Over the next half month, the figures of Minato and Kushina traversed almost every part of the Land of Stars's territory.
In their Impure World Reincarnated bodies, relying on their superhuman mobility, they meticulously observed this nation built by their son.
What they saw repeatedly impacted their ingrained perceptions.
In the Land of Stars's original Land of Bears and Demons County, the cities were unimaginably prosperous.
The streets were wide and clean, shops lined the roads, and crowds flowed like tides.
Chakra-powered public lighting systems, convenient Raiden transport networks, and gradually popularized civilian Chakra devices all showcased the close integration of technology and daily life.
Most people wore expressions of busy fulfillment, rarely showing the numbness and fear common in the Ninja World.
They ventured deep into the Land of Stars's rural heartlands.
On vast plains, immense stretches of farmland were neatly planned.
Many strange-looking steel farming machines they had never seen before roared as they worked, plowing, sowing, fertilizing, irrigating, their efficiency astonishing even the well-traveled former Hokage.
Only a few technicians were there to teach local farmers how to operate or maintain these machines. The farmers' faces were filled with anticipation for a bountiful harvest.
Even in remote mountain villages, they saw active Land of Stars' grassroots officials.
These young officials, with passion and professional knowledge, promoted new farming techniques to the villagers, distributed carefully cultivated high-yield, drought-resistant crop seeds suited for mountainous terrain, and patiently explained the Land of Stars' agricultural policies.
The villagers gradually shifted from initial wait-and-see and doubt to acceptance and gratitude.
They followed the Yuu River upstream.
In the Darkness County, they saw an awe-inspiring sight.
Vast tracts of former flood-prone, muddy marshland had been transformed beyond recognition by massive Earth Release Ninjutsu combined with manual labor.
Sturdy embankments snaked like giant dragons. Meticulously dug irrigation channels diverted river water in all directions. Former swamps and wastelands had become thousands of hectares of fertile fields.
Countless farmers and organized construction teams bustled in the fields, the joy of spring planting permeating the air.
Large-scale water conservancy facilities were under construction, clearly for long-term water resource allocation and disaster prevention.
In the Swamps County, they witnessed a public trial of former Land of Swamps' great nobles.
On a high platform, the former nobles knelt, faces pale, listening as countless commoners below accused them of their crimes, their voices choked with tears.
Land seizure, exorbitant taxes, grain price manipulation, human trafficking, treating human life as worthless... the evidence was conclusive, each charge more heinous than the last.
Finally, these deeply sinful nobles were sentenced on the spot, receiving their due punishment.
But Minato also noticed that not all nobles were purged.
Some lesser offenders, or those who had performed good deeds in certain aspects, were stripped of their noble titles and illegally acquired land and property but were allowed to continue living as ordinary civilians.
Some found new positions within the Land of Stars' administrative or commercial systems based on their knowledge and abilities… others chose to become ordinary farmers, self-reliant.
This differentiated treatment showed the Land of Stars wasn't solely about slaughter, but was attempting to establish a new order based on law and merit.
They traveled north into the cold Snow County, the former Land of Snow.
The changes here were equally dramatic.
A brand-new railway, like a steel artery, pierced through the continuous snow-capped mountains, tightly connecting the warmer provinces with this harsh, cold land.
Via the Raiden, vast quantities of daily necessities, like grain, vegetables, cloth, medicine, were continuously transported into the Snow County, greatly improving the lives of the local people.
Simultaneously, the Snow County's abundant mineral resources and unique northern fishery products were efficiently transported out, converted into wealth supporting the nation's development.
Towns once desolate due to cold and poverty were now gradually bustling with trade and resource development.
Many Land of Snows' commoners ate fresh vegetables from the south for the first time in winter… children's faces also gained a rosy hue.
After half a month of investigation, an iron-clad fact gradually became clear in Minato and Kushina's hearts.
On this land, stripped of its traditional noble and Daimyo classes, while the privileges of a few were stripped away, the lives of the vast majority of commoners had genuinely, tangibly improved!
Ninja and Chakra were no longer synonymous solely with slaughter… they also facilitated the liberation of productive forces and technological advancement. The Land of Stars's society was developing at an unprecedented speed.
This subversive reality collided violently with the education they had received since childhood, their understanding of the [One Country, One Village] System, and their belief in maintaining balance to achieve peace.
Minato fell into prolonged silence and deep thought.
When they concluded their inspection and returned to the Star City, walking along the quiet, special street leading to Menma's residence, Minato noticed that many of the mansions on this street displayed different clan's crests.
"These are...?" Minato asked curiously.
Kushina followed his gaze and explained with a smile, "These are all the Ninja Clans Menma has taken in and protected. Some are on the verge of extinction, like our Uzumaki Clan. Others, like the Kaguya Clan, were nearly wiped out by their original villages for rebellion, with only orphans remaining. Menma gave them new homes and sanctuary."
She pointed at the various crests nearby, "Look, that's the Uzumaki Clan's. Over there are the Yuki, Kaguya, and even the very mysterious Otsutsuki Clan-"
"Oh, and over there, that's the above-ground settlement of the Iburi Clan. Because of their unique Kekkei Genkai, some of their unstable members live in the underground settlement."
"The Uzumaki Clan?" Surprise and delight flashed in Minato's gray eyes, "There are survivors besides you?"
He had always thought the Uzumaki Clan had been completely wiped out in the wars.
"Of course," Kushina's face showed a warm smile as she pointed to a mansion next to theirs bearing the Uzumaki Clan's crest, "Menma rescued a mother and daughter from Kusagakure earlier. The mother is Uzumaki Kanon, the daughter is Uzumaki Karin. They live next to us now. Kanon works in the Administration Department, and Karin goes to school… she's a very lively child."
Mentioning her clansmen made Kushina's tone noticeably brighter.
Minato felt a surge of emotion, 'Menma hadn't just built a nation… he was also quietly saving and gathering these scattered bloodlines.'
…
Meanwhile, in a highly secured underground testing ground within the Star City's military research zone.
Menma stood with his hands behind his back, watching the testing area ahead. Hikari stood beside him, arms crossed, her scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan calmly scanning the entire area.
Behind them stood several others: the calm and capable Kanon, Natsuhi and her husband Hotarubi in their standard Star Ninja's flak jackets, the fierce-looking Kisame with his shark-like face, and Gotta, along with several other Star Jonin.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on several Anbu in special uniforms at the center of the area, and the eye-catching equipment they wore… Chakra Armor.
The armor was deep blue overall, with sleek, tech-inspired lines. Key areas like the chest, shoulders, elbows, and knees were reinforced with protective plates, balancing flexibility and defense.
Completely different from the somewhat bulky Chakra Armor of the Land of Snow, these improved models from the Land of Stars appeared much lighter and more modern.
One of Menma's shadow clones, designated 019, was acting as commentator, his voice amplified clearly through headsets, "What you see now is our Research Department's latest achievement… the Chakra Powered Exoskeleton, Initial Test Model."
"It's made from special alloy and composite fiber materials, lightweight with excellent protective performance. Its power core is a high-energy-density Chakra Storage Battery, which can be pre-charged by Ninja. Both endurance and output power have been optimized."
The shadow clone gestured for an Anbu's member to demonstrate, "Additionally, we've adopted a modular design. For example, this can be added-" He pointed to a pair of foldable, wing-like metal structures mounted on an Anbu member's back, "-The [Swallow]-type back module, providing short-range low-altitude flight and gliding capabilities."
He then pointed to a device resembling a ballista mounted on another Anbu's member's arm, "And this, the [Honeycomb]-type ninja tool launch module, capable of rapidly firing improved senbon, shuriken, even micro-explosive tags."
"As for the Land of Snow's repeating crossbows…" The shadow clone shook his head, "Their power is acceptable, but their firing rate and accuracy are less effective against high-speed moving Ninja. They're more suited for dealing with clusters of ordinary soldiers."
Next, live combat simulation tests were conducted.
Hikari personally took to the field as the mock enemy, engaging in several rounds of combat against Anbu elites wearing the Basic Type-1, Enhanced Type-2, and Special Forces Type-3 Chakra Armor respectively.
The results were impressive.
The armored Anbu's member showed significant enhancement in speed, strength, defense, and ninja tool usage.
Especially the Type-3 armor, which even allowed an excellent Chunin to briefly burst with combat power approaching that of a Special Jonin, holding their own against Hikari for ten exchanges before being defeated.
Even though Hikari here wasn't going all out, primarily testing, it was enough to prove the power of these Chakra Powered Exoskeletons.
After the test, Hikari returned to Menma's side, giving a slight nod and an objective evaluation, "Good equipment. If mass-deployed, it could indeed greatly enhance the overall strength and combat floor of the Star Ninja Army. However..."
She changed her tone, her scarlet Sharingan sweeping over the testers who looked somewhat fatigued after removing the heavy armor, "Over-reliance on external objects is not the way of the Ninja. Once the energy is depleted, or the armor is damaged in complex battlefield conditions, can these Ninjas, who are accustomed to the armor's enhancements, survive on the ever-changing, brutal battlefield? Will their personal strength stagnate or even decline under long-term dependence?"
Her concerns were valid, representing the traditional Ninja's instinctive wariness towards such 'scientific ninja tools'.
However, Menma, as a transmigrator, held a completely different perspective.
In his eyes, this wasn't merely an 'external object', but the inevitable trend of productive and combat power development, just like firearms replacing blades and tanks replacing cavalry in his previous world.
The key was how to correctly use and continuously improve it, while simultaneously conducting supporting basic training and tactical innovation for personnel.
"Hikari, your concerns are reasonable," Menma spoke, his voice transmitted through his mask, "Any new equipment has its pros and cons. What we need to do is not refrain from eating for fear of choking, but establish strict operational doctrines, strengthen basic training, ensuring soldiers remain competent warriors even without their armor."
"Simultaneously, we must continuously improve the technology, enhancing the armor's reliability and energy endurance. The form of future warfare will inevitably change because of this."
He turned to his shadow clone and asked the most critical question, "What is the current production capacity?"
Shadow clone 019 immediately replied, "Currently, three models are finalized and can be produced in small batches. The Type-1 Chakra Armor, when worn by a rigorously trained ordinary person, can grant stable Genin-level combat power."
"The Type-2 can allow a Genin to exert Chunin-level combat power. The Type-3 can allow a Chunin to briefly reach Special Jonin-level combat power."
"But beyond that, the requirements for individual base quality and armor materials/energy increase exponentially. Current technology finds it difficult to breakthrough."
The shadow clone paused, reporting a more practical issue, "Moreover, the production capacity for these three models varies greatly. With current production lines and technician proficiency, the Type-1 Chakra Armor's estimated monthly output is around one hundred units. The Type-2, with more complex craftsmanship, has a monthly output of roughly twenty units. As for the Type-3, since it involved more precise cores and materials, maximum monthly output is probably only three units."
"Moving from lab finalization to mass production requires time and process," The shadow clone summarized.
"Based on the current expansion plan, it is estimated that in one year, the annual output of Type-1 could equip at least twelve hundred 'Genin' trained from ordinary people. The Type-2 could equip around two hundred and forty Chunin. The Type-3 could equip roughly thirty-six Special Jonin-level elites. This will greatly alleviate our issues of insufficient manpower and the long training cycle for high-tier combatants."
Menma listened quietly, already calculating in his mind how to deploy these new forces into his future strategic layout.
The path to unifying the Ninja World was destined to be filled with blood and fire.
While he and Hikari could overpower the various Ninja Villages, they couldn't handle everything themselves.
Therefore, besides high-tier combatants, technologically armed mass-produced armies would become a sharp blade in his hand to shatter the old structure.