Chapter 245: Yagura Escapes a Crisis
"Another one sent in."
Reclining lazily on a tree branch, Yunu watched the bewildered Moryo beneath the Divine Tree, her demeanor languid.
In front of her lay a freshly cut watermelon. Seeing Moryo in an existential crisis, questioning its value, she picked up a slice and began to watch the spectacle.
The chakra collected through the virtual space contained too many positive emotions. Staying in such an environment for too long could easily lead to a state of "light fall."
In Yunu's eyes, Moryo was now going through that process.
If not for her being specifically programmed to be laid-back and idle, she wouldn't have been able to maintain the Virtual Divine Tree.
Yunu took a gentle bite of the watermelon, the sweet juice filling her mouth, savoring the moment of tranquility and sweetness. Her lazy gaze remained fixed on Moryo, once so invincible.
"The Regiel vein, the Spear of Heaven, and now this Moryo… The resources the Virtual Divine Tree acquires are astonishing. Once we collect the chakra from the ninja world again after Divine Spears, this Divine Tree will undergo a transformation."
At that point, her task would be complete, and she could move to another place to slack off.
...
"… To mass-produce the third-generation chakra armor, it may still take two more years."
In the post-battle meeting of the Land of Snow, a staff member summarized the performance of the armor, and the time frame mentioned made many researchers frown.
At this, another researcher agreed, "It's understandable. The third-generation chakra armor, with its advanced performance and intelligence, can hold its own against Jonin when paired with a competent user. There are still many technical hurdles to overcome, so talking about mass production now is premature."
This led to an exchange of glances among the researchers. They understood well that the development of the third-generation chakra armor was no easy feat. The technological breakthroughs and performance requirements it carried far exceeded previous generations, making mass production a challenging task.
Hyuga Fuji calmly concluded, "Then let's wait a bit longer. We have two hundred units of the third-generation chakra armor in stock. Aside from those needed as prototypes, the rest can be distributed to the units to compete for."
What does "compete for" mean?
It obviously meant proving who could use the armor most effectively! Hyuga Fuji's proposal sparked a buzz in the conference room. The military representatives exchanged glances, feeling both excited and anxious about the decision.
They had all seen the armor's capabilities during the recent battle. Unlike the previous two generations, the third-generation chakra armor greatly enhanced a ninja's combat ability. The military representatives all wanted to secure more units for their respective forces.
Many of them were local to the Land of Snow, discovered by Hyuga Fuji and his team after they arrived. Their abilities couldn't compare to those of the ninjas who had defected from Konoha with Fuji, making the chakra armor all the more crucial for them.
"To ensure fairness and efficiency, we will organize a series of field exercises and simulated battles," Hyuga Fuji continued. "Each unit will have the chance to demonstrate how they utilize the available armor resources and their adaptability to new technologies…"
Hearing Fuji's plan, many began plotting to put their troops through rigorous training in the coming weeks.
Failing to secure their share due to insufficient strength would be quite humiliating, with no one to complain to.
Noticing their colleagues' unspoken understanding, the military representatives exchanged glances, sensing an invisible competitive tension in the air. They began to strategize, thinking of ways to perform better and win favor from the higher-ups.
Some representatives, however, knew their units had no chance of obtaining the chakra armor. They left the meeting, disappointed, after the announcements were made.
In the following weeks, each unit engaged in intense training. They not only enhanced their physical and technical skills but also prepared thoroughly in terms of tactics and psychological readiness.
The day of the simulated battles arrived quickly, and the selected ninjas from each unit engaged in fierce combat on the simulated battlefield.
The scenes of battle were spectacular. Ninjas wearing the chakra armor showcased impressive combat skills, while observers recorded every detail.
Behind a large window, Hyuga Fuji watched the simulated battlefield below, assessing the military strength of the Land of Snow. He turned to the shadows beside him and asked, "What do you think of the development here?"
"Quite impressive. It's hard to imagine such growth in a small country," said a short figure emerging from the corner, shaking his head in amazement. "Truly, the world is unpredictable."
Looking at the spirited Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, the uncrowned king of the Land of Water, Hyuga Fuji nodded slightly and smiled, "Indeed, the world is unpredictable."
Yagura, who should have been living in a daze under Obito's torment, making a mess of the Mist Village, was now perfectly fine. Who could have foreseen this in the beginning?
Obito's hatred towards the Mist was tied to Rin. He believed the Mist had killed her. But two years ago, Rin had told him the truth, and since he had acted against Rin himself, he naturally wouldn't trouble the Mist anymore.
That's why Yagura could now live in peace.
He had escaped a disaster.
Yagura frowned, "Why do I feel like you're mocking me?"
"How could that be? I'm merely surprised that you managed to unify your country," Hyuga Fuji replied with a smile.
Hearing this, Yagura frowned slightly, feeling something was off, but Fuji's expression gave nothing away. Eventually, he decided to let it slide. "I've come this time to sign a formal alliance with you."
"Why not choose them?"
"I believe you have a better chance of winning." Yagura shrugged helplessly. "Besides, they've already tied the Land of Water to you, thinking it's your stronghold. They restrict our resources. If we lean on them now, we won't earn their trust."
Talking about this made Yagura angry.
He greatly respected Fuji's abilities, but their relationship had not been that deep before—just mutual use.
Some wise guy, however, had come up with a convoluted theory, linking the Land of Water to Fuji, leaving them in an awkward position.
To slow down the Land of Water's development, the other nations imposed various sanctions, including economic and resource restrictions, causing internal discontent.
Fortunately, the Land of Water was far from the mainland, avoiding military sanctions, and had sufficient resources to survive. However, their chances of joining the United Nations had vanished.
Now, seeking the UN's trust was out of the question, and even the citizens wouldn't agree to it.
But cooperating with Fuji… Honestly, Yagura wasn't too happy about it either. It felt more like adding fuel to the fire than coming through in the clutch. Their current involvement might not offer much help to Fuji and could even become a burden.
The Land of Water might gradually fall behind in the alliance until they were fully merged into the Land of Snow.
Yagura sighed.
But the Land of Water had no other choices and no other path to take.
(End of chapter)