Chapter 521: Cybernetics and the R&D Team
Under the control of the "Pain Editor," Hayate Gekko's pain threshold was far higher than that of an ordinary person, proving the device was effective.
The "Synaptic Signal Optimizers" reinforced his bones, which in turn greatly increased his ability to withstand damage. With this device, a ninja would appear incredibly "tanky" in battle.
The moral standards of ninja had never been particularly high. Seeing the effectiveness of the new devices, the village council immediately allocated fifteen death-row inmates to Ino's Arasaka Corporation for human experimentation.
After three consecutive days of testing, the results were in.
Village-wide implementation was unlikely.
The "Pain Editor" used the power of Yin Release chakra, and this spiritual energy-based chakra would cause varying degrees of discomfort in the user. This was similar to the mania the Uchiha clan experienced due to their intense love. For a ninja who already possessed an affinity for Yin Release, it was fine. But for those without sufficient resistance, the more the "Pain Editor" was used, the more frequent side effects like dizziness, blurred vision, mental disorientation, and hallucinations would become.
The "Synaptic Signal Optimizers" used the Kaguya clan's secret medicine, which also placed a heavy burden on the bones and cells. Long-term use might create another Kimimaro who would die young.
There were drawbacks, but there were also benefits.
Minato and the three council members discussed it for two days and finally agreed that Arasaka Corporation could use these two technological devices on some severely injured ninja—those who were on the verge of retirement for various reasons.
The Mystical Palm Technique only accelerated cell growth; it couldn't cure all illnesses.
Although ninja undergo relevant training from a young age, post-traumatic stress disorder was a real and present danger.
Ino had discussed this issue with Kabuto in the past. Some ninja who had been on the battlefield or experienced intense life-or-death struggles would, upon returning to a peaceful environment, see a pool of blood whenever they saw a sharp object, or be reminded of the painful Fire Release ninjutsu that had tormented them whenever they saw a flame.
These conditions were difficult to treat. Konoha's medical resources were limited, and for these ailments, the only recourse was to let them self-regulate. If they couldn't, they would either die in their next battle or be forced into retirement.
To ask a ninja who was once high and mighty, deciding the fate of ordinary people, to retire and take up farming or business was not only beyond their capabilities, but also a blow to their pride. Many of them would thus go astray.
They would inflict the suffering they had endured a thousand times over on innocent people. Then, the village would have to send ninja to kill them. After a round of talk-no-jutsu and bickering, the young ninja would kill the rogue ninja, their own mentality would be affected, and a new vicious cycle would begin.
So, when Nagato said the ninja world was engulfed in an endless sea of evil, he wasn't wrong. Jiraiya's idea of having everyone understand each other was just that—an idea, difficult to achieve in reality.
After Hayate Gekko was discharged from the hospital, one hundred and fifty ninja suffering from psychological trauma were sent to Arasaka Corporation.
Ino attempted to treat their trauma through conversation.
She adopted the Western-style Alcoholics Anonymous method, having ten people sit in a circle and share their experiences to heal each other.
But it didn't work. The method wasn't a good fit for their culture. They were all from the same village, and no one was willing to air their dirty laundry.
The support group came to an abrupt end.
Ino was at a loss. Fine, if talking doesn't work, we'll go to the operating table!
The technological devices she had cobbled together couldn't solve the ninjas' PTSD, but they could allow them to continue being ninja. If they no longer felt pain from being stabbed by a sword or burned by fire, their stress disorders would naturally be reduced.
The mental illnesses that might arise from the Arasaka devices were a problem for the future. As long as they didn't install too many "cybernetics," Ino estimated that their psychological issues would be manageable.
Two weeks after Minato Namikaze took office as Hokage, the corresponding personnel adjustments began.
Genma Shiranui, Raidō Namiashi, and Iwashi Tatami, who had once served as Minato's guards, were given important positions.
Genma Shiranui took over the position of captain of the Konoha Military Police Force from Kakashi.
Minato completely separated Ibiki Morino's Interrogation Unit from the Intelligence Division. The Interrogation Unit now became a subordinate department of the Hokage's direct Anbu, while the Analysis and Sensory teams were merged to officially form the Konoha Intelligence Department.
Ino was promoted from Sensory Team Leader to Head of the Intelligence Department, with the former Analysis Team Leader, Aoba Yamashiro, as her deputy.
The positions were adjusted from top to bottom. The job of guarding the main gate now returned to the hands of Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane.
For reasons that couldn't be spoken aloud, Jiraiya had not trusted the two and had transferred them to work in the administration building. A new ruler brings new courtiers. Minato had no doubts about their loyalty, and since they had guarded the gate for so many years without any issues, they were naturally reinstated to their original posts.
Minato Namikaze was very dissatisfied with Konoha's Research and Development Team. Given Ino's experience in establishing Arasaka Corporation, he temporarily put her in charge of the R&D Team.
The several replicated Chakra Cannons, the "Kunai Launcher," "Glider Wings," and other equipment captured from the Sky Ninja were all handed over to Ino for replication and optimization. Unlike the somewhat risky cybernetics, these could be equipped village-wide.
The "Kunai Launcher" made Ino feel a bit awkward. All ninja, whether from clans or civilian families, began their training with kunai throwing. Now, this mechanical device, where you just loaded kunai and pulled a trigger to have them spew out, was, to be honest, a bit of a desecration to the art of kunai throwing.
Ino discussed it with the R&D Team's ninja and even sought out Tenten, whose family sold ninja tools.
The general consensus was that kunai launched in such a way lacked soul! What this "soul" was, exactly, no one could clearly say.
Neither Ino nor Tenten liked using this kunai launcher. Tenten made her living by throwing ninja tools, and Ino herself had spent a great deal of effort after reincarnating to master the art.
They didn't like it, but that didn't mean it was completely useless. It could be manufactured and given to younger ninja to provide some "firepower" support.
Someone like Naruto certainly couldn't be considered an ordinary genin. Normal genin were all pitifully weak, complete cannon fodder on the battlefield. Hitting five out of ten throws with a kunai was considered a good result. A kunai launcher would indeed be a great help.
After developing the "Pain Editor" and "Synaptic Signal Optimizers," looking at this "pew pew pew" kunai launcher now, Ino felt it was all just too low-end.
However, the glider wings were quite good. Organizing small squads for high-altitude surprise attacks on a local battlefield could indeed produce unexpected results.
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