After the exercise notice was posted, it quickly spread throughout the army after being relayed by the commanders of each unit.
"What is an exercise? Isn't it just training?"
"I heard this thing will divide our entire clan's 1,000 ninjas into two teams of 500 each, and then put them into a battlefield to fight against each other."
The two sides are enemies, and the only way to win is to complete the final mission. The team that successfully completes the mission will receive a reward, including a medal of honor. I've heard that this medal is inscribed with "Honorary Member of the Uchiha Clan," and that the winning team can even prove they are stronger than the opposing team!
"So, there are so many benefits to winning? What about losing?"
"Defeat? Since you're the loser, then naturally you should be thoroughly humiliated by the winner! The victor is the one who should properly humiliate the loser!"
The cries of the weak are as beautiful as celestial music!
"Ah, now that you mention it, I can already picture myself standing before those losers, wearing my medals, a bunch of losers who can only watch helplessly as I wear the medals that represent honor and power! They can only watch helplessly!"
"Hehehehehehehehe!"
Yes, the Uchiha clan is discussing the exercise quite a bit, but the direction of the discussion is somewhat off.
Meanwhile, at the top of the military, Yukimichi Uchiha was recalled to his clan to participate in the exercise, while the front lines were temporarily led by the Dai Uchiha.
In the Uchiha office, Yukimichi Uchiha sat in a chair, but it was more like he was lying down, leaning back against the chair as if he were paralyzed.
"Clan leader... was it really necessary to call me back to participate in this so-called exercise? What if the Senju Clan launches a surprise attack from the front lines?"
Uchiha Takashi didn't even glance at Yukimichi Uchiha: "Do you think I don't know what you're planning? Are you really worried about the Senju Clan attacking?"
"So you just feel more comfortable staying at the family headquarters than on the front lines? Don't worry, you'll only be back for a few days. The exercise is about to start. You can choose between the people in the directing staff or the commander."
Jōji Uchiha sat up in his chair. "So what exactly does this exercise mean? And what the hell are this 'directorate' and 'commander'?"
Uchiha Takashi looked up speechlessly. "You really didn't read any of the notices? Didn't we send you a copy of the notice that was sent to high-ranking officers? Didn't you read it?"
Heiriku Uchiha laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Hehehe, I didn't notice..."
Uchiha Takashi his eyes, then explained the rules of the exercise to Yukimichi Uchiha in detail, and finally asked again, "So what do you want?"
Yukimichi Uchiha and said, "Let me ask you first, what is this new equipment you mentioned?"
Uchiha Takashi raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you actually noticed. Here, take a look." As he spoke, Uchiha Takashi pulled a document from a pile of files and handed it over.
"What's this?" Yukimichi Uchiha casually flipped through it. "It looks like something from a research institute."
"It's from the research institute. Remember the gunpowder we developed before? After improvements and applications by the institute, we finally developed the first generation of gunpowder weapons! Canned Kunai..."
Well, the method is very rudimentary. It involves stuffing a large amount of gunpowder and some broken Kunai into the fuse, then detonating it with a flammable fuse. In battle, you simply need to light the fuse beforehand and then throw it.
Of course, the kunai used in the exercise wouldn't be broken Kunai; they would be filled entirely with gunpowder, and even the sealed containers would be highly fusible to ensure safety. As for determining whether someone would die, that would be confirmed by the directing department.
This is the first generation of gunpowder weapons. We can bring out others later. We're using this to practice now; it will be very useful when fighting against Land of Fire later.
"Then I'll choose Commander. After all, I'm a commander on the front lines. I shouldn't be sitting in the control room watching others fight without doing anything myself," Yukimichi Uchiha said bluntly. "Besides, I also want to test just how powerful this thing really is."
"I've tested this thing. Within 3 meters, ninjas of Chunin and below will be injured by it, and Genin might even die instantly."
"Is it really that powerful?" Yukimichi Uchiha looked at the small gadget described on the paper in surprise. Don't be fooled by the fact that it only injures Chunin; you have to understand, Chunin army.
This thing is mass-produced; it's a common item, similar to Kunai Shuriken. It's already quite useful if it can damage Chunin.
After all, this thing wasn't designed for high-level games; it's purely for smurfing in low-level matches.
"Couldn't the power be any greater? Couldn't we add more gunpowder to increase the power?" Yukimichi Uchiha asked.
Uchiha Takashi: "Of course, but considering transportation costs and various other factors, the only more powerful option we ultimately decided on was another iron ball filled with gunpowder. We'd launch it, and the violent impact would detonate the fire-style Chakra inside."
The resulting violent impact can even breach walls. Currently, all city walls are within its destructive range. Tests show that a one-meter-thick city wall cannot withstand more than ten shots under its power.
Yukimichi Uchiha asked innocently, "Can this thing be used to fight people?"
"Then you'll be going to the Military Penal Office. This thing is for engineering purposes. You're using it to beat people? Aren't you kidding me? Besides, this is just an exercise. Are you really planning to drive the other clansmen to their deaths?" Uchiha Takashi closed his eyes, a smile on his face.
"Remember this: if you dare use this thing to hit someone, causing the project to fail, you'll be facing Military Penal Office!"
"Oh..." Yukimichi Uchiha sat back down dejectedly. He thought to himself, "So, in other words, as long as I conquer the castle, I don't care whether I use this thing to attack people or to break down walls, right?"
Uchiha Takashi: No, I didn't, I never said anything like that. Anyway, I only care about the result; you can figure out the process yourself.
Finally, Uchiha Takashi waved his hand. "Alright, since that's the case, go and call Tatsu Uchiha and Suke Uchiha over for me. Let's see who will sit in the director's office with me and who will be your opponent."
Yukimichi Uchiha: "If possible, I hope it's Tatsumi-senpai. I've always heard that when you were young, you were the vanguard of the Uchiha Clan, a sharp blade!"
"A master strategist! Not only does he possess formidable military strength, but he also has a brilliant mind. I'd like to see if he's just all talk."
Uchiha Takashi raised his head. "Then I'll tell you exactly what I said, senpai, and see if you accept my challenge."
"Bring it on! I'm ready. I will prove I am the new blade of the Uchiha!" Yukimichi Uchiha's entire being erupted with fighting spirit, seemingly truly prepared to defeat his senior and become the new sharpest weapon in the Uchiha.