to the foundational work of civil administration.
The fact that the Kazekage was currently dedicating most of his energy to the livelihood of his villagers drew completely opposite reactions from Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Danzo viewed Shiraishi's actions as foolishness. He believed that slowing down the militarization of the Sand would inevitably lead to its decline.
To Danzo, expanding entertainment and civil welfare would only make the villagers complacent and soft, stripping them of their "progressive spirit."
In his eyes, while the Fifth Kazekage was a formidable tycoon of the shinobi world, he was becoming as sentimental and "motherly" as the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, however, saw things differently. He had already classified Aoki Shiraishi as the Leaf's true mortal enemy.
To Hiruzen, a shinobi's greatest strength was the ability to endure and exercise restraint. A leader who could suppress his own desire for world conquest to focus on the survival and prosperity of his people was a man of terrifying patience.
Such a person is the most dangerous opponent Konoha has ever faced.
The New Prosperity
The New Hidden Sand Village was now a city that never slept. Streets were brightly lit, vendors lined the thoroughfares, and a flood of affordable goods from across the nations filled the markets.
In the past, the Sand was impoverished. While small commodities existed, their prices were exorbitant; ordinary civilians couldn't afford a simple bowl of shaved ice, let alone luxury goods.
Now, things had changed. Shiraishi's control over maritime trade had driven prices down, and his development of high-tech industries had slashed the cost of materials.
Every villager felt the change. Unlike the days under Rasa, where life was a bitter struggle of mining to survive, a strong sense of national identity and pride had begun to take root.
To nurture this, Shiraishi authored the Legend of the Sand Shinobi—a book celebrating an unsung hero whose resilience brought about a new era.
The hero's catchphrases and deeds became a craze among the village youth.
Shiraishi's administrative prowess commanded the world's respect. Though he seemed "unambitious" regarding war, he was proving to be a master "Village Head," leading his people to collective wealth.
This shift toward a more "gentle" Sand Village actually made Konoha more uneasy. In fact, Minato and Hiruzen even began adopting some of Shiraishi's civil policies for the Leaf.
Consequently, Konoha experienced its own renewal. With appropriate policy adjustments and a period of rest, a baby boom began.
As the village with the deepest foundations, Konoha was catching up to the Sand's pace of development.
Shiraishi observed these changes but remained unconcerned. Konoha has too many internal constraints, and as for Minato... According to the future timeline, the Nine-Tails incident would strike this year, plunging the Leaf into a long period of stagnation.
He didn't fear Konoha's growth; he knew the gap between the five villages would only widen in the next decade.
The Workaholic Kazekage
Expansion continued. Beyond the main village and the Land of Valleys, Shiraishi established five other regional hubs across the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind.
Each featured a Ninja School based on the principle of "education without discrimination." These schools recruited commoners from all over, integrating them into the Sand's system with identical headbands and benefits.
To centralize authority, mission assignments were handled via Shiraishi's virtual projections.
In the Kazekage's office, Maki walked in carrying a steaming bento box. Since taking office, Shiraishi rarely made it home for dinner. Despite being heavily pregnant, Maki insisted on preparing his meals every day.
"I told you not to worry about these meals," Shiraishi said, looking up from his desk. "I can find something to eat."
"You mean these?" Maki pointed at the pile of instant ramen cups overflowing from the trash can.
As the most diligent Kazekage in history, Shiraishi personally monitored the progress of every civil project.
While Maki worked hard, her lack of experience meant Shiraishi had to handle the complex negotiations himself—such as the current pricing dispute regarding specialized materials from the Land of Lightning.
Shiraishi often stayed at his desk for days at a time. This level of work worried not just Maki, but also Chiyo and Ebizo, who joked about their Kazekage dropping dead from overwork.
In truth, Shiraishi's physical condition was peak; his specialized methods kept his energy levels far beyond those of an average shinobi.
"You brat! Have you no regard for your family since becoming Kazekage?"
Pakura strode into the office, dressed in her combat gear, looking ready to defend Maki's honor. As Maki's teacher, she couldn't stand to see her favorite student being "neglected."
"Teacher, please, it's not like that. He does it all for the village," Maki immediately interjected, defending her husband. In her eyes, a man so loved by the people was a true hero.
Faced with Maki's unwavering support for her husband, Pakura's fire died down, left speechless. Shiraishi quietly opened the bento and began to eat. "Thank you for the meal. I'm digging in."
Watching Shiraishi eat heartily, Maki beamed with a look of pure happiness and satisfaction. Pakura stood to the side, feeling a bit awkward and "blinded" by their domestic bliss.
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