Root's underground base.
An encrypted scroll was delivered to Zero through a dedicated line.
Opening the scroll, there was only a list of various rare and expensive materials, exuding a cold aura of "I am very expensive, you cannot afford me" between the lines.
"High-strength Chakra-conducting alloy, fifteen kilograms."
"Miniature power gear sets, forty sets, requiring meshing precision error below one ten-thousandth."
"Diamond abrasive powder, five hundred grams."
"..."
Zero's mouth twitched. This new master was truly impolite; if this list were to be submitted directly, Danzo would probably think he was trying to abscond with funds.
He took a deep breath, pulled out a new scroll, and began his "artistic processing."
Half an hour later, a brand new report was placed on Danzo's stone table.
Title: "Feasibility Report on the New Anti-Defense Weapon — 'Root's Fang' Project — for High-Threat Rogue Ninja (such as Orochimaru) and Potential Jinchuriki Rampage."
In the report, Zero, with an impassioned and loyal tone, packaged Naruto's material list into a grand project aimed at enhancing Root's deterrence and solidifying Lord Danzo's absolute authority.
"...Orochimaru excels in forbidden jutsu, and his subordinates have undergone physical modification, making ordinary Ninja tools ineffective. This 'Root's Fang' aims to tear through all defenses with pure physical power, not only destroying the enemy's body but also completely shattering their will to resist mentally, making them understand that any struggle is futile in the face of the absolute order established by Lord Danzo..."
Danzo, of course, could see the strong flattery within; Zero's recent "ambition" was practically overflowing from the paper. But this flattery... it was indeed comfortable.
A tool that craves power and wants to prove itself is the most useful tool.
"Who proposed this project?" Danzo asked, knowing the answer.
"It was... it was 'White Crow'," Zero immediately replied, "He believes there are uncontrollable high-threat targets in the Chunin Exams and that a weapon beyond conventional Ninja tools is needed to ensure foolproof safety. This subordinate believes this idea is highly forward-looking and can be expanded into an armed upgrade plan for the entire 'Root,' so I compiled it into a document and reported it to you!"
See, first give credit to the newcomer, then elevate it to the organizational level, and finally offer up the decision-making power and ultimate honor.
Perfect.
"Approved." Danzo tapped the armrest, "Materials will be drawn from the special warehouse. I hope to see the finished product as soon as possible."
"Yes! Everything for Lord Danzo's order!" Zero respectfully withdrew... That night, in a basement rented by Naruto.
He had transformed it into a temporary workshop, with rows of materials and tools "legitimately acquired" from Root's warehouse neatly arranged on shelves, emitting a cold metallic luster.
Naruto did not light a lamp; he simply used the Gekko to begin his "forging."
There was no blacksmith's furnace with sparks flying, no deafening hammering sounds.
The room only had the faint clinking sounds of metal parts being precisely picked up and put down, and the gratingly precise meshing sound as tiny gears were individually fitted into their grooves.
His fingers were as steady as an industrial robotic arm, cutting and grinding pieces of Chakra alloy according to the blueprint data. Then, using a specialized carving knife, he etched invisible runes, full of iron-bloodedness and order, onto each core component.
This was not manufacturing a weapon; it was more like performing a sacred ritual.
As the last gear was installed, he connected a Chakra conduit to the core miniature power unit.
Buzz—
A faint hum, as if from another universe, sounded, and the ferocious weapon in his hand vibrated slightly, its fanged chain slowly rotating, seemingly craving something.
The Chainsword was complete.
On the day of the Chunin Exams registration, the Ninja Academy corridor was packed with Genin from various villages.
Team 7's three members walked among them, their aura seeming a bit out of place.
Sasuke walked with his hands in his pockets, his handsome face even more sullen than usual; with every step, he felt his entire body's muscles protesting, and he gritted his teeth, glancing at Naruto beside him.
Every time his muscles twitched in pain, it reminded him of how difficult these days had been; the training content was rigorous, but the mental pressure was even more abnormal.
"You want revenge like this?"
"Itachi would sleep very soundly seeing you so weak."
"Forget it, for you, perhaps letting go of hatred is also a release."
That's enough.
Sakura followed behind, her walking posture a bit stiff, as if taming her own limbs.
"You, you are Uchiha Sasuke, right!"
A loud voice came, and a young man in a green jumpsuit with thick eyebrows blocked their path.
Rock Lee, at this moment, pointed his fist, burning with the flame of youth, directly at Sasuke.
"I heard you are this year's strongest rookie, so, before the exam, please fight me!"
Sasuke was already seething with anger from being repeatedly crushed by Naruto, and seeing a punching bag voluntarily delivered, he hardly hesitated.
"Hmph, you don't know your place." He was about to take a step forward.
"Denied."
Naruto calmly stepped between the two.
"Your muscle fibers are not yet fully repaired, and your core muscle groups are still in a state of fatigue. Engaging in unnecessary combat is a waste of resources and carries the risk of secondary injury."
Sasuke: "..."
He wanted to retort, but every word Naruto said was true, and more importantly, the authority Naruto had established over these days made him habitually not retort. In the end, he just grumbled "Tch" unhappily and took half a step back.
This scene collectively petrified the Might Guy's team opposite.
That arrogant Uchiha Sasuke, actually... actually obeyed that Loser? Was there something wrong with this world?
"Why did you stop him!" Lee questioned Naruto, puzzled, "A true man never fears any challenge!"
"Challenges need value assessment." Naruto did not move, he just scanned Lee up and down with his emotionless blue eyes; he had researched Lee's information before the exam.
A few seconds later, he gave his conclusion.
"An excellent Taijutsu-specialized unit. Advantages include strong burst power and high attack frequency. Disadvantages are equally obvious: single energy output mode, weak joint protection, and a clear short-coming in stamina. Your attack path is too straightforward and prone to injury, but your will allows you to ignore the effects of pain."
"Overall assessment: a respectable warrior, but easily countered."
"..."
The corridor was dead silent.
The hot-blooded Lee, along with the equally hot-blooded Might Guy behind him, were stunned.
Was that really Naruto speaking just now?
Passing through the dumbfounded Might Guy's team, Team 7 continued towards the exam classroom.
At the classroom door, there was another congestion.
"Move, don't block the way."
A Sunagakure Ninja with purple face paint and a huge scroll on his back was impatiently pushing the candidates in front of him.
Kankuro.
His movement happened to bump into Sasuke's shoulder.
"Hey, you, do you want to fight?" Sasuke, already in a bad mood, immediately flared up.
"Oh? Are Konoha's Genin all so arrogant?" Kankuro sneered, his hand already reaching for the puppet "Crow" on his back.
The atmosphere was tense.
However, Naruto walked past the two as if he hadn't seen the conflict.
His steps stopped.
He didn't look at Kankuro, nor did he look at Sasuke.
His gaze pierced through the crowded people, firmly locking onto a red-haired boy holding a gourd in the corner.
In that instant, Naruto's world changed.
In his perception, everything around him faded in color, becoming grayscale. Only the boy named Gaara emitted a thick, nauseating aura of filth that was impossible to dissipate.
That was not Chakra.
It was a chaotic, violent energy field full of pure malice, like a sub-space rift constantly leaking madness and hatred.
What was trapped inside the boy, in Naruto's view, was not just a Tailed Beast.
It was a hungry, twisted demonic entity from the depths of chaos.
Naruto's face visibly darkened.
He clenched his fists, an instinctive reaction etched into his soul as a Political Commissar.
"Level one sub-space contamination source."
He muttered in a low voice, every word seeming to be squeezed through his teeth.
"Must be purified."..
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