Torifu raised an eyebrow, picked up a rice cracker, and took a bite.
"Go on. Anything that can put that look on the face of our Weapons Department's deputy director is definitely no small matter."
Tang Dong gathered his thoughts and lowered his voice.
"It's from Energy Conversion Laboratory Three. Orochimaru is leading it, and he's proposed a conceptual design for a new type of weapon."
"Orochimaru?"
Torifu paused mid-chew, a look of recollection appearing in his eyes.
"That name sounds familiar... Ah, I remember. He's the kid Hiruzen has mentioned several times, the one he's planning to formally take as a disciple, right?
"Anyone Sarutobi has his eye on must have an exceptional mind.
"What has he come up with?"
"Yes, that's him."
Tang Dong nodded and began explaining in detail.
He did not reveal overly complicated technical details, but he clearly described how Orochimaru had drawn inspiration from civilian gaming devices
and proposed the core concept of combining unstable high-energy Thunder Orbs with safe triggering and directional firing to create a "man-portable, mid-to-long-range, controllable, high-precision energy projector."
He mentioned preliminary estimates of its power, comparisons of its strengths and weaknesses against traditional ranged weapons, and briefly explained the fierce internal debates over feasibility, safety, material processing, and other issues.
He also explained his final decision to support opening the project for research, while stressing that it had to be submitted to the Hokage Office for approval.
At first, Torifu merely listened with interest. But as Tang Dong spoke, the relaxed look on his face was gradually replaced by gravity, and he even forgot to eat the rice cracker in his hand.
When he heard key points such as "estimated to be more than twice as powerful as traditional ranged weapons," "directional firing," and "safe separated triggering," his eyes