A rainy morning had fallen over Konoha.
The sound of metal clashing could be heard early in the morning from the metallurgy district. Mutsuy was preparing the molds for the production of precision rifles.
After several hours of meticulous work before the break of dawn, he was finally ready. He lit the forge, poured the molten metal into the trays, and carefully oversaw the intricate metallurgy process. Once everything was complete and the parts were ready for assembly, he finished the small but crucial task. Checking his notebook and confirming that all measurements and weights were correct, he nodded in satisfaction. He then assembled the rifle, loaded the test ammunition, and adjusted the 8x telescopic sight, aiming at a target 300 meters ahead. Click. No sound was heard—only the target vanishing in an instant. If it had been a human standing there, the upper half of their body would be missing.
Satisfied with his hard work, Mutsuy carefully packed the disassembled weapon into a well-crafted case, took some test ammunition, and instructed the Sarutobi clan member assisting in the shop to manage things in his absence. "I'm heading to the Hokage's office. Keep an eye on the shop until I return."
Upon reaching the office, he knocked on the door and was granted permission to enter. Inside, the elders of Konoha were gathered, sipping tea and engaged in conversation. He smiled and greeted them cheerfully. "Uncle Hiruzen, Uncle Danzo, Uncle Homura, Aunt Koharu—good morning! I hope this isn't a bad time, but I bring great news. The only question is whether it will be accepted."
Danzo smirked. "Little Mutsuy, how have you been? It's been some time since we last saw each other. I trust you're taking good care of my niece, hehe."
Mutsuy chuckled nervously. "Hehe, Uncle Danzo, I can confidently say that I am the greatest protector in the Shinobi world!" He puffed out his chest with exaggerated pride.
Everyone chuckled at his antics. Hiruzen, amused, asked, "So then, Mutsuy, what do you have for us today?"
Mutsuy nodded seriously and said, "For that, we need to go to a training ground." Looking around, he addressed one of the ANBU. "Preferably, the ANBU training grounds. I believe this falls under SS-level secrecy."
Hiruzen, knowing that Mutsuy did not joke about such matters, nodded in agreement and instructed the ANBU to make the necessary arrangements. Soon, they were led into the depths of the Hokage Mountain, entering a massive underground facility—almost an entire city hidden beneath Konoha. After security protocols were completed, Mutsuy was given the go-ahead to proceed.
He handed his notebook to Hiruzen, who reviewed the contents along with the other elders. "As you can see," Mutsuy explained, "this is called a precision rifle. Using my Metal Release in the forges, I constructed the necessary molds to produce its components. Just by glancing at the notebook, you should have a general idea of what this entails."
Danzo, ever the military strategist, immediately grasped the implications. "This is truly remarkable. In the hands of skilled individuals, it would be akin to wielding a ninjutsu caster capable of delivering devastation from immense distances. We're talking about a range of two to five kilometers."
The elders nodded in understanding. Hiruzen, deep in thought, considered the possibilities this weapon presented.
Mutsuy then placed the case he was carrying on the table. "This morning, I finished the first prototype." He released a thin chakra thread to unlock the case. Hiruzen's sharp eyes caught the small reaction from the case and questioned, "Mutsuy, I noticed you used a chakra thread. What exactly is that mechanism?"
Mutsuy smirked. "You'll thank me after the tests, Uncle. But in essence, it's a security measure to prevent other shinobi villages from stealing our technology."
He invited them to take a closer look. The rifle components matched the detailed sketches in his notebook perfectly. As he assembled the rifle on a pedestal atop the table, he explained each part's function and the mechanics behind it. He demonstrated how to load and reload, the safety mechanism, and the specialized ammunition. "I've encapsulated chakra inside the chambers using Sealing Jutsu," he explained.
Once everything was ready, he unlocked the safety. "For security reasons, I advise everyone to stand behind me—including the ANBU." A target was placed at a distance. He took aim and fired. Click. The sound was muffled, yet one kilometer away, the target was obliterated.
Danzo and Hiruzen exchanged glances. "This... exceeds all expectations," Hiruzen muttered. "A Kage of any village should think twice about where they stand. If they aren't behind bulletproof walls, they might lose the upper half of their body."
An ANBU member returned with a damage assessment. "Lord Hokage, that was an Elite Jonin-level training dummy, typically used by the Black Ops. After analysis, I can confirm that the damage inflicted is equivalent to an S-rank ninjutsu."
Silence.
Hiruzen looked at Mutsuy. "You said you prepared the production molds just this morning?"
Mutsuy nodded.
Hiruzen turned to the ANBU. "I want ten Jonin teams surrounding the metallurgy district. Inform Owl that his mission from today onward is to ensure the security of the shop and Mutsuy."
The ANBU saluted. "Hai!" and vanished.
Mutsuy looked at his dear uncles with wide, innocent eyes and asked timidly, "So... is this approved?"
Danzo answered immediately. "Without a doubt. However, we need to understand more about these seals and security measures you mentioned."
Koharu and Homura nodded in agreement. Hiruzen declared, "Very well. This is now classified as SS-level secret. Only authorized personnel should know about this."
Mutsuy then presented his analysis. "If you look at this chart, you'll see that an elite shinobi like me can accurately hit a target from one kilometer away within one second. However, if you check this page, you'll notice that if a Uchiha or a Hyuga were to use this weapon, they could extend their effective range to five kilometers. This is due to their Dojutsu." He sighed. "Unfortunately, I tried my best, but without Dojutsu, most shinobi will be limited in range."
Hiruzen nodded at the data. Danzo's eyes lingered on the word "Uchiha" but he continued reading.
Mutsuy then turned to them with a serious expression. "Uncle Danzo, Uncle Hiruzen, both of you are undoubtedly at the Kage level in terms of physical and mental prowess. Would you like to test whether you can surpass the one-kilometer mark? If so, we might not need to rely so much on the Uchiha."
Danzo, ever perceptive, immediately understood Mutsuy's reasoning, as did the others.
A series of tests followed, involving Kage-level and Elite Jonin-level shinobi. The results were clear: Kage-level individuals could reach up to three kilometers, while elite shinobi, as Mutsuy had stated, maxed out at about one kilometer.
Danzo was pleased. "This could make Konoha the number one power in the future."
Hiruzen nodded in agreement. "For true regional protection, this drastically reduces unnecessary effort."
Danzo was pleased—without a doubt, this could change Konoha into the number one powerhouse in the future. Hiruzen couldn't help but nod in agreement with the tests; for the true protection of a region, this system saved considerable effort.
After the tests, they all moved to a tranquil tea area atop the mountains, surrounded by dense forests and cascading waterfalls. In this peaceful setting, Mutsuy was giving a lesson on Sealing Jutsu to the necessary personnel, carefully explaining the intricate formation he had designed.
"So, uncles, as you can see," Mutsuy said, gesturing towards the stone tablet, "place your palm here, Danzo."
Danzo complied, pressing his hand against the stone tablet. Immediately, faint lights flickered before settling into a steady blue glow. A counter appeared on the side, displaying a single number—indicating that only one rifle was currently active.
Mutsuy continued his explanation, "From Konoha, you can monitor the rifles in use. As long as the light remains blue, it means the rifle is operational, and the corresponding serial number will be displayed here. Of course, this serial number is manually assigned. For the tablet to recognize an activation, you must insert your chakra into this slot here," he pointed, "and press this button. It will register your chakra signature. When activating the rifle, the user must inject chakra into the stock for it to function. Previously, because it was a prototype, I had placed it inside the storage case."
Everyone in attendance grasped the significance of this control system. If someone wasn't an official member of the Precision Corps, they wouldn't even be able to dream of handling one of these weapons. A few people sighed, fully understanding the implications.
"Now then, let's proceed with sabotage simulations," Mutsuy announced. "Let's assume a shinobi has been taken down, and his rifle has fallen into enemy hands. When the enemy attempts to test it, without knowing how it works, they'll naturally start channeling chakra into the stock."
As he spoke, Mutsuy demonstrated. The moment an incorrect chakra signature was detected, the rifle automatically deactivated. He then instructed an ANBU to inject chakra into the weapon. The tablet's light immediately changed from blue to red.
"When this happens, we will know that the shinobi has either been killed or the weapon has been captured. If they persist in injecting chakra..."
The ANBU continued as instructed, but soon, the rifle in his hands began to heat up. Sensing the danger, he swiftly placed it on the ground. Within moments, small explosions erupted, completely destroying the weapon—eliminating any possibility of analysis.
"When the light turns black," Mutsuy concluded, "it means the rifle has successfully self-destructed."
Looking at everyone, he finally asked, "So, what do you all think?"
Hiruzen exhaled deeply, shaking his head with an amused expression. "This little one really knows how to get things done."
Danzo, on the other hand, analyzed the situation with a cold smirk. "You want to steal our technology? Very well, I wish you the best of luck."
Mutsuy observed their reactions and nodded in satisfaction. "Now then, uncles, here's something else. To ensure that you don't have to depend on me alone, I've prepared a list."
He handed them a document detailing the qualifications required for shinobi who would be trained in the manufacturing and assembly of these weapons using sealing techniques.
"Basically, we need individuals who are intelligent enough to follow structured models. They don't necessarily have to understand Sealing Jutsu itself—any shinobi can follow a preset design."
Hiruzen nodded and responded, "Understood. I'll assign ten ANBU and ten ROOT operatives for this operation."
Danzo also nodded, concluding, "It's estimated that within two years, we should have an entire battalion trained in using these rifles."
Mutsuy smiled. "I imagine so, Uncle. However, I believe some additional considerations should be taken regarding survival tactics. The shinobi who wield these rifles must be experts in survival and counter-tracking. Additionally, they must possess exceptional resilience, capable of traversing long distances without rest. The core principle is simple—if you want to rest, return to Konoha first."
He folded his arms and looked at them. "That's the kind of individual I consider to be a qualified user of these weapons. What do you think?"
Hiruzen nodded solemnly. "You've made an excellent point. If we're going to deploy personnel for protection or elimination missions, forget about using teams. If we train individuals according to your standards, each one of them could function as an entire team on their own."
With a chuckle, he added, "I particularly liked the part about resting. Haha."
Mutsuy acknowledged the comment with a nod before continuing. "Now, I saved something for last, but it still requires extensive testing."
He took a deep breath and then performed a release, summoning a thin metal sheet that fell to the ground. Over time, it solidified. He poured a bit of water on it, placed it on the table, and then positioned a chakra stone behind it.
"Uncle Homura, you're a sensor, correct?"
Homura nodded.
"Try sensing the chakra stone behind the metal plate."
Homura did as instructed. His expression quickly shifted to disbelief. "This…"
He tried again, this time using a chakra-mapping jutsu. After a moment, he let out a deep sigh.
"Little Mutsuy, does this metal… cancel out chakra waves, preventing tracking?"
Mutsuy nodded.
Hiruzen and Danzo immediately performed the same test, only to confirm that they, too, were unable to sense the chakra within.
Mutsuy explained, "This needs to be pushed to its absolute limits in testing. But I imagined mesh armor woven with these metal threads—specifically for infiltration shinobi and Precision Corps snipers. The only issue is ensuring its security. The upside is that the enemy will never be able to replicate this metal. Additionally, it provides a degree of protection against kunai and shuriken."
Danzo nodded firmly. "This would undeniably be a major upgrade to Konoha's shinobi forces."
Hiruzen also nodded in agreement.
Mutsuy then continued, "Since this project is now approved, I'll need specialists in military attire to refine the final design. After all, we're not just aiming for effectiveness, but full-body security as well. I've secured three rooms in the shop for this project, and I've also assigned ten Elite Jonin to guard the premises daily for added security."
Mutsuy exhaled deeply before making his final move. "Now, there's something else... In truth, I've already prepared two years' worth of production and supplies at the shop. And with all of this completed, I'd like to request a small leave of absence… a short vacation, really."
He looked at them with a somewhat awkward expression. "Actually, I'll be honest—I hope you don't laugh at me. Just this past week alone, I've received several marriage proposals. You see, uncles, I'm a young shinobi devoted to my dear Aiko, and yet I have to deal with such suffering."
He sighed dramatically.
The room erupted into laughter.
Hiruzen, however, was already aware of the various shinobi clans attempting to stay on Mutsuy's good side.
But Mutsuy wasn't finished. With a knowing smirk, he placed ten envelopes on the table. Each one was a request for a meeting from the Uchiha Clan.
It didn't take long for the desired reaction.
Danzo Shimura, the fierce protector of the Second Hokage's ideals, had long maintained his vigilance against the Uchiha. And Mutsuy, his younger disciple in spirit, had always respected and understood him. While Mutsuy did not share Danzo's more extreme ideologies, Danzo knew that he grasped the dangerous power behind those eyes—the future consequences they could bring.
A memory surfaced in Danzo's mind. The day Kagami Uchiha had died, young Mutsuy had spoken solemn words:
"It's not easy to control the Uchiha. It took nearly thirty years of Sensei's guidance through Kagami… only for it all to end like this. I wonder if there's a greater force behind this or if it was the Uchiha themselves, turning against those who do not align with their ideals."
Mutsuy had sighed, placing a black flower upon Kagami's coffin.
Danzo clenched his fists. Kagami had been his one true Uchiha friend, only for fate to take him away.
Was it an external force that had caused this?
Or was it the Uchiha themselves?
From that moment on, both he and Hiruzen had raised their guard—along with the other council members.