His gaze swept over the people present, finally settling on Hikari, "Hikari, what are the exact numbers and tier distribution of the registered professional Ninja in the Star Ninja Army currently?"
Hikari, who had long memorized the data, immediately reported clearly: "The original Hoshigakure's foundation had two hundred and sixty-four members. After years of training, absorbing Rogue Ninjas, and integrating smaller country Ninja Clans, the current total number of registered professional Ninja is four hundred and fifty-two. Among them, three hundred and thirty-four are Genin, eighty-nine are Chunin, twenty are Special Jonin, and nine are Jonin."
Her voice was steady, carrying a hint of a commander's efficiency.
After hearing Hikari's report on the Star Ninja Army's status, Menma quickly ran some projections in his mind.
'Four hundred and fifty-two registered professional Ninja was a respectable number for a nascent nation, but it still seemed insufficient when facing the potential Fourth Great Ninja World War, which could involve allied forces numbering in the tens of thousands.'
Menma calculated rapidly in his head.
Once the Chakra Powered Exoskeletons were deployed, the enhancement would be revolutionary.
Those 334 Genin would collectively leap to Chunin-level combat power, the 89 Chunin could rival Special Jonin, and the 20 Special Jonin could briefly burst with combat power comparable to Jonin!
As for the existing nine Jonin, while the direct enhancement from the Chakra Powered Exoskeletons was relatively limited for them, it would still boost their endurance and survivability.
This was a technological force capable of altering the entire Ninja World's power balance!
"Good," Menma's voice came through his mask as he issued various orders, "Order the Research Department to fully expand the production scale of the Chakra Powered Exoskeletons while ensuring quality. Resources are to be prioritized for production line expansion and technical worker training."
He then turned to Kisame, who stood nearby like a statue, "Kisame, you are responsible for selecting a group of resolute and outstanding elites from the Star Ninja Army to replenish the Anbu. Simultaneously, transfer a group of experienced veterans from the current Anbu Personnel back to the Star Ninja Army to serve as instructors."
"This instructor corps will be directly commanded by Hikari. Their primary task is to comprehensively enhance the basic combat power, tactical literacy, and teamwork of the ordinary Star Ninja. We cannot let our warriors become overly reliant on equipment and neglect their own fundamentals."
"Yes, sir!" Kisame responded in his deep voice, a flicker of excitement on his shark-like face. He was very interested in selecting and training elites.
Menma's gaze shifted to Kanon, who was listening calmly, "Kanon, you are responsible for assessing and selecting the most outstanding, loyal, and strong-willed ordinary people from the basic police force. They will form a special [Special Police Test Unit], the first to be equipped with the [Chakra Type-1] Powered Exoskeletons."
"Then, train them comprehensively in militarization to Genin standards… no, even stricter standards. I want to see what kind of combat power a unit composed entirely of ordinary people equipped with Chakra Powered Exoskeletons can achieve."
"Understood, sir. I will immediately draft a detailed selection and training plan." Kanon adjusted her glasses and accepted the order coolly.
This task was of great significance, related to new directions for expanding the Land of Stars' future manpower pool. They needed to determine how long it took for trained ordinary people equipped with the exoskeletons to reach standard Genin combat power, and also identify what kind of ordinary person was best suited for the equipment.
Everyone accepted their orders and departed, leaving the testing ground empty once more.
Menma and Hikari also left the research area, walking towards home under the setting sun.
The sunset stretched their shadows long.
Hikari tilted her head slightly, looking at Menma, who had removed his three-eyed fox mask, revealing his delicate profile.
After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Menma, that person who attacked us last time... who exactly is he?"
"And those puppets he controlled, those eyes... they felt very strange and powerful to me. Are those... the legendary Sage of Six Paths' eyes?"
The pressure and eeriness brought by those Rinnegan were still fresh in her memory.
Menma walked with his hands in his pockets, his steps unhurried. He sighed softly and explained, "His name is Nagato. He's a lost descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, and in a way, a pitiable person. Almost his entire life has been lived under the deception and manipulation of others."
He paused, organizing his words, "The four puppets that came last time are called the [Six Paths of Pain]. Their original bodies were core members of the first Akatsuki. That organization was initially founded by Nagato and his two closest friends, Yahiko and Konan, with the original intention of bringing peace to the war-torn Land of Rain." (T/N: From what I remember, the Six Paths of Pain were composed of individuals that Jiraiya had met when they were alive, which he added to his first novel.)
Hikari listened quietly, a flicker of emotion passing through her scarlet eyes.
'An organization founded for peace in a war-torn country?' It reminded her of some distant memories.
"But," Menma's tone turned cold, "Their ideals were crushed by Hanzo and Danzo working together. Yahiko died in that conspiracy. And afterwards, a guy hiding in the shadows-"
"That masked man who called himself Uchiha Madara last time, Uchiha Obito."
"He attacked the members of the first Akatsuki, making Nagato believe that Yahiko and his comrades' deaths were all due to Hanzo colluding with Konoha, thus reaching a temporary cooperation with him. The bodies of the Six Paths of Pain were made using Yahiko's and other deceased Akatsuki's members' remains."
"As for those eyes," Menma confirmed Hikari's guess, "They are indeed the Sage of Six Paths' Rinnegan. But Nagato didn't awaken them himself… they were transplanted into him when he was a child. They used his massive Uzumaki Clan's chakra and life force to nourish these eyes that didn't belong to him."
"Transplanted?" Hikari keenly caught the word, her elegant brows furrowing slightly, "Those eyes... I always felt they seem to have some deep connection with the Sharingan?"
Menma looked at her appreciatively, "Your perception is sharp."
"Correct. The Rinnegan can theoretically evolve from the Sharingan. And the pair on Nagato, their original owner was the real Uchiha Madara. In his later years, after merging with Senju Hashirama's cells, he finally managed to awaken these legendary eyes."
"Evolve?" Hikari found it somewhat hard to believe, "Uchiha Madara?"
"But Nagato's strength, while powerful, doesn't feel... like it has an absolute gap compared to that masked man last time, Uchiha Obito, right? Obito only has the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Because the current Nagato is not at his peak condition," Menma explained, "His real body has long been emaciated and severely depleted of life force due to constantly overdrawing Chakra to supply the Gedo Statue. Moreover, in the battle that destroyed the original Akatsuki, his legs were blown off by explosive tags, losing his ability to move freely."
"He can only act by controlling the Pain puppets. Even so, relying on those Rinnegan and his Uzumaki Constitution, he is still one of the top-tier powerhouses in the current Ninja World. Of course-"
Menma paused, his tone carrying absolute confidence, "-that ranking excludes the two of us."
Upon hearing this, the corner of Hikari's mouth lifted in a barely perceptible curve. Then she recalled the details of the fight and commented, "However, his fighting style felt very... um..."
She couldn't find the right word for a moment.
"Very 'basic', or 'crude', right?" Menma finished for her with a laugh, hitting the nail on the head.
"After all, Nagato never underwent systematic, formal Ninja training. He obtained the Rinnegan's power too suddenly and overwhelmingly, resulting in many of his tactical applications and techniques being very direct, even clumsy. He relies more on the Rinnegan's various bizarre, powerful abilities and the Six Paths of Pain's immortality to achieve numerical superiority. It's a classic case of 'brute force over finesse'."
As he spoke, Menma seemed to remember something amusing and muttered under his breath, "Speaking of which, Nagato's best combat performance was actually later, when Kabuto controlled him with the Impure World Reincarnation... His own operational skill level, well-"
He shook his head, the unspoken words clear.
Although Hikari didn't fully understand terms like 'brute force over finesse' and 'operational skill level', she grasped Menma's meaning and couldn't help but smile.
Talking and laughing, they had already reached their doorstep.
Warm light spilled from the windows, and the enticing aroma of food wafted through the air.
Hikari suddenly stopped, a rare blush and nervousness appearing on her face. She tugged at Menma's sleeve and whispered, "Um… Menma, your mother is still at home... I, I should go back to my own place first-"
The thought of eating at the same table with Menma's mother, that seemingly gentle Kushina, made her feel flustered.
But Menma took her slightly cool hand in his, his grip gentle but firm.
He looked into her somewhat panicked eyes and smiled, "What are you afraid of? You'll be living together eventually anyway. Come on, it's perfect timing today. There's also a new family member to formally introduce to you."
"A new... family member?" Hikari blinked, her nervousness replaced by a flicker of curiosity. She let Menma lead her as he pushed the door open.
While changing shoes in the genkan, Menma, following the family etiquette he knew, naturally called out, "We're home!"
Hikari was momentarily stunned. Looking at Menma's profile, she imitated him, using a slightly stiff but earnestly clear tone, "We... we're home."
This feeling of someone waiting, of announcing one's return home, was both unfamiliar and made her heart feel slightly warm for someone who had been an orphan since childhood and later sealed away for centuries.
"Ara~ Just in time!" Kushina, wearing a green apron, popped her head out from the kitchen, her face lit with a warm smile, "Go wash up and get ready, food will be ready soon!"
"Okay, Mom / Kushina-san." The two responded.
While washing their hands in the bathroom, Hikari looked at her slightly flushed cheeks in the mirror and took a deep breath, trying to appear calmer.
When they entered the dining room, several delicious-looking dishes were already arranged on the table.
And seated at the table was a man with brilliant blond hair and a handsome face, reading a newspaper.
Hearing their footsteps, he put down the newspaper and looked up, revealing gentle gray eyes and a smile as comforting as a spring breeze.
"Welcome home," Minato said with a smile, his gaze soft as it settled on the two, lingering on Hikari for an extra moment.
Menma pulled the slightly stiff Hikari to sit opposite Minato, then introduced her, "Hikari, this is my father, Namikaze Minato."
Then he said to Minato, "Dad, this is Hikari."
Hikari looked at Minato's face, which bore some resemblance to Menma's but was more mature and gentle. Her heart pounded wildly.
Subconsciously, she gave a slight bow, her voice even changing pitch, "Hel-Hello... Dad?"
As soon as the word left her mouth, she realized what she had said. Instantly, her face turned bright red, and she wished she could find a hole to hide in.
Minato was momentarily taken aback, then understanding and deeper gentleness flashed in his eyes. He responded very naturally, "Hmm. Hikari, is it? I've heard Menma and Kushina mention you often. Thank you for always being by Menma's side. We, as parents, owe this child too much. We'll have to trouble you to take care of him in the future."
His tone was sincere and carried a paternal affection, skillfully dissolving Hikari's embarrassment.
Hikari quickly waved her hands, eagerly explaining, "N-No, it's not like that! I should be thanking Menma! He was the one who freed me from the long seal, gave me a new place to belong... I-I found a new meaning in life because of him!"
Her words were somewhat chaotic but filled with genuine emotion.
Just then, Kushina came over carrying a steaming pot of miso soup, carefully placing it in the center of the table. She then took off her apron and sat down next to Minato, saying with a smile, "Alright, alright, all the dishes are here. Everyone, let's eat! We're all family here, no need for such formality!"
The family of four, or rather, the family reunited in this peculiar way, all placed their hands together, following mealtime etiquette.
"Let's eat."
Dinner began in a slightly delicate but overall warm atmosphere.
Minato ate the home-cooked food Kushina had made, a taste he hadn't experienced in a long time. Although the Impure World Reincarnation had no sense of taste, the warmth filled his gray eyes with contentment and nostalgia.
As he ate, he casually asked Menma questions about the Land of Stars' development, including the Ninja Training System, the deployment plans for the new equipment, and what concerned him most.
"Menma," Minato put down his chopsticks, his expression becoming slightly more serious, "Your mother and I... ran into Orochimaru a few days ago."
Menma's hand, holding his chopsticks, paused briefly before resuming normally. He nodded, "Yes, I assumed so. His laboratory is rather conspicuous."
"You've taken in Orochimaru, and even Hiruko-" Minato chose his words carefully, his brow slightly furrowed, "I understand they possess extraordinary talent, but… their danger, and the crimes they committed in the past... Are you truly confident you can completely control them? Ensure their research won't spiral out of control again, won't harm the innocent?"
Menma also put down his chopsticks, looking directly at his father.
He knew this was his father's deepest concern, both as a parent and as a former Hokage.
"Father," Menma's voice was calm and confident, "The Land of Stars' development is already on track. The power and potential for development we possess far exceed your imagination. Even if the Five Great Nations formed an alliance and attacked immediately, we might not necessarily lose… at the very least, we could make them pay an unbearable price."
He shifted the topic back to Orochimaru, "As for Orochimaru and Hiruko… you're right, they are dangerous. But the question is, if I didn't take them in, would they stop their research?"
"They would only hide in darker corners, conducting their forbidden technique development in more extreme, unregulated ways. At that point, no one would truly be able to stop them, and no one would know what even more terrible things they might do for the sake of their experiments. The safety of civilians and ordinary Ninja would hold no value in their eyes."
"Now, they are under my watch, abiding by the bottom lines I've set. I can suppress them, guide them, and constrain their research directions and achievements as much as possible within controllable, even beneficial, boundaries. Many of their research directions, like biotechnology, Kekkei Genkai, the nature of Chakra, new energy sources..."
"Their foundations hold extremely high feasibility and value. The key lies in how they are used. I can guarantee that this power will ultimately be used for construction, medical purposes, and enhancing national strength, not for meaningless slaughter and destruction."
Menma took a kunai from Hikari's tool pouch, spinning it deftly on his fingertip, "It's like this kunai. It can be used to kill, or to hunt food, carve tools, even save lives in a crisis. The difference lies solely with the person using it. Should we kill all blacksmiths who can make kunai and ban all research and production of iron tools just because a kunai can kill?"
Minato listened quietly to his son's reasoning, complex lights flickering in his gray eyes.
He had to admit that Menma's perspective was more macroscopic and reflected a ruler's pragmatism.
He just couldn't completely eliminate his worry about those two individuals' inherent natures.
Finally, he let out a soft sigh and said, "There is sense in what you say. Perhaps my past identity and experiences make me overly cautious. I just hope... you can always maintain control of the situation and not let them cross the bottom line of humanity."
"I will, Dad. Please rest assured." Menma promised solemnly.
The latter half of the dinner resumed a lighter atmosphere.
Menma and Minato discussed more topics about the Land of Stars' governance and technological development, while Hikari and Kushina ate quietly, occasionally exchanging a few words in low tones.
Hikari watched the scene before her, listened to the gentle conversation around her, and felt the warm lighting and the steam from the food in the dining room.
The frozen, barren land in her heart that had lasted for centuries seemed to be infused with a warm current, quietly melting.
'Is this what family feels like?'
She lowered her head, hiding the slight moisture gathering in the corners of her eyes, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up into a faint, gentle curve.