"Lord Raikage, the strategy we previously set is no longer suitable."
Dodai's expression grew even more solemn. They had already formulated a strategic direction for the upcoming Ninja World War, and heavy sacrifices were inevitable.
But now, with the appearance of those firearms, they had a far better option.
"Indeed—it's no longer suitable."
The Third Raikage understood this clearly. The plan had to change.
"Moreover, the usage requirements for those firearms are extremely low. Anyone who can slightly refine chakra can use them. With sufficient resources and manpower, they can also be mass-produced.
"I'm afraid the daimyō's estate will start having… ideas."
Dodai stopped there. This was not something he could decide on his own—it required the Raikage's judgment.
The Third Raikage's expression grew increasingly grave as he pondered the pros and cons. Only after quite some time did he speak.
"Back then, Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara founded Konoha through absolute strength, opening the era of ninja villages.
"Our Land of Lightning daimyō was also forced into supporting the establishment of Kumogakure. Toward ninja villages, what he feels is more fear than trust…"
As he recounted events of the past, the Third Raikage's expression turned complicated.
He had lived through the Warring States Period and personally witnessed the dawn of the ninja village era. He also understood all too well the many issues between ninja villages and the daimyō estates.
To be honest, he could never understand why the First Hokage had established such an awkward system—one that left both the daimyō estates and the ninja villages in an uncomfortable and mutually suspicious relationship.
Back then, both the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara possessed godlike power. The First Hokage was even revered as the God of Shinobi. With the two of them working together, they could have swept across the entire world and unified the ninja lands, erasing war entirely.
It was only after the First Hokage's death that the four great ninja villages dared to initiate the Ninja World Wars. And the outbreak of those wars itself proved the flaws of the ninja village system.
Now, the Second Ninja World War was already showing signs of ignition—and there would certainly be more wars in the future.
With conflicts never ceasing, the pain brought by these wars was, in some ways, even greater than that of the Warring States Period. Moreover, the scale of warfare kept expanding.
Although the contradictions between the ninja villages themselves played a role, the daimyō estates' secret provocations and manipulations were also impossible to ignore.
If given the chance, that daimyō and those nobles would gladly see the ninja and the ninja villages vanish entirely.
The Third Raikage was keenly aware of this. In the past, the daimyō estate had tightly restricted financial allocations to the village precisely because they didn't want the ninja villages to grow too strong.
Both sides were locked in an awkward balance, wary of one another.
The ninja village system had already taken shape and reached a point of mutual checks and balances—they were powerless to change it.
But now, they had seen an opportunity.
An opportunity they could not afford to miss.
"If only one of the daimyō estate or the village can exist, then this old man naturally hopes the village will be the sole jade that remains."
By the end of his words, the Third Raikage's expression was resolute and unyielding.
He was the Raikage of Kumogakure. He stood on the side of the village—this was his most fundamental stance, one that would never change.
Dodai was not surprised by the Third Raikage's decision in the slightest. This was exactly the kind of man he knew the Third Raikage to be.
"Then the development of those firearms must be kept even more secret. Keeping it within the village definitely won't do. We'll probably need to move it to Turtle Island.
"As for personnel, they must be absolutely trustworthy—better to have too few than too many."
Dodai began discussing secrecy measures for firearm research, suggesting that it be relocated to Turtle Island.
Turtle Island was formed from an enormous sea turtle, capable of freely moving across the ocean and even submerging underwater. It was extremely well hidden and perfectly suited for this kind of top-secret research.
"Leave this to you."
The Third Raikage approved the proposal. This matter indeed required absolute secrecy—there could be no leaks whatsoever.
"Also, realizing the ideas he proposed won't be easy. It will inevitably require comprehensive support from sealing techniques."
Dodai continued discussing the development of firearms. With Kumogakure's existing foundation alone, it wouldn't be enough—especially since they lacked expertise in this field.
"Then we'll increase our investment in the Uzushio plan. I'll personally lead the team there."
The Third Raikage nodded deeply. He understood that Dodai was referring to the Uzumaki Clan of the Land of Whirlpools.
They had already planned to attack the Land of Whirlpools—their objective being to obtain high-level sealing techniques to complete the Jinchūriki project.
The end of the First Ninja World War had been marked by the First Hokage's wife, who had demonstrated destructive power on par with the First Hokage himself while acting as a Jinchūriki.
After witnessing the strength of a tailed-beast Jinchūriki, all the great ninja villages had been tempted.
Although they had purchased tailed beasts from Konoha during the First Five Kage Summit, the beasts themselves were impossible to tame, let alone use effectively.
On the contrary, they tied down a massive amount of manpower just to keep them under watch. If a tailed beast went berserk, it would cause catastrophic losses.
This problem had plagued them for a long time—until the First Hokage's wife showed them a path.
So that was how tailed beasts could be used.
However, sealing a tailed beast for long periods in a stable manner was no easy task. It required top-tier sealing techniques, and throughout the ninja world, only the Uzumaki Clan possessed the strongest sealing arts.
The First Hokage's wife was a member—and the strongest member—of the Uzumaki Clan. She had even been able to control and utilize the Nine-Tails, the strongest of all tailed beasts. This alone demonstrated the terrifying power of Uzumaki sealing techniques.
"According to our intelligence, Konoha's Third Hokage has already sent envoys three times to invite the Uzumaki Clan to join Konoha.
"The First Hokage's wife is already advanced in age. Suppressing the Nine-Tails must be extremely difficult for her now. His patience should be close to its limit."
Dodai revealed a piece of intelligence, providing a new angle for their plans against the Land of Whirlpools.
The Third Raikage said nothing, waiting for Dodai to continue.
Dodai didn't keep him in suspense.
"Sealing techniques are difficult to learn and even harder to apply. Most of the high-level Uzumaki sealing techniques were developed based on their own unique traits—especially their terrifying chakra consumption.
"If we want to truly make use of sealing techniques, we need the Uzumaki Clan themselves. And to obtain the Uzumaki Clan, we must find an opportunity to sever their ties with Konoha.
"This matter may be handled by taking advantage of the Raikage's disciple's special identity, making Konoha cooperate with us."
Originally, their goal had merely been to obtain a perfect sealing technique for the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails. But now, with greater needs and ambitions, the scope of their objective naturally had to expand.
"Leave it to you."
The Third Raikage understood and entrusted the matter to Dodai.
Though Dodai was young, he was exceptionally sharp in matters of strategy and had long been the Raikage's trusted confidant—making him the ideal person to handle such affairs.
"Do you think these firearm concepts have any connection to Shimura Danzō or Konoha?"
The Third Raikage suddenly asked.
Some things had to be guarded against. If this were all a Konoha plot—and if Konoha already possessed large quantities of firearms that were even more advanced—then the coming war would be an absolute disaster for Kumogakure.
"The probability is low. Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō wouldn't have that kind of decisiveness.
"Besides, we can confirm things simply by monitoring the flow of steel across various regions."
Dodai shook his head slightly. He had studied intelligence reports on Konoha's upper echelons. Aside from Shimura Danzō's relatively radical ideology, the others were all conservative by nature.
Moreover, Konoha itself was far from peaceful internally.
"Then Kumogakure has truly picked up a priceless treasure!"
The Third Raikage burst into laughter once more—loud, unrestrained laughter.
Shimura Danzō really was a good man.