Naruto's civilian cannon fodder starts with the three-body technique

Chapter 359 Food Crisis
With the five great nations successively signing their approval, the legal obstacles to the Land of Waves annexing the Land of Whirlpools have been completely cleared. However, the real challenge has only just begun.

For the Land of Waves, which was originally just a small port island, completely absorbing and digesting a country several times its size, with a population of over a million, and which had just been ravaged by war, was tantamount to a snake swallowing an elephant.

The entire Land of Whirlpools was devastated.

The two major ninja villages of Kumo and Muzu swarmed through the land like locusts, destroying not only Uzushio Village but also towns and villages along the way. Farmland was trampled and food was looted. To make matters worse, the Land of Whirlpools is mountainous, and the plains and valleys suitable for cultivation are extremely limited, mainly concentrated in the southern coastal area, which supports almost all of the Land of Whirlpools' population.

The region of Whirlpool Country was the hardest hit by the war. After this catastrophe, it would be a luxury to expect that this year's grain production could maintain 30% of the previous year's level.

This means that nearly 700,000 hungry mouths are facing a food shortage crisis!
The flames of the Ninja World War have not yet been completely extinguished. All participating countries are strictly controlling grain exports, and large-scale grain trade has almost been cut off. Black market grain prices have been driven sky-high.

Although the Kingdom of Waves is extremely wealthy, with its merchant alliance bank's treasury overflowing with gold and silver, it is still feeling considerable pressure in the face of a huge food shortage and soaring prices.

"Problems that money can solve aren't problems, but the problem now is that even with money, you might not be able to buy enough food!"

Kakuzu's eerie green eyes swept over the report submitted by the General Staff. His voice was dry and cold. This considerable expenditure on grain purchases would undoubtedly tie up some of the Land of Waves' development funds, thus slowing down the country's overall development and causing him to lose a significant amount of dividends.

"Kakuzu, people are the primary productive force; don't be stingy with money."

During this period, Umino Sasuke spent most of his energy discussing and perfecting the Umino Secret Technique with Elder Uzumaki. Whenever he had a spare moment, he would use the Flying Thunder God Technique to instantly travel thousands of miles and appear at the headquarters of the Uzuki Country.

The members of the staff were all elites carefully trained by the Land of Waves. When they saw that Umino Sasuke had taken time out of his busy schedule to come, they quickly reported: "Sir, the Land of Whirlpools is facing a huge food shortage. The grain merchants from the Land of Fire are raising prices on the spot. The prices have increased by more than 30% compared to before the war, and they are still rising!"
They hoard and speculate, releasing only small amounts of grain at a time, keeping us hanging on. The grain they purchase sporadically from other small countries is a drop in the ocean.

Regarding fisheries, Lord Umibozu and the ninjas of the Summoning Sea Beasts Division are already doing their best to clear the waters near the Land of Whirlpools, drive away dangerous large summoning sea beasts, and open up safe fishing grounds. Fishermen from the Land of Waves have also responded enthusiastically, taking out loans to buy boats and bringing their skills and experience with them. Combined with the fishermen recruited locally, the number of fishing boats has grown rapidly, and the daily catch is quite considerable, especially in whaling, where the harvest is enormous. A single whale can provide food for thousands of people for several days..."

As Sasuke Umino listened to the reports of good news, his brow remained furrowed.

Fishing is the Land of Waves' traditional business, and replicating it in the Land of Whirlpools is a wise move. The Umibozu's massive body patrolling the nearshore waters is the best guarantee of safety. The ninjas of the Summoning Sea Beasts Division are responsible for clearing out the small and medium-sized summoning beasts that the Umibozu disdains but still pose a threat to ordinary fishing boats.

With security guaranteed, coupled with the Land of Waves' mature fishing technology and almost inexhaustible marine resources, the Land of Whirlpools' fishing industry was indeed able to unleash astonishing productivity in a short period of time, greatly alleviating the Land of Whirlpools' food crisis.

Fisheries can only temporarily alleviate the crisis, but they cannot solve the food problem at its root.

Umino Sasuke pointed out incisively: "The fishing industry is too affected by the weather and sea conditions, and it only supplements protein and fat, which cannot replace the staple food of sugar and grains. With a shortage of 700,000 people, relying on the sea for food is not a long-term solution, and it cannot support the future development of the Land of Whirlpools. We must fundamentally solve the problem of food self-sufficiency!"

The staff officers looked at each other, their faces showing difficulty.

Everyone understands the logic, but the land of Whirlpools is mountainous, and the plains along the southern coast are so small that they have already been developed to the point of exhaustion. What remains are rolling hills and steep mountains. How can one possibly grow crops on rocky mountains?
Sasuke Umino's gaze swept over the detailed topographical map of the Land of Whirlpools hanging there, with hills and mountains occupying most of the map's area.

He pondered for a moment, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "What about Beiruhu? Have him come over here."

Soon, Hirukona's gloomy figure appeared in the tent. After devouring the Netherworld Escape Technique, his strength increased greatly, and his temperament became more profound and reserved. However, the desire for research in his eyes remained burning.

"Boss, you wanted to see me?" Hiruko bowed slightly, becoming even more respectful to Umino Sasuke, especially after Umino Sasuke defeated the Third Raikage and suppressed the Eight-Tails single-handedly, he dared not overstep his bounds in the slightest.

"Hiruko, I need your technical team to conduct a more detailed soil, hydrological, and climate mapping analysis of the entire Whirlpool Country, focusing on the hilly and mountainous areas."

Umino Sasuke pointed to a large area on the map and instructed, "I need to know what food crops can be grown in these places, and how to grow them to achieve high yields?"

Beiluhu's green eyes lit up. Although this was not the bloodline fusion experiment that he was most interested in, it involved large-scale ecological modification and the application of biotechnology, and it was also full of challenges.

"Yes, boss! I will organize the most capable technical team, bring the latest detection equipment, and give you a detailed report as soon as possible!"

“Very good.” Sasuke Umino nodded.

Then, he turned his gaze back to the map and said decisively, "In addition, notify Kado to use all trade routes to divert grain purchases to non-major participating countries such as the Land of Demons, the Land of Iron, and the Land of Tea, even if the prices are slightly higher, to avoid being completely controlled by grain merchants from the Land of Fire! At the same time, allocate half of the grain reserves from the Land of Waves's domestic granaries to prioritize the basic food supply for the core area of ​​the southern plains of the Land of Whirlpools, and stabilize the morale of the people!"

The staff officers quickly jotted down the orders, feeling somewhat relieved.

a few days later.

Hiruko's preliminary report was delivered to Umino Sasuke. The report showed that the hilly and mountainous areas of the Land of Whirlpools were not completely barren. Many places were covered with a thick layer of humus, especially the sunny slopes with dense vegetation. The organic matter content of the soil was actually quite considerable. However, due to the terrain, large-scale cultivation was not possible.

“The humus layer is several feet thick!” As Umino Sasuke looked at the report, a bold idea gradually took shape in his mind.

He immediately summoned the Uzumaki clan chief and Kakuzu, and revealed his plan.

"Chief Haiye, you mean to grow crops on those mountains?!" Chief Uzumaki stared at the mountainous areas marked on the map, his face filled with disbelief. "This, how is this possible? Those places are steep and difficult to traverse, teeming with wild beasts. How can they be cultivated? Even if they were cultivated, the land is barren, how much can they produce?"

"Clan Chief Uzumaki, do you know about terraced fields?" Umino Sasuke's tone remained firm.

"Terraced fields?" Chief Whirlpool was taken aback. What were terraced fields? He had only heard of growing fruit trees on mountains, but he had never heard of growing grain on mountains. Even the mountain people cultivated some vegetable gardens in the valleys. Even if the valleys were fertile, the yield of grain was not high, and they had to spend a lot of energy to protect the farmland. It was completely not worth the effort.

As a ninja, Chief Umino is far removed from the grassroots level. Perhaps he only knows how to talk about things on paper and doesn't know the hardships farmers face in farming?

If he hadn't once been the daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools and had some knowledge in this area, he probably would have shared the same thought as the clan chief Umino.

Sasuke Umino's eyes gleamed with wisdom as he smiled and said, "Terraced fields are created by transforming steep slopes layer by layer into terraced plains through human labor! Each terrace is a piece of arable land!"

Then, he unfolded a simple hand-drawn map: "Look, like this, following the contours of the mountain, leveling the land. Although reclamation is difficult, we are ninjas!"

"Ninjas?" Kakuzu's green eyes flashed, as if he had sensed an opportunity to save costs.

"That's right! Who says ninjas can only fight and kill?!"

Sasuke Umino slammed his hand on the map and declared, “What is the most difficult and time-consuming preliminary work in cultivating terraced fields? It’s nothing more than clearing away the original vegetation, breaking up the hard ground, and leveling the steep terrain! These are not difficult tasks for ninjas with large-scale ninjutsu!”

The disaster victims of the Whirlpool Country do not need to fight against the primeval forest and hard rocks. They only need to be responsible for the meticulous work after the terraces are formed, such as clearing the gravel from the fields, applying fermented farmyard manure, sowing seeds, and managing the fields.

This not only provides work relief, ensuring that disaster victims have jobs and food, but also fundamentally increases the arable land area of ​​the Whirlpool Country!

"Think about it, Clan Chief Uzumaki, if we could convert over 90% of the mountains in the Land of Whirlpools into terraced fields, how many times would our arable land increase? Three times? Five times? Or ten times!"

Chieftain of the Whirlpool Clan was stunned by this grand vision. He looked at the map and imagined the spectacular scene of the land being transformed into layers upon layers of green staircases that encircled the earth. His breathing became rapid.

If this can be achieved, the Land of Whirlpools will be completely free from its dependence on food and may even become a major food-producing country.

Chief Whirlpool remained worried, saying, "But even if it's cultivated, how can the fertility of these new lands compare to the good fields of our southern plains? I'm afraid its yield will be a major problem."

"I'll take care of the fertility problem!"

Sasuke Unno remained calm and confident, saying, "Hiruko's report shows that the humus layer itself is the best source of fertilizer. After large-scale fire-style burning and cleaning, the ashes of the vegetation are rich in potassium fertilizer, which will be incorporated into the soil. Combined with the concentrated collection of fermented farmyard manure, the fertility will definitely not be weak!"
In addition, I have asked Kado to contact the daimyo of the Bird Country to purchase a large amount of bird droppings. This natural phosphate fertilizer is absolutely effective for barren soil!

"Believe me, Clan Chief Uzumaki, with the right methods and meticulous management, in a year or two at most, the yield from these terraced fields will be no less than the best farmland in the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning! In fact, given time, it's not impossible for them to rival the most fertile land in the Land of Fire!"

"Catching up with the Land of Fire?!" The whirlpool clan chief was utterly shocked.

The Land of Fire is a vast and fertile land, a renowned granary in the ninja world. If the terraced fields of the Land of Whirlpools could truly reach that level, he simply couldn't imagine what an earth-shattering, world-shaking feat it would be!
“Kakuzu!” Sasuke Umino turned to the finance minister, whose eyes were beginning to gleam with gold.

"Boss!" Kakuzu's voice was incredibly eager. He was already calculating the input-output ratio in his mind. Cultivating terraced fields required a lot of manpower, but with the help of ninjas, the cost would be greatly reduced. The disaster victims would receive work in lieu of relief, which was equivalent to exchanging food for labor, and was countless times more cost-effective than simple relief.

Once the terraced fields are built, the newly added arable land will become a continuous source of wealth!
"Food self-sufficiency is the foundation of a nation's stability!"

Sasuke Umino's eyes were resolute as he said in a deep voice, "The terraced field project is a century-long plan to solve the future food problem of the Land of Waves. We must spare no effort to push it forward! With the Second Shinobi World War nearing its end, and refugees from all countries rising up and famine spreading, we must immediately launch a 'recruitment order.' In the name of the Land of Waves and the Otogakure, we will announce to the entire shinobi world: We have land, jobs, and food here. For any refugees willing to migrate here, the Land of Waves will provide migration expenses, initial rations, and promise to allocate newly reclaimed terraced fields for cultivation! Through work relief, the hardworking can not only have enough to eat but also own their own land!"

Upon hearing this, the golden light in Kakuzu's eyes almost materialized!

In his shrewd businessman's mind, constantly calculating land, population, and labor, a grand blueprint was instantly sketched out: millions of refugees would pour into the land of whirlpools, cultivating several times more arable land than there existed. With land came production; with production came tax revenue, commerce, and prosperity!

The Land of Waves' efficient business system, fishing industry, and the military support of the Sound Village are enough to transform these new people into terrifying productivity. The Land of Waves' business alliance will become even more powerful and penetrate into every corner of the ninja world, creating unimaginable wealth!
His current annual income in the Land of Waves easily exceeds 100 million taels just from the merchant alliance dividends and interest. If the Land of Whirlpools can truly absorb millions of refugees and cultivate tens of millions of acres of fertile land, an annual income of 1 billion taels will not be a dream.

In this way, he will easily become the richest man in the ninja world!
"Understood, boss!" Kakuzu's voice trembled slightly with excitement.

He whirled around and roared at his men, “What are you all standing there for? Immediately notify all the outgoing caravans to launch the highest level of propaganda and tell those starving refugees that the Land of Waves is their promised land! They have land to cultivate! They have food to eat! They have a way to survive! They welcome all who come!”

And so, a vigorous terraced field movement began on the mountainous land of the Land of Whirlpools.

The planned pilot area was located on a relatively flat, rolling hilly area on the edge of the southern plain.

With abundant sunshine and proximity to water sources, this area is an ideal starting point for the development of terraced fields.

In the early morning, the thin mist had not yet completely dissipated.

A construction team of hundreds of ninja from the Sound Village, like a disciplined army, headed to the foot of the mountain.

"Fire Release Team, Squads 1, 2, and 3, Target: Hillsides 1 to 3! Range: Extending 400 meters upwards from the hillside! Fire Release: Continuous Flame Burning City, cover and burn! Ready—Fire!"

With a command from an experienced Jonin.

In an instant, countless fiery dragons roared and charged toward the lush green hillside!
Rumble——!
The raging flames shot into the sky, instantly engulfing the dense vegetation.

Thick smoke billowed into the sky, the air filled with the acrid smell of burning vegetation, and flames greedily licked everything in their path, causing shrubs, thorns, and low trees to rapidly carbonize and collapse in the intense heat.

The fire-style ninjas precisely controlled the fire, ensuring that the flames did not spread out of control beyond the designated area.

This spectacular yet somewhat devastating scene left the disaster victims watching from afar at the foot of the mountain speechless, uttering gasps of astonishment.

They never imagined that the terrifying flames used by ninjas in battle could be used on such a large scale for land reclamation!
The fire burned for most of the day. As the flames gradually died down, the once lush hillside was transformed into a huge, charred scar, emitting wisps of smoke. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and ashes.

"Wind Release Team! First and Second Squads, objective: destroy the surface residue in the burned area!"

The Wind Release ninjas, who had been waiting in the wings, immediately stepped forward, formed hand seals, and unleashed a combined Wind Release technique.

A violent hurricane rose from the ground, like an invisible giant hand sweeping across the scorched earth. The powerful airflow swept up the ashes left after the fire, the unburnt charcoal, and the soft humus layer, forming a black dust storm.

The even more powerful wind pressure bombarded the remaining thick tree roots and hard rocks on the ground with precision, crushing and tearing them apart, like an invisible shredder at work. The tough tree roots were turned into dust under the continuous cutting of the wind blades, and the hard rocks were also cracked and peeled off by the powerful wind pressure.

The scorched hillside, after being cleansed by the wind, revealed the dark soil that was scorched hot but also relatively soft.

"Earth Release Team! All personnel, please! Use Earth Release techniques according to the plan to create the terraced base! Pay attention to the height differences between the terraces and the horizontal plane!"

Earth Release ninjas were the main force in this transformation; they were the most numerous and had a clear division of labor.

With synchronized shouts and the surge of chakra, the earth seemed to transform into a lump of clay that could be kneaded at will.

Small earthen walls rise abruptly from the ground along the contour lines of the hillside, forming the most basic retaining walls for the terraced fields. Huge clods of earth are precisely cut by an invisible force, and the excess is removed and filled into low-lying areas. Steep slopes are cleverly leveled and reshaped, forming the prototype of wide and flat terraces.

When encountering particularly hard rock formations, specialized Earth Release masters will use Rock Collapse to completely shatter them.

Nearly a hundred Earth Release ninjas worked together, creating a spectacular scene.

The light of chakra rose and fell, and the earth changed shape amidst the roar, as if a god was wielding a brush, drawing regular geometric lines on the earth.

The once barren and steep hillside has been transformed at a visible speed into a series of well-defined and staggered giant steps.

The disaster victims below the mountain watched with rapt attention, their hearts filled with immense shock; it was nothing short of a miraculous change of the world!
They have lived here for generations and never imagined that these barren mountains, which were considered useless, could be brought to life in such a way!
"Water Retreat Team! Draw water up the mountain! Construct an irrigation network!"

Water Release ninjas followed closely behind, using ninjutsu to dig ditches and divert water from mountain streams or distant rivers to the newly cultivated terraced fields.

Clear streams of water, like silver ribbons, meandered along the mountainside, nourishing the newly born land.

At the same time, the irrigation dams created by the Earth Release ninjas were filled with water.

After the ninjas completed the most difficult task of building the terraced field "skeleton," it was the disaster victims' turn to take the stage.

Tens of thousands of organized disaster victims, under the command of staff from the Land of Waves and members of the Uzumaki clan, carried hoes, shovels, and baskets, and surged up the terraced fields like ants carrying food.

Their main task is meticulous farming: clearing away small stones left in the fields; leveling the land, building small ridges, and dividing it into smaller farming units; and evenly spreading fermented and decomposed farmyard manure into the fields. This high-quality farmyard manure is made from a large amount of fishery by-products, seaweed, and collected human and animal excrement, and must be deeply turned into the soil with a hoe.

Following the timing and density guidelines provided by the Biruho ​​technical team, drought-resistant and infertile soil-tolerant improved crop seeds were sown.

They carefully laid out the small tributaries drawn from the irrigation canal to ensure that every terraced field was irrigated.

Although the work is still heavy, it is much easier than the initial clearing.

More importantly, they were working for their future food supply and for the land they might own. Looking at the new fields under their feet, created by the "miracle" of the ninjas and exuding the fragrance of soil, everyone's eyes were filled with unprecedented hope and drive.

"Chief Umino, this is simply unbelievable!"

The vortex clan chief stood at the top of a newly opened terraced field, looking down at the bustling scene below.

The terraced fields, layer upon layer, resemble giant green steps, stretching from the foot of the mountain all the way to the mountainside. Under the sunlight, the newly turned soil glistens with a moist luster, and the irrigation canals reflect shimmering waves. Countless tiny figures work diligently among them, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.

This sight was more awe-inspiring than any ninjutsu he had ever seen.

"This is just the beginning, Uzumaki Clan Chief." Umino Sasuke stood beside him, the sea breeze ruffling his robes. "We will clear every barren mountain in the Land of Whirlpools, and make hunger a thing of the past!"

The vortex clan chief nodded emphatically, his eyes now filled with unwavering confidence and reverence, devoid of any doubt.

Kakuzu stood on another hilltop, his eerie green eyes scanning the magnificent man-made spectacle. In his eyes, the terraced fields seemed to transform into layers of gold and silver mountains.

The millions of migrants who were about to arrive would be millions of hardworking "oxen and horses" creating wealth. He could almost hear the beautiful sound of gold coins cascading down like a waterfall.

"Someone!" Kakuzu's voice trembled slightly. "Notify all branches! Increase the reward for the recruitment order by another 30%! Tell those refugees that coming to the Land of Waves will not only save their lives, but also make them rich! We need people! We need lots and lots of people!"

(End of this chapter)