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In the Land of Iron—a nation composed of samurai—its warriors were a unique anomaly in the world of shinobi. They rejected the ways of the ninja yet utilized chakra and techniques similar to ninjutsu.
They didn't involve themselves in shinobi conflicts, maintaining a neutral stance. However, wasn't that essentially declaring themselves as shinobi?
Unlike other countries, the Daimyo of the Land of Iron held significant power. The samurai, centered around the Daimyo, were bound by strict loyalty, with rebellion against the Daimyo considered an act of treason.
"So why are we taking this route?" Jin, who was following behind Sakumo, couldn't understand why they were passing through the Land of Iron to reach the Land of Lightning—it was completely out of the way.
"Don't you want to see the samurai here?" Sakumo asked in return.
"Not at all," Jin replied, his voice flat and uninterested as he continued fiddling with something in his hands. Multitasking was second nature to him.
While he had a keen interest in the secret techniques of various shinobi villages, he knew that once the Basic Inner Technique became widespread, those techniques would eventually be his. But the Land of Iron held no such allure for him.
"A bunch of outdated warriors stuck in the past… there's nothing to look forward to here," Jin stated bluntly, his attention more focused on the object he was working on than on controlling his volume.
This remark earned glares from several passersby, and Sakumo, feeling awkward, quickly pulled Jin away from the crowd. Once they were out of sight, he let out a sigh of relief.
"You could've said that a bit quieter," Sakumo chided. "Actually, the Land of Iron is quite formidable."
Jin looked unimpressed by Sakumo's comment. To him, the samurai were essentially shinobi who refused to accept reality. They used chakra and techniques like any other ninja, yet clung to the identity of samurai.
What made the Land of Iron seem strong was simply the scale of their recruitment. Unlike the shinobi villages, which selected candidates from their own villages, the Land of Iron drew from the entire country.
Naturally, this resulted in a larger pool of warriors, but even then, they were still considered a second-rate power.
The samurai's chakra-based sword techniques paled in comparison to those of many shinobi villages. For instance, the sword techniques of the Hatake clan alone could easily overshadow the entirety of the Land of Iron's techniques. Shinobi techniques were designed for killing, while the samurai's methods were steeped in outdated traditions.
To someone like Jin, who was deeply involved in research and development, the Land of Iron held no appeal, and thus, he had no interest in it.
"I thought someone who developed such impressive sword techniques would appreciate the Land of Iron," Sakumo commented with a sigh. He had merely brought Jin here to broaden his horizons.
"So, is this just a taxpayer-funded vacation for you?" Jin asked in surprise, not expecting such behavior from the usually serious Sakumo.
"In a way, yes. The situation in the Hidden Cloud Village isn't urgent," Sakumo admitted, scratching his head. The Hidden Cloud's issues stemmed from the heavy toll of the First Great Ninja War, leaving them with a lack of experienced shinobi. Their involvement in the Second Great Ninja War seemed unlikely.
Though their mission was to gather intelligence, Sakumo knew that reconnaissance could be handled by the outposts. His real role was to ensure that he stayed close enough to the Leaf's forward bases to take command if necessary.
There was no need for him to engage directly in espionage. His presence alone served as a deterrent, as the enemy would remain wary of the unpredictable movements of Sakumo.
His task wasn't to make any grand gestures; it was to remain a looming threat, a shadow that kept other shinobi villages on edge.
"But there's something I've been curious about for a while," Sakumo said, stroking his chin as he looked at the object Jin was working on—a shape reminiscent of a raised index and thumb.
"What exactly are you making?"
"This?" Jin waved the object in his hand—a gun-like device, though it was incomplete, with exposed components and a bulky handle.
He pointed the makeshift gun at Sakumo and pulled the trigger.
"Whoosh!"
Sakumo tilted his head just in time to dodge a shuriken that shot out, noticing it was charged with chakra.
"It's a shuriken gun. It's more of a toy than a real weapon," Jin explained. The device could be lethal to a Genin but was far less effective against a Chunin.
The purpose of the gun was to fire shuriken with enhanced force using chakra, but due to material limitations, its power was rather underwhelming.
Jin had already developed many ninjutsu techniques, and training with them all was time-consuming. So he had turned to developing equipment instead.
He was particularly interested in crafting weapons and refining medicines. After all, many shinobi tools, like ninja swords and pills, were essentially specialized magical artifacts.
Unfortunately, there were very few people who shared his enthusiasm for research. Even among those who studied the Basic Inner Technique, only Tsunade and Orochimaru were inclined toward development. Most others were focused solely on increasing their own power.
As a result, few skilled artisans remained, and even fewer were capable of producing the famed shinobi tools of old, most of whose creation methods had been lost. Not even Madara knew how to make them anymore. Thus, Jin had to rely on his own research.
"This isn't just a toy," Sakumo said, frowning as he examined the shuriken gun. While it might seem insignificant in the hands of an average shinobi, in the hands of a civilian or someone with minimal chakra, it could be a game-changer.
Though this particular prototype wasn't all that impressive, Sakumo could see the potential if it were produced in large quantities. It could significantly boost the combat abilities of lower-level shinobi.
Sakumo was about to inquire further when his ninja pouch vibrated slightly. His expression turned serious as he bit his thumb and pressed his hand to the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a puff of smoke, a gray wolf appeared, holding a scroll in its mouth. It dropped the scroll on the ground before vanishing in another cloud of smoke.
Sakumo quickly unrolled the scroll and began reading.
"What happened?" Jin asked, curious.
Were they about to be sent on a dangerous mission? He hoped not.
After reading the scroll, Sakumo's expression remained tense.
"The Hidden Mist Village has declared war."
(End of Chapter)