In order to defend against unknown enemies from the heavens above, the United Government of the Shinobi World had formulated numerous contingency plans. These included not only widespread educational and cultivation programs for the general population, but also elite training programs for carefully selected "seeds."
This cultivation extended beyond just ninjutsu and Breathing Arts—it also included the development of science, technology, culture, and ideology.
Unknowingly, a layered selection system resembling the academic advancement system of the previous world had begun to take shape.
However, in the Shinobi World, being eliminated from this selection process didn't mean a person lost their future or was condemned to live like a slave.
Thanks to the existence of ninjutsu, productivity was extraordinarily abundant.
Even if someone couldn't continue to the next level of training, they didn't have to desperately struggle for basic survival.
On the contrary, they had enough time and energy outside of work to research and pursue fields they were passionate about.
After all, the ultimate goal of the Shinobi World's cultivation system was to create a military force capable of standing against the Ōtsutsuki Clan. It wasn't something that could be perfected overnight.
Naturally, not everyone was suited to become a shinobi. Even among shinobi, each person had different talents and required different training paths.
As a result, many individuals chose to conduct independent research, seeking out the paths most suitable for themselves.
And they didn't have to stagnate due to a lack of knowledge.
The new United Government had long since made all categories of ninjutsu and Breathing Arts public.
Unless the content was extremely dangerous or inhumane, everything else could be freely accessed.
In fact, many people had discovered their own talents through these resources. Thanks to their research achievements, some were even invited to teach at the highest academies...
Or they started their own schools, mentoring disciples who shared their ideals.
As long as one was loyal to the Shinobi World, the United Government's management was remarkably relaxed.
However, if someone tried to exploit loopholes or act on selfish desires that could jeopardize the future of the Shinobi World...
Then they would have to answer to Neji—the very one who once guided the common people of the Shinobi World and wiped out the noble clans with his own hands.
Now, after breaking through numerous shackles, Neji's sensory perception could span half the entire Shinobi World!
He could even perceive people's inner thoughts. In a way, Neji had already become the spokesperson for the very will of this planet...
...
Meanwhile, various war technologies were flourishing—whether scientific ninja tools, puppetry, or chakra armor. Material sciences had also leapt forward, thanks to reverse-engineering puppets created by Momoshiki and enhancements granted by the Mountain God.
Still, whether it was these weapons of war or the future shinobi and martial forces...
To rely solely on these to resist the Ōtsutsuki Clan would inevitably lead to battles erupting within the Shinobi World. In the end, the Shinobi World would still be the one suffering.
Only by taking the battlefield beyond the Shinobi World—even into outer space—could they truly stand on equal ground against the Ōtsutsuki.
However, the Shinobi World's leading scientists were currently focused on gene and biotech enhancement.
Even those like Amado, who had made great strides in the field of scientific ninja tools, were still developing within the framework that ninja tools should assist shinobi.
When it came to spacecraft capable of interstellar travel or combat, there had been zero progress...
That's why the chakra anti-air cannon proposal from the Land of Lightning received widespread attention.
First of all, the chakra cannon technology was already mature.
Now, enhanced with materials derived from the God Tree's branches—materials with self-repairing properties—and combined with Amado's improved energy conversion device, the cannon could convert chakra into other forms of energy that were difficult for the Ōtsutsuki to absorb.
Due to all these factors, this technology was incredibly well-suited to large-scale surface deployment, serving as powerful and affordable anti-air weaponry.
With strong support from the United Government...
The Land of Earth, the Land of Wind, and of course the original Land of Lightning—nations filled with vast, unused wastelands, deserts, and mountain ranges—
Along with smaller nations and villages like Hoshigakure that sought to keep up with the times, all responded to the call.
A massive wave of engineers trained under the new Shinobi World system set out with protection from the new generation of shinobi, carrying materials and beginning large-scale installations of chakra anti-air cannons across the land.
...
At the same time, puppets that had long vanished from public sight made a sudden and violent return.
Using space-time techniques, they launched surprise attacks on the cannon sites and on the teams responsible for the installations.
Because the cannons were distributed across wide areas...
And the puppets—having learned from past failures—would often strike once and then immediately retreat, without concern for whether the cannon was destroyed.
These frequent and scattered attacks made it extremely difficult for Sasuke to track them down alone.
Even though Neji's travel speed was fast, he still couldn't match the puppets' spatial teleportation abilities. At close range, it was manageable...
But at longer distances, all he could do was relay information to Sasuke...
Even so, despite the heavy interference, the chakra cannon installation project continued to surge forward unstoppably.
Some brave shinobi students were even forming teams of their own to actively protect the cannon crews.
One such team, led by Boruto and Sarada, had gathered skilled ninja school graduates like Mitsuki.
They had been offering free protection to the chakra cannon installation crews from the very beginning.
Though Naruto's death left Boruto heartbroken...
It also allowed him to break free from the suffocating reputation of being the Hokage's son. Though his fall wasn't from heaven to hell, he had nonetheless endured immense trials.
After a long period of grief and encouragement, he finally found a path of his own—just like his father once did. He would protect the Shinobi World.
Moreover, he vowed to surpass his father, to kill Momoshiki, and to drive the entire Ōtsutsuki clan back to their homeworld for good!
Now that Boruto had grown again, his strength was naturally among the top of the new generation.
While still in ninja school, he mastered the long-lost Flying Thunder God Technique.
He even modified Naruto's signature Rasengan with Lightning Release, making it nearly invisible even under powerful dōjutsu.
Furthermore, after learning of Naruto's death, Boruto awakened a mutated dōjutsu known as the "Jōgan" during his grief—much like the Uchiha Clan.
Though its ultimate abilities remained unclear, the Jōgan had already demonstrated visual capabilities surpassing the Byakugan, and even outperformed Sasuke's Rinnegan in terms of energy perception.
Combined with the bloodline of both the Uzumaki and Hyūga clans, everything about Boruto's body hinted at incredible potential.
Some groups in the Shinobi World had even begun spreading the belief that Boruto was the key to resisting the Ōtsutsuki.
But having endured the pain of his father's death, Boruto no longer cared for such hollow fame.
In his eyes, only by focusing on the present could one truly step beyond the Shinobi World.
...
Since losing his father, Boruto had carried a heavy heart—but Sarada had always stayed by his side.
Not far from the two of them stood a partially constructed chakra cannon.
"They're finally here!"
Suddenly, Boruto's expression sharpened.
Within his Jōgan's vision, a faint spatial ripple had just appeared.
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