Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 70 The Hokage's Winter Vegetable Planting Plan

"Use a barrier... to lock in spring?"

Akimichi Torifu's mouth, stuffed full of roasted sweet potatoes, was so full of food that he forgot to chew and just stared blankly into space.

An eerie atmosphere filled the conference room.

Those present were all top elites of Konoha. Their brains had processed the most complex battle situations and analyzed the most tricky intelligence, but now, they felt that their brains were not up to the task.

In their understanding, barrier techniques are used for defense, to trap enemies, and as battlefield weapons like the Four Purple Flame Array.

Now, we're going to use it to...grow vegetables?

This...this crossover is way too outrageous!

Is it that times are changing too fast, or have we already been eliminated by each other?

Seeing the stunned expressions on the faces of the three "agricultural giants," Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled inwardly.

"That's exactly the effect I wanted."

He cleared his throat, knowing it was time to give them a revolutionary agricultural science lesson.

The blueprints, hastily completed overnight and filled with various strange spells and complex structures, were slowly unfolded on the conference table.

The title of the drawing was written in a flowing, powerful font, with a large character—

"Hengwen Boundary Farm: Preliminary Concept"

"Please take a look, everyone."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice pulled everyone back from their shock.

He pointed to the huge, semi-transparent dome on the drawing, which resembled an inverted bowl, and began to explain his core principles in detail.

"My idea is that, first, the most elite barrier team in our village will set up a sufficiently large, four-sided barrier in the vegetable growing area of ​​the farm."

"This barrier doesn't need to pursue ultimate defensive power like the Four Purple Flame Array. Its main function is isolation. It isolates external wind and snow, and the harsh winter cold, creating a relatively independent and closed environment inside."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused for a moment, giving them time to process what he was saying, before continuing, "With this enclosed environment, the next step is to raise the temperature."

His finger touched the dense, complex red lines on the drawing, which resembled a circuit board.

"These are a composite Fire Release technique array that I designed. It consists of countless miniature Fire Release techniques that can be evenly engraved on the inner wall of the barrier like a net."

"We don't need it to unleash the power of the Great Fireball Technique. On the contrary, what we need is a continuous, stable, and weak output of chakra."

"Through the shifts of the barrier team ninjas, a minimum amount of chakra is continuously input into this jutsu array, making it like a giant furnace, constantly releasing heat, thereby maintaining the temperature inside the barrier at the optimal range of fifteen to twenty degrees Celsius for vegetable growth."

"At that time, even if it snows outside, or even if a blizzard rages outside, the soil inside the barrier will remain soft and warm. We can plant whatever we want."

"Shika-no-Ku, what do you think?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze finally landed on Nara Shika-no-Ku.

Nara Shikaku let out a long breath. "Hokage-sama, your idea... is simply devilish."

"The Fire Release technique array on the inner wall of the barrier is too ingeniously designed, requiring a high level of chakra control. It's perfect to ask the Uchiha clan for help."

"If you don't understand, you can think of this as a huge house heated by fire-style techniques."

"That's one way to understand it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "But it's better than a house because it's big enough and semi-transparent, so it won't block sunlight. Sunlight, temperature, soil... when all these conditions are met, then inside the barrier, it will be spring all year round."

"We can not only grow fresh lettuce and green beans in winter, but we can even try growing some that have higher requirements for their growing environment! Then, you can enjoy your barbecue with garlic cucumber or tomato salad."

"Garlic...garlic cucumber with grilled meat?!"

Akimichi Torifu's eyes lit up instantly, and a beautiful picture appeared in his mind: outside was a snowy winter, while he was sitting in a warm, spring-like barrier, with a sizzling piece of grilled pork belly in his left hand and a crisp, refreshing piece of lettuce in his right...

"...Oh my goodness! What a wonderful combination!"

The look in his eyes as he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi had changed from admiration to fanatical worship.

This is no longer just about Naruto; it's a decree from the God of Barbecue!

"I agree! My Akimichi clan will go without food or water to build this constant-temperature farm!"

Akimichi Torifu slammed his hand on the table, his fat trembling.

After a brief moment of shock, Hatake Sakumo astutely grasped the deeper strategic significance in the Hokage's words.

"Lord Hokage..."

His voice was a little hoarse. "If this technology can really be realized... then our Konoha will have an almost unlimited logistical support system that is independent of any external resources."

"In times of war, this means that we no longer need to worry about enemy blockades and sabotage. Our food, vegetables, and meat will be produced continuously throughout the year."

"This...this will completely change the future form of warfare in the ninja world."

The more Shuo Mao spoke, the more shocked he became.

Looking at the young Hokage before him, he felt for the first time how insignificant his proud swordsmanship and assassination skills were in the face of such a grand strategy that could change the world order.

"That's right."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Sakumo with a relieved smile in his eyes.

As expected of the future White Teeth, he always sees through the essence of problems from a strategic perspective.

He stood up and solemnly handed the blueprints for the "Hengwen Barrier Farm: Preliminary Concept" to Hatake Sakumo.

"Sakumo, this task is entrusted to you."

"I need you, along with the Barrier Team, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, and all the members of the farm, to work together to make Konoha's first constant-temperature barrier stand on this land before the first snow falls."

Sakumo Hatake received the heavy blueprints as if he were receiving a military order.

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

After the meeting ended, Akimichi Torifu was still dizzy, feeling like he was dreaming.

Sakumo Hatake, however, had already taken swift and decisive action.

Holding the blueprints, he immediately found the leader of the barrier team and the head of the security department, Uchiha Tetsuka, who had just been summoned by Kagami and was in charge of assisting with the matter.

When the two saw the revolutionary concept drawings, their reactions were exactly the same as those of Sakumo and the others.

"Using a barrier... to grow vegetables?"

The leader of the barrier team was an experienced veteran ninja. Looking at the blueprints, he felt that he had wasted decades of learning ninjutsu.

"Let me see... what's going on... um... um?!"

Uchiha Tetsuka's expression became even more interesting after receiving the blueprints. Pointing at the dense array of Fire Release techniques, his lips twitched: "Heating for the farm???"

He felt that the honor of his clan was being subtly challenged.

However, after Sakumo relayed the Hokage's words about "strategic significance" and "changing the form of warfare".

The look in their eyes changed.

"I see."

The barrier-setting team leader took a deep breath. "This isn't just about growing vegetables; it's about protecting Konoha's lifeline! I'll gather everyone immediately to discuss the specific setup plan for the barrier!"

"The Uchiha clan will never hold us back!"

Uchiha Tetsuka straightened his chest and declared, "So that the villagers can have hot meals even in winter, the flames of the Uchiha are willing to burn!"

A grand project centered around growing vegetables in winter was thus launched in full swing.