Inside Shiraishi's research facility, five human-puppet clones were undergoing the next phase of testing.
After further optimization of the analytical interface within the Scarlett Mirrors, a specialized auxiliary computation system was successfully simulated.
More than a dozen massive mirror panels rotated in midair, interlocking as they projected arrays of runes and calculation matrices.
This marked the gradual formation of what could be considered the shinobi world's first intelligent auxiliary computation device.
According to Shiraishi's design philosophy, modern combat demanded not only strength but real-time analysis and computational support.
Thus, within his research facility, he established a dedicated calculation and analysis zone.
The sealed memories within the glasses system allowed Shiraishi to extract vast quantities of advanced knowledge.
The technological level of the system's original owner's world far surpassed the current era.
By combining fragments of that knowledge with the unique principles of ninjutsu, Shiraishi succeeded in simulating an intelligent auxiliary supercomputer using this world's techniques.
Under the projection of countless mirrors, Shiraishi's chakra—channeled through regeneration cores—linked directly to his main consciousness.
This allowed for basic auxiliary computation.
At the same time, Shiraishi implanted a miniature gemstone regeneration core into his right eye.
A six-clawed mechanical apparatus pulled his eyelids apart.
A drill-like instrument slowly entered his pupil.
A powerful numbness surged through him. Shiraishi clenched his teeth as a microscopic red diamond was embedded into the eyeball, rapidly fusing with his chakra.
Since the regeneration core itself was nourished by Shiraishi's chakra, it seamlessly integrated with his body once again.
This gemstone regeneration core functioned similarly to those embedded in the pupils of his human-puppet clones.
However, the version installed in Shiraishi himself possessed far more advanced functionality.
Its primary role was high-speed capture and recording of opponents.
Data from the pupil-embedded regeneration core was transmitted to the super auxiliary computer, where it performed predictive analysis of an enemy's abilities.
It could also deconstruct hand-seal sequences and chakra flow, then relay processed information directly back to Shiraishi's brain.
With five human-puppet clones handling the bulk of backend processing, Shiraishi could receive fully analyzed combat data within seconds.
This "data pupil" also allowed Shiraishi to resist certain extremely powerful genjutsu.
In his battle against the Kurama clan, had it not been for the Moonwheel Bat's assistance, Shiraishi would have been suppressed by their illusions early on.
However, the Moonwheel Bat could only assist in spiritual combat for a limited time.
After that battle, it entered a dormant state within Shiraishi's mental world and had yet to awaken.
To avoid facing a stronger illusion-type enemy unprepared in the future, Shiraishi developed this regeneration-core gemstone pupil.
He glanced at his reflection—his pupil faintly tinged with crimson—then quickly put on his glasses to conceal it.
Meanwhile, the newly developed engraving device from Shiraishi's laboratory had already been delivered to the Kitajima family.
Once they learned that Shiraishi possessed the ability to mass-produce engraved detonation tags, the Kitajima family's enthusiasm was ignited.
They immediately constructed a large factory near the border of the Land of Rivers.
After carefully installing Shiraishi's machinery, the first detonation tag was successfully engraved.
The production cost of detonation tags was low, but market prices remained exorbitant due to deliberate speculation.
Understanding this, the Kitajima family avoided flooding the market, choosing instead to enter the arms trade gradually to prevent collective hostility.
They even reached out to trade networks in several northern nations, proposing cooperative arrangements.
After all, while the Kitajima family had influence around the Wind Country, they were still merely ordinary merchants on a shinobi-world scale.
During testing, Kitajima Shuren picked up a freshly engraved detonation tag, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
Several Kitajima executives behind him wore equally delighted expressions.
Shiraishi, however, remained calm.
To him, this was merely one channel of income growth.
"Shitou, will this trip to the Land of Rivers be dangerous?"
Back at home, Maki packed spare clothes for Shiraishi, her expression filled with worry.
The Land of Rivers had once been a Konoha dependency.
Now that so much of its territory had been carved away, hostility toward Sunagakure was inevitable.
"There's no ninja village in the Land of Rivers," Shiraishi replied calmly.
"There's nothing to worry about. Their ninja clans were absorbed by Konoha long ago."
"Eh? The Land of Rivers used to have a ninja village?"
"Yes. But during Konoha's founding era, it was destroyed by Uchiha Madara."
"Most of their ninja clans defected to Konoha afterward. Even today, several elder advisors in Konoha's council trace their ancestry back to the Land of Rivers."
In Konoha's early days, Uchiha Madara played the role of the ruthless executioner—
Eradicating neighboring minor villages.
Other Konoha factions then appeared as saviors, absorbing the survivors into the "Konoha family."
This pattern persisted to the present.
The Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō were merely later iterations of the same system.
Those who bore the blame were always despised.
Once they lost their usefulness, they were discarded to appease public resentment.
Danzō spent his entire life aspiring to become Hokage.
In truth, he had sacrificed everything for Konoha, handling every dirty task.
Yet such a ruthless enforcer was destined to become a sacrificial pawn for the next Hokage to win public favor.
With the next Hokage almost certainly emerging from the Third Hokage's faction, Danzō never stood a chance.
Orochimaru's alliance with Danzō had likely crossed the Third Hokage's red line—
The outcome of that power struggle was already decided.
Just as Shiraishi finished seeing Maki off and prepared to rest, his pupil suddenly emitted a strange flicker of light.
An intruder had entered the research facility.
All laboratories within the public ninja academy were equipped with extensive detection systems.
With the regeneration-core network integrated into his own senses, Shiraishi detected the intrusion immediately.
The giant computation system is activated.
Under the academy's regeneration-core surveillance, the intruders' profiles were instantly analyzed.
Six ninja.
• Three with jōnin-level chakra
• Three elite chūnin-level chakra signatures
• All possessed extremely strong physiques—taijutsu specialists
Their chakra attributes were a mixture of Wind and Earth, with limited sand manipulation.
Based on this, they were identified as members of the Arakawa clan.
Night fell.
Leading the operation, Arakawa Ran signaled his five companions to infiltrate the research facility from different angles, searching for the data they sought.
Their true target was clear—
Shiraishi's detonation-tag engraving device.
To uncover its secrets, Arakawa Akita had disregarded the risk of offending Shiraishi and the Elder Council alike.
He dispatched the clan's most elite six-man unit to infiltrate the academy.
Deep within the school corridors, a figure with Shiraishi's exact appearance slowly emerged from the darkness.
Through the regeneration-core surveillance system, Shiraishi had already locked onto the intruders from multiple angles.
This human-puppet clone, linked directly to his consciousness, gripped a silver blade and advanced toward them, footsteps echoing softly.
"We've been discovered!"
Arakawa Ran's sensory abilities were exceptional.
The moment chakra fluctuations became abnormal, he knew their operation had been exposed.
"Prepare for a forced breakthrough!"
His eyes flashed with ferocity.
In an instant, massive sand clouds surged forth, shrouding the corridor in rolling dust.
At the same time, Shiraishi had just stepped outside his home—
Only to find Arakawa Akita standing quietly by the roadside, clearly having waited for him.
"Black Mist Shiraishi," Akita said smoothly,
"Care to share a cup of rough wine?"
Shiraishi adjusted his glasses, his tone dry.
"I'm not of legal age. I can't drink."
Silence followed.
Seeing that the old fox had no intention of responding, Shiraishi continued:
"You sent people to infiltrate my school's laboratory. And now, as the head of the Arakawa clan, you appear here."
"Are you trying to stop me?"
"Do as you please with the intruders," Arakawa Akita replied calmly.
"The Arakawa clan does not lack such foolish and incompetent individuals."
An unexpected answer.
He truly did not care about the lives of those six ninja.
Disposable pawns?
A borrowed blade to kill?
Or a calculated sacrifice to open the door to cooperation?
In an instant, Shiraishi's mind raced—
Analyzing what Arakawa Akita stood to gain from this move.
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