After discussion, Uchiha Hikaru and the Five Kage finally reached a decision.
The six permanent nations of the Ninja Association would dispatch their shinobi to directly confront the enemy in the Fourth Ninja World War.
All remaining countries would be responsible for logistical support.
After all, the strength of shinobi from smaller nations and villages simply couldn't compare. A single village only had a few thousand ninja at most, with perhaps dozens—or even fewer—jonin-level fighters.
Even their average combat ability lagged behind that of the Five Great Nations, or even the Hidden Rain's jonin.
On the battlefield, their presence would make almost no difference.
Yet it was precisely this arrangement that left the leaders of those smaller nations and villages feeling deeply conflicted.
For the first time, they truly understood that the Ninja Association wasn't an organization exploiting them—it genuinely existed for the shared future of the ninja world.
In the past three great ninja wars, the major powers had forced them to send shinobi to scout, gather intelligence, or clear traps—often using them as expendable pawns.
Now, not only were they not being forced onto the battlefield, they weren't even required to fight at all.
It felt unreal.
Like a dream.
And assigning them to logistics didn't mean they were expected to foot the bill.
Instead, their ninja would be sent into the production regions of the Five Great Nations, responsible only for processing and manufacturing.
They didn't need to provide raw materials.
They only needed to work.
No one objected.
The moment Uchiha Hikaru announced this, the representatives nearly lost their minds.
"During this special wartime period," Hikaru added calmly,
"all logistics personnel across the Five Great Nations will receive one and a half times their peacetime pay."
The instant those words left his mouth, several leaders nearly ordered their entire villages to teleport directly into the factories.
It wasn't until the meeting concluded that Hikaru finally squeezed out of the crowd and returned to Konoha together with the Five Kage and Konan.
"Everyone," Hikaru said as they walked,
"what you're about to see is the foundation of our confidence in winning this war."
"Follow me."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, a grin tugging at her lips—like she'd just hit the jackpot at a casino.
After all these years as Hokage…
I finally get to show off in front of the others. (￣▽￣)
Rasa, Ōnoki, and A exchanged glances, speaking quietly among themselves.
"Did Konoha secretly develop some kind of new weapon?"
"No idea. But if Hikaru says this much, it must be solid."
"A secret weapon… Konoha really has grown frightening."
While the three were still whispering, Mei Terumi had already moved to Hikaru's other side, eyeing Tsunade.
"Sister Tsunade," she said with a smile,
"what exactly has Konoha been researching?"
"Good things should be shared between good sisters, right~?"
Tsunade lifted a finger, smiling mysteriously.
"Relax. I'm taking you to see it now. You'll understand soon enough."
When they arrived at the training grounds several kilometers behind the Hokage Rock, the sight before them left Mei Terumi, Ōnoki, Rasa, A, Konan—and even Nagato—momentarily stunned.
Nagato subconsciously activated the Rinnegan, carefully examining the scene.
Hundreds of shinobi stood in formation.
Each of them radiated chakra comparable to a jonin, and each wore a steel mechanized vest across their upper body.
At the center of every suit, a core emitted a pale blue chakra glow.
Within that core were visible sealing formulae and curse markings layered together.
Each unit contained three to four times the chakra reserves of an ordinary jonin.
"…It looks like armor designed to amplify a ninja's abilities," Nagato said slowly.
Uchiha Hikaru didn't deny it.
A's eyes immediately lit up.
"It increases chakra output?" he asked.
"How much?"
There was temptation in his voice—along with awe, concern, and restrained excitement.
"For an average jonin," Hikaru replied evenly,
"it can amplify chakra reserves by at least threefold."
"Whether you want to enhance ninjutsu power or extend combat endurance, it's achievable."
"However, once the core is depleted, it requires members of the Sealing Squad to recharge it."
"The average jonin doesn't have sufficient sealing skill to adjust the core or replenish it independently."
"It's still undergoing optimization."
"This model isn't ready for large-scale deployment yet."
"Consider this a preview. The real highlight is ahead."
After witnessing this and hearing Tsunade's explanation, Rasa was completely stunned.
As someone who had spent years mining gold in the desert using Magnet Release, he instantly recognized the materials involved.
These chakra armors were forged from rare minerals, infused directly with refined chakra crystal powder to enhance conductivity and minimize loss.
The cost of a single suit easily exceeded five million ryō.
And there were hundreds of them here.
That was at least five hundred million ryō standing in front of him.
And Konoha was considering mass production.
Rasa inhaled sharply, his resolve solidifying.
As expected… only by sticking close to Konoha is there a future.
And profit. (￣ー￣)
As they moved on, the group arrived at a testing range.
Ōnoki stared at the oddly shaped weapons laid out before them, feeling painfully outdated.
The chakra armor he could at least understand.
But these things…?
They didn't look like traditional ninja tools.
Too large to throw.
No blades.
Too awkward to use as blunt weapons.
What were they supposed to be—used to smash people?
Without another word, Uchiha Hikaru picked up an M4A1 Konoha rifle.
With practiced ease, he pulled the bolt, raised it one-handed, and fired toward a target a hundred meters away.
"Dada-dada-dada-dada-dada!"
The rapid gunfire immediately drew everyone's attention.
Every round struck the center of the target.
Thirty shots.
Thirty hits.
Only then did Hikaru lower the weapon and turn back.
"This is the latest-generation ninja tool developed by the Second Hokage's research division," he said calmly.
"The M4A1 Konoha Rifle."
"Effective lethal range: four hundred to six hundred meters."
"It supports 3.5x, 3x, 2x, and red-dot optical scopes for assisted targeting."
"How about trying it yourself?"
The moment he finished speaking, A grabbed the much larger weapon beside Hikaru, eyes blazing.
The sound of the bolt cycling, the explosive report of the shots—
His blood was already boiling.
He couldn't wait.
When Hikaru saw A lift the Konoha Pacifier—a Gatling-type weapon—he felt something was… off.
"Just feed in the ammo belt and pull the trigger," Hikaru said.
"And remember—"
Before he could finish, his words were drowned out by a deafening roar.
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump—!!!
The barrage shook the ground.
Alongside the gunfire came A's wild, unrestrained laughter.
"HAHAHAHA—!!!"
"So good!"
"This is AMAZING!!!"
"What kind of weapon is this?! Can it be mass-produced in Konoha?!"
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