Chapter 144: Under the Zanpakuto, it's the Skillful Grade Sword!

"Achoo!"

A middle-aged man sitting by the street suddenly sneezed inexplicably.

The middle-aged man frowned involuntarily.

"Caught a cold?"

"No way, how could that be with today's temperature?"

"And there's no wind."

Just then, a few figures nearby were discussing.

"I heard the Blacksmith Department is recruiting new members."

"The current Blacksmith Department has changed completely."

"That Blacksmith, single-handedly supported the Blacksmith Department."

"And also developed the project for surgical blades. Land of Iron can't compete. Ordinary Blacksmiths can't manufacture Ninjato of Zanpakuto grade, but they can create their own value."

"If I return to the Blacksmith Department now, there's no need to worry about my future."

"If I could accept the invitation, I would definitely strive with all my might."

The middle-aged man glanced back.

These few people, like the middle-aged man, are all in the Blacksmith circle, so they heard some news.

The middle-aged man's face darkened.

"It should have been me who passed last time."

"Why Tanaka Shinnosuke?"

Intense regret erupted in the middle-aged man's heart.

...

"Tik-tok!"

"Tik-tok!"

"Tik-tok!"

Soma looked up.

"Has it been this long already?"

Soma stopped and put together the smelted metal.

Afterwards, Soma left the forging room. When he entered the forging competition arena, the Blacksmiths' forging was nearing its end.

"Chief."

The guards at the door quickly made way.

Soma nodded slightly.

"Shinnosuke, how is it?"

"Chief, there are two people who seem off."

"Seem off?"

Tanaka Shinnosuke lowered his voice.

"Those two used additional materials beyond what we provided."

Soma frowned. Some additional materials, while not primary materials, often yielded very good results in the forging process. They had a specific term: auxiliary materials are not permitted. What those two did was akin to cheating.

In Naruto's Chunin Exam written test, as long as cheating isn't detected, one can pass the assessment. Because cheating is also a skill of ninjas. But for Blacksmiths, it's not like that. Forging is a fair matter. If you take forging seriously, the feedback will be better. If you do it casually, then the forged items will inevitably have more flaws. Soma does not allow such people in his forging department and only a fair competition with similar materials can weed them out.

"You! You! Come out!"

Soma directly called out the names of two people.

The two looked up, with a trace of panic on their faces. One person had better mental composure, the panic flashed briefly, and quickly calmed down. The other person was visibly flustered.

All eyes turned towards them.

Soma looked at Arafuni.

"Arafuni, you made the rules clear to them, right? They can only use the materials we provide."

Arafuni nodded.

"Chief, I made it very clear. I emphasized it several times."

"Good."

Soma's gaze shifted to the Blacksmiths.

"However, someone has violated this rule by using additional materials they brought themselves, which constitutes cheating. Those who cheat are not eligible to continue participating in the exam."

"You two, go back."

One person looked dejected, as if all their strength had drained away. They collected their belongings and walked out.

The other person wanted to argue back. However, before he could speak, a guard Ninja had already swiftly approached him.

Their Ninjato was halfway drawn from its sheath.

"Leave!"

Despite his unwillingness, the person had no choice but to follow the guard Ninja out. He hadn't expected the guards on Forging Island to be so tough. Originally, he had wanted to mention his background or relationships to appeal to Soma for leniency, hoping to continue participating.

However, he hadn't even had the chance to speak.

Soma did not let the guards search the blacksmiths, so this was their chance. Using the Byakugan in this situation would be a waste.

Even if Ao's energy is replenished, there's no need to use it like this.

On the other hand, in the current situation, Soma finds it preferable to stop them from bringing things in.

Eliminating them just for bringing in extra things is a bit too harsh.

However, seeing them use it is solid evidence.

"I'm done!"

"I'm done too!"

Not long after the two cheaters were expelled, the Blacksmiths completed their own works one after another.

A total of ten deep-sea fishes were suspended in mid-air.

"Pick up your forged Ninjato and strike at the big fish. The cutting effect will determine your scores."

Arafuni directed the group.

When everyone was in position.

"Begin!"

The eight raised their Ninjato high, and the next moment, they concentrated all their strength in their hands, using their entire body's strength to strike at the large fish in front of them.

"Ding!"

A clear sound rang out.

A section of blade flew out.

It happened to be heading in Soma's direction.

Soma raised his hand and lightly caught it, gripping it between his fingers.

Then he casually tossed it into a corner.

"Chief-sama, I'm sorry, I apologize..."

In an instant, the Blacksmith with the broken sword turned pale.

Soma shook his head.

"This kind of mishap won't harm me, but it's regrettable. You're eliminated. A Ninjato of this caliber doesn't meet the requirements of the forging department. You should go back."

"Yes, Chief-sama."

This person felt fortunate not to be further questioned by Soma; he didn't dare hope for more.

Moreover, in the forging competition, the sword broke. He knew very well that he didn't pass the test.

"Continue until you cut the big fish in half."

Arafuni's voice echoed.

Soon after.

"Ding!"

Another blade broke.

The owner of the broken blade looked displeased, feeling some regret, but also acknowledging it was his own fault.

He could only sigh deeply.

The forging competition concluded.

Ten participants entered, two were eliminated for cheating.

Among the remaining eight, five were disqualified due to Ninjato quality issues.

Three people remained for the second round of interviews.

The interviews were personally conducted by Soma.

Soma's principles remained the same as last time: only one out of the three would be chosen.

"Kiyotani Roku, reporting to Chief-sama!"

The young man, excited to have passed the assessment, could hardly contain himself.

Soma nodded.

"Starting today, you will be an apprentice Blacksmith in the forging department. Arafuni will arrange your main tasks."

"Yes, Chief-sama."

Soma glanced at the reputation column's numbers.

"Almost there..."

With that, Soma, accompanied by Arafuni and the other two, entered the forging room.

"Since the forging competition is underway, I will conduct a forging session. Take this opportunity to observe; it may help improve your Forging Technique."

Soma gave a reason.

Conducting a forging session to gain reputation was certainly not something he could disclose.

Therefore, Soma framed it as an opportunity for Arafuni and the others to learn.

As the head of the forging department, Soma indeed wanted to elevate the level of Blacksmiths on Forging Island.

Currently, the surgical blade project was indeed a success, but just one surgical blade was definitely not enough. Forging Island needed more projects.

Therefore, Blacksmiths needed to have higher skills.

As for whether or not he would worry about these Blacksmiths' skills surpassing his own, Soma was not worried at all.

Over the years, except for that Great Blacksmith, the rest of the Blacksmiths, none of them have mastered the Chakra Smelting Technique, Breathing Forging Method, or Sage's Polishing Technique.

Including the current Arafuni and the other two.

In addition, what they learn from Soma is just the path that Soma is on. It is impossible for them to touch the realm that Soma has not even reached.

That is, no matter how much Soma shows them, that is their limit.

It is difficult not to say whether or not they can break through this limit, even whether or not they can reach this limit

Furthermore, Soma also controls Forging Island, where his Forging Technique is forcibly elevated by one level.

This creates a significant gap between him and other Blacksmiths.

There's also the presence of God's Hand.

More importantly, the materials.

Others who want to obtain materials capable of forging exceptional Ninjato do not have it as easy as Soma.

Neither in quantity nor in blueprints.

Considering multiple elements, Soma surpasses other Blacksmiths not just in one dimension.

Arafuni and the other two's eyes lit up.

Soma took out a lump of metal.

Not the materials used in the previous assessment, but the legitimate materials of Forging Island, of higher quality.

"Chakra Smelting Technique!"

Arafuni closely observed Soma's actions, hoping to learn something from them.

Arafuni was eager for progress.

In contrast, Tanaka Shinnosuke did not pursue Forging Technique with such fervor.

As for Kiyotani Roku, Soma still didn't know much about him.

Soon, the smelting was completed.

"Breathing Forging Method!"

It wasn't until Soma reached the level of thirty forgings that he finally stopped.

Shaping.

Quenching.

Tempering.

"Sage's Polishing Technique!"

Similar to the steps used in making the axe for Jinin Daiga last time, but with the addition of Sage's Polishing Technique. This meant that the sharpness of this Ninjato would be even higher.

Arafuni and the other two watched attentively.

Kiyotani Roku knew Soma's Forging Technique was extraordinary, but he hadn't expected it to be this extraordinary. The smoothness was unbelievably fluent.

"So smooth."

"It's like art."

"No wonder the Chief can forge Ninjato like Zanpakuto."

Kiyotani Roku was amazed.

"Alright."

Soma took out the completed Ninjato.

A Broad Sword.

These materials weren't considered poor in the shinobi world.

However, compared to what Soma obtained in the Dungeon Instance, there was indeed a difference.

Therefore, if the quality wasn't enough, they would make up for it in quantity.

To forge a heavier type of Ninjato, aiming for greater strength.

Soma swung it with one hand.

"Whoosh!"

The sound of air being split apart echoed.

"Chief, can I touch it?"

Arafuni looked intensely at the Broad Sword.

"You may."

Soma saw Arafuni's expression, his eye twitched slightly, but he still handed it over.

Arafuni took it and immediately began to inspect it closely, his eyes glued to it as if they were stuck.

Tanaka Shinnosuke and Kiyotani Roku also leaned in.

Soma glanced at the semi-transparent panel, where the reputation column number made his brow twitch.

"[1368!]"

"That's an increase of about 400 points."

"It's not far from 2000 points."

Therefore, Soma decided not to draw ten times immediately but to wait for a bit longer.

There would be another wave of reputation to be gained.

After a long study, Arafuni and the others reluctantly returned it to Soma.

With the Broad Sword in hand, Soma then approached Ao.

"Ao-senpai."

"Soma, what's this?"

Ao's gaze fell upon the Broad Sword.

"It's not a Zanpakuto, rather it's similar to the Ninjato I made for Jinin Daiga last time."

Soma handed over the Broad Sword.

"Ao-senpai, from now on in the Sword Forging Competition, I will forge a Ninjato as an example for the Blacksmiths. These Ninjato will be of higher quality than ordinary ones and can be used by the members of the guard."

"That's acceptable," Ao said. "It will enhance the strength of certain guard members and increase their loyalty to the Forging Department."

"But, Soma, would you consider giving these Ninjato names?" Ao continued. "If not just one or two, but more, naming them could have a greater impact."

Ao referred to the effect that naming Soma's Ninjato "Zanpakuto" had on him—not an actual power increase, but an increase in influence.

Soma pondered for a moment.

"Let's call it 'Skillful Grade Sword'."

Skillful Grade Sword didn't require much effort. Because of the quantity, Soma couldn't make a decision.

"Skillful Grade Sword? This name lacks a bit of spirit compared to Zanpakuto, but it's still fitting."

a Skillful Grade Sword was not as good as Zanpakuto. Naturally, a name with more spirit than Zanpakuto wouldn't be appropriate.

"I'll go inform them," Soma nodded.

"If possible, Ao-senpai, could you arrange a competition to decide the ownership of this Ninjato?"

"Sure, I was planning to do that," Ao replied. "But we'll have to wait until tomorrow during the day when all the guard members are present to make it fair."

"You handle the arrangements, Ao-senpai."

The night passed quietly.

Early the next morning, Ao and Daida gathered the guard members, except those who had to remain on duty.

Soma prepared to enter the forging room to continue melting the Materials for Zudomon's Hammer.

Just then, a figure approached at lightning speed.

"Chief Uehara."

"Elder Genji, good morning." Soma turned around.

A guard member on duty hurried over with Genji.

Genji looked very worried.

"Good morning. Let's go see Lord Third together. There's extremely important news."

"Alright."

Soon, the two arrived at the vacant forging room where Skeleton Emperor was located.

The apparition of the Third Mizukage appeared, looking not in the best condition.

It hadn't been long since the battle with the Zudomon Beast, and the Third Mizukage hadn't recovered much.

Genji looked serious.

"Mizukage-sama, there's very bad news coming from Kaguya Neko!"

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