Chapter 58 - New ideas

"I... I never thought... How could this happen?" Minato's eyes widened, his voice shaking as he struggled to comprehend Hiruzen's actions.

Naruto's expression softened. "I'm not blaming you. You didn't have any way of knowing. Just... remember who he really was, okay?"

Minato nodded firmly. "Of course. I won't speak of him in a positive light anymore. And thank you, Ryu. You helped my son through that ordeal." Gratitude laced his voice, and Kushina nodded in agreement.

Ryu smiled gently. "No need to thank me. I didn't do it for recognition."

"I understand," Minato said, "but that doesn't change our gratitude. Kushina and I will always be in your debt."

Ryu raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Is that so? Well, I have a small favor to ask, then." Minato and Kushina exchanged curious glances. "Nothing much. Just stand still for a moment," Ryu instructed, activating his Mangekyo abilities.

A torrent of information about Minato and Kushina poured into Ryu's mind, including fragments of their memories. It was a strange sensation, especially now that it made him see Naruto differently. As he absorbed the emotions contained within those memories, an overwhelming feeling of fatherly love welled up inside him, though he quickly suppressed it.

Despite his resistance, the warmth lingered. Ryu couldn't find the words to describe it, but it filled a void he hadn't realized was there. He wondered if he would experience a similar emotion when his own child was born. As he pondered this, his eyes softened.

Kushina's puzzled voice broke his reverie. "Um... Is that all?"

Ryu blinked, then nodded. "Yes, I got what I needed. I'll leave you three to catch up. And don't worry about your soul fragments fading away. The changes I made to the seal will keep them intact until they're released. Take your time." With that, Ryu exited Naruto's mindscape.

Ryu contemplated the conversation he had just left, hoping Naruto would cherish the time with his parents. In the meantime, he decided to focus on forging a unique weapon of his own. Although he possessed the Silver Eagle, it wasn't his own creation. Ryu's imagination began to swirl with ideas.

Inspired by Minato's Flying Thunder God Jutsu, which instilled both fear and awe in others, Ryu sought to address its primary weakness: the seal's reliance on a fixed location for activation. Minato had compensated for this by using a vast number of Kunai, but Ryu had a different approach in mind, involving Kushina's chakra chains.

With a clear vision of the weapon's utility and design, Ryu returned to his forge. As the furnace roared to life, he summoned a mound of Chakra Metal. Once the temperature was sufficiently high, Ryu used a transformation technique to grow two additional arms.

Surrounded by a brilliant yellow light emanating from the heated metal, Ryu began his work. He knew the weapon he envisioned required an extraordinary amount of force to condense the mass of metal into the size of a sewing needle. With two hands holding the metal and two Chakra-infused hammers striking it, Ryu manipulated the metal with both physical force and chakra.

Creating a small yet durable weapon required a significant amount of raw material. The needle-like size demanded extreme density for strength. Each hammer strike needed precise force, angle, and location, with even a minor deviation potentially leading to failure. These strikes formed nodes in an intricate chakra network within the weapon, making it more than just a simple tool.

If forging a weapon like Silver Eagle was a simple task, everyone would have one. But Ryu was determined to create something unique and powerful, a true testament to his skills as a smith. With unwavering focus, he continued to shape the metal, imbuing it with his chakra and bringing his vision closer to reality.

---

Back in his smithy, Ryu began to work.

He began by carefully selecting the Chakra metal, examining each piece with a practiced eye to ensure it met his stringent standards. Piles of the radiant, silvery metal lay scattered around the workshop, a testament to the sheer quantity he would need to create the condensed needle. Ryu then stoked the forge fire, feeding it with charcoal until the flames danced and roared, casting a warm, flickering light that bathed the workshop in an otherworldly glow.

With the fire at the perfect temperature, Ryu placed the Chakra metal into the forge, watching as it began to soften and turn a fiery shade of red. The sound of the metal sizzling and hissing as it heated filled the workshop, adding to the symphony of the crackling fire and the rhythmic breathing of the blacksmith.

Once the metal was malleable, Ryu initiated his transformation, growing two additional arms to assist in his work. With unparalleled dexterity, he used two hands to hold the red-hot metal, while the others wielded chakra-clad hammers that struck the metal with astonishing force and precision. The clang of hammer against metal echoed through the workshop, blending with the hiss of the fire and the faint, steady rhythm of Ryu's heartbeat.

As he worked, Ryu manipulated the Chakra metal not only with his physical strength but also with his chakra control, infusing the glowing metal with his own energy. Each strike was meticulously calculated, ensuring the perfect balance of force and chakra application. The process was slow and laborious, but Ryu's unwavering focus and patience never faltered.

As the hours passed, beads of sweat trickled down Ryu's brow, a testament to the intense heat and physical exertion required in his craft. His muscles strained, and his body ached, but Ryu's resolve remained steadfast. With each strike, the metal became denser, its intricate chakra network taking shape under his expert hands.

The tension in the workshop was palpable, as Ryu faced the unexpected challenges that arose during the forging process. At one point, a small crack threatened to compromise the needle's structural integrity. With a deep breath and a steady hand, Ryu expertly repaired the damage, showcasing his remarkable skill and adaptability.

Finally, after hours of intense labor, the needle took form: a dense, needle-shaped piece of Chakra metal, glowing with an inner light that seemed to pulse in time with Ryu's own heartbeat.

Ryu normalized the needle by heating and cooling it down to room temperature several times, ensuring that its structure was stable. He then used sandpaper to smooth its surface, removing any rough patches or imperfections.

Once it was sufficiently polished, Ryu heated the needle once more and quenched it in oil to further strengthen it. To alleviate the stress from the quenching process, he gently re-heated the needle, preparing it for the last crucial step.

With a steady hand, Ryu imbued the needle with the Flying Thunder God seal. As the seal wrapped around the small object repeatedly, it turned the needle pitch-black. At last, his creation was complete.

Eager to test out his new weapon, Ryu exclaimed, "Let's take this baby out for a test run!" He stepped outside, his excitement palpable.

Ryu held the needle carefully in his hand, infusing it with his chakra. The needle possessed properties similar to Kushina's Adamantine chains, creating clones of itself when supplied with chakra that the user could control at will. However, these needle clones would melt away upon impact, leaving the Flying Thunder God seal imprinted on the struck object.

As Ryu channeled his chakra into the needle, it began to glow with a bright blue light. With anticipation mounting, he set the needle into motion and watched as his creation sprang to life.

================================================================

Right, so a little head's up, I'm spending the weekend at the base so I won't be able to write a chapter next week. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.