Technology Gone Off Track

The young saleswoman lowered her head at Hyuga Kazuya's words, not knowing what to say.

Seeing how dejected she looked, Hyuga Kazuya did not know what else to say either.

He could only comfort her. "It's not your fault. If you want to develop, then work even harder."

He was not just talking nonsense. No one needed these old-fashioned machines anymore. If the technology advanced further, they might even use chakra to leap straight into numerical control, or even automation. Then all their problems would be easy to solve.

The major shinobi villages might look down on traditional mechanical manufacturing, but they would never ignore chakra, the foundation they stood upon. Any chakra technology would do, as long as it involved chakra.

Having looked around the guild and gained a rough understanding of the Land of Artisans' technological level, Hyuga Kazuya also saw the artisans' rules and regulations displayed prominently in the hall. Overall, compared to other places in the shinobi world, the Land of Artisans was practically paradise. It had clear training systems, promotion systems, inventor profit-sharing systems, and even an alarming retirement system.

It was simply terrifying. Looking only at the Land of Artisans, one might even suspect this was merely a modern world with somewhat backward technology.

It could be said that if chakra did not exist, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the Land of Artisans could flatten the entire shinobi world if it started a war in the future.

Since he had achieved his purpose for the day, Hyuga Kazuya stopped pestering the saleswoman.

"Keep it up. If you can take your machines a step further, such as combining turning, milling, planing, grinding, and other functions into one machine, or making them process automatically with only minimal manpower needed for maintenance..."

"If you can achieve that, try selling them in Konoha. I'll consider buying them."

After pointing out the future direction of machining equipment, Hyuga Kazuya did not reveal his identity. He merely said that if they sold them in Konoha, he would consider it.

Then, ignoring the saleswoman who remained rooted to the spot in a daze, he left.

The pretty saleswoman watched Hyuga Kazuya's departing figure, pondering the words he had spoken before leaving. She fell into deep thought.

After a long while, she immediately ran into a factory behind the guild.

"Dad, a customer came by our booth just now and said some very interesting things."

The saleswoman hurried into the back courtyard and found her father repairing a machine beneath a crane.

"Kotomi, weren't you receiving customers in the hall? What's wrong?"

The middle-aged man, who looked to be around forty, saw his daughter arrive. He casually wiped the grease from his body and smiled.

"He said we should combine turning, milling, planing, grinding, and other functions into one machine, or let the machine process automatically without manpower. Dad, can we do that?"

The girl named Kotomi asked her father curiously.

Hearing his daughter's words, her father also fell into deep thought.

"Combine them into one machine?"

As for automatic machining and combining everything into one machine, he did have some ideas. He had simply always believed that the shinobi world had no need for his inventions, so he had never given them much thought.

But that had been in the past. Now, he had a new direction for his research: breaking down metal or other raw materials into their basic states, then using chakra to control their transformation and assemble them into the forms he needed.

Looking at his dirty hands, he suppressed the urge to pat Kotomi's head and smiled at his daughter. "It's fine. Don't listen to his nonsense. Dad has a new research direction now."

Hearing her father's words, Kotomi smiled smugly.

"Exactly, exactly. What does some guy whose job we don't even know understand?"

"Hmph, he said it so confidently that I almost thought it was true."

Hearing his daughter's dissatisfaction, her father could only smile and shake his head.

Meanwhile, Hyuga Kazuya obviously had no idea about the father and daughter's conversation, or the father's new research direction. Otherwise, his jaw would probably have dropped.

He had just been lecturing someone else, only for them to skip mechanical machining altogether and go straight into 3D Printing.

He would probably only be able to laugh bitterly. He had fallen into the trap of relying on experience.

Using the technological progress of a world without extraordinary powers to judge one that possessed them was absurd to begin with.

Two days later.

Hyuga Kazuya was once again wandering around the Capital of the Land of Artisans, occasionally activating his Byakugan to sweep the surrounding area.

At noon that day, he finally found the target he had been searching for.

Sunagakure shinobi had arrived.

Hyuga Kazuya did not immediately notify Minato Namikaze and Kakashi. Instead, he observed them first.

By judging the amount of chakra they possessed, Hyuga Kazuya discovered that Sunagakure had sent thirteen people in total: four Jonin, while the rest were at least Chunin.

For safety's sake, Hyuga Kazuya did not get too close. If Sunagakure had sensory shinobi among them, that would be troublesome.

Ordinary sensory shinobi could only detect a rough direction, but that was already enough for any village's elite.

Therefore, Hyuga Kazuya did not move any closer. Instead, he quietly withdrew and went to find Minato Namikaze and Kakashi, who were farther away on the other side.

After finding them, the three did not return to the inn. Instead, they found a nearby establishment.

They rented a private room and entered. Once Minato Namikaze set up a barrier to block detection and sound—

Hyuga Kazuya said solemnly, "Sunagakure's people are here. They're very strong: at least four Jonin and nine Chunin."

As for whether other Sunagakure shinobi were hiding in the shadows, Hyuga Kazuya did not think so, because the force already out in the open was powerful enough.

Hearing how strong the Sunagakure force was, Kakashi was greatly shocked. Like Hyuga Kazuya, he could not help looking at Minato Namikaze and waiting for his orders.

Minato Namikaze frowned. He had not expected Sunagakure to send such a strong force. After thinking for a moment, he considered their plan.

"Once they leave the Capital of the Land of Artisans with the ninja tools, Kazuya, use your bow from a distance to harass them and draw their attention. If things go wrong, retreat immediately."

"Wait until Sunagakure chases after you, then I'll charge in from behind."

"Don't worry about me. I know the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique. I'm the least afraid of being surrounded."

Hyuga Kazuya had no objections to this plan, because it was the best option they currently had.

Even the village probably had not expected Sunagakure to send so many shinobi.

However, when Kakashi heard that Hyuga Kazuya had been assigned a task but Minato Namikaze had yet to give him one, he could not help asking.

"What about me, Teacher Minato?"

Minato Namikaze looked at Kakashi and considered what he could do in this mission.

"Teacher Minato, let Kakashi come with me. We can set traps along the escape route in advance and wait for the Sunagakure shinobi I draw over."

Minato Namikaze nodded and agreed with Hyuga Kazuya's proposal. No matter what, he could not let Kakashi charge into Sunagakure's ranks with him.

Agreeing to Hyuga Kazuya's suggestion was undoubtedly a good choice.

"Teacher Minato, it's better to be careful. The force Sunagakure sent this time is far too abnormal. Perhaps they have some other objective."

Minato Namikaze laughed heartily and said optimistically, "It's fine. What can more people do?"

"As long as there isn't a Five Kage-level powerhouse, numbers mean nothing to me. Even if I can't win, I can still escape." No one understood his own strength better than Minato Namikaze.

Seeing Minato Namikaze so optimistic and confident in his own strength, Hyuga Kazuya said nothing.

After all, although Minato Namikaze did not yet possess the strength he would have during the Third Shinobi World War, when he fought the Cloud's Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki alone, he was still absolutely beyond the reach of ordinary Jonin.