Artisan Ninja

The firelight glowed red, filling the room. Waves of scorching heat seared the air as the man in a thin shirt sweated profusely, swinging his shovel to feed the black coal behind him into the furnace.

The coal rolled into the flames and burned fiercely, releasing all its energy. It heated the bottom of the specially made crucible until it glowed red, while the ore inside slowly tumbled in the molten metal.

From a safe spot above, the Artisan Ninja watched the mixture bubble and nodded in satisfaction, signaling that the man could stop adding coal. Covering his nose against the pungent, acrid smell, he called out, "Hurry and use Fire Release!"

The man dropped his shovel, formed hand seals, and channeled chakra through his body. A scorching flame burst from his mouth and roared across the furnace.

Watching from a distance, Tobirama Senju looked pleased by the blazing scene.

The Artisan Ninja's specialized forging skills were beyond question. The special metal ores that the various clans had guarded for years would not go to waste; the bulk of the funds the Daimyo had provided to hire them had been well spent.

"Lord Tobirama, is there anything else you require?" asked a short, white-bearded old man in a black, dirt-resistant cloak. He leaned on his cane and bowed slightly.

"The finished product must work perfectly with the Sealing Jutsu. That is nonnegotiable," Tobirama said bluntly, his red eyes full of determination.

Hmm. A demanding client, just as expected.

The old man stroked his snowy white goatee and narrowed his eyes as he thought to himself.

They both turned to look at the bustling workshop, where the clansmen were hard at work, soaked in sweat. The old man spoke quietly. "Konoha has given us tremendous support. I'll mobilize the entire Artisan Ninja clan to ensure the best we can make reaches one-third the level of the Amber Purifying Pot."

Tobirama continued watching the unhurried old man, waiting for him to go on.

"As for making it work with the Sealing Jutsu, I'm confident Ashina and I can solve that perfectly." The old man thumped his cane against the ground, his words firm and sure.

"Whatever you need from here on, just say the word. Konoha will give you our full support." Reassured by the promise, Tobirama made one of his own.

The two gradually left the sweltering workshop and took in the scenery in the southwestern part of Konoha.

From several small houses behind them came the rhythmic shouts of workers, accompanied by birdsong from the woods. The Artisan Ninja had been given lodging inside Konoha.

The white-bearded old man surveyed the scenery with satisfaction. His name was Kohei, and he was the head of the Artisan Ninja clan. During the warring era, his clan had made ninja tools for the great clans.

Having weathered many storms, he had naturally heard of the two men who had ended the chaos and brought the entire Shinobi World to heel, leading their clans to establish a village together.

The Konoha Hidden Village had been famous ever since its founding.

Since arriving, he had carefully examined every corner of the village, and it had lived up to its reputation. Seeing the ninja clans coexist in harmony filled him with relief, for he had witnessed the destruction of many clans.

And now that there was peace, would nobody commission the Artisan Ninja to make tools?

That was still better than a world filled with bloodshed and war.

Unfortunately, because of their clan's unique circumstances, they could not join a Hidden Village. Kohei had turned down invitations from the Hidden Villages founded by the other great nations.

A little wistful, he pulled the pipe tucked behind his waist, lit it, and puffed out a cloud of smoke. Glancing at the man beside him, he asked, "Does Konoha intend to unite the Shinobi World?"

"You're overthinking it, Clan Head Kohei," Tobirama replied without hesitation from his seat on a stool outside the small building.

"You're trying to seal away the only eight Tailed Beasts left in the Shinobi World. It's hard not to draw that conclusion." Sitting across from Tobirama, the old man gazed past the sunshade as smoke drifted lazily toward the sky. He looked up at the dazzling sunlight and asked softly, "Could you tell me what Konoha really intends to do?"

"You might not believe me." A glint of amusement flashed in Tobirama's narrow eyes as he spoke in a low voice.

"Go ahead. I'm listening." Kohei drew in a deep breath, inhaling the smoke into his lungs. Enjoying the strange sense of relief it gave him, he narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.

"Peace. They want to stretch their legs," Tobirama said, rubbing his brow with a troubled look.

Whenever he thought of his eldest brother's foolish grin and how easily Madara's harebrained schemes swayed him, he got a headache.

The Konoha Dance King contest was supposed to be easy: arrange the competitors, prepare the venue, and call it a day. But who could have guessed that the finale would involve a Wood Golem and Susanoo, turning the whole place upside down? They had to repair the ground and rebuild the gates afterward.

This time, they said they wanted to capture the Tailed Beasts. Madara's idea had been far-sighted.

The Hidden Villages established by the other great nations would inevitably take an interest in the Tailed Beasts, so Konoha had to act first.

But judging by Madara's expression and the plan he came up with afterward, it seemed as if they were just going to knock the Tailed Beasts out, lay them flat on the ground, and seal them however they pleased.

Tobirama could feel the bright sunlight beneath the sunshade, but the cold sweat soaking his back told him he might have figured out the truth: the two of them would fight all eight Tailed Beasts, battle to their hearts' content, and unleash the fighting spirit they had kept buried inside, shaking the mountains and earth.

Kohei, puffing away on his pipe, had no idea what was running through Tobirama's mind. The blunt answer had caught him completely off guard.

Smoke poured from the old man's short frame, streaming from his nostrils, ears, and mouth.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Kohei pounded his chest and coughed until his voice was raw. Never in his life had he choked this badly.

Tobirama looked at the white-bearded old man's flushed face with concern. He wondered whether he should use the Flying Thunder God to take him to the hospital, but when Kohei's breathing began to settle, Tobirama's mind quieted too.

"They only want to stretch their legs? That really is surprising."

Recovered, Kohei eyed the culprit that had nearly choked him to death with distaste, set it on the table, and muttered, "To say something like that... No wonder they possess power on the level of the gods."

Tobirama, thoroughly pleased, took that as praise for Hashirama and nodded, silently encouraging him to say more.

"Looks like our conversation is over."

Kohei quietly sensed someone approaching at high speed, using chakra to move.

Tobirama, who had sensed the same target, glanced at him curiously. Then he thought better of it. The head of the Artisan Ninja clan must have excellent sensory abilities, considering the countless ninja tools he had inspected over his long life.

A messenger ninja arrived with the wind, whispered in Tobirama's ear, then vanished in a Body Flicker.

"Clan Head Ashina will be here soon."

Tobirama looked up at the sun high in the sky and estimated the journey. At their speed, they would reach Konoha just as evening fell.

"That's perfect. The first item we've been forging will be ready in a few days. Ashina can try it out."

Tobirama watched the white beard quiver with excitement and sighed helplessly. Once the finished product was ready, his eldest brother would probably look much the same.

No, he'd likely be even worse.

Tobirama could already picture his eldest brother holding the finished product, grinning at Madara and baring his teeth in a wide smile.