Chapter 405: Infrastructure and Development
Naruto walked to the window, pointing at the Hidden Cloud Village construction site outside, which looked somewhat chaotic due to the reconstruction.
"Look, right now they're repairing houses and moving Materials, mostly relying on manual labor and simple tools. It's inefficient and dangerous."
"If there were a type of Puppet that could traverse complex terrain while possessing multiple mechanical arms that can freely transform and handle functions like grabbing, cutting, and welding..."
"Of course, it doesn't matter to a Genius like you, but for ordinary people, having simpler functions would make it easier to control."
"And a Genius like you could design a 'Construction Swarm' Puppet System capable of autonomous path planning, collaborative work, and automatic assembly of prefabricated components..."
"Even using Chakra as the energy source and drive to realize Large-scale engineering mother machines with power and precision far exceeding ordinary machinery..."
Naruto's description was like opening a new window.
In Sasori's cold eyes, a glimmer of thought and inquiry appeared for the first time.
His Puppet Technique's core lay in the ultimate mastery over Materials, structure, energy conduction, and control Systems.
Killing was one application, but definitely not the only one.
If the precision tolerance control used for making poisonous hidden weapons were used to manufacture seamless building components...
If the complex Chakra thread sub-control technology used to manipulate hundreds of Puppets were used to command an automated engineering team...
If the power Systems and joint designs that give Puppets humanoid or even superhuman combat capabilities were used to create immensely strong and tireless engineering machinery...
What kind of sight would that be?
His Puppets could play a role throughout the entire Ninja World.
Perhaps... it really would be a bit interesting.
Sasori felt the faint killing intent around him that hadn't completely dissipated, only temporarily restrained because Naruto was present.
He had no choice.
At least, not for now.
"Hmph."
Sasori let out another ambiguous snort, but this time there was much less resistance.
"Large-scale devices... aren't impossible to make."
"But I need Materials, a site, assistants, and... sufficient research time and freedom."
He began to set conditions, which in itself was a collaborative attitude.
Naruto's smile widened. "Of course, none of those are problems."
"Hidden Leaf Village will provide you with the best support. Materials will be plenty, you can pick any site, and as for assistants... let me think, there are many Puppeteers in the Hidden Sand Village I can assign to assist you."
"As for the research direction and freedom..."
Naruto looked at Sasori. "As long as you complete the established project goals, you can freely use the remaining time and resources to continue your personal 'artistic research,' as long as it doesn't harm civilians."
These conditions could be said to be quite generous.
While almost guaranteeing Sasori's basic research needs, it also gave him considerable autonomy.
Sasori looked up at Naruto: "I need to see the specific project requirements and technical parameters first, as well as the list of resources you promised."
"Fine."
Naruto agreed readily. "However, the project team for the large-scale engineering we're doing now is in the Land of Snow. I'll take you there later."
He looked around. "For now, familiarize yourself with this repaired body and tune it to its optimal state. Someone will take you to the workshop later and provide the Materials you need to help you recover."
After saying that, Naruto turned, seemingly about to leave.
When he reached the door, he stopped again and looked back to add:
"By the way, welcome to Hidden Leaf Village's 'Department of Future Infrastructure and Development,' Mr. Sasori."
"I hope your talent can truly bloom with a different brilliance here."
With those words, Naruto pushed the door open and left, his figure disappearing outside.
Inside the room, only Sasori of the Red Sand remained.
He stood silently in place for a long time without moving.
The light outside the window gradually dimmed, and night began to fall.
The lights on the distant construction site lit up one after another, like scattered stars.
Sasori slowly raised his right hand, the Puppet hand that had been detached and reattached, now flipping flexibly under his fine control.
His gaze fell on his palm, where sharp blades could pop out or lethal poison needles could be sprayed, but it could also... hold a pen for design blueprints or operate precision processing tools.
"Infrastructure... Development..."
He whispered these two words repeatedly, his tone complex.
A moment later, he lowered his hand, turned, walked to the only table in the room, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
Just like a real researcher or engineer preparing to start work.
Although his body was still that cold Puppet, something seemed to have begun to change subtly.
Outside, Naruto didn't walk far immediately.
Standing in the shadows of the corridor, he sensed Sasori's Chakra fluctuations in the room gradually stabilizing, even carrying a hint of thought and focus, and a slight smile played on his lips.
Another "talent" had been successfully "reclaimed" and properly settled.
Now, it remained to be seen what kind of surprises he would bring.
Naruto turned and truly left, his figure merging into the thickening night of the Hidden Cloud Village.
His steps were light, and he seemed to be in a good mood.
After all, he was one step closer to the unified and vibrant Ninja World he was building.
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The Hoshikage office had now been renamed the Hoshigakure Chief's Office.
"Uchiha Itachi?"
Shikamaru's brow furrowed after hearing Sasuke's description.
According to Sasuke's description, Uchiha Itachi's state was very off.
Shikamaru suddenly remembered what Naruto had said to him privately before they left: "Shikamaru, let me tell you, those Uchiha guys are tsundere to the core. You have to rub them the right way."
At the time, he just thought the guy was joking again, but now it was like a gear suddenly clicking into place within the chain of his thoughts with a snap.
He looked up at Sasuke, who was frowning slightly, and decided to try the "rubbing the right way" strategy.
Even if only to stabilize the emotions of this equally proud Uchiha.
"As expected of Sasuke," Shikamaru's voice was calm and carried praise. "To be able to keenly sense that Uchiha Itachi's state was off and choose to return immediately to discuss it is a very level-headed judgment."
Sasuke clearly hadn't expected such praise. He froze for a moment, a flash of extreme awkwardness crossing his Face.
He turned his head away, his gaze fixed on the swaying shadows of the trees outside the window, and mumbled, "I just felt his appearance was too sudden."
In fact, Sasuke hadn't actually seen exactly what was wrong with Itachi.
"I speculate that the root of his appearance is likely with 'Akatsuki'."
Shikamaru's voice grew quiet; when analyzing, he could always set aside all emotions.
"As far as I know, Naruto has successfully captured Pain, the leader of the Akatsuki Organization.
This means the Akatsuki Organization has lost its top and most core combat power. The organization's entire strategic layout and power balance will inevitably be disrupted, potentially falling into chaos or restructuring."
He turned around, looking sharply at Sasuke: "In this situation, the actions of a Rogue Ninja who long ago left Hidden Leaf Village, is powerful, and possesses unique Dōjutsu, are very worth pondering.
His choice to appear before you at this time is by no means accidental.
He most likely has his eye on something you have, something that might compensate for Akatsuki's current lack of high-end combat power, or perhaps it has vital value to him personally."
Based on the current intelligence, that should be the case. As for Third Hokage saying Itachi was an Undercover Agent, Shikamaru didn't take it to heart at all.
Intelligence work requires timeliness, evidence, and continuous contact.
No word for nearly ten years, and not a single piece of information sent to Hidden Leaf Village—what kind of Undercover Agent is that?
Defection is defection. The Third Hokage is getting senile, saying any irresponsible thing just for the sake of Face."
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