Naruto brought Ancient Iron and Sasuke to an open testing range. In front of them, ten alloy targets one meter square and more than half a meter thick were lined up, glowing with a dull metallic luster in the sun.
"This is the strongest target we can currently produce. It can withstand a full blow from Jonin." Ancient Iron said proudly.
Naruto said nothing, his eyes fell on Sasuke.
"Sasuke, use your best Lightning Release chakra to test it." Naruto said.
Sasuke didn't ask anything. He walked to the workbench and picked up the Bolter. At the muzzle of the gun, several irregular heat dissipation vents looked like the mouths of some kind of monster.
He injected chakra into the gun.
"Buzz--"
With a soft whistle, the chakra circuit inside the gun body was lit up, and the faint blue electric light jumped at the muzzle, like a living creature. Sharingan of Sasuke rotated accordingly, and Tomoe rotated rapidly, locking the cores of the ten targets tightly.
He pulled the trigger.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The sound of gunfire was deafening, and the air seemed to be torn apart.
Ten specially-made projectiles were fired with dazzling electric light at a speed that was difficult to detect with the naked eye. They drew straight blue trajectories in the air and hit all the bullseyes almost at the same time.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A series of violent explosions sounded. On the alloy target, a smooth round hole exploded at the location where it was hit, as if a piece had been dug away by some kind of tool. What was even more strange was that on the target surface around the bullet holes, there were fine blue arcs jumping, making a "crackling" sound that lasted for a long time.
Naruto stepped forward, stretched out a finger, and lightly touched one of the target surfaces.
"Hiss--"
A numbing sensation instantly spread from the fingertips throughout the body, as if being pricked by thousands of fine needles at the same time. Naruto's body trembled slightly, but there was a satisfied expression on his face.
"How do you feel, Master Commissar?" Ancient Iron rubbed his hands excitedly, "This is the Chakra Metal we refined. Not only can it perfectly conduct Lightning Release Chakra can also store the remaining Lightning Release energy on the target surface after the projectile explodes, forming a short-term paralysis field. This effect is called...Arc Residue."
"Not bad." Naruto retracted his finger and looked at Sasuke, "What do you think?"
Sasuke's eyes flashed with unusual excitement. He looked at Bolter in his hand as if he were looking at a unique treasure.
"This weapon... is so perfect. It has penetrating power comparable to Chidori, and can attack from a long distance." Sasuke's voice was a little low, but to Naruto's ears, it was a suppressed desire, "I can feel that my Lightning Release chakra is perfectly integrated into it."
He looked at Naruto with a trace of inquiry in his eyes. "Is this gun... prepared for me?"
Ancient Iron also looked at Naruto with expectation. In his opinion, if this weapon could be used by a Uchiha genius with perfect chakra attributes, it would be a match made in heaven.
Naruto shook his head.
"You could say that, but not quite."
His words made Sasuke and Ancient Iron stunned at the same time.
"This gun is not prepared for geniuses." Naruto said calmly.
Sasuke's face instantly darkened. He thought Naruto was playing tricks on him again.
"Naruto, what do you mean?" There was a hint of unhappiness in his voice.
"This gun is for those civilians who are unable to protect themselves. It is for ordinary ninjas who do not have Kekkei Genkai. It is for those... cannon fodder who may be abandoned at any time on the battlefield." Naruto See Xiang Sasuke, there was no trace of ridicule in his tone, only an unforgettable heaviness, "It's not for you. Sasuke, you are my 'sword'. The sharpness of a sword cannot be measured by a gun."
Sasuke understood. His tense body relaxed and his eyes became complicated.
"As for you, Ancient Iron patriarch." Naruto continued, "I need you to lead a team of craftsmen to produce this Lightning Release Bolter at all costs."
Ancient Iron was so excited that he nodded vigorously. "No problem! Master Commissar, even if we don't sleep, we will definitely complete the mission!"
Naruto patted his shoulder again. "Thank you for your hard work. If you want anything, just ask."
"Yes!" Ancient Iron held Bolter, as if he was holding the future. With incomparable enthusiasm, he turned around and ran towards the main factory building.
Naruto continued to say to Sasuke, "Sasuke, you will have your own exclusive product."
Sasuke stood beside Naruto without speaking. He knew that Naruto was giving him a promise that he would have a more powerful weapon that was unique to him.
But he also vaguely understood in his heart that everything Naruto did was for a greater goal. This goal had far surpassed the world of ninjas, surpassed Konoha, and even surpassed what he understood as revenge.
Distant Otogakure.
Orochimaru stood in front of the mirror, his pale face reflected his ambitious and melancholy eyes. He stretched out his fingers and lightly crossed his chest.
There, there was a shallow scar, like some kind of ominous mark.
"Hmph...Naruto Uzumaki..."
A sinister smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He didn't know where Naruto got that power from, but he knew that that kind of power was too dangerous, uncontrollable, and full of unknowns.
What he needs now is the perfect container Sasuke Uchiha.
Orochimaru turned to look at the four shadows behind him - Sound Ninja Four.
"Here he comes."
"Yes!" the four of them responded in unison.
"You go to Konoha and bring Sasuke Uchiha back." Orochimaru's voice was like a poisonous snake spitting out its poison.
"Lord Orochimaru, Sasuke Uchiha is now Naruto Uzumaki's person, he will stop us." Tayuya said in a hoarse voice.
"Humph... of course he will." Orochimaru turned around and looked at Sound Four, "But I understand Sasuke Uchiha. His heart is full of desire for power. What you have to do is to use his long-dead past to seduce him. Tell him that I have everything he wants here."
Kimimaro stood up with a cold face. "Sir, are you sure he will come for power? He has now been brainwashed by Naruto Uzumaki."
"No." Orochimaru smiled even more weirdly, "He has not been brainwashed. He is just... waiting for an opportunity. He will come. He will definitely come."
"Because... his heart is not strong enough. He is still longing and struggling. And I am the only one who can show him the way. Go ahead. Bring Sasuke back, and I will give you more powerful power."
"Yes! Lord Orochimaru!"
Sound Ninja Four disappeared into the darkness.
Orochimaru was alone, standing in front of the mirror. He still couldn't let go of the scar on his chest, and there was a sinister look in his eyes.
"Naruto Uzumaki... One day, I will find your secret. Your power, everything you have, will become my collection."
His tongue stretched out like a snake, licking the mirror as if kissing his own reflection.
"As for Sasuke Uchiha, he will become my new container. When the time comes, he will find that what I give him is far more than just power..."
His eyes sparkled with an almost morbid enthusiasm.