Chapter 79: Whispers of a New Era

The ninja world was no stranger to whispers—rumors and secrets were the lifeblood of shinobi. But this time, the whispers carried something far more unsettling than the usual gossip. It wasn't just about another daring mission or a shadowy figure lurking in the woods. No, this time, the rumors were about the Abyss Company—the mysterious entity known only for its firearms. And not just any firearms, but weapons that could change the course of battles with a single shot.

But this time, the rumors hinted at something much bigger: the Abyss Company was planning to flood the market with their weapons, increasing the supply by tenfold.

Land of Fire - Konohagakure

In the Hokage's office, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, also known as "The Professor," was doing what he did best—reading reports. But today's reading material wasn't his usual cup of tea. Instead of the usual mundane mission reports, he found himself staring at a pile of papers that could only be described as a headache waiting to happen.

"What's this? 'Firearms set to double… no, triple… no wait, ten times the current supply?!'" Hiruzen mumbled, his eyes widening. He rubbed his temples, the weight of the information sinking in like a ton of bricks.

A sharp knock at the door pulled him out of his thoughts. "Come in," he called, half-expecting another batch of bad news.

Homura Mitokado, one of his advisors, walked in with an expression that was halfway between concern and 'I-told-you-so.' "Hokage-sama, it appears the rumors are true. The Abyss Company is planning to drastically increase the number of firearms on the market. It seems they're aiming to arm every rogue shinobi, bandit, and possibly even a few over-enthusiastic civilians."

Hiruzen sighed deeply. "Just what we needed… as if dealing with rogue ninjas wasn't hard enough. Now, we'll have to face rogue ninjas with guns. And not just a few, but an army's worth."

Homura nodded, his face grim. "This could shift the balance of power in ways we can't predict. Our shinobi are trained in stealth, speed, and jutsu. But a bullet doesn't care how fast you are if it's well-aimed."

The Hokage took a deep drag from his pipe, the embers glowing as he contemplated the future. "We'll need to keep an eye on this. Send out a notice to the other Kage. We need to know who's buying these weapons—and how many they're getting. And… maybe a little reminder to our own shinobi that dodging isn't just for kunai anymore."

Land of Wind - Sunagakure

In Sunagakure, the Third Kazekage was not having the best of days. His office was filled with sand—not because of a storm, but because of a nervous tick he had developed whenever things didn't go his way. And right now, things were very much not going his way.

"So… let me get this straight," the Kazekage said slowly, as if speaking any faster might make the news go away. "The Abyss Company is planning to increase their supply of firearms by ten times. And these weapons are already spreading through the smaller nations?"

Baki, his aide, nodded, trying very hard not to make direct eye contact with the growing pile of sand accumulating in the corners of the room. "Yes, Kazekage-sama. It's confirmed. The Land of Rivers, the Land of Rain, even the Land of Tea—firearms are popping up everywhere."

The Kazekage rubbed his forehead, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple. "This… this could be disastrous. If our enemies get their hands on these weapons, our advantage in combat could be wiped out. Have you ever tried to deflect a bullet with sand? It's not as easy as it looks!"

Baki bit back a chuckle at the thought of the Kazekage trying to block bullets with his sand manipulation, knowing that now was not the time for humor. "We'll need to take immediate action. Should we consider acquiring some of these weapons ourselves?"

The Kazekage let out a deep breath, his usual calm demeanor fraying at the edges. "Perhaps. But we need to understand more about this Abyss Company. They've been hiding in the shadows, but it's clear now that they have the power to change the game completely. Let's prepare to defend our village—by any means necessary."

Baki nodded, then hesitated. "And… Kazekage-sama? Maybe we could also invest in some bulletproof armor? Just a thought."

The Kazekage shot him a withering look but didn't disagree. "I'll consider it."

Land of Earth - Iwagakure

Meanwhile, in Iwagakure, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was floating above his chair, his tiny feet dangling in the air as he grumbled about "those blasted rumors." At his age, he thought he'd seen it all—but apparently, the ninja world was still full of surprises.

"Kurotsuchi!" Ōnoki barked, his voice loud enough to startle the birds perched outside his window.

Kurotsuchi, ever the dutiful granddaughter, hurried into the room, a scroll in hand. "Yes, Grandpa? I mean, Tsuchikage-sama?"

Ōnoki snatched the scroll from her hands, muttering under his breath as he read through the contents. "Firearms… firearms everywhere! And not just a few, but enough to turn every farmer with a grudge into a sharpshooter. What's next, kunai that throw themselves?"

Kurotsuchi bit her lip to stifle a giggle. "The Abyss Company seems to be ramping up production, Tsuchikage-sama. If this continues, the ninja world could be overrun with these weapons. Should we—"

"Yes, yes, I know what you're going to say!" Ōnoki interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "We need to gather intelligence, figure out who's behind this, and most importantly, find a way to counter these weapons before every two-bit thug thinks he's the next Lord of War."

Kurotsuchi nodded, already making mental notes. "And maybe… we could also invest in some firearms ourselves? You know, just in case?"

Ōnoki sighed, feeling every one of his years. "Fine. But only as a last resort. I refuse to let Iwagakure become dependent on these… these… noisy contraptions!"

Kurotsuchi grinned, knowing full well that Ōnoki would probably end up using one of the firearms himself, just to prove he could.

Land of Lightning - Kumogakure

In Kumogakure, the Third Raikage, A, was not having any of this nonsense. At least, that's what he told himself as he crushed yet another training dummy with a single punch.

"So, let me get this straight," A growled, his muscles still twitching from his recent sparring session. "Some shadowy company thinks they can flood the market with firearms and turn every weakling into a threat?"

Darui, ever calm, nodded. "It seems that way, Raikage-sama. The rumors are spreading fast. Firearms are already appearing in the Land of Frost and other small nations. If the Abyss Company follows through with this, we could see an explosion of armed conflict—literally."

A slammed his fist into his palm, the impact echoing through the room. "This is unacceptable! We're the strongest village—no weapon is going to change that!"

Darui nodded in agreement but couldn't resist a small smile. "Of course, Raikage-sama. But it wouldn't hurt to… you know, maybe secure a few of those firearms ourselves? Just to make sure no one else gets an edge."

A grunted, clearly annoyed by the whole situation. "Fine. But if anyone thinks they can replace my strength with a gun, they're going to find out the hard way that fists are still faster than bullets."

Darui chuckled. "Understood, Raikage-sama. I'll get right on it."

Land of Water - Kirigakure

In the mist-shrouded village of Kirigakure, the Third Mizukage was perhaps the most composed of all the Kages. But even he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the latest reports. The Abyss Company was up to something big, and that never boded well.

"Mizukage-sama," Ao began, standing stiffly at attention, "the rumors are true. The Abyss Company is preparing to increase the number of firearms on the market by a significant margin. The smaller nations are already seeing an influx, and it's only a matter of time before it reaches us."

The Mizukage leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. "So, the shadows grow longer. These weapons… they could turn even the weakest enemy into a serious threat. And in a place like Kirigakure, where the mist is our greatest weapon…"

Ao nodded, sensing the unspoken worry. "Yes, Mizukage-sama. If firearms become widespread, our tactics could be compromised. Should we… take measures to acquire these weapons ourselves?"

The Mizukage's lips curled into a faint smile. "Perhaps. But we must be cautious. Kirigakure is not a place for rash decisions. Let the other villages scramble for these weapons. We will watch from the shadows, and when the time is right, we will strike."

Ao grinned. "As always, Mizukage-sama, your wisdom is unmatched. I'll begin preparations immediately."

The Mizukage nodded, his eyes gleaming with the hint of a plan forming. "And Ao… make sure to keep our own supply discreet. The last thing we need is for the other villages to know our hand."

And so, the ninja world teetered on the edge of a new era. The Abyss Company's move to flood the market with firearms had thrown the Kages into a frenzy of preparations, each of them trying to stay ahead of the curve. But in a world where shadows lurked around every corner, it was impossible to say who would come out on top.

One thing was certain: the days ahead would be anything but dull.