Chapter 41: Crafting Equipment Comparable to Teigu!

Third Mizukage, upon receiving a detailed report from the ANBU Ninja, knew that in the battle between Hoshigaki Kisame and Kakashi, Hoshigaki Kisame gained the upper hand due to the Kiriichimonji's significant effect.

However, relying solely on the Chakra Absorption Technique and Kakashi's Lightning Release to exchange blows may not necessarily be advantageous.

But there isn't as much discussion in the village about Kiriichimonji.

On one hand, the failure of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist has diminished the expectations of the people of the Hidden Mist Village regarding the Ninjato.

This is somewhat influenced by the predecessors.

However, the main reason is the control of the Third Mizukage.

The Third Mizukage doesn't want too many people discussing Kiriichimonji, thereby shifting their focus to Forging Island, to Uehara Soma.

Because currently, the Hidden Mist Village doesn't have enough resources to protect Uehara Soma.

With the "hope" already present in the Hidden Mist Village, the Third Mizukage believes that, compared to the new Ninjato, the new blacksmith bringing hope and inspiration to the Hidden Mist Village, the safety of Uehara Soma will be more important.

"When the village has enough resources to protect Soma."

"At that time, Soma's information will be made public."

"Those people will know what the future of my Hidden Mist Village is!"

"What is the future of the ninja world!"

...

The next day.

After breakfast, Uehara Soma, Biwa Juzo, Hoshigaki Kisame, the three gathered in an empty forging room.

"Juzo-senpai, Kisame, are you ready?"

"Ready."

"Ready."

Immediately, Uehara Soma had a thought.

[Dungeon Instance opening.]

[Opening successful.]

[Teleporting.]

A very tall building, or rather, more like a laboratory.

Two towering iron doors gave a very heavy feeling.

The surrounding walls were tightly guarded, tall, adorned with spikes, broken glass, and barbed wire.

Very serious, oppressive.

"Summon thugs!"

Two options appeared in front of Uehara Soma.

Unlike last time, this time Uehara Soma chose two people at the same time.

[The maximum number of summoned assistants for the current Dungeon Instance has been reached. Once summoned, they cannot be changed. Are you sure you want to summon these two assistants?]

Uehara Soma raised an eyebrow slightly.

This prompt appeared for the first time.

"So, this means that this Materials instance can only summon two assistants?"

"I received this prompt because I happened to summon two assistants."

"In the previous two Materials instances, I only summoned one assistant, so I didn't reach the instance's capacity."

"But how should I interpret this limit?"

Uehara Soma first looked at the semi-transparent screen in front of him.

[Name: Uehara Soma.]

[Comprehensive Strength: Chunin.]

[Swordsmanship: Familiar (1300).]

[Forging Technique: Good (Excellent—Bonus from Forging Island).]

[Mission Items: Thug Recruitment Token x2.]

[Blacksmith Reputation: 696.]

[Evaluation: As a blacksmith, the basics are decent. With a personal forging space, Forging Technique receives a bonus, with a chance to craft ninja tools of superior quality or above.]

[As a ninja, the strength is worrying, in times of war, considered advanced cannon fodder.]

Still, among the previous information, Uehara Soma didn't find anything related to the restriction on the number of people in the instance.

A Blueprint appeared in Uehara Soma's hand.

The Blueprint of God's Hand.

In the corner of the Blueprint, Uehara Soma saw a pattern.

Within the pattern, there were two blank hexagrams.

"It's probably this."

Uehara Soma contemplated.

"Knowing the capacity of the Dungeon Instance for summoned assistants, I can prepare better strategies. The limit on the number of participants often signifies the difficulty level."

"Plus, my understanding of the Materials instance."

"The probability of clearing it will increase significantly."

"If another blacksmith from the Hidden Mist Village were to obtain this blacksmith system, it definitely wouldn't have gone as smoothly for them."

"After all, those people don't have the information about the Dungeon Instances."

Uehara Soma snapped out of his thoughts.

"Confirmed!"

Biwa Juzo and Hoshigaki Kisame both felt a sudden attraction towards themselves.

They exchanged a glance, not resisting at all.

The next moment, their figures disappeared from the vacant forging room.

When they reappeared, they were already by Uehara Soma's side.

Uehara Soma noticed that the two blank hexagram patterns on the Blueprint were now filled.

This immediately confirmed Uehara Soma's earlier speculation.

"Is this the location for the mission?"

Biwa Juzo and Hoshigaki Kisame looked towards the laboratory ahead.

Upon seeing this building, both Biwa Juzo and Hoshigaki Kisame couldn't help but feel a strong sense of familiarity.

Because many places in the Hidden Mist Village exuded such an atmosphere.

For example, the Academy.

The Hidden Mist Village's Academy and Konoha's Academy are completely different in style.

On one hand, they implement the policies of the Iron Blood, the brutal, and harsh Bloody Mist.

While Konoha's Academy seems to focus more on joyful education in the early stages.

A figure appeared.

A young man, wearing black-framed glasses, with a serious expression, and deep purple hair. Near his left forehead, a strand turned white, making him look quite unique.

The young man raised his head.

Uehara Soma could clearly see the weariness in the young man's eyes.

A voice echoed in Uehara Soma's mind.

[Instance Mission: Dr. Stylish's Ambition.]

[Mission Reward: Materials for God's Hand.]

[Would you like to accept the mission?]

"Accept!"

Immediately, a scene appeared before Uehara Soma and the other two.

A young man in the laboratory kept trying, attempting, but each time ended in failure.

Beside the young man, numerous discarded materials from failed attempts were piled up.

Days passed by.

The condition of the young man worsened.

Even his mentality seemed to be affected.

The young man's gaze became increasingly gloomy.

Like someone whose psyche was affected by continuous failures, leading them towards a path of darkness.

"I want you to help the past me, to give me hope that I can successfully craft equipment comparable to Teigu."

"Okay."

The figure of the young man disappeared.

Click!

A sound rang out, and a crack appeared in the laboratory door.

The door unlocked.

Uehara Soma pushed it open and entered.

A young man sat at the lab bench. Hearing the sound, he instinctively looked up, but upon seeing Uehara Soma and the other two enter, he didn't show any surprise, his face numb with failure.

Uehara Soma looked at the young man, pondering in his heart.

"Could it be that Dr. Stylish, because of repeated failures at this moment, turned dark and embarked on the path of an antagonist?"

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