"This is the latest development, we call it Unit-01." Chiro pointed at the roughly ten-meter-tall, humanoid machine full of metallic luster and said excitedly, "It was developed based on the structure of the human body and the analysis and research of Tailed Beasts. Does it look like the Gundam you mentioned?"
Chiro stood in front of Unit-01, spreading his arms...
"This is simply the greatest creation in human history!"
"Eh, hmm!" Uzumaki Jun looked at the 'Unit-01' in front of him, was momentarily stunned, and said, "What about its power?"
This thing somewhat resembled the mechanical Nine-Tails, being more soft and rounded, lacking the angular beauty of a Gundam...
But Unit-01...
When was this name decided? Shouldn't the name be chosen by me, the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools?
"Very strong!" Chiro nodded, saying with a serious expression, "Stronger than an Elite Jōnin!"
"The main power source uses Four-Tails chakra, so while the power is great, the consumption is also very fast."
"Of course, the specific strength will only be known after testing."
"..."
So, this thing is just a mechanical version of the Four-Tails?
Uzumaki Jun sighed helplessly and said, "It hasn't been tested yet?"
Better to see how effective it is first before discussing anything else!
"Yes!" Chiro nodded and said, "The ninja world isn't suitable for conducting tests."
"True!" Uzumaki Jun nodded, stroked his chin, and murmured, "It seems we'll have to go to the moon to test it!"
For a heavyweight weapon like this, we should find a place to conduct tests secretly. Otherwise, it wouldn't be good if the enemy found out...
"The pilot?"
Uzumaki Jun looked around...
"Come with me to the moon."
By the looks of it, Chiro, Hiruko, and Orochimaru will probably all come along.
After all...
For the initial test, how can we go without the developers?
"Sasori, come here quickly." Upon hearing they were about to depart, Chiro hurriedly called out to the red-haired young man fiddling with something behind him, shouting, "We're leaving."
"Right away!" Sasori looked up, glanced over, then lowered his head again to continue tinkering, saying, "Wait for me to adjust the frequency first!"
"..."
Uzumaki Jun glanced at Sasori squatting in the back. When did he get here?
Why didn't I see him earlier?
And...
Did he ask for leave?
"Done!" Sasori clapped his hands, stood up, nodded with satisfaction, and sighed, "Although it has many flaws..."
"It truly is a magnificent masterpiece!"
Perhaps in the future, it will change the traditional combat methods of puppet masters, transitioning from wooden puppets to mechanical Gundams, and the traditional method of controlling multiple puppets will become obsolete. After all, piloting just one is quite troublesome enough~
Also, this kind of Gundam...
Will probably drain a puppet master's savings!
You should know that this 'Unit-01' basically used up all the funds of the Mechanical Department. The cost is quite significant. So, another purpose of this trip is...
To apply for another round of funding!
Sasori touched the 'Unit-01'...
He needed to show off his skills later!!
Otherwise, how could he possibly get the allocation?
"Is everyone here?" Uzumaki Jun looked at the people around, ten in total. Besides Chiro, the other three, and Sasori the pilot, the rest were assistants. Of course, there was also some equipment...
He sighed helplessly, looking at the ten-meter-tall 'Unit-01' in front of him...
Might as well just put everything into the system. Otherwise, it's too tall, too big, and there's too much stuff, making it really hard to carry...
No sooner said than done, Uzumaki Jun stood in front of the Gundam and all the equipment, gently patted, and everything instantly disappeared, leaving behind a group of stunned researchers...
Space Ninjutsu!
Especially Orochimaru, who narrowed his eyes and licked his lips curiously...
Time-Space Ninjutsu, how fascinating!
"Hurry up, everyone gather over here, we're about to set off." After packing everything away, Uzumaki Jun shouted loudly, "Let's go early so we can come back early for dinner~"
Now, only a few members of the Ōtsutsuki clan are still working on the moon; the rest have already moved to the Land of Whirlpools. After all...
Humans all yearn for a beautiful and happy living environment!
If there's a comfort zone, why suffer?
You should know that even the Ōtsutsuki clan members who remain on the moon now take holidays to return to the Land of Whirlpools periodically...
Especially now that all the Ōtsutsuki clan members have obtained citizenship of the Land of Whirlpools and joined the nation. The younger generation, in particular, educated in the Land of Whirlpools, have firmly become its citizens!
Of course...
I heard that due to certain special reasons, the Hyūga clan in Konoha has severed ties with the Ōtsutsuki clan and issued a statement saying they are not affiliated!
Sigh!
Just thinking about it, you know the higher-ups in Konoha wouldn't believe that so easily!
So...
Uzumaki Jun often has Ōtsutsuki Hoshin call the Hyūga clan...
And currently, mobile phones don't have a block function. Probably the entire ninja world knows that even though they aren't affiliated, they still talk on the phone every day...
How pitiful!
...
"Lord Fourth Hokage." Hyūga Hiashi looked expressionlessly at the newly appointed Fourth Hokage in front of him and said faintly, "May I ask why you called me out?"
This person, who hadn't been back in Konoha for long, was asking him, the nominal head of a major clan in Konoha now, to come out for a talk...
Does he think the Hyūga clan doesn't have enough troubles already?
"Hyūga Clan Head." Minato looked at the wary Hiashi and said with a smile, "I heard the Hyūga clan is having a very hard time because of the Ōtsutsuki clan?"
Having stayed in the Land of Whirlpools for so long, he knew about the Ōtsutsuki clan. Although they do have Byakugan...
The Ōtsutsuki clan all have silver-white hair, while the Hyūga clan all have black hair. So, the two clans are indeed different!
However...
That's not important!
"Don't be nervous."
Seeing the Hyūga Clan Head suddenly narrow his eyes and stare at him, Minato smiled wryly, then leaned on the railing, looking at the Konoha villagers coming and going below, and said, "Believe me, I truly mean no harm!"
"The Hyūga clan and the Ōtsutsuki are only distantly related cousins." Hiashi sighed, also looking at the scenery on the streets, and said, "Moreover, the Hyūga clan will not betray Konoha."
Is the higher-ups dissatisfied with the Hyūga clan?
Having the Fourth Hokage personally come down to talk with him, could it be...
A flash of worry passed through his eyes!
As the only major clan surviving in Konoha, he was well aware of the truth behind the annihilation of the Senju and Uchiha clans...
Is it finally the Hyūga clan's turn now?
"I believe the Hyūga clan." Hearing Hiashi's words, Minato nodded, sighed wistfully, and said, "This time, I'm only here to see you on my own behalf. It has nothing to do with Lord Third Hokage or the Konoha Council..."
Only after becoming Hokage did he understand what his teacher Jiraiya meant when he said, 'The enemies you face are more numerous than you imagine.'
Not only did the Third Hokage oppose his reforms, but the Konoha Council also disagreed with them...
It could be said...
He, the Fourth Hokage, has been sidelined!
Sidelined by the Third Hokage and his companions...
He currently doesn't have a single person around him who is truly his own. No matter what orders he gives, they need to be reviewed again by the Third Hokage and the Council. He tried to form a new council, but...
They all failed for no apparent reason!
Now, he can see it clearly...
He is only the Hokage in name. Apart from sitting in that position, he has no real power at all...
A bitter smile appeared on Minato's face...
"What do you think of Konoha?"
"Konoha..." Hearing the Fourth Hokage's words, Hiashi was stunned, then quietly gazed at the seemingly peaceful streets as usual...
Perhaps you can't see it, but Konoha's darkness has always existed...
Coming back to his senses, he looked expressionlessly at Minato...
"This has nothing to do with my Hyūga clan, Fourth Hokage!"
He... of course guessed what the Fourth Hokage meant, but...
The Hyūga clan cannot afford to gamble!!
"The Hyūga clan are shinobi. We only follow orders from above~"
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