Konoha Notes.

Chapter 515 A Brief Gap

Chapter 515 A Brief Gap

Having tentatively decided on the next course of action, Xiu Si headed to the western suburbs, not to leave work early, but to the laboratory building.

Upon arriving at the location, they saw Tsunade outside the laboratory building, her hands clasped together, staring at a dice cup in the distance.

"Byakugan?" Shuuji said, looking at Tsunade's eyes. There were no bulging veins around her eyes, and her eyes were still the same color as before. So he changed his words, "A hidden Byakugan?"

Tsunade put down the hand seals and glared at him: "Idiot, how could it be that fast?"

"It's just getting my eyes used to the Byakugan's chakra flow. At most, the training during this period has improved my eyesight a little."

"Can you see the numbers through the dice cup now?"

"I can't see it."

"That's really a little bit."

Tsunade said, "If you can see it, you lose the meaning of gambling."

"What are you doing here at this hour? Neji hasn't finished school yet; it's not time for the second implantation."

Shuji said, "I can't wait to see if the new toy will work."

Tsunade then said, "You really don't do anything worthwhile."

Shuji said seriously, "My personal flight device is almost finished, and I won't be taking you with me when I fly."

"You think everyone's a child?" Tsunade scoffed.

"People who are no longer young have long lost their ideals." Shuuji continued to dabble in sensitive topics.

Tsunade raised her hand and delivered an elbow strike as usual.

When her elbow struck down, the sensation was different from usual. It felt like hitting a stone wrapped in cotton. She raised an eyebrow and withdrew her hand.

Shuji stood still, without even swaying.

"I've been practicing Earth Release: Nature Transformation a lot lately so my body can be lighter when I fly," he said. "Whether it's losing weight or increasing density appropriately, it's all fine now."

"Increase the hardness slightly in a specific area —"

He lowered his head and dusted off the spot where he had been hit by the elbow.

"It's quite easy."

Tsunade was a little surprised: "You've managed to research to this extent even without the training methods of Rock Fist and Earth Spear. You're not completely incapable, are you?"

"From a combat perspective, there was no need to specifically train for it before."

As a Wood Release user, partial wood transformation is just a basic skill, and in the past few years, there hasn't even been a real fight where I had to use my wound healing ability.

Tsunade's surprise turned into disdain: "This isn't very creative."

"That kind of thing is not important."

As they talked, they entered the laboratory building. Instead of going down to the ground floor, Xiu Si went to one of the laboratories.

In the laboratory, there was a semi-covering helmet that could just cover the upper half of the face. The eye area of ​​the helmet protruded, and several thin tubes were connected to the back.

Several rolls were scattered on the worktable next to it.

Shuji walked over, picked up the helmet, and examined it closely, turning it over and over.

Kabuto Yakushi already knew he was coming and had arrived.

"Lord Shuji." He entered and saw Shuji picking something up. "This machine hasn't yet achieved the results you expected."

"This is less of a camera designed to observe chakra based on the structure of the Byakugan —"

"To be more precise, we are simply miniaturizing the existing sensory barrier, combining it with the user's chakra recognition ability, and adding a camera function to create a simple image."

This was something Shuji had entrusted to him a while ago. In his spare time, he combined the Byakugan data from the lab with an attempt to integrate the camera's photographic function with chakra perception.

"Are you already able to produce the images?" Shuji asked.

"Yes. The image output itself can be done. As for recognizing people in the image, that can also be done by using the user's own perception."

Upon hearing this, Shuji put the helmet on his head.

Dou pointed to the side of the helmet: "The camera function is on this button."

Shuji turned around, aimed at Tsunade who was leaning against the wall, and pressed the button.

The Fifth Hokage stood with his arms crossed, waiting to see how the machine would perform.

A soft sound.

A scroll with text information began to emerge from the back of the helmet. At the same time, a photograph slid out from the side seam.

Shuji took off his helmet and picked up the photograph.

The image is indeed of Tsunade.

Dou took a small bottle from the worktable and uncorked it. He dipped his fingertip in the bottle and applied it to the photograph.

The portrait remained unchanged, but the name Tsunade gradually appeared next to the figure's outline.

Tsunade approached and examined the area: "Is that all?"

"I was worried that revealing your age information on it would make you a target for murder, so I only typed your name into my mind," Shuuji said.

Tsunade ignored him and instead picked up her own photo: "But even so, it's far inferior to the existing perception and early warning systems."

Although the chakra water sphere of the perception class could not display high-definition images, it could reveal the general situation clearly, which was more important to the village.

Once any unusual situation is detected, the village's ninja clan resources will allow them to quickly identify the person responsible.

As for whether or not they have the ability to solve it, that's a matter of combat capability, and has nothing to do with the reconnaissance system.

Tobirama Senju's voice came from the doorway: "Even if we miniaturize and popularize the equipment, it won't be a decisive factor."

"Those with chakra recognition abilities don't need such things to leave traces. When they are needed as evidence, the analysis team can also read them directly from the witness's brain."

"So when cameras came out, no ninja village considered extending their functionality to this kind of place."

Yakushi Kabuto lowered his head: "That's exactly right."

"However, Second Generation, this is only the effect of a prototype."

"As long as a chakra database containing a sufficient number of samples can be established, and the information of most people can be numbered, this machine will have subsequent practical value."

The researcher was still trying to salvage Xiu Si's plan to prevent his superior from being reprimanded by his superior's superior.

Shuji said, "The research and development of this thing is not aimed at ninjas."

Tsunade glanced sideways: "Aren't ninja tools for ninjas?"

Shuji shook his head: "The Transformation Jutsu is too simple. Restricting its use in commissions from now on doesn't mean nobody will use it."

"Moreover, with the expansion of education, there will only be more people who will know it in the future."

He tapped the button on the side of the helmet with his fingertips.

"It can be used in most situations, instantly identify people, and doesn't require the user to have excellent chakra sensing abilities. That's what it should truly be."

"In other words, its significance outside the ninja world outweighs its importance for use within the ninja community."

"The certainty of information about individuals is part of order. If people can't figure out who's who, trust will collapse very quickly."

Tobirama Senju nodded and said, "In that case, I will include this in my experimental plan in my spare time."

""

Then he left.

Shuji looked at the machine in his hand and asked Kabuto, "Can I take it? I'm going to collect practical data."

Dou indicated that there was no problem.

Shuji then asked another question: "How is Shisui's eye recovering now?"

Kabuto spoke about the progress: "The eye with the powerful ability to modify will is severely depleted and will need some more time. The other one is usable, but to cover the control of the Impure World Reincarnation, the current eye is probably not enough—"

Shuji tucked the helmet into the crook of his arm.

"I'll go tell Shisui the good news."

After saying that, he walked out of the laboratory.

Naruto's promotional campaign went very smoothly. So smoothly that he could no longer make too many public appearances at the Joint Secretariat, and should leave the time and space for the Secretariat staff to handle things themselves.

He will be unable to come to the Joint Affairs Bureau for a few days for the time being.

Therefore, Naruto went to Green Blue Aoi and told her the news.

Green Aoi showed an understanding look: "Now that the badge name has been pushed to this point, if you continue to stay here, it will only make people from other ninja villages notice something is wrong. Retreating now is the most appropriate thing to do."

"As for my situation, you've already been a great help. You've been running around everywhere lately, and with the daimyo's visit, everyone's attention has been diverted. Someone as insignificant as me has been neglected. Now that things have calmed down, there shouldn't be any more problems."

Naruto smiled upon hearing these words.

He raised his fist.

"You must succeed, Mr. Green!"

Green Aoi bumped fists with Naruto again: "You too, Naruto."

After watching Naruto leave, Midori Aoi received instructions to assist the department in the transfer.

The department that manages martial arts exercises and the Chunin Exams will move its offices back to the old secret service building.

On the way to assist with the relocation, a person whom Green Sunflower knew well spoke to him in a tone that made him feel unfamiliar.

"Green, everyone wants to ask you for a favor."

The fifth floor houses the ninja village offices. Those small ninja village offices, which were originally just for decoration, suddenly seem to have been injected with vitality.

Yura stood in the corridor watching this scene. Some people were still acting cautiously, while others couldn't help but start making contact with the people on the seventh floor.

This is not surprising.

For these villages, everything right now feels like a return to the familiar old ways.

To survive in the cracks, they rely on their own strength to seek leverage and space.

Instead of being part of the world's most powerful military entity, eating the leftovers left over from the higher-ups' design.

Yura knew he wasn't the only one watching this scene. Gazes were falling on the same spot from different offices.

Even as a spy, Yura felt a pang of melancholy. How long would it take for these people to understand? It wasn't really a good thing for them.

He returned to his office in Sunagakure. When the quiet, red-haired boy reappeared in the Sunagakure staff office, he no longer seemed both conspicuous and easily overlooked.

Children's bullying often involves directly excluding the most unsociable and attention-grabbing individuals, while adult bullying is driven by self-interest.

When a group actively helps him integrate, others will adjust their attitudes accordingly, considering the gains and losses.

The problem with reading the air is that it's both bad and good.

It was getting late. Gaara walked into Maki's representative office and sat down in a chair.

He has seen a lot during this time. He saw especially a lot today.

"They felt fear," Gaara said.

Machi was puzzled.

"fear?"

"Gaara, what are you referring to?"

"Because of the newcomers. They know their fate, so they panic, so they gather."

Maki leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped together on the table.

"There's nothing we can do about it. You should still remember your life in Sunagakure, right?"

"Even back then, as the son of a Jinchuriki and the Kazekage, you couldn't fully grasp the lives of the villagers."

"Until now, the biggest task for Sunagakure ninjas who can leave the village, come to Konoha, and go to the Land of Rivers, besides dealing with the work of the Joint Affairs Bureau itself, is still to purchase cheap necessities to take back to the village."

"It's different from other villages."

"The Sand Village ninjas have come to the Joint Affairs Bureau, which will require even more intense competition."

"The salary here isn't much higher than in the village, but both the climate and the cost of living are much more suitable."

Maki joked, "When I go back to the village, I can still feel proud that the village has brought me a better life."

"In this situation, some people are more inclined to support the secretariat, while others naturally feel resentful and choose someone who is more outspoken and more protective of the village's position."

"Compared to them, the biggest advantage of the Land of Wind is that, although it is poor, it is still remote. There are always people living in the desert who need the protection of the desert ninjas."

After a moment of silence, Gaara said, "Land reclamation, resource planning—can't these plans bring the villagers a longer-term hope?"

"Looking towards the future—" Maki chuckled softly, "That's too far off. If Mr. Shuji were willing to go to the Land of Wind in person and use his Wood Release to create an oasis, perhaps that would be a more immediate and tangible hope."

"Although the village's income has increased significantly in the past two years, it has still been completely consumed by those projects."

Gaara calmly stated, "Shuji won't do that unless Sunagakure makes enough attempts."

Maki didn't deny it, but said in a low voice, "Yes. All I can do is try my best to hold onto as much as possible for the village before the whirlpool arrives."

He looked up, and a complex emotion suddenly appeared in his eyes.

"Yura—I just hope that when the end comes, he won't take too many people from Sunagakure with him."

Gaara remained silent. The setting sun outside the window had already sunk below the horizon.

Temari and Kankuro were already waiting for him in the corridor. The three siblings left the secret service office and returned to the old house.

Shuji was sitting at the stone table, fiddling with a strange helmet.

"Mr. Shuuji."

"I'm back." Shuji didn't look up.

Gaara sat down on the stone bench opposite him. Kankuro greeted him and slipped into the house first, while Temari said she was going to prepare the meal and headed towards the kitchen.

"How much longer can they last?"

Shuji continued fiddling with what he was holding, without looking up.

"It might have been much longer."

He stopped, turned the helmet over, and examined the patterns on the inside.

"Now, there might not be that much leeway. Gaara."