"A hydroelectric turbine generator?"
Sasori stared at the thing wrapped in coils of Chakra Metal wire, but no matter how he looked at it, he couldn't connect it to Lightning Release.
For the moment, Mukai found it difficult to explain the principle of generating electricity by cutting magnetic field lines to Sasori.
He shook out his arms in the Zealot Mecha and said as he built up power:
"Do you remember that machine I showed you at the workshop, the one that generated electricity through friction?
This machine produces lightning effects in a different, more efficient way.
Once our project is finished, you'll get to see what this kind of generator can do.
We're not just bringing water to the Land of Wind now.
We're ushering in a whole new era!"
As Mukai spoke, he began feeding backward pulses of air through the nozzles on the Zealot Mecha's arms.
The piercing sounds of cutting and impact began to echo through the tunnel.
Using compressed Wind Release for thrust, Mukai turned the two arm blades into rock-breaking impact hammers.
Under the Chakra Blades' continuous high-frequency vibrations, the hard stone was sliced and shattered.
As fragments flew, Mukai used the Zealot Mecha to break apart the rock blocking the tunnel's path.
With the continuous impacts shattering the rock, the tunnel extended straight ahead in the direction Mukai had planned.
This was a world of wondrous Ninjutsu.
With the aid of Mukai's modern way of thinking, it was slowly being pried open to tiny changes.
Though for now, those changes were still insignificant.
The story of the Foolish Old Man who moved mountains, which every child in modern China knew,
filled Mukai with confidence as he dug onward.
Behind him, ordinary people worked in the tunnel, leveling it, carrying stone slabs, and reinforcing it.
Where there was a will, there was a way!
Mukai firmly believed it.
Sunagakure, the Kazekage's office building
Thanks to the high-quality Chakra Metal Elder Chiyo had obtained through secret channels, the village's financial situation had improved considerably.
After all, the village could pay its ninja for missions in Chakra Metal too!
It was hard currency more readily accepted than silver notes!
Outside the village, it was the kind of thing you couldn't buy even if you had the money.
Seeing that the village's finances had improved, much of the tension on the Third Kazekage's face faded:
"I've called you all here today to discuss two matters."
The village elders and representatives of the powerful ninja clans sat in the Third Kazekage's office as he slowly laid out the main topic of the day:
"Konoha has invited us to take part in a joint Chunin Ninja Exams next year, in Konoha Year 43.
Aside from our Sunagakure, the villages that have confirmed their participation so far are
Amegakure, Kusagakure, and Takigakure, all of which will send ninja.
This is a good opportunity to show the entire Shinobi World, as well as the daimyo and nobles of every nation, the strength of Sunagakure.
It's also the best chance to dispel the gloom left by the village's defeat in the Second Shinobi World War.
The village has decided to send two teams."
The Third Kazekage looked toward Elder Chiyo, who had been particularly active of late:
"Elder Chiyo, the Puppet Brigade has always been one of the village's main fighting forces.
For the village's honor, let's not publicly announce Sasori's Chunin status.
How about having Sasori and Mukai form a team with another ninja from the village?"
Ever since Sasori had become more cheerful, Elder Chiyo had also been very enthusiastic about participating in village affairs.
She did not refuse the Kazekage's request:
"Since the Kazekage has made the decision, it wouldn't hurt to let those two boys take part.
As for the other teammate, this old woman will find one for them!
By the way, Third Kazekage, I remember the village promised them a chance to take part in the Shukaku Trial.
I wonder when that promise will be fulfilled?"
The Third Kazekage glanced at Rasa, who stood beside him, and said casually:
"That is true, but Elder Chiyo, this year's candidates for the Shukaku Trial have already been selected.
They're members of the Gold Dust Brigade with greater talent for Magnet Release, and they have a higher chance of awakening it.
With conflicts in the Shinobi World growing more numerous, it would also be the village's good fortune to have another Magnet Release ninja among those participating in this Chunin Ninja Exams.
For the village's sake, how about waiting until after the Chunin Ninja Exams for the trial opportunity you asked for?"
The Third Kazekage's proposal sent Elder Chiyo into thought.
As Bunpuku grew older, the Magnet Release Trial could only be held once a year.
And the number of people who could undergo the trial at the secret prison where Bunpuku was held was also limited.
The list of candidates for this round of trials had indeed been decided beforehand.
As for whether it would strengthen the Kazekage's faction, Elder Chiyo did not particularly care.
It was all for the village, and as for that interesting little fellow Mukai, even she couldn't see the full extent of his hidden strength.
He clearly had no talent as a puppeteer, yet he was a genius at making puppets.
At that thought, she suddenly spoke:
"Jonin Pakura, what have those two little fellows been busy with lately?"
Pakura, sitting off to the side, had been lost in thought since the meeting began.
Chiyo had to ask twice before she came to her senses:
"Sorry, my mind wandered for a moment.
Mukai and Sasori are busy building a canal to bring some water over to the oasis workshop."
The Third Kazekage knew about this too.
Naturally, a mission request submitted to the village couldn't be kept from him.
The Third Kazekage paid no mind to a plan involving ordinary people.
The oasis at the border had long since fallen into disuse, and whether it was because too much Iron Sand had been extracted, he didn't know,
but the groundwater there had dropped considerably, making farming impossible.
The villagers who had once lived near the oasis had moved away long ago, and the oasis had fallen into disuse.
Otherwise, with every oasis in the Land of Wind so precious, how could they have given it up so easily?
In the world of ninja, instead of making the most of their time to improve their strength,
they had gone off to play with a canal for ordinary villagers. Even if they had a little talent, they were far too disappointing.
In Elder Chiyo's experience, Mukai had always been mature beyond his years.
He had a plan for every step he took, so why would he do something useless?
It seemed that silly girl Pakura didn't know what Mukai was busy with either.
Elder Chiyo nodded, kept her doubts to herself, and agreed to the Third Kazekage's proposal.
Rasa, who stood beside the Third Kazekage, finally felt the tension he had been holding onto ease.
Since no one opposed the Third Kazekage's proposal, it was formally enacted.
After the meeting, the many Jonin split into two clearly distinct factions.
Except for a few clans that strictly maintained their neutrality, most of the Ninjutsu clans followed the Third Kazekage closely.
Among the Jonin known for Ninjutsu, only Pakura was close to Chiyo.
Ebizo had matters to handle at the intelligence department, so by the time they reached Chiyo's residence, only the two women remained.
Only then did Chiyo ask:
"Pakura, why have you been so distracted?
Those two boys have been busy at the oasis for more than half a year.
What kind of canal is so important?"
Pakura shook her head:
"I can't make sense of it either, but Elder Chiyo, those two boys haven't been slacking off.
Their strength has improved incredibly fast.
That boy Mukai even improved my Caged Bird Seal for me.
I really don't know how his brain works."
"Oh? Is that so?
Jonin Pakura, how about accompanying this old woman to the oasis workshop?"