As time passed, after training by technical personnel from the Land of Whirlpools and the Dawn Organization, many Konoha genin fresh out of the Ninja Academy, along with some ordinary genin and chunin, began to master the use of firearms.
Most of these firearms were automatic rifles produced by factories in the Land of Whirlpools.
For genin with weaker ninjutsu, these rifles represented a tremendous boost in combat power. Especially on the battlefield, firearms offered a simpler and more efficient form of long-range attack than shuriken and kunai.
Many newly graduated ninja discovered that shuriken throwing required long periods of arduous practice, and even then, the results might not meet expectations.
In comparison, a short period of training with automatic rifles allowed them to wield powerful firepower, which was clearly much more practical for young ninja.
As a result, many genin even gave up further training in shuriken throwing and turned to firearms instead.
Because of their weaker foundations, genin often found it difficult to retaliate effectively when facing enemies.
Yet firearms such as automatic rifles performed far more reliably on the battlefield and were easier to control than shuriken, allowing them to protect themselves and even strike back in combat.
Simply aiming and pulling the trigger was obviously more practical than precisely throwing shuriken.
Moreover, firearms provided the advantage of long-range attacks. Especially amid the dense conditions of war, they could quickly establish firepower blockades and bridge the gap between ninjutsu and ranged attacks.
However, Konoha's jonin generally remained reserved toward these new weapons.
To them, firearms might be ranged weapons, but their functions were too limited, nowhere near as flexible or versatile as shuriken and kunai.
As jonin proficient in both ninjutsu and taijutsu, many believed that their powerful combat skills and experience allowed them to wield ninja