Quietly revealed talent
Construction of the Hidden Leaf Village is in full swing; the framework has been erected, and flesh and blood are being added. As more clans join, the population becomes increasingly complex, and the simple ninja clan management model begins to prove insufficient. The myriad daily affairs, like sprawling vines, entwine the nascent village, testing the wisdom of its administrators. Conflicts are shifting from macro-level inter-clan disputes to more specific, more trivial, yet deeply personal, issues of livelihood.
Inside a large wooden house, a makeshift meeting room, powered by Hashirama's Wood Release technique, the atmosphere was tense. The air was filled with the fresh aroma of new wood, mingled with the anxious atmosphere of the attendees. Around the long wooden table sat the stewards of the Senju and Uchiha clans, along with representatives of several newly joined clans. The meeting focused on the management of the village's early livelihoods—how to fairly and efficiently distribute the limited supplies currently available (from food and building materials to household items), how to establish a rudimentary household registration system to manage the rapidly expanding population, and how to establish appropriate public health centers amidst resource constraints.
The discussion quickly reached a deadlock.
"Of course, we, the Senju clan, should be given priority! We have contributed the most effort, and Lord Hashirama has consumed a large amount of chakra to construct the main body of the village!" A straightforward Senju steward slammed the table in a loud voice.
"Ridiculous! The Uchiha clan has also made great contributions! Madara-sama's power has intimidated the surrounding areas, saving a lot of defensive power. What's more, the core of the village's defense barrier in the future will have to rely on the insight of our Sharingan!" An Uchiha steward immediately retorted with a cold tone.
"Supplies should be distributed according to the proportion of family members!" A representative of a small family timidly suggested.
"Then won't the families that just joined and have only a few people starve to death? How will their contribution be calculated?" Someone immediately objected.
Everyone held their own opinions, arguing endlessly. Most of them were excellent ninja, skilled in combat and executing orders, but faced with the management of a large-scale settlement, which required meticulous planning and balancing the interests of all parties, they lacked experience. Their thinking was still stuck in the system of independent clans. Accustomed to relying on strength, they struggled to find a universally accepted and fair standard for distribution.
Senju Hashirama sat at the head of the table, his hands folded under his chin, his thick brows furrowed. He listened to the arguments, his face filled with frustration and anguish. He excelled at constructing grand ideals and winning people over with virtue; the nitpicking and meticulous analysis of such matters were not his forte. He tried to mediate, "Don't worry, let's talk it over slowly. There will always be a solution..." But his generosity seemed feeble at the moment, unable to quell the conflict over practical interests.
Uchiha Aoi sat in the back of the conference room, near a corner. This was her usual spot, fitting her current awkward position as an unofficial member of the family and allowing her to observe and learn. She wore a simple, lavender kimono, a stark contrast to the sleek ninja attire worn by most of the others. She mostly listened quietly, her slender fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of her teacup, her eyes cast down, as if to blend into the background.
Yet, listening to the increasingly heated yet unproductive arguments, watching Hashirama's brow furrow with apparent helplessness and even a hint of fatigue, she felt uneasy. Thoughts raced through her mind. She recalled her time in the Uchiha clan. Though far smaller than Konoha's present-day territory, the clan had a comprehensive system of internal management, particularly with codified regulations regarding the provision of supplies and housing for non-combatants. She had also secretly read the files her mother had left on the administration of the Fire Nation's capital and noble territories. Those systematic, institutionalized methods of management stood in stark contrast to the almost primitive arguments before her.
An impulse brewed within her. She knew that speaking rashly, given her status, might draw criticism and even cause trouble for her brother. But another emotion also pushed her forward—perhaps this was her chance to contribute a little to this new home, which was undergoing a difficult birth. She wasn't just a symbol, a pawn in an arranged marriage; she had her own thoughts and values.
She hesitated again and again, her fingertips turning slightly white from exerting so much force. When the arguing in the conference room temporarily died down due to the stalemate, she finally summoned up a rare courage in her life, raised her head, and spoke in a low, yet clear voice, breaking the brief silence:
"Perhaps...we can try to learn from the management methods of the capitals of great powers?"
Instantly, every eye in the conference room focused on her. They were filled with surprise, confusion, scrutiny, and even a hint of displeasure at being interrupted. Everyone was taken aback—this Uchiha princess, who mostly listened quietly, her status as unique as a delicate porcelain doll, would actually speak in such a pragmatic, even charged, meeting? What could she possibly understand?
Uchiha Madara sat slightly to the side of Hashirama, his arms folded, observing the argument with a cold, barely perceptible sneer. Hearing Aoi's voice, his sharp gaze turned towards her, a flicker of surprise before becoming inscrutable. He didn't say anything to stop her, but instead gave a barely perceptible nod, a hint of encouragement and a test.
Senju Hashirama seemed to have grabbed a life-saving straw. His troubled look disappeared and turned into a gentle and encouraging smile: "Oh? Aoi, what do you think? Tell me quickly!" His attitude greatly eased Aoi's tension.
Feeling Madara's tacit approval and Hashirama's encouragement, Aoi took a deep breath and forced her pounding heart to calm down. She tried to keep her tone steady and clear, no longer as thin as before:
"I've read some files on the management of the Fire Nation's capital and the castle towns of some daimyo families." She briefly explained the source of her knowledge to avoid unnecessary suspicion. "When faced with similar problems, they usually adopt some institutionalized methods."
She began to elaborate on her thoughts in detail, no longer avoiding the gaze, but looking seriously at Hashirama, who was presiding over the meeting, and the main stewards:
"Regarding the distribution of supplies," she said clearly, "constant bickering and forced division based on family strength will easily breed discontent and fail to cope with population mobility. Perhaps we could try establishing a 'voucher system.'" Seeing some people's puzzled expressions, she explained in detail, "We'd create a register for every household in the village, recording the number of people, whether there are elderly, sick, or disabled members, and their current contribution to the village's development—contribution not just in terms of combat but also in construction and providing special skills. Then, based on this information, we'd establish a relatively fair rationing standard and issue corresponding receipts. Everyone would collect supplies as needed with the receipts, reducing intermediary deductions and disputes, and making it easier to calculate consumption and avoid waste."
This idea was novel to many ninjas who were used to the saying "whoever grabs it first gets it" or "the clan leader has the final say". But after thinking about it carefully, they felt that it was indeed much more reasonable than aimless quarrels.
"As for household registration management," Aoi continued, her thoughts becoming increasingly fluid. "Population mobility is inevitable, and more people will come in the future. Chaotic management will pose a security risk. We can create unified wooden identity tags, or more durable metal nameplates, with basic information engraved on them: name, family (or marked as a commoner), time of joining Konoha, etc. Each person will have a unique number and be registered. This way, whether it's village management, task assignments, or checking outsiders, there's always a record to go on."
This suggestion directly hits the pain point of the current chaotic population management. Several ninjas in charge of patrolling and public security couldn't help but nod in agreement.
"Finally, there are medical centers," Aoi said, turning her gaze to the Senju clan representative in charge of medical logistics (the Senju are known for their expertise in medical ninjutsu). "It's necessary to centralize large hospitals, with those skilled in medical ninjutsu responsible for the serious illnesses and injuries. However, if everyday headaches, fevers, and minor injuries are all rushed to the hospital, it will take up valuable resources. Perhaps we could consider assigning a doctor with knowledge of herbal medicine and basic first aid to each planned residential block. Small clinics could be set up to handle common ailments, conduct health promotion, and then transfer patients to the hospital in serious cases. This would help alleviate pressure and make things more convenient for the villagers."
Her suggestions weren't groundbreaking, but they were clearly organized and practical. Each one addressed the most vexing challenges and offered a plausible path forward. More importantly, this systematic and institutionalized mindset clearly transcended the ordinary ninja's reliance on experience and intuition. It carried with it the management wisdom of a well-educated aristocratic class, focused on long-term effectiveness and fairness.
The conference room was completely silent, its previous atmosphere of impetuousness and bickering replaced by a thoughtful one. Many people who had previously held prejudices against Aoi, or simply viewed her as a symbol of marriage, now looked at her with a changed look, a touch of surprise and scrutiny, a respect that was often present.
Senju Tobirama sat below Hashirama. From the moment Aoi opened her mouth, his piercing red eyes were fixed on her. A slight crack crossed his previously calm expression, a flicker of barely perceptible surprise. He was accustomed to analyzing everything, including Uchiha Aoi, through data and logic. In his assessment, she was a seemingly weak, political victim burdened by hatred, pushed forward by her family. He had anticipated every possible reaction from her—silence, resistance, even sabotage. But he had not anticipated her displaying such pragmatism and clarity in such a situation and in such a way.
His gaze lost some of its previous pure scrutiny, as if looking at an "object in need of proper storage," and now contained a genuine assessment—an assessment of her intelligence, her potential, and the impact she might have on Konoha's future. He subconsciously tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, a habit he had when deep in thought.
Senju Hashirama's reaction was much more direct and enthusiastic. He slapped his thigh, and a resounding laugh broke the silence. "Excellent! Well said! Aoi, I didn't expect you to have such in-depth research on these matters of public welfare! These suggestions are extremely practical, and they've enlightened us!" His face was filled with genuine joy, as if he had discovered a treasure. He immediately turned to the several managers in charge of the relevant matters and spoke in a firm tone, "Did you all hear that? Follow the ideas proposed by Aoi immediately, organize your personnel, study the plan in detail, and come up with the specific details of the credential system, household registration plaques, and tiered medical centers as soon as possible! We can't let this chaos continue!"
Hashirama's affirmation was decisive. The managers, who had been hesitant at first, all agreed and began to discuss the details of implementation. The meeting's direction was completely reversed, from meaningless bickering to pragmatic plan building.
This small speech, like a stone dropped into a calm lake, sent ripples far beyond the meeting itself. It left a profound impression on Uchiha Aoi among Konoha's fledgling management. She was no longer just the silent, beautiful symbol of the union between the two clans.
Perhaps inspired by this successful experience, or perhaps driven by a deep desire to contribute to her new home, Aoi began to actively participate in village affairs discussions within her capacity. She carefully selected her areas of focus, focusing on improving people's livelihoods (such as proposing the construction of public baths and improved garbage disposal), basic education, and the welfare of non-combatants.
During a discussion about future village education, she again made a suggestion that surprised the ninjas: "In addition to schools for training ninjas, shouldn't we also establish schools for all children of appropriate age that teach basic reading, writing, and arithmetic? Even if they don't become ninjas, literacy and numeracy are crucial for their future lives and for improving the overall cultural level of the village."
This proposal also had a long-term vision. Although it was initially opposed by some conservatives who believed that "ninjas only need powerful ninjutsu", it eventually gained the support of Tobirama (who considered efficiency and the long-term development of the village) and some enlightened factions, and was included in the plan.
She deftly utilizes the knowledge of noble administration she acquired through her time with the Uchiha clan, along with unique insights perhaps gleaned from her own meticulous observations and multi-generational reading. Her suggestions are often fresh, constructive, and imbued with humanistic care. She is quietly beginning to reveal her own value and talents, often obscured by the halo of her marriage. While her relationship with Tobirama remains distant and aloof, and she avoids direct communication in public, her role in Konoha's village affairs is quietly evolving. In her own way, she is gradually earning recognition, carving out a small space of her own, one filled with wisdom and warmth, in a world dominated by men and force. This quietly emerging talent, like a new sprout poking its head tenaciously from a crack in the rock, though immature, promises limitless possibilities.
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