"This type of ninja tool can't be mass-produced yet. There just aren't enough suitable materials. And it requires all kinds of specialized instruments and equipment to make," Kakashi, who knew some of the details, took the initiative to explain on Obito's behalf. For original chapters go to NoveI[F]ire.net
"Right now, we're looking for a substitute for chakra-conducting metal."
Whether it was his own short sword or Asuma's Chakra Blades, both were made from rare, naturally chakra conductive materials.
Even though the Uchiha were a prominent clan, that didn't mean they could casually supply expensive materials just for him to use and waste.
"Damn it!" Obito clearly understood this as well. Unless he made some sort of notable contribution to the clan or the village, he had no right to request such resources. He'd have to earn them.
"…What if I go talk to Itachi?" Obito muttered, an idea forming in his head.
Itachi was such a good kid. Whether in the clan or the village, his reputation was spotless. Just like Obito, he was often called the Uchiha who was least like an Uchiha.
But in Obito's case, that comment was more of a playful jab at his odd behavior.
In Itachi's case, it was sincere praise for his character.
Despite looking so young, Itachi carried himself like a small adult—mature beyond his years, always fitting perfectly into whatever role he needed to play.
In Fugaku's eyes, Itachi was the future of the Uchiha—someone he never had to worry about.
In Mikoto's eyes, Itachi was a gentle, thoughtful child who made her heart ache with how well he behaved.
And in Sasuke's eyes, Itachi was the perfect brother—someone to look up to, someone to admire.
In the eyes of his teammates like Asuma and Kabuto, Itachi was a reliable, highly talented, and trustworthy person.
To the villagers, Itachi was a quiet but warm-hearted child who was always willing to help others.
Even among the higher-ups of the village—Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Kagetsu—they all agreed that Itachi's talent and personality were admirable.
Itachi played every role perfectly. Even Obito believed that if something happened, he could go to Itachi for help.
Given their shared clan background, if Itachi was capable of solving it, he definitely wouldn't refuse.
After all, Itachi was Kagetsu's student and had been involved in the Technology Development Department since childhood.
"Itachi doesn't even have that kind of ninja tool himself," Kakashi said, rolling his eyes.
"How would you know?" Obito paused at those words and looked at Kakashi in confusion.
"You don't know? Lord Kagetsu prepared special weapons for all three of them. It's just that Itachi's needs more time to finish," Kakashi recalled the casual conversation he had with Itachi about weapons.
Obito snorted in frustration and stomped forward, clearly not in the mood to continue talking to Kakashi.
The Police Force was useless—handling only minor village disputes and receiving no real intelligence. He couldn't stay there any longer! He needed to talk to Minato-sensei and ask him to transfer him somewhere else.
The light above the operating room finally went out. Outside the door, Minato Namikaze and the Third Hokage stared intently at it.
With a soft click, the door opened from the inside. Tsunade stepped out with confident strides, followed closely by a man being wheeled out on a hospital bed.
The Third Hokage and Minato called out to her in unison.
"What are you two doing just standing here? Didn't I tell you it was just a routine surgery?" Tsunade frowned slightly as she looked at them.
Since stepping down from his position, the Third Hokage had more or less entered a retirement phase.
Aside from occasionally being pulled into village affairs by Orochimaru—usually when the Snake Sannin got too buried in his own research—he mostly spent his days teaching at the academy.
He was only here today because of the man lying on that hospital bed.
Maruboshi Kosuke—a man who had once fought alongside him during the reign of the Second Hokage.
For Sarutobi Hiruzen, the number of comrades with whom he shared deep bonds was growing fewer by the day.
Danzo had gone down a dark path and was now under strict surveillance.
Koharu and Homura, his old teammates, had been sent off to Sunagakure by Orochimaru and barely returned to the village more than once or twice a year.
Torifu Akimichi's body had been worn down by years of injury and illness. Though Tsunade's treatment and care had slowly brought him back to a stable condition, he now mostly stayed home and rested.
Maruboshi Kosuke, aside from Tsunade and a few others, was one of the last people from his generation that Minato Namikaze was still familiar with in the village.
"We just wanted to come visit Kosuke-san," Minato said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. His eyes kept glancing toward the corner where Kosuke was being wheeled around and into a hospital room.
Back during the Third Great Ninja War, Kosuke had helped him a lot.
During one mission, he had even volunteered to act as bait, drawing away numerous enemies and giving Minato the chance to strike.
The price, however, had been the loss of his left leg.
While part of Minato's reason for coming was indeed because of Kosuke, he was also here to observe something else—the latest collaboration between the Medical Corps and the Scientific Ninja Tool Division: limb regeneration technology.
If it worked without any issues, it would undoubtedly be rolled out for every ninja and villager in the Leaf who suffered from missing limbs.
"He's doing very well. I used his own cellular tissue to cultivate a new limb just for him," Tsunade explained casually as she followed behind the nurse who was pushing the hospital bed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Minato kept pace beside her.
"If we had used White Zetsu's cells to cultivate the limb, there's a chance he might have awakened Wood Release. Even if he didn't, his chakra reserves would've increased."
"But he refused. He chose to use his own cells."
Tsunade offered a reassuring smile as she turned to the two men.
"Don't worry about him. Once he wakes up and rests for a day or two, he'll be as good as new."
"That's good," the Third Hokage nodded. He wanted to light a cigarette but was met with a fierce glare from his disciple Tsunade.
Realizing they were in the hospital, the Third awkwardly hid the pipe behind his back and coughed twice, hands behind him.
"Next, can we start treating other shinobi who have lost limbs?" Minato asked with relief.
There weren't many shinobi in the village with missing limbs because most of those who lost limbs had died on the battlefield before rescue arrived.
But strictly speaking, the number was not small either. Most of them were at least Chunin or above.
Like Maruboshi Kosuke, some were Jonin or even elite Jonin, which was rare.
Some of these shinobi could still fight with prosthetic limbs installed.
The prosthetics allowed them to fight to some extent, but their strength inevitably decreased.
If their missing limbs could be fully restored, their strength could quickly improve after some adjustment and training.
Even if they didn't return to being shinobi, having a healthy body was a good thing in Minato's eyes. So he cared deeply about this.
"Once I finish summarizing the cases and treatment plans, we can arrange for those people to come for check-ups so the doctors can collect data and prepare," Tsunade said thoughtfully, then nodded.
In just two or three years, the village had obtained a large number of White Zetsu.
From these, the technology development and medical departments worked together to achieve many breakthroughs.
With Orochimaru and Tsunade's application of cloning technology, replacing damaged limbs and organs for shinobi had become much easier.
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