Uchiha, Born to Be Overworked [Two-in-One]

But Uchiha Gin didn't trust that guy. He'd only come today to prepare him mentally. He refused to believe Hyuga Hiashi hadn't been affected at all.

Besides, Hiashi was even softer than Fugaku. After all, their clans had different ideals, and the leaders they chose were different, too.

"Is there really such a chance?"

Hiashi was still testing the waters.

He wouldn't dare make a choice without enough information. He wanted to place his bets, but he couldn't just choose at random. Though he was furious, he was the head of the Hyuga Clan and had to consider the entire clan.

If he chose wrong, the entire clan might not be wiped out, but it would still suffer a severe blow.

"This time, it's only a verbal negotiation. Whether you support Orochimaru when it matters is up to you. This is only preparation to make the transition legitimate."

"And the transfer might not be peaceful. If force is used, then this won't be necessary."

Gin wasn't about to reveal too much about his side.

At the same time, he needed to put pressure on Hiashi.

With that, Gin got to his feet. He had no interest in drinking the tea Hiashi had just brewed.

"After the Senju Clan came the Uchiha. If something happens to the Uchiha this time, who knows whether the Hyuga will be next."

"Once Orochimaru becomes Hokage, he won't restrict the development of the great clans. That's his promise."

Gin said this last, then left with the Body Flicker Technique before Hiashi could respond.

"An evil tiger and an evil wolf, huh!"

Hiashi clenched his fist.

He was deeply unwilling, but the Hyuga Clan could only choose. They had no way to resist.

But if they really could choose, the option of stabbing Sarutobi Hiruzen in the back made him feel a little tempted.

Hizashi!

Chapter 59: Uchiha, Born to Be Overworked [Two-in-One]

Ninja Tool Development Department.

All the members had gathered today because they were going to develop new Scientific Ninja Tools.

"Cut the cost by a factor of ten? How are we supposed to do that?"

"It'll only need to be used once? What if something goes wrong? This is for combat!"

"So that's possible?"

The researchers stared at the new development requirements, utterly bewildered.

The cost of Chakra Blades was to be reduced tenfold, even if that meant sacrificing durability. The Chakra Armor also needed to be revamped: the Flight Wing was to be manufactured separately, and its materials only needed to hold up for two hours of flight.

They were driving the costs down to the absolute limit.

Ninja tools were supposed to be sturdy and durable. They had never considered making them as cheap as possible, even if that meant they could only be used once.

"Don't worry about all that. As long as you're paid, just do the work. Get back to developing."

The outside hires, who worked for money, didn't understand, but they did as they were told.

Ninjas were naturally obedient and didn't go looking for the reasons behind their orders. And the Uchiha were even less likely to question them, because Uchiha Gin had assigned this task.

"Can we really sell things like this?"

Fugaku wondered if he'd been taken for a ride.

The Ninja Tool Development Department hadn't needed much investment before. He'd put in some of his private funds, and the Uchiha Clan had chipped in a little, too.

But this time, the Uchiha Clan had invested a great deal of real money.

"Ninja tools are consumables. Look at the best-selling ones: Kunai and Shuriken. Even Fuma Shuriken don't sell well."

"Take Chakra Swords, for example. You only use one at a critical moment, and it just has to last through one battle. If you've reached the point where you need to use a Chakra Sword, you're already fighting for your life. If you win, you'll have more than enough money to buy a new one. If you die, buying such an expensive Chakra Sword just means leaving it to someone else."

Gin explained the reasoning to Fugaku.

He'd gotten the idea from Dawn Sword, a story by Yuantong on Qidian. To make more money and sell more, you had to turn things imbued with magical properties into industrial products.

"Put that way, I suppose it makes sense..."

Fugaku nodded. It was a novel way of looking at it.

It was true. You could only think about the future after winning a battle. If you died, you'd just be leaving that expensive weapon to the enemy.

"But aren't we cutting the cost of the Flight Wing too drastically?"

Fugaku pointed out the Flight Wing, which had been separated from the Chakra Armor.

"Let's try it. If it doesn't work, we'll still do our best to lower the cost. Even bringing it down from nearly ten million to two or three million would be enough. That's cheaper than buying an A-rank ninjutsu."

Gin wasn't insisting they cut the cost by that much. What mattered was squeezing the cost down as far as possible.

Meanwhile, trial production of the Blue Pill had already begun. They'd also used the Ninja Cat network to get in touch with suitable merchants with connections, who would come to buy it.

Even if the ninja tools didn't work out, they had other ways to make money, so there was no need to worry. They could go all out.

"If demand really is high, will we have enough people to make them?"

Fugaku asked.

The workers were all Uchiha for now. Learning the Sealing Jutsu formulas wasn't easy, but they could master them quickly after copying them a few times with the Sharingan.

However, not many clan members had awakened the Sharingan. Unlike the Hyuga, whose members could awaken the Byakugan through training, Uchiha needed some kind of stimulus to awaken their eyes. Fewer than one in five clan members managed it.

"We'll have plenty of workers soon. Remember to arrive at the agreed location on time tonight. You'll understand then."

Gin didn't answer directly. Instead, he told Fugaku to meet him at the agreed-upon place that evening.

Soon, night fell. Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi headed straight to Orochimaru's secret laboratory.

"Uncle!"

Fugaku saw his uncle in the laboratory, his expression one of disbelief.

"Itachi, explain to your father what you've been working on lately."

Gin didn't explain it himself. He had Itachi tell Fugaku.

They planned to use Fugaku's new genes, formed after his First Hokage Cells had been integrated, as the foundational factor for completing Uchiha genes. After all, the genes of someone who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan were bound to be stronger than those of someone with the Three Tomoe.

Gin didn't want his own genes spreading, and Shisui wasn't around, so he'd chosen Fugaku instead.

Besides, Fugaku had fathered two sons who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. His genes had to be much stronger than those of an ordinary Uchiha. And one of his sons was the reincarnation of Indra. There had to be something special about him.

"Father, what we're doing now is..."

Itachi began explaining their current research to Fugaku.

Orochimaru hadn't come today. He had ideas of his own now, and just a few months had been enough to expand his horizons.

Now, he wanted to capture a White Zetsu and start experimenting with cloning people. He was also testing whether ordinary people could be enhanced by incorporating the new genes extracted after combining Uchiha genes with those of the First Hokage.

"I see. So this is the real reason for allying with Orochimaru!"

Fugaku had known that Gin must have had other reasons for choosing Orochimaru, but he hadn't expected anything this significant.

He was so excited that he could hardly contain himself. If the Mangekyō Sharingan were no longer constrained by the Bloodline Disease, he felt his strength would increase greatly. The clan members could also gain stronger bodies and become much more powerful.

"Our tests showed that after receiving the Completion Gene, anyone can awaken the Sharingan with enough training," Itachi concluded.

They'd discovered this recently. The test subject was Uchiha Izumi.

Gin had remembered a character from Boruto called Uchiha Shin, who had cloned a bunch of himself, all of whom had the Sharingan. Gin thought this might have had something to do with his genes being perfected.

After searching the clan, they'd found Izumi to be the best candidate. She hadn't awakened her eyes yet, but she was one of the best ninjas her age in every respect. Only Uchiha Itachi surpassed her in the clan. She simply hadn't awakened her Sharingan on her own.

"So that's why Gin said we'd have no shortage of workers later..."

Fugaku understood.

"Enough talk, Itachi. Get started already. Why are you wasting so much time?"

Fugaku's uncle spoke up.

He'd volunteered to work in the laboratory. The other two were in better health and still had clan duties, while he was an old man with nothing to do, practically retired. No one would find it strange if he was out of sight now and then.

Once their genes were completed, the Uchiha were natural laborers. After awakening the Sharingan, they learned things exceptionally quickly and had strong bodies. They could be called the only workhorses better than White Zetsu.

Maybe they'd build up enough resentment on the assembly line and awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan on the spot. And while the Ninja Tool Development Department was cutting material costs, labor costs had to be reduced by the Uchiha themselves. It was an advantage no other clan could match.

Then, under his son's guidance, Fugaku received an injection of First Hokage Cells.

"The success rate is over ninety-eight percent, but there's a risk of rejection..."

Itachi began explaining the usual details to Fugaku.

Fugaku froze when he heard that.

"It can fail?"

He started to panic.

It would be ridiculous if he died at his own son's hands.

"That's the failure rate from the research trials. So far, every human subject has survived."

"You're so timid. Once Itachi grows up, you should hurry up and hand over the clan head's position to him."

Fugaku's uncle looked at him with disappointment.

Fugaku didn't dare say a word.

Itachi continued, and the injection was soon complete. He'd used the safest dose. He still didn't want anything to happen to his father.

"Then I'll leave this to you, Clan Head. Every clan member who receives the Completion Gene must have the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal placed on them. This must remain absolutely secret for the time being."

Gin addressed Fugaku.

Fugaku was a professional manager. He sometimes had too many ideas of his own and could be a little timid.

But when it came to getting things done, he was efficient and had no faults.

"I understand. This is top-secret!"

Fugaku nodded.

He could also gradually feel the changes in his body. Something seemed different about him.

"Itachi, you can start putting together your own research team now. Have your father pick suitable people from the clan to work as your assistants."

Gin continued giving instructions.

Orochimaru couldn't be their only hope. The Uchiha needed their own research team.

Itachi was even more talented than Gin had imagined. And after revealing that Indra and Ashura had been reincarnated, Itachi had obtained more information from Orochimaru. He could now conduct human experiments on his own.

That was the appeal of combining the Sharingan with a genius: he could learn anything quickly.

"Yes!"

Itachi answered, dark circles under his eyes.

He knew this was only the beginning. Sasuke still needed his help. He couldn't stop yet.

"I've finally finished the Mystic Code blueprints. Now I just need to get the money ready and buy the materials."

Aside from training his body, Gin spent his days designing blueprints for his Mystic Code.

He wanted to make a perfect Mystic Code, not slap something together. So he'd made numerous improvements and changes based on the Jewel Magecraft he knew, until he'd finally finished the plans.

It was a set of magical combat armor made from twenty-five gems of five different elements, connected by Mithril.

The Five-Star Rotation, a technique that could only be mastered using all five elements, strengthened the magecraft he cast, increasing its power by up to tenfold.

It could also create a magical shield to defend against attacks. If attacked with an elemental technique, it would automatically release the opposing elemental mana to counter it.

And when it wasn't in use, he could store mana in the gems, so he wouldn't need to keep supplying it during combat, which reduced the strain on him.

It was a Mystic Code suited for both offense and defense.

However, it only enhanced his magecraft. It did little to improve his Taijutsu.