Artisan Ninja

The crimson firelight illuminated the room, and the scorching heat waves burned the air, causing the man in a thin shirt to sweat profusely as he swung his shovel with force, sending black coal into the furnace behind him.

The pitch-black coal balls rolled into the open flames, burning wantonly within the raging fire, releasing their energy to heat the bottom of the specialized crucible until it glowed red, while the ore slowly tumbled within the molten iron fire waves inside.

The Artisan Ninja standing in the safe zone above nodded with satisfaction as the mixture began to bubble and gurgle, signaling for the man to stop adding coal; he covered his nose to endure the pungent, acidic stench and shouted, "Use Fire Release now!"

The man dropped his shovel in response, then formed hand seals to channel the chakra within his body, and a scorching flame erupted from his mouth, burning fiercely.

Tobirama Senju, observing from a distance, wore a look of satisfaction at the fiery scene.

The professional forging capabilities of the Artisan Ninjas were undeniable, and the special metal ores that various clans had treasured for years had not been wasted; it was well worth the majority of the funds sent by the Daimyo to invite them.

"Lord Tobirama, are there any further requirements?" asked the short, white-bearded old man wearing a black, dirt-resistant cloak, leaning on his cane with a hunched back.

"The final product must be able to perfectly integrate with the use of sealing techniques; this must be achieved no matter what." Tobirama's red pupils were filled with seriousness as he spoke bluntly to the stooped old man.

Hmm, a qualified client.

The old man stroked his snow-white goatee, squinting his eyes as he thought silently to himself.

Looking together at the bustling, sweltering site and taking in the sight of the clansmen drenched in sweat, the old man said faintly, "Since Konoha has given us such strong support, this old man will use the full strength of the Artisan Ninja clan to ensure the best finished product reaches one-third the level of the Amber Purifying Pot."

Tobirama continued to watch the unhurried white-bearded old man, waiting for his next words.

"As for coordinating with the sealing techniques, this old man believes that Ashina and I can solve that perfectly." The old man tapped his cane firmly against the ground and said with resonance.

"Just give the word for whatever you need next; Konoha will fully cooperate with you." Having received the guarantee, Tobirama felt completely at ease and made his own promise in return.

The two gradually walked out of the sweltering workshop, surveying the scenery located in the southwest of Konoha.

From the small huts behind them came the rhythmic chants of workers, echoing with the chirping of birds in the forest; the Artisan Ninjas had been arranged to stay within Konoha.

The white-bearded old man looked at the scenery before him with satisfaction; he was Kohei, the leader of the Artisan Ninja clan, a clan that had been responsible for the ninja tools of various major clans during the chaotic times.

Having experienced many storms, he had naturally heard of the two men who had suppressed the entire ninja world and ended the chaotic era, leading their respective clans to jointly establish the village.

Since its establishment, the Hidden Village of Konoha had long been a household name.

Since arriving in Konoha, he had carefully observed every place without missing a detail, and it was indeed well-deserved; the harmonious coexistence of the various ninja clans made him feel deeply gratified, having seen so many clans wiped out.

As for peace, with no one placing orders with the Artisan Ninjas for ninja tools?

That was still better than the chaos filled with bloodshed and slaughter.

It was a pity that their ninja clan, due to their own special reasons, could not join a Hidden Village, and he had rejected invitations from Hidden Villages established by other major nations.

With a touch of melancholy, he took the pipe tucked into his waistband, lit it, and smacked his lips while exhaling smoke, then glanced sideways at the man beside him and asked, "Does Konoha want to unify the ninja world?"

"You are overthinking it, Clan Leader Kohei." Tobirama, sitting on a stool outside the small building, responded without hesitation.

"It is hard for this old man not to associate it with that, given the desire to seal the eight remaining Tailed Beasts in the ninja world." The old man sitting opposite Tobirama let his gaze drift past the parasol above his head, following the rising smoke as it slowly floated toward the sky, and said softly toward the dazzling sunlight, "Can you tell me what Konoha is actually trying to do?"

"You might not believe it." A hint of a smile flashed in the corners of Tobirama's narrow eyes as he said in a low voice.

"Might as well say it and let me hear." Taking a deep breath to draw the smoke from his nasal cavity into his lungs, feeling the strange sense of comfort in his body, Kohei squinted his eyes with satisfaction and said.

"Because of peace, they want to stretch their bodies." Tobirama rubbed his brow with a headache, his tone carrying a hint of conflict.

Whenever he thought of his elder brother's silly grin, always being incited by Madara's wild ideas, his scalp would tingle and his brain would ache.

The Konoha Dance King competition was supposed to just arrange the participants and clear the venue, but who knew that at the end of the competition, they would directly bring out the Wood Golem and Susanoo, turning everything upside down and forcing them to redo the ground and repair the gates.

This time, they said they wanted to capture the Tailed Beasts; this idea of Madara's was quite forward-looking.

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

But judging from Madara's demeanor at the time and the subsequent plans, it looked more like they intended to knock the Tailed Beasts unconscious, lay them flat on the ground, and seal them casually.

Thinking of the eight Tailed Beasts breaking free from their seals and attacking Konoha together, although Tobirama could feel the bright sunshine under the parasol, the cold sweat soaking his back reminded him that he seemed to have discovered the truth.

The two of them fighting the eight Tailed Beasts, having a thorough, exhilarating battle, and completely releasing the hidden fighting spirit within their bodies.

Kohei, puffing away, certainly did not know the thoughts swirling in Tobirama's mind; he was surprised by this straightforward reason.

Smoke billowed wantonly from his short body, drifting from his nostrils, ears, and mouth into the distance.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Kohei slapped his chest vigorously, coughing hoarsely; it was the first time in his life he had been choked like this.

Tobirama looked at the flushed white-bearded old man with concern, wondering if he should use the Flying Thunder God to send him to the hospital, but seeing him gradually stabilize his breathing, his own active thoughts quieted down as well.

"Just to stretch their bodies? That is indeed very surprising."

Having recovered, Kohei looked with disgust at the culprit in his hand that had made him cough his lungs out, placed it on the table, and muttered, "To be able to say such things, they are truly worthy of possessing power comparable to the gods."

Tobirama, feeling satisfied, automatically categorized this as praise for Hashirama, nodding to imply he could say a few more words.

"It seems our conversation has come to an end."

Kohei sensed the direction of someone moving at high speed using chakra not far away and said softly.

Tobirama, who could also sense the target, looked at him curiously, then thought that the leader of the Artisan Ninjas must also have good sensory abilities, after all, he had appraised countless ninja tools in his long life.

The messenger ninja arrived on the wind, whispered in Tobirama's ear, and then vanished from the spot using the Body Flicker Technique.

"It is Clan Leader Ashina who is arriving."

Looking up at the sun hanging high in the firmament, Tobirama estimated the distance, calculating that at their speed, they would arrive in Konoha just at dusk.

"That's great! The first finished product from the forging will be ready in a few days, just in time for Ashina to try it out."

Tobirama sighed helplessly as he watched the white beard tremble with excitement, thinking that once the finished product was ready, Elder Brother would likely end up looking just like him.

No.

It would be even more excessive.

He could already picture his elder brother holding the finished product, grinning at Madara with his white teeth bared.