Weapons

After witnessing the speed boost granted by Hanyu's Lightning Release, the few spectators present naturally realized the power of this technique, and thus they began to spontaneously offer applause for Hanyu's invention... Though well-intentioned, it felt somewhat ironic.

One must realize that what Hanyu was doing was not a performance; he was developing a technique that would allow a ninja to kill more efficiently.

"Well done, Hanyu. I never expected you to develop such a powerful Lightning Release ninjutsu in such a short time." Koga did not hide his praise for Hanyu. This technique had been born right under his nose, and it was precisely because of that that he felt all the more shocked.

"This is just a special ninjutsu developed based on my own specificities... Besides, it was thanks to the notes you gave me earlier that I found the direction so quickly," Hanyu said earnestly. Although he was happy that the technique had succeeded, Hanyu did not feel that what he had done was anything exaggerated. And was the time he spent developing this technique really that short?

Those who would think it short were only doing so because they did not know how much time it had taken someone else to master Sage Mode.

Koga shook his head; he did not want to take credit. The materials he had shown Hanyu earlier were merely basic information. Countless people had seen those things, yet why had no one else developed a ninjutsu of this level after reading them? In the final analysis, it all depended on an individual's own ideas and the effort they put into it.

"A very impressive Lightning Release. As long as you practice it more, I believe it will become a very handy weapon," Hatake Sakumo added.

Because he had been a ninja for such a short time, Hanyu's taijutsu was not refined. However, once he possessed top-tier speed, as long as he improved his limb coordination and reflex speed, he would immediately rank among the elite ninjas.

From the initial days of only being able to take a beating to the present, Hatake Sakumo had to admit that Hanyu would soon (or perhaps already had) surpass him. He secretly spurred himself on; he would have to work even harder from now on... Yes, right after eating lunch today, he would have to increase his training volume.

Hanyu nodded. Hatake's assessment was very fair. Although his own speed issue was resolved, limited by his experience, Hanyu's movements in combat were still too simple. This was a problem that could only be solved through training and constant fighting.

However...

Hanyu pressed one hand onto Hatake's shoulder, used the thumb of his other hand to wipe the tip of his nose, and said, "But you're wrong about one thing, Hatake. What's truly powerful about me isn't my Lightning Release, but my Water Release. Water Release is the strongest, so... Be water, my friend."

Having an ability was one thing, but being able to use that ability skillfully was another; the two could not be mentioned in the same breath. If he wanted to exert his maximum combat power, Hanyu naturally had to intensify his training... One must know that there was once a ninja whose speed suddenly became very fast, only to accidentally step into a wall because he couldn't control his speed, resulting in a sprained ankle; there was also once a warrior who learned transformation, but because he couldn't grasp his own immense power, he beat his wife black and blue on the spot.

These were all cautionary tales, and Hanyu had to learn from them.

Regardless, the successful development of the new ninjutsu put Hanyu in a pleasant mood—no, it should be said it was more than just pleasant.

At times like this, he even felt he could understand those ninjas who were obsessed with developing forbidden techniques, such as the Second Hokage or Orochimaru. The reason they were so fanatical was not just because of the sense of accomplishment and excitement that came after successfully developing a ninjutsu, but also because when a new technique brought a huge improvement to a ninja's capabilities, it could even give one the illusion that their life level was leaping forward.

That was why such people became increasingly obsessed, sinking deeper and deeper.

At the same time, Hanyu suddenly understood why his attitude toward the war was "not hateful." The reason was simple: it was "fresh." War was something he had never experienced in either of his two lives, so heading to the battlefield was a fresh experience he had never had before. It was precisely because of this "freshness" that Hanyu was able to step out of the various influences imposed upon him by his previous life, and it also made him truly realize that he was indeed a young man.

Therefore, after arriving at the Konoha front line, he had become much more lively and energetic. As the war continued, perhaps this feeling would gradually fade, but at least for now, the war was bringing a positive change to his mindset.

After completing this ninjutsu test, the group returned from the lakeside to the Konoha camp. Setting aside everyone's individual thoughts, Hanyu knew he had to leave the front-line hospital; after all, he no longer had a reason to linger there.

The group parted ways after entering the Konoha camp, but Hanyu did not return to the front-line hospital to pack his things or prepare for discharge... He first went to the logistics and equipment department of the Konoha front line, intending to find some more suitable weapons.

Setting aside his previous cultivation and training in Konoha, once he truly arrived on the battlefield, Hanyu found that he really couldn't get used to using kunai.

The agile movement and close-quarters combat characteristics of ninjas dictated that they tended to use short, sharp weapons. However, a kunai had a blade but no guard; it was fine for attacking or assassinating, but if used for parrying or defense, one careless move and the enemy's weapon would slide down the edge of the kunai and cut off one's own fingers.

Moreover, the four-sided conical design of the kunai, despite having good strength and creating a diamond-shaped wound if it hit the enemy, generally lacked penetrating power compared to flat-bladed weapons.

Thus, Hanyu came to the logistics department and presented his requirements to the ninja in charge of weapons and equipment.

"I understand what you mean. In that case, how about a short sword? Would that be suitable?" As he spoke, the ninja placed several short swords of different lengths onto a table.

Hanyu picked and chose, then picked up a short sword that looked to be about forty-five centimeters long. After weighing it in his hand, he nodded with satisfaction.

"This style of short sword—I want two. And... do you have sheaths? Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll cut myself," Hanyu said. The weapons he could get here were, of course, the most common mass-produced standard-issue weapons, but as long as they were suitable, that was enough... Although they were mass-produced, Konoha would never have any major issues with quality control.

The ninja glanced at Hanyu, thinking to himself, Do you know how much production cost and time it adds to provide a sheath for every short sword? Fortunately, he saw that Hanyu was just a young ninja, which was why he didn't refuse him outright.

After rummaging for a long time, the ninja finally found two matching sheaths.

Hanyu inserted the short swords into the sheaths. He found that the blades were tightly gripped by the springs at the mouth of the sheaths, so they wouldn't fall out even if held upside down. He hung one short sword horizontally at his waist and the other diagonally across his back, with the hilt pointing downward; the hilt of the sword across his back reached just from his armpit to his ribcage.

This way, he could draw both swords with both hands simultaneously.

"And... do you have any weapons similar in length to a kunai? A dagger would also work." Hanyu then presented his second request to the man.

He was dissatisfied with the piercing ability of the kunai, but that did not mean he did not need a weapon of that length. In some situations, the length of a short sword was still a bit too long, so Hanyu needed a weapon that was kunai-sized but not a kunai.

Something like a dagger.

But this time, the logistics ninja finally became a bit impatient... Do you know what the production cost of a kunai is, and what the production cost of a dagger is? Given that both are mass-consumed items, what is the difference between them? Do you understand cost control?

However, Hanyu's youthful appearance once again played a deceptive role, and the ninja ultimately did not roar at him.

"Wait."

He said this, then turned and went back into the tent behind him, from which the sound of clanging and banging soon emerged. By the time he reappeared, half an hour had passed.

"Here, it completely meets your requirements: kunai-like length, good piercing ability, but not a kunai." He placed ten new weapons in front of Hanyu, looking very much like he would kill him if he dared to refuse them.

Hanyu was left between laughter and tears, but under the pressure of the other party, he finally accepted the items... Yes, what the man brought out completely met his requirements, but those weapons were nothing more than four-sided kunai that had been forcibly hammered into double-edged blades.

No wonder the man could modify them on the spot; when it came down to it, weren't these things still just kunai?

Seeing the man's attitude, Hanyu knew he couldn't continue to pester him, and he had already gotten more or less what he wanted here, so he expressed his gratitude to the ninja and turned to leave.

Everything was moving in a better direction, wasn't it?

Was it?