The three of them entered the village, and someone immediately came forward to greet them.
The villagers had long since received orders from the Anbu, so they already understood why Yuzuru and Terumi Mei had come.
"Lady Terumi Mei, I am the village chief. I've already informed everyone about the relocation. Most of them have no objections."
Terumi Mei nodded and looked at the villagers gradually gathering around.
"These two are ninja from Konoha. They will escort you to settle there."
"Understood?"
As her voice fell, the villagers immediately began whispering among themselves.
They had prepared themselves mentally, but the Hidden Mist had always been closed off. The villagers knew almost nothing about the outside world.
Now, seeing Yuzuru and Uchiha Obito in person, uncertainty about the future weighed heavily on them, filling their hearts with unease.
Finally, one of the braver villagers spoke up.
"Honored ninja from Konoha, does Konoha have a sea?"
Obito shook his head. "The Land of Fire does have coastal areas, but Konoha itself is mostly inland. You won't see the sea there."
"No sea?" The villagers froze for a moment after hearing his answer.
The same voice continued, "My lord, we've lived by fishing for generations. Without the sea, how are we supposed to survive there?"
Hearing their concerns, Obito couldn't help but laugh. "There's no need to worry about that at all. We'll arrange suitable work for you."
"As long as you're diligent and willing to work, you'll receive generous pay. One person's wages will be enough to support a family of five."
At those words, every villager present stared in disbelief.
"One person can support a family of five? Is that true?"
"I've always heard Konoha was prosperous. So it's really like that?"
"My family has three grown men. Does that mean we'll finally be able to eat meat every day?"
"Why would a place like that let us settle there? They're not tricking us, are they?"
Obito hadn't expected that simply stating the most basic benefits would shock them this much—so much that they would even suspect he was lying.
Looking at their sallow faces and worn-out clothes, he felt a pang in his heart.
'Is it only the Hidden Mist's villagers who live like this… or are most people outside the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning the same?'
Seeing them still waiting anxiously for his answer, he smiled.
"This is just the most basic arrangement. There's no reason for me to deceive you."
"Besides that, everyone who works will receive medical insurance and pension insurance."
"During the period medical insurance is in effect, whether it's treatment or regular checkups, any expenses at hospitals in the Land of Fire will be reduced by over eighty percent."
"As for pension insurance, once you reach the age of fifty, you'll receive a monthly pension."
"In addition, education follows a nine-year compulsory system. Every child will have the opportunity to attend school."
"Most importantly, the Land of Fire is vast and sparsely populated right now. Anyone qualified to settle there will receive a plot of land free of charge—for housing and farming."
As Obito continued speaking, he gradually trailed off.
The villagers in front of him had already gone completely blank, their expressions dazed, as if their souls had drifted far away.
Seeing this, Terumi Mei let out a soft sigh.
During her time traveling in Konoha, she had gained some understanding of the Land of Fire's systems.
She knew very well that Obito wasn't exaggerating in the slightest. These unheard-of policies had genuinely benefited the people of the entire Land of Fire.
Although Yuzuru was undeniably handsome and perfectly suited to her tastes, this was the true reason she had so readily agreed—after seizing power—to lead the Hidden Mist in submitting to him.
Yuzuru wasn't indulging in empty fantasies. He had already accomplished things she wouldn't have dared to imagine even in her dreams.
If such a system could one day benefit the entire ninja world, then what reason did she have not to choose to serve him?
Having grown up in the Hidden Mist, she understood better than anyone how ordinary villagers lived day after day…
Thinking of this, she stepped forward.
"You're fortunate. Once you arrive in the Land of Fire, live well. Do you understand?"
The villagers snapped back to their senses and immediately fell to their knees, repeatedly bowing to Yuzuru and Obito.
To them, the world Obito had described was nothing short of paradise.
Those who had once clung to their homeland and hesitated to leave had completely forgotten such thoughts.
If they missed this opportunity, their descendants would probably curse them for generations.
The village chief stepped up to Yuzuru and asked softly, "My lord, what should we do next?"
Obito replied, "In a moment, I'll open a spatial portal. You can bring your belongings inside and wait. Once we return to Konoha, we'll let you out."
The chief didn't quite understand, but he still nodded and turned to the crowd behind him.
"Go pack your things. Gather here in one hour!"
"Yes!"
The villagers left in high spirits.
After everyone dispersed, a woman approached, holding the hand of a delicately beautiful child.
With visible hesitation, she asked, "Honored ninja, are you looking for those who have awakened the Ice Release kekkei genkai?"
Yuzuru glanced at her and nodded casually. "That's right."
The woman seemed to muster great courage. She pulled the child beside her to their knees.
"My lord, both of us have awakened the Ice Release kekkei genkai!"
As she finished speaking, she extended her palm.
Soon, a smooth ice mirror condensed in her hand.
Seeing this, even the village chief couldn't help but widen his eyes in shock.
"Snow, when did you awaken a kekkei genkai?"
The woman called Snow lowered her voice. "I awakened it long ago. I just didn't dare to say anything…"
After speaking, she gently tugged at the child beside her.
"Haku, quickly show the lord."
The child named Haku obediently imitated her movements and formed a smooth ice mirror in his palm.
Yuzuru raised an eyebrow.
"Your name is Haku?"
Haku nodded.
Snow hurriedly added, "My son is rather timid and doesn't speak much. Please don't blame him, my lord."
Before Yuzuru could respond, Obito suddenly cried out in exaggerated disbelief.
"Huh? Son?!"
"That adorable child is actually a boy?!"