A moment later, Torifu Akimichi's slightly hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.
He pushed open the door and entered. His round face, usually wearing a hearty smile, was now full of seriousness, with even a hint of travel-worn fatigue.
After entering, he first gave a slight bow in accordance with etiquette. "Lord Hokage."
Kumoi raised a hand in a gesture of support, his sharp gaze falling on Torifu's face.
"Senior Brother Torifu, no need for such formalities.
You didn't come over at this hour just to catch up over tea, did you? Sit."
Torifu did not stand on ceremony. He sat directly in the chair opposite Kumoi, leaning slightly forward and lowering his voice.
"Lord Hokage, there is indeed an extremely urgent matter that must be reported to you immediately."
Kumoi's gaze sharpened. He did not ask further questions, merely giving a slight nod toward the Anbu and secretary standing nearby.
They immediately understood, silently and swiftly leaving the office before gently closing the heavy wooden door behind them.
Only Kumoi and Torifu remained in the room. It was so quiet that the occasional crackle of the candle flame could be heard.
"Go on."
Kumoi's tone was steady, yet it carried an invisible pressure.
Torifu took a deep breath and clearly relayed Tang Dong's report to Kumoi.
He focused on Orochimaru's core concept from Energy Conversion Laboratory Three: the "Individual Directed-Energy Projector"—
Combining unstable, high-energy "Thunder Orbs" with a safe trigger mechanism and a sturdy directional launch tube, forming a new conceptual weapon that might far surpass conventional ranged weapons and possess precise medium-to-long-range strike capability.
He mentioned the internal disputes within the laboratory, Deputy Director Tang Dong's preliminary assessment, and the potential impact this weapon could have on the future tactical landscape of squads and even larger-scale forces if