"Launch!"
With a commanding order, the ninja on the training ground lifted a gun-like weapon which seemed to be made out of wood and steel.
The firearm's caliber was just enough to accommodate a kunai for firing. When the ninja pulled the trigger, a kunai shot out from the black barrel at an incredible speed, hitting a target 20 meters away.
It was easy to imagine the potential damage if aimed at a human body.
Without hesitation, the ninja fired a second kunai, with no more than an instant between shots. The second kunai hit the wooden stake just as accurately as the first.
The speed of the kunai firing from the gun surpassed that of some Genin. The gun's internal structure allowed the attachment of wind chakra to enhance the kunai's penetrating power.
Two consecutive launches left no need for further verification. This continuous-firing kunai gun represented the latest advancement in weaponry by the Land of Demons' military. The purpose was innovating to provide enough solid protection for the country.
The ninja retracted the kunai gun and approached a man in a white coat outside the area.
The man had stubble on his chin, a short haircut, and a monocle on his right eye, projecting an energetic and wise appearance.
"Doctor, the experiment has been completed." The ninja bowed respectfully.
"I saw it. Thank you for your hard work." The man nodded, expressing satisfaction with the kunai gun.
Originally, the technology for the kunai gun belonged to the Land of Sky, not the Land of Demons. However, replicating such ninja weapon was straightforward once the structure was understood and sufficient materials were available.
Despite its simplicity, the kunai gun was considered outdated by the council. It suffered from slow reloading, limited speed, and insufficient penetrating power, comparable to the throwing ability of ordinary ninjas but lacking flexibility.
Over the past few years, in order to change the tools shortcomings, several improvements had been implemented. The firing speed of the kunai gun was increased, and a device allowing the attachment of wind chakra was developed secretly, eliminating the need for skilled ninjas.
The meticulous effort to compress this device within the small kunai gun space culminated in the successful completion of the upgraded weapon. Now, the power of the Kunai Gun has been elevated to a level where ordinary ninjas find it challenging to defend against.
Of course, the condition for it being difficult to guard against was the opponent being unaware and was the target. A ninja's dynamic vision and the body flicker could still barely allow avoidance. Unless it was a large-scale coverage attack, the ninja might have nowhere to dodge.
What's most important was that the firearm didn't require a ninja to control it, any ordinary person could use it to easily neutralize a threat. This was the most advantageous aspect of this ninja tool.
While the world was filled with powerful ninja tools, many come with stringent conditions for usage. Some even demand the user's vitality as a price for activation.
In the eyes of many, such tools lack innovation. Yet, they remain fascinating for ninjas to wield. It was precisely because of this a practical ninja tool, capable of widespread use, was exceptionally valuable.
Consequently, the technology behind such ninja tool needed to be kept strictly confidential, and their dissemination must be tightly regulated.
"Dr. Hiroshi."
While the man pondered something, a voice called out to him. He raised his head to see Shiraishi walking toward him.
"Shiraishi-sama, why are you here?" Dr. Hiroshi greeted, nodding respectfully.
"I wanted to check the situation here. Doctor, how is the research on the Kunai gun progressing?" Shiraishi inquired with concern.
Dr. Hiroshi took a moment to consider before replying to Shiraishi, "Overall, things are progressing well, but the chakra attachment device still needs improvement. It occupies too much space inside the weapon, and the sealed compartment for storing kunai needs expansion. Otherwise, after firing 20 kunai, the gun requires a cumbersome refilling process."
A standard ninja typically uses around fifteen to twenty kunai in a battle. Those who wete proficient in using ninja tools may use hundreds of kunai and shurikens, or more.
Although the military-developed Kunai Gun was a powerful and accessible to ordinary individuals, the lack of a usage threshold increases the likelihood of non-ninjas achieving success in battle.
If 10,000 soldiers were equipped with such tools for a full-coverage strike, the impact would be even more significant.
While a single kunai may lack considerable power, launching 10,000 together, without the use of powerful defensive ninjutsu, it would pose a challenge for even ninjas with the Sharingan to evade with their dynamic vision, due to the dense and extensive coverage.
But, as the doctor mentioned, the Kunai Gun wasn't without flaws. The storage limit for kunai was capped at twenty, and the chakra attachment device requires further optimization to save space and enhance other internal components.
Despite the current ability to popularize the Kunai Gun on a large scale, the associated costs and technical constraints meant it hasn't achieved full-scale adoption and remained accessible to only a small portion of users.
"Can we produce 10,000 Kunai guns within the next two years?" Shiraishi asked.
Dr. Hiroshi adjusted the monocle on his right eye, sighed with a wry smile, and replied, "It would be quite challenging, because the current kunai gun is costly, not to mention the increased budget required. Moreover, it would disrupt the research sequence of other departments. Producing one thousand of the best kunai guns and another 9,000 secondary Kunai Guns might be possible."
Despite the kunai kun's convenience, changing ninja tactics may not yield effective results; it could only catch the enemy off guard. If ninjas were prepared, the kunai gun's threat diminishes.
The primary goal of developing the kunai gun wasnt to equip military ninja troops but rather to provide ordinary soldiers with this tool. The Land of Demons' army boasts over 50,000 soldiers, with ninja troops comprising only around five or six thousand. Town guards consisted of a mix of ninjas and ordinary soldiers.
The original intention behind the kunai kun's development was to enhance the strength of ordinary soldiers. For the military, teamwork was more emphasized, individual excellence was valued but promoting collective strength was equally important. The team unity of soldiers was more precious than anything.
Soldiers without team spirit were like lambs to slaughter on the battlefield. Only popular ninja tools like the kunai gun could genuinely boost lower-level troops, not tools requiring special skills.
"Is that so? Let's start with this then. The faster the better."
"Understood. I will try as much as possible over the next two years." Dr. Hiroshi nodded solemnly.
"I'm not as knowledgeable as you in this area of research, so I won't make demands here. If budgets is insufficient, you can go to the finance department for reimbursement."
"If needed, of course I won't stand on ceremony." Dr. Hiroshi smiled, much more relaxed.
The Land of Demons' prosperous economy let him maximize his talents and knowledge. Without meeting Shiraishi, he might have lived a hopeless life in this world. Ninjas didn't value knowledge like his questioning and denying him would be natural. Nobles would likely look down on his commoner status even if he approached them deferentially.
This was why he hadd joined the Land of Demons. Here he didn't worry about money, materials, or his family's livelihood. He could debate fellow scholars and develop hid own ideas. His sole duty was to fully apply his gifts.
"That's good. By the way, there's one thing I'd like the doctor's help with." Shiraishi suddenly said.
"Help? What's the matter, Shiraishi-sama?" Dr. Hiroshi asked curiously
Though both were researchers, Shiraishi and Hiroshi excelled in different fields, with Shiraishi specializing in medicine and life sciences, while Hiroshi focused on civilian and military technology.
"t's about that kid, Asuka. I want him to study with you for a while. He seems to be very interested in your works."
"Asuka-sama? Is he interested in this?"
Dr. Hiroshi was slightly surprised. He was familiar with Uchiha Asuka, but he hadn't anticipated having Asuka join him. As far as he knew, Asuka's mother, Uchiha Ruri, was a powerful ninja, and by tradition, Asuka's future was expected to follow a similar path. If he followed Hiroshi, there would be no ninjutsu instruction.
"Well, Asuka is more interested in things here than ninjutsu. Moreover, his character isn't suitable for becoming a ninja. I plan to have him grow here instead."
"Really? No problem, as long as Asuka-sama can persevere, I agree with it." Dr. Hiroshi nodded in agreement.
While Dr. Hiroshi was supportive, he acknowledged that success and failure were inherent in their line of work, emphasizing the challenges a child might face in accumulating knowledge.
"Then I'll leave it to you, doctor. I won't bother you with your work, and please take care of the w development."
Seeing Dr. Hiroshi's agreement, Shiraishi turned and left.
---
Click.
With a soft sound, the white wall suddenly turned transparent. This wall was actually transparent normally. When the mechanism activated, wood grain patterns appeared and flowed across the transparent surface - that was chakra light. Even an outsider sneaking in wouldn't notice a hidden entrance here.
Asuka observed the process with curiosity. This marked the entrance to the most crucial underground comprehensive research base. The area he'd entered was staff personal space.
InPushing open the patterned transparent door like a revolving entrance, Asuka stepped into the room. Inside, a middle-aged man with a monocle sat before a computer, typing on the keyboard. The monocle reflected screen light as he worked hard.
The computer displayed a design diagram of some colossal device. A valuable research data.
"Is it Asuka-sama? Please take a seat." Dr. Hiroshi said, not having expected Shiraishi to send Asuka so soon but entertaining him normally.
"Hello Dr. Hiroshi." Asuka bowed politely before sitting in a chair not far away, a somewhat reserved expression on his face.
"No need to be so formal. I've already heard about you from Shiraishi-sama, and it's no problem to follow me to learn. However, in our line of work great effort is required and it iss also accompanied by the pain of failure... hmm, it might be inappropriate to tell you this for now. Well, here is a book, you can take it back home to read. In a month time, I will conduct a test from the book. After the test, we will continue to learn more deeply."
Dr. Hiroshi stood, took a thick book from beside the computer and placed it before Asuka. Lifting it, Asuka found it quite heavy, but he didn't feel strained.
"I understand, Dr. Hiroshi."
Asuka acknowledged, determined to make the most of the chance provided by his father..
"Good. I still have things to deal with here. You're free to visit whenever you want to. If there's something you don't understand, you can come to me for guidance during the weekly holidays, that's when I will be free to guide you."
Asuka hadn't completely renounced his ninja identity. He still had to attend academy to learn those skills. Saturdays and Sundays were weekends and time off then. It happened to be time he could use to answer questions Asuka might have.
As for talent, it would take observation before arbitrary judgment. Interest was just a foothold, whether he had the talents to pry open scientific truths required aptitude and accumulated effort here.
After speaking, Dr. Hiroshi gathered some printed diagrams and hurried out, leaving Asuka to explore his office alone.
...,..
"Great Fireball Jutsu!"
In an enclosed training ground, Ruri swiftly formed the necessary seals and ejected a massive fireball from her mouth, hurtling fiercely towards a distant wooden post.
The spectacle continued as her Sharingan underwent a sudden transformation, changing into the Mangekyou Sharingan, mimicking the basic hook jade's extended form. Her left eye released a powerful pupil power, influencing the expelled fireball. In an instant, the fireball expanded into a menacingly burning circle, rapidly heating the surrounding air.
Then her figure disappeared, a hot intense lightning blot lingering in her prior spot, circling as her main body appeared before the monstrous fireball about to strike the post.
Without hesitation she held a dark red chakra-condensed sword which usually materialized when using Susanoo.
It would be to slash the amplified fire jutsu, her left eye nevertheless kept emitting pupil power, focusing on the sword until an azure blue brilliance covered its surface. Then she slashed at the giant fireball decisively.
The swords's downward trajectory left lightning traces through the atmosphere with loud creaking sounds. The bisected fireball very evenly flew out, singeing her hair and clothes at the edges as it rubbed past before Ruri stood unscathed.
Ruri gazed at the dark red sword where the azure brilliance still hadn't faded. The slashing trajectory that bifurcated the fireball left behind lightning-worn gashes in space itself, as if slicing through the very air, lingering for a long time.
From a distance, the sharpness of the sword's trajectory resembled a piercing sword. Its cutting edge made the space in front of the blade seem unobstructed.
Against the amplified Fireball jutdu, Ruri effortlessly cut through it with a single stroke, wielding only a shrunken Susanoo sword. Unfolded to its full glory, the Susanoo sword's power would be even more pronounced with the enhanced pupil power.
Ruri was extremely satisfied with her current state. The development of Yakusanoikazuchi was also beyond her imagination, especially its compatibility with her Susanoo that could greatly enhance Susanoo's power. That alone made it worthy as an exclusive doujitsu of the Mangekyou Sharingan.
[Doujutsu = eye jutsu or technique]
"Were you training your Yakusanoikazuchi?"
Shiraishi asked, walking over from the sidelines. Having witnessed Ruri's experiment just now, he knew she was testing its strength. The eight lightning wasn't directly offensive, instead acting to comprehensively improve Ruri's capabilities, especially specialized attacks achieving the pinnacle.
""Yeah, I gave it a try just now, and there are more things to test." Ruri nodded.
"Although your Mangekyou Sharingan is quite unique and won't lead to severe negative effects on yourself, you should still be mindful of rest. Overusing too much chakra for jthe utsu might put a significant strain on your body. Take these eye drops; they'll help alleviate the stress caused by your Sharingan. Remember to use them after your training."
Shiraishi produced a small bottle from his pocket and tossed it to Ruri.
Ruri examined the bottle, discovering it contained a special type of eye drops. It wasn't your typical eye care product; these drops were designed to lessen the strain imposed by the Sharingan..She accepted it casually, storing the special drops in her pouch.
""So, what brings you here? Just checking on my progress? You don't need to concern yourself with such matters." Ruri said bluntly.
"Of course not. It's about Asuka. I've already sent him to Hiroshi, and I'm here to inform you."
"I see..."
Hearing the news, Ruri couldn't help but sigh. In this world it wasn't necessary to become ninja, but that was the expected path. As Asuka's mother she genuinely hoped he would inherit her position as the next Uchiha clan head.
However, Asuka lacked the talent and enthusiasm for the ninja profession, as well as the mindset required to become a powerful ninja. Pressuring him might be counterproductive, potentially fostering rebellious thoughts.
"Don't be too disappointed. If Asuka truly achieves something there, it will complement Kazuhime in future. Isn't that a positive outcome?" Shiraishi said optimistically.
Ruri remained silent. While she might not appreciate Shiraishi's scientific path, she acknowledged its effectiveness and power, albeit as a collective strength, not an individual one. He was right that her other child, Kazuhime, still possessed the Uchiha bloodline and the Sharingan.
"And.. how is Kazuhime? Is she doing well in Kiri?"
"No problem. She's thriving in Kirigakure, well taken care of by Yagura. She'll be back from Kirigakure for a visit in a few days. You can ask her yourself then."
"I feel like time flies so fast..."
Before she knew it, ten years had passed since leaving Konoha, seeming to blur past quickly. Recalling carefully, despite events occuring in the decade, it had been relatively peaceful.
"It is indeed fast. However, it won't be peaceful here for much longer." Shiraishi said meaningfully.
Ruri understood he referred to developments in the Land of Demons. "It appears you've resolved matters in that country."
"Yes, we've reached a preliminary agreement with the daimyo. Only the Land of Wind remains to handle the remaining part of the expansion plan."
Shiraishi's mood fluctuated subtly. Completing the Land of Wind phase would cement the Land of Demons'' rise as unstoppable.
With the five great powers' oppressive might weakening today, there was less worry about their existence, especially with Yagura still his ally. What he faced was the four villages' pressure and the Akatsuki.
His eyes flashed sharply and mouth curved up. "Next, it's time to call for the meeting. It's time to formally decide the specific date for attacking the Land of Wind. I assume both you and Ayane are eager for this, aren't you?"
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