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Uchiha Kiyo didn't spend too much time analyzing the two new ninjutsu. After grasping their core mechanics, he paused further study. Practice could wait until his return to Kiyoshima.
He had more pressing matters at hand.
Despite having lived in the shinobi world for many years, Uchiha Kiyo had never set foot in the Land of Snow. Rumors described it as technologically advanced compared to other nations—boasting railways, and even films.
"Wait… films? That means… cameras! Damn, a camera!"
Suddenly, Uchiha Kiyo slapped his forehead mid-run, momentarily losing balance. Luckily, his reflexes kicked in just in time to prevent a fall.
"With cameras, I can record ninjutsu—steal… borrow techniques!"
He realized he had overlooked something so simple yet potentially game-changing.
After so long immersed in the harshness of shinobi life, he had become desensitized to the existence of advanced technology. His mind had adjusted solely to survival, combat, and chakra.
But cameras… they could revolutionize how he copied techniques—far beyond memorization.
One day later.
He arrived at the border of the Land of Snow.
The environment was rough. Bitter winds howled as snowflakes painted the landscape white. To preserve his condition, Uchiha Kiyo entered a nearby town, seeking an inn for rest.
Surprisingly, the standard of living in the town was decent. Being far from the center of shinobi conflict had spared it from war. The townspeople looked content—smiling, laughing, thriving.
Enjoying life.
What a rare luxury in the shinobi world.
Such indulgence, flourishing in a remote country like this? It caught Uchiha Kiyo off guard.
"Hurry up! If you don't get in line soon, tickets will sell out!"
Kiyo noticed groups of people rushing toward a location. Curiosity piqued, he stopped a passerby.
"Excuse me, what's going on?"
The man gave him a once-over. "You're not from around here, huh?"
Kiyo blinked. "No… I'm not."
The man grinned. "Snow Country just finished laying a railway here. Trains now stop at our town. Everyone's excited to ride—it's been the hot thing lately. Gotta go queue for tickets!"
He ran off before Kiyo could ask more.
So, the railway had just reached here recently?
He sighed internally. Can't rely on canon for everything.
In truth, Uchiha Kiyo didn't know much about the Land of Snow. He had only vague recollections from his academy days in Konoha. The textbooks hadn't mentioned railways—just descriptions of the cold terrain and minor political significance.
But the presence of rail technology implied deep infrastructure. Wars had stunted technological progress across the Elemental Nations, so only a country isolated like the Land of Snow could afford to build something as fragile and maintenance-heavy as railways.
In a quiet corner of town, Kiyo sat watching the crowd. "People queuing for a train ride out of interest… you wouldn't see this in the Land of Fire—not outside major cities like Konoha or the capital."
He sighed. "War ruins lives. Even the strongest nations don't live as comfortably as this tiny, snow-covered country."
But he hadn't come here to reflect on societal contrast.
Kiyo had a goal.
He needed to assess whether the chakra armor technology he sought had already been developed in the Land of Snow.
If not, there might still be valuable prototypes or foundational tech he could use.
After all, a nation capable of developing chakra armor would at least have the research framework required for advancement in energy-channeling gear. And if they had the infrastructure to support railways, then chakra-based engineering likely existed—if only in rudimentary forms.
Kiyo believed that with his knowledge and skills, he could develop his own chakra armor using the available technological base.
But ideally, reverse-engineering existing suits would accelerate the process.
The goal wasn't just chakra armor—it was to revolutionize his clones' Gundam Mode.
Rather than pursue colossal sizes, Kiyo aimed to miniaturize.
A more refined, armor-based Gundam Mode—something akin to Iron Man's armor from his previous world—could optimize agility, reduce chakra drain, and increase deployment flexibility. Speed and precision often outweighed brute strength.
Large forms consumed massive chakra. But if they couldn't land a hit due to sluggish speed, then what was the point?
He envisioned a modular, chakra-solidified suit. Not something clunky and restrictive like the Snow Country's prototype armors, but a chakra-forged exosuit—lightweight, instantly activatable, and fully integrated with his techniques.
After wandering the town, he finally found a decent inn.
"Snow Country has chakra armor… and possibly Ice Release users," Kiyo mused.
He suddenly recalled that aside from the Yuki Clan in Kirigakure, rumors spoke of Ice Release in the Land of Snow as well.
But having developed Ice Release himself, he understood how difficult it was without a proper Kekkei Genkai or reference. The Yuki Clan likely owed their ability to their bloodline, but what about Snow?
Sanbi, the Three-Tails, was a natural source of Ice-based chakra—yet it resided far to the southeast in the Land of Water, while the Land of Snow sat in the northwest.
Maybe someone had brought the knowledge over?
Or perhaps it was less about Kekkei Genkai, and more about physiology—certain individuals adapted to extreme environments could possibly manipulate ice through high elemental affinity. Like the Third Kazekage's control over gold dust or magnetism.
The next morning, after a warm night of rest, Kiyo departed the town, heading toward the country's core.
The deeper he traveled, the more brutal the climate became. Perpetual snowstorms, piercing winds, and temperatures far below freezing—reaching negative ten degrees or more.
Without his formidable physique, he'd have frozen long ago.
Not that he planned to suffer. If things got unbearable, he simply warmed himself with a Fire Style technique. No shame in survival.
The Land of Snow did have a shinobi village—Yukigakure, the Hidden Snow Village. The chakra armor was reportedly developed there.
But unlike major villages, Yukigakure wasn't independent. It was under the complete control of the Daimyō and functioned as a military branch of the Snow Royal Family. Civilians weren't allowed in, and the village's location was kept secret.
Finding Yukigakure wouldn't be easy.
But the Daimyō's residence? Much easier.
Land of Snow Capital — Daimyō's Palace
Fūnaga Zaōsetsu, the current Daimyō, sat reviewing reports on railway operations, citizen feedback, and maintenance costs.
Suddenly, the door creaked.
"Who's there?"
He looked up, alarmed. His guards hadn't responded to the noise.
A figure in a white robe emerged soundlessly. His eyes shimmered with crimson—three tomoe spinning slowly.
"Sha…ringan…?"
That was Fūnaga Zaōsetsu's last conscious thought.
Uchiha Kiyo's mastery of genjutsu wasn't at the level of masters like Uchiha Itachi, but with the Sharingan—especially after unlocking the Mangekyō—his illusions had grown exponentially potent.
Hypnotizing a non-shinobi like the Daimyō took only moments.
Ten minutes later, Kiyo exited the palace with a faint smile.
Using genjutsu, he had extracted all necessary information—including the exact coordinates of Yukigakure.
Importantly, Fūnaga Zaōsetsu wasn't harmed. Kiyo had no reason to kill him; the man had ruled fairly and protected his people. He had simply been hypnotized and questioned—nothing more.
Toward Yukigakure.
With the Daimyō's intel, Kiyo set out immediately for the hidden village.
He didn't know whether the chakra armor was finalized, still in testing, or even abandoned. But what mattered was the groundwork. The tech, the schematics, the prototypes—anything could prove useful.
And if Yukigakure was indeed a military-only base, he'd have to be cautious.
Still, Kiyo was confident.
If chakra armor existed, he would find it.
And when he did, the next phase of Gundam Mode Evolution would begin.