Chapter 104: Tobirama Returns
"Acting Hokage-sama..."
Amidst a chorus of greetings, Masahiko nodded in response as he walked into Konoha's newly established Weaponry Department.
Looking at the Chakra Diffusion Cannon, which was starting to take shape, Masahiko nodded with satisfaction.
During this time, Masahiko had truly witnessed why the Land of Fire was called the most prosperous nation. The materials demanded from the Land of Wind were merely equivalent to what Kinkaku and Ginkaku had originally collected, but the materials Konoha mobilized through its own power were ten times that amount.
With so many raw materials, Masahiko barely had to provide any help. In just a month and a half, a finished product was nearly ready.
"Great-Grandpa, you're here!" Seeing Masahiko, Kenji welcomed him happily. "We're about to complete the finished product based on the weapon blueprints you gave us."
Kenji was now in charge of the newly established Weaponry Department, appointed by Masahiko as the Vice-Minister. Naturally, such an important position had to be given to a trusted person.
As for the position of Minister, a bunch of people fought for it, but Masahiko left it temporarily vacant.
"Little Orochimaru, hurry up and grow up," Masahiko felt that this position was best suited for Orochimaru. Who knows what kind of incredible black technology he might research?
"The peace Hashirama wanted might not require mutual understanding in the ninja world. Maybe one day in the future, Orochimaru will research an 'Inter-Village Chakra Ballistic Missile.' Just fire two of those, and we'll have 'Nuclear Peace'."
Masahiko chuckled secretly, then looked at Kenji beside him. "About to finish the product? Do you have any ideas for what comes next?"
Kenji froze. "Er, Great-Grandpa, we will mass-produce them afterward. We have enough materials for about ten cannons..."
Masahiko shook his head and sighed. No scientific spirit at all.
"Haven't you thought about making some improvements to the Chakra Diffusion Cannon?"
"Is there still room for improvement in this weapon?" Kenji asked in surprise.
"Of course. For example, shrinking its size for easier portability, reducing the chakra required for activation, and so on..." Masahiko listed two ideas.
Kenji looked pleasantly surprised. "Do you have the improved designs?"
Masahiko was helpless. If he could improve it, he would have done so already. He didn't understand this kind of chakra technology at all. Over the past two months, he had studied the blueprints extensively, hoping a "Scientific Research" stat would appear in his status bar so he could add points to it.
But until now, he had absolutely no clue. Perhaps some special conditions were required.
Masahiko shook his head and replied, "No, you guys work hard on it yourselves." He turned and left the Weaponry Department.
On the way back to the Hokage Building, many people greeted him proactively, but Masahiko was immersed in his own thoughts.
"Chakra technology... what if we switch to electrical technology?" Masahiko muttered. "But how do we generate electricity again? We can't just have ninjas generating it manually."
Masahiko shook his head with a pained expression. "I really want to develop some black technology in the Naruto world, but I don't know how to do anything... Why wasn't I a scientist in my past life? I can only hope to stumble upon a new attribute by chance in the future."
"Hm?" While thinking, Masahiko suddenly felt a slight fluctuation in his chakra. He bit his finger. "Summoning Jutsu!"
A small Katsuyu appeared in front of him. Masahiko asked in surprise, "Lady Katsuyu, is Tobirama healed so soon?"
"He's not completely healed yet, but there are no major issues anymore. He insists on returning."
Masahiko scratched his head. This gig as Acting Hokage had only lasted two and a half months, and he was already being laid off.
"I thought I could be Hokage for a year. I didn't expect it to end so soon..." Masahiko actually felt a bit reluctant to let go.
"Did he just leave?" Masahiko asked.
"Yes."
"Given the distance from Shikkotsu Forest to Konoha, he probably won't arrive until evening. I'll go back and nap on my Hokage throne for a while longer!" Masahiko muttered, released the summoning, returned to the Hokage's office, and went to sleep...
However, less than an hour later, Masahiko sensed a familiar chakra fluctuation.
He sat up straight instantly. "What the hell? How is he so fast?"
Just as the thought crossed his mind, space blurred, and Tobirama appeared in the Hokage Building.
Appearing with him were two nearby Anbu members who assumed defensive stances. Seeing it was Tobirama, they bowed. "Lord Hokage."
Tobirama waved his hand, and the two Anbu flashed away.
Masahiko's face darkened. From beginning to end, he had been ignored by the two Anbu.
"Tobirama, how are you so fast? Don't tell me you used the Flying Thunder God to travel..."
Tobirama looked at Masahiko and coughed twice. "Great-Uncle, I didn't expect to be in a coma for over two months. I was worried about Konoha, so I hurried back."
Masahiko frowned. "You're still coughing. Shouldn't you rest more? Aren't you afraid of turning into Hayate Gekko? Besides, didn't Lady Katsuyu tell you about the situation in Konoha? With me here, what are you rushing for?"
Tobirama paused, clearly not understanding the Hayate Gekko reference. However, after getting along with Masahiko for so many years, he had long learned to ignore Masahiko's nonsensical ramblings.
"Lady Katsuyu told me, but I'm still not at ease."
"What's there to be uneasy about..." Masahiko's voice grew quieter, clearly realizing why Tobirama was uneasy.
He glared. "With your Great-Uncle as Acting Hokage, what are you worried about?! During this time, I've received less than fifteen complaints!"
Tobirama froze, his mouth twitching. "Great-Uncle, I've been Hokage for five years and haven't received fifteen complaints..."
Masahiko's face turned black. "I told you, those clients just pick on soft targets. If I beat up two of them, they wouldn't dare. The Nara Clan Head really is superfluous..."
Tobirama sighed, having nothing to say.
Masahiko stood up. "Here, have the Hokage throne back. I've had enough of sitting in it anyway. Being Hokage means taking crap from people..."
"Time to pack up and go build a country. Great-Uncle isn't playing with you anymore."
Tobirama hesitated. "Great-Uncle, about the Uzumaki clan..."
Masahiko waved his hand. "It's fine. Maybe it was naive of me to forcibly tie the Uzumaki and Konoha together completely. The Uzumaki simply have too many people; the number of ninjas in the clan is basically half the total number of Konoha ninjas. With so many people, problems are bound to arise."
Tobirama sighed. "I will attend the founding ceremony of the Uzumaki Nation."
Masahiko nodded. He walked to the door and said with a smile, "Tobirama, regarding the Kumogakure incident, your Great-Uncle was stupid and almost got you killed. Your injuries aren't fully healed yet, so take a good rest for a while. Konoha's current strength is such that no one dares to provoke us for the time being."
"Also..." Masahiko hesitated. "Since Konoha has such a huge advantage, the Uzumaki won't participate in the subsequent wars..."
Saying this, Masahiko shook his head and walked out of the Hokage Building. He still had lingering fears over the death of Yiko's husband. As for the benefits of war, he didn't want them.
Looking at the familiar streets of Konoha, Masahiko stood in a daze for a moment.
"Time to go back to the Uzumaki clan and build our own country. Next time I return, Konoha might be different."
"I wonder how much the plot has changed this time..." Masahiko worried.
[End of Chapter]
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