Konoha First Arsenal, third underground level.
Naruto pushed open the heavy alloy door.
In the center of the laboratory, Clan Chief Ancient Iron stood before a massive lift platform. The wall behind him was covered with densely packed design blueprints and component samples.
"Commissar." Ancient Iron turned around, the wrinkles on his face appearing especially deep beneath the dim yellow light. "You came at just the right time. The new armor has just completed its final adjustments."
Naruto walked up to the lift platform, his gaze settling on the pitch-black suit of armor.
Its surface was covered in strange patterns, like snake scales or the skin of some living creature. Under the lights, those patterns faintly shimmered with an eerie violet glow.
"Adaptive Powered Exoskeleton, Curse Mark Specialized Variant." Ancient Iron patted the edge of the lift platform, unable to conceal the pride in his voice. "This is the most complex set of armor we've made so far, yet it was designed for just one person."
Naruto reached out and touched the breastplate, coldness seeping into his fingertips.
"Tell me what it can do."
Ancient Iron cleared his throat and picked up a data report from the workbench.
"First, it suppresses the Curse Mark's erosion of the wearer's sanity." He pointed at the silver ring-shaped structure around the armor's neck. "It contains five sets of miniature sealing formulas. The instant the Curse Mark activates, they form a Chakra barrier that isolates the negative influences contained within it."
"Second, it improves power output efficiency while in the Curse Mark state." Ancient Iron pointed at the energy core on the armor's back. "We added a special Chakra conversion circuit to the core. It can refine the violent Chakra released by the Curse Mark a second time, converting it into purer power."
"In