A and Darui plan to hand over the Chakra Cannon to the Hidden Rock Village, using the Land of Earth's resources to strengthen the two Great Ninja Villages.
Some people within the Hidden Cloud Village also suggested letting the Land of Earth provide resources to establish a Chakra Cannon in the Hidden Cloud Village.
But this proposal was directly vetoed by A and the two successive Raikages.
The Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Rock Village, united against Konoha, are barely managing to hold on. If the two Great Ninja Villages were to quarrel at this point, it would only cause them more trouble.
When Darui brought up the matter, Kitsuchi thought about it for a moment before agreeing. They also needed to enhance their strength. If the Chakra Cannon really had the power of a Tailed Beast, it could make up for the Hidden Rock Village's shortcomings.
They could only blame Konoha for putting so much pressure on them. From time to time, they gathered information from Konoha that left them on edge.
After Konoha annexed the Hidden Mist Village, the Hidden Rock Village and Hidden Cloud Village exchanged information, discovering that Konoha had at least twenty-four thousand ninjas.
Moreover, Konoha had recruited many ordinary people from various places, trained them for fifty days, and then had them join the newly established Konoha Guard Team, significantly enhancing their abilities.
Although they seemed unable to use Ninjutsu, their Taijutsu was at least on the level of a Genin.
Based on the two Great Ninja Villages' speculation, Konoha probably used human gene modification technology. The ordinary people who joined the Guard Team had not only increased strength and speed but also improved recovery and resistance to Illusion Techniques, which shocked them.
The Hidden Cloud Village once lost three Chunins and five Genins trying to capture two members of the Guard Team, although they eventually succeeded.
However, when they tried to use Illusion Techniques to extract information from the Konoha Guard Team members, they found the Illusion Techniques difficult to control.
Whenever the Hidden Cloud's Illusion Technique ninja tried to control their minds with Illusion Techniques, their Chakra quickly dissipated, and a faint red glow appeared beneath the Guard Team members' skin.
After using Illusion Techniques dozens of times, some Konoha Guard Team members would suddenly experience a rise in body temperature, eventually exploding like an Explosive Tag.
This first attempt cost the Hidden Cloud Village a ninja skilled in Illusion Techniques.
Even though they hadn't figured out how Konoha altered ordinary people, this enhancement of strength greatly tempted the Hidden Cloud.
However, obtaining it proved extremely difficult. The technology seemed to be managed by Orochimaru, and the Konoha Ninja Village had undergone significant changes.
The sizeable village was very well planned, divided into several areas: the Ninja Administrative Zone, Commercial Zone, Recreational Zone, and a mysterious zone from which no information could be obtained.
They only knew that Orochimaru was involved in human modification, but the Hidden Cloud couldn't even find out where Orochimaru was, and any spies sent in lost contact within three days.
Thus, the fear of Konoha in the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Rock increased daily, worried that Konoha might attack, and by then, they would lack the reserves to defend themselves.
After some discussion, Kitsuchi and Darui temporarily decided not only to continue producing the Chakra Cannon but also to develop Salamander Poison.
The Hidden Rock Village had supported Hanzo and those Hidden Rain Ninjas for a full year; it was time for Hanzo to contribute, or Kitsuchi would decide to drive Hanzo away.
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"Yo, Kurenai, long time no see..."
On the commercial street of Konoha Village, Asuma's eyes lit up as he approached Yuhi Kurenai, who was coming out holding a box of honey pastries.
At twenty-one, Yuhi Kurenai was at the prime of her youth, with a beautiful face and eyes as red as gemstones. Coupled with her identity as the Hokage's disciple, she was one of the few beauties in Konoha Village.
Sarutobi Asuma, although rejected many times, was still unwilling to give up, believing himself to be the best among Kurenai's suitors and certain that he would eventually win her heart.
"Asuma, I have something to do. I need to bring some food to Teacher Yoichi, so I'm leaving now."
Yuhi Kurenai sighed in her heart when she saw Asuma. This guy was incredibly persistent, and even though she had clearly rejected him, he still acted as if he would wait for her.
'Who asked you to wait? I will stay with Teacher Yoichi forever!'
Yuhi Kurenai thought secretly. Years had passed, yet Teacher Yoichi hadn't aged a day, making her fondness for him grow even stronger.
Sarutobi Asuma suddenly remarked, "Kurenai, have you heard about the Hokage selection?"
"...Yes, I'm aware of it. Why?"
Yuhi Kurenai replied helplessly. She was the Hokage's assistant, so how could she not know Teacher Yoichi's thoughts? What was Asuma thinking, acting so thoughtlessly...
"Kurenai, I'm planning to run for the Sixth Generation Hokage!"
Sarutobi Asuma said to Yuhi Kurenai with determination, "Kurenai, I will strive to become Hokage. When the time comes, I want to ask you to become my Hokage Assistant... to build the village together..."
He had confirmed that Kakashi wasn't interested in becoming Hokage, and among peers of the same age, there weren't many stronger than him, so his chances were quite promising.
"You... You're running for Hokage?"
Yuhi Kurenai's beautiful eyes widened slightly in disbelief. She knew who Teacher Yoichi cared about, and neither she nor Sarutobi Asuma could compare to them.
The matter of Nawaki's resurrection was a secret in the village, and Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't speak recklessly to provoke the Second Generation Hokage. Only a few knew about it since they remained by his side.