“Back then, I was indeed quick-witted and made the most correct choice.” Uchiha Tenxiu recalled the past, carefully scrutinizing his actions at the time, and found not the slightest issue.
Even those who saw through his transaction with Seventh Elder Uchiha Raimon dared not speak of it openly.
After all, this would thoroughly offend Seventh Elder and the several Elders who supported him.
Even Fourth Elder Uchiha Kin, whose arrangements were disrupted, would be displeased with him, but it would only be one person holding a grudge against him; the Elders standing by him would not only not be hostile but would likely even approve.
After all, his actions conveyed values that perfectly aligned with what they wanted to show the outside Clans: that the Uchiha Clan was united and loving.
Even if the cultivation of Ninja was reduced, there was still the education of Elite Ninja, and countless Clan members approved.
Not to mention, for these Uchiha high-ranking officials who had already entered an era of peace, the answers Uchiha Tenxiu provided—love, unity, filial piety, and studiousness—all perfectly matched their current approach to managing the Clan.
Loving Clan members can win hearts.
Uniting Clan members can resist external enemies.
Being filial to Elder Clan members means obeying management.
A studious mind seeks control.
Not to mention.
Even if the deeds spread outside were that Uchiha Raimon developed these food storage techniques, the Elders should know very well who truly invented them. Therefore, no matter what, they must give a reasonable reward to the Clan member who made such a contribution!
“In fact, that’s exactly how it is!”
“Participating in the Clan’s Elite Ninja cultivation plan is only one of the rewards. Not to mention, there’s cultivation guidance for Elite Jonin, a medicinal bath exceeding fifty thousand taels every month, a material subsidy of ten thousand taels, and a monthly set of Ninja tools provided by the Clan. It can be considered luxurious cultivation!”
Uchiha Tenxiu couldn't help but marvel at his decisiveness.
Otherwise, if he had hesitated even a little.
He probably wouldn’t have had such benefits.
And it was precisely because of this cultivation.
That Uchiha Tenxiu, at only seven years old, openly possessed the strength of an Elite Genin, and secretly, he was actually at the Elite Chunin level.
Don't underestimate this point.
Reality is not as harmonious as manga and anime.
It is quite cruel.
Since the Six Paths Sage spread Chakra, the Ninja’s martial power has almost overturned all order, causing all countries to be tempered in continuous warfare, nourishing the world with pain.
And Ninja has become a profession forged in slaughter.
Among Ninja, the Ninja ranks that have been continuously uncovered have quite strict and clear requirements.
Even until now.
There are still lower existences in this world who are not adapted to Chakra. This does not mean they do not possess Chakra, but rather that they cannot refine and apply it.
Such people account for over fifty percent of the world's population, existing as ordinary people.
Of the remaining fifty percent, even those who can extract Chakra.
Still have varying amounts of Chakra.
And another half must be distinguished; they are existences who cannot even apply the simplest Three Body Technique Ninjutsu.
But at least they have the qualification to cultivate, existing as Samurai under the rule of Daimyo. If they cannot cultivate, then they are mere cannon fodder, worse than Samurai.
And only twenty-five percent of them can effectively learn Ninjutsu, even the simplest Ninjutsu.
But at least they can serve as apprentices/wandering Ninja.
Yet, even this lowest level of apprentice Ninja, possessing a killing intent, can easily slaughter a hundred-man army of ordinary people.
Their use of the Great Fireball Technique is comparable to an incendiary bomb, and Phoenix Flower is a bomb; contact means instant death.
A casual jump covers more than ten meters, a casual punch can shatter stone tablets, they run like the wind, and their sword strikes are like thunder.
And at the Genin level, Chakra greatly increases, and low-level Ninjutsu can be used continuously multiple times. Dozens of Samurai who have crudely refined Chakra are no match for them.
One step further.
Which is the so-called Elite Genin level.
They can even wear down an army of several thousand ordinary people by themselves through continuous hit-and-run tactics.
Under such terrifying Ninja strength.
Armies composed of ordinary people are almost meaningless.
Even at the Genin level, the power is already so immense.
Not to mention the higher ranks of Chunin, Jonin, and Kage; those are existences capable of changing the power of a nation.
It is also why the great nations of this world have consistently regarded the Ninja in the Ninja Villages as a crucial expression of national power.
No other reason.
Ninja are just too overpowered!
“Fortunately, I only used a small trick and received important cultivation from the Clan. Otherwise, relying on myself without the Clan’s support, my cultivation would have been delayed by at least one or two years.”
“And now, while achieving my goal, I haven’t exposed too much, especially…”
“Not attracting the extreme attention of Senju Tobirama!”
Uchiha Tenxiu looked up at the sky, pondering leisurely.
After all, whether it was the food storage technique or the alcohol extraction technique, even if it was guessed that they were related to him, they still didn't reveal a “genius!” for Ninjutsu development. Not to mention, these two techniques didn't go too far beyond the era's thinking. Even if he was lauded as a genius by Clan members.
In the eyes of Senju Tobirama, the Uchiha Clan's biggest detractor, he was merely
a bit “clever.”
After all, in a Ninja’s mindset, any creation and development that cannot be applied to Ninjutsu are considered mere trivial skills.
This point.
Even within the Uchiha Clan, it is the same.
For example, Uchiha Tenxiu’s reward was more for solving the Elders’ difficulties, avoiding Clan losses, and creating profit.
Rather than a reward for the creation itself.
Otherwise.
Even if Uchiha Tenxiu invented many other things, he would not be able to gain the recognition of the Ninja in the Clan.
Besides!
Are these two things I brought out really that difficult?
For example, the food storage technique uses nothing more than the earthen granaries from ancient China, thousands of years ago. It simply involves selecting a dry, low-water, high-slope terrain for construction, digging a circular earthen pit, burning it with fire to keep it dry, then spreading plant ash to prevent insects, followed by laying wooden boards, straw, and mats. After placing the grain, it's covered with mats, then rice husks for moisture prevention, and finally sealed with wooden boards. Lastly, straw is laid for waterproofing, and the entire storage space is buried with earth. This way, the dried grain can be stored for five to ten years.
Such a long time is enough for the Uchiha Clan to have ample ideas for the management of food.
As for after five to ten years, Uchiha Tenxiu would probably have already left by then!
Naturally, he wouldn't need to consider these things.
Moreover, such a simple granary storage.
No one in the entire Ninja World had thought of it.
After being “published” by Uchiha Raimon, it was even adopted by the Village. Senju Hashirama even pondered it carefully and, based on this waterproof, insect-proof, and dry method, built a larger, safer, and more reliable Konoha granary to store food. This drew praise from Senju Tobirama for his elder brother, while he felt his side had won another victory against the Uchiha Clan.
Uchiha Tenxiu was speechless about this.
Such a simple, almost trashy storage method, and no one in the entire Ninja World had managed to figure it out before?
But then he thought about the situation of the entire Ninja World,
Uchiha Tenxiu instantly understood.
The development of any matter is a result of demand.
From 1000 years ago until now, the Ninja World’s food supply has always been insufficient. Insufficient food leads to snatch , plundering leads to conflict and slaughter, and conflict and slaughter lead to war.
Then war leads to a decrease in the number of people growing food.
A decrease in food growers leads to plundering again.
Plundering again leads to conflict and slaughter.
Conflict and slaughter lead to large-scale warfare.
Then…
The cycle repeats.
This is a vicious cycle.
“With such a cycle!”
“No wonder there were no granaries built! After all, the food from that year was basically eaten up that same year; there was no time for it to be stored until the following year. Anyway, if there was no food, they’d just go plunder.”
Uchiha Tenxiu was utterly speechless about this.