The towering peaks rise into the clouds, hidden within mist and fog. From afar, one can only see their vast pitch‑black outlines, enough to inspire dread at a glance.
Unlike the Ninja Villages of the other major nations, which are either built on gentle sand dunes, open plains, or flat coastal land, the Hidden Cloud Village of the Land of Lightning is a Ninja Village established amid a maze of mountains and ravines.
Within the village, the majority are battle‑oriented Ninjas. The people are fierce and rugged, valuing pragmatic action and raw strength.
It is also the Ninja Village among the Five Great Nations that is most obsessive in its pursuit of military power.
On a training ground atop one of the peaks, the Fourth Raikage and his personal secretary, Jonin Mafui, appeared. Accompanying them were Guard Jonin Darui, and Jonin C, who was proficient in Illusion Techniques, Medical Ninjutsu, and Perception Ninjutsu; they had all gathered here.
The fact that these two had previously escorted the Fourth Raikage to the Land of Iron to attend the Five Kage Summit was enough to prove their strength and potential, winning them high recognition from the Raikage.
"So this is the Shuriken Shooter developed by the Land of Demons military? At a glance, it doesn't look any different from the weapons used by the Land of the Sky back then."
The Fourth Raikage looked at the Shuriken Shooter in his right hand—this was the weapon developed by the Land of Demons military—while in his left hand he held a slightly worn Shuriken Shooter, a piece of Ninja Tools once used by the Land of the Sky.
During the Second Great Ninja War, Hidden Cloud also participated in the campaign to wipe out the Land of the Sky, and likewise seized a large number of Ninja Tools belonging to that country.
"There are actually still differences. The Shuriken Shooter developed by the Land of Demons is not only lightweight and durable, but when firing it will automatically coat the kunai with Attribute Chakra, boosting their speed and penetration. Its design for rapid fire is also superior to the Shuriken Shooter of the old Land of the Sky."
Standing to the side, Mafui offered a fair assessment.
"You're not wrong. Leaving the Jonin aside for the moment, if every Genin and Chunin were equipped with a weapon like this, then the tactics they use in routine combat would become far more diverse."
As he spoke, the Fourth Raikage picked up the Shuriken Shooter in his left hand, the one developed by the Land of the Sky, and pulled the trigger. A kunai shot out of the barrel at high speed, flying toward a distant target board.
Swish!
The kunai, unsurprisingly, stabbed into the target board and stuck there, trembling slightly.
The Fourth Raikage said nothing. He then lowered his left hand and raised the Shuriken Shooter in his right, the one developed by the Land of Demons military. Just as before, he pulled the trigger. With a sharp whoosh, the kunai from the barrel fired at even greater speed.
It did not merely stab into the target board, but punched straight through the wooden board and buried itself in the wall behind, biting hard into the masonry and leaving a stark, shocking scar around the point of impact.
The difference in power between the old and new Shuriken Shooters was instantly obvious.
"What a terrifying weapon. If a Genin got their hands on it, they'd immediately gain strong combat capability, wouldn't they?"
Guard Jonin C, who served as one of the Raikage's bodyguards, exclaimed in awe at the sight.
This level of power from a kunai was not, in itself, anything surprising to him.
By coating a kunai with Chakra, he could achieve similar, even superior, results.
But if a weapon like this were widely issued to Genin, then the casualty rate of Genin in battle would drop dramatically.
It would change the tactical patterns of the mid‑tier ranks of Ninjas.
Guard Jonin Darui, who shared Raikage bodyguard duty with C, simply rested his hands behind his head, let out a whistle, and likewise expressed his surprise.
Such an unimpressive little thing, yet the penetration of the kunai it fires is this high—if one is careless, even a Jonin could get caught off guard.
"Exactly. That's where the value of this Ninja Tools lies. It appears the Land of Demons military, like us, is pursuing powerful military strength."
Mafui nodded.
Judging from the fact that the Land of Demons military is widely distributing such Ninja Tools, they have already completed a reform of their Ninja Tools ahead of time, with nearly every military Ninja carrying one. One can easily imagine the Land of Demons military's hunger for military development.
There are many similarities with the path the Hidden Cloud Village intends to take.
The Fourth Raikage did not comment. Instead, he tossed the Shuriken Shooter in his right hand, sending it spinning toward Darui.
"Boss?"
Darui caught the Shuriken Shooter and looked suspiciously at the Fourth Raikage.
"Darui, use this gun to attack me. I want to see just how strong its penetration really is."
The Fourth Raikage walked off to a distance, making himself the target.
"What a hassle…"
Scratching his head, Darui didn't argue the point. He gripped the Shuriken Shooter and, without hesitation, aimed its muzzle at the Fourth Raikage.
Even though the weapon's penetration was powerful, Darui did not for a moment believe that such a toy could pose any real threat to the Raikage.
Even without using his Lighting Armor, the Raikage's body was as hard as steel; an ordinary kunai couldn't even pierce his skin.
"All right, I'm firing now."
With that, Darui squeezed the trigger, launching a kunai imbued with Wind Attribute Chakra.
The sharp kunai tore through the air and struck the right side of the Fourth Raikage's chest.
The result was as though it had hit a block of iron—there was a pitiful clang, and the kunai bounced away.
"Ah, I figured as much."
Darui clicked his tongue, unsurprised by the outcome.
The Fourth Raikage glanced down at the right side of his chest. It wasn't entirely unscathed; there was a very fine cut there. If one didn't look closely, it would be hard to notice.
"To actually leave a mark on my body… not bad power."