The Hidden Mist Blacksmith, forging the glory of the Ninja Sword Style!

Shinnosuke Tanaka assisted from the side.

Uehara Shu selected from the list provided by the Third Mizukage last time.

They ruled out the blacksmith who had the best forging skills in the previous interview, but who hadn't satisfied Uehara Osamu.

When the blacksmiths received the invitation, they were all excited.

Different from last time.

The blacksmiths from last time were somewhat surprised and suspicious of the situation in the blacksmithing department.

But now, it's completely gone.

The forging department has expanded and has become a formal, powerful department, a fact that many people already know.

And many people know that the Zanpakuto was forged by the current head of the forging department.

Given the current situation where Zanpakuto overpowers the Seven Ninja Swords of Hozuki, the situation for Zanpakuto will only get better in the future. Moreover, the scalpel business has also provided a platform for ordinary blacksmiths.

It can be said that the forging department has a bright future.

It's completely different from before.

How many people left Forging Island in the past because they couldn't see a future there?

So now, how many people want to join the Forging Department because they see its future potential?

Those who stayed on Forging Island not because of a lack of talent, but because of the Third Mizukage's order to abolish Forging Island, only left after hearing the order. Now they want to return.

They would be willing to accept even if they weren't given official positions as blacksmiths.

However, this is not what Uehara Osamu wanted to see.

What Uehara Osamu needs are outstanding talents who can help the forging department, improve in the environment of the forging island, and grow together with the forging department.

Instead of worms swarming to suck blood because they see the benefits.

Even if those insects don't need much, they can still make a big splash.

However, Uehara didn't like it.

I don't want this to make the entire forging island a mess.

"From this perspective, the Third Mizukage's decision to abolish the forging island can be considered a favor to me."

"If Forging Island hadn't been shut down and those people hadn't left, the situation on Forging Island would be much more complicated now."

While Uehara Osamu could certainly suppress it with forceful means.

But this adds another layer of trouble.

Unlike now, those people have no right to make demands; they can only beg to come in.

"Minister Uehara."

Arafune II arrived in front of Uehara Shu.

"Ok?"

"The assessment venue and materials have all been arranged, and the ten blacksmiths who received the notification have arrived on the island. Now we are just waiting for Minister Uehara to arrive."

Uehara Osamu nodded and stopped what he was doing.

"Okay, let's go there now."

Similar to the last assessment.

The forging department provides the materials, and invited forges carry out forging under specified conditions.

After that, they would catch sea fish to use as targets for chopping.

The score is determined by the effect of the fish being chopped open.

However, last time, it was just a spur-of-the-moment idea from Uehara Osamu.

This time, however, it has been greatly improved.

The first thing to note is that this assessment now has an official name.

"Sword Forging Competition!"

A separate, empty forging room was converted into a meeting room.

Ten figures stood in the center.

Some members of the forging department's guards stood around.

Uehara Osamu entered through the side passage.

The two abandoned boats lagged behind by half a step.

The moment Uehara Shu appeared, all ten blacksmiths turned their gazes toward him.

"This is the blacksmith who forged the Zanpakuto."

"He is indeed as young as I've heard."

"awesome!"

Some blacksmiths had mixed feelings, feeling that they were too old to have lived a life of scrap metal.

However, most blacksmiths were well aware of the gap between themselves and Uehara Osamu.

There was no room for jealousy, only admiration and awe.

The same applies to interactions between people.

I'm afraid my companions are suffering, but I'm also afraid they're driving Land Rovers.

If two people who know each other are ahead by one or two times, the other person is likely to become jealous.

Some people can adjust their mindset or use moral suppression to dispel these negative emotions.

Some people, however, cannot control themselves, and at this point, the relationship between the two will deteriorate.

However, if one person is leading by tens or hundreds of times, the situation is different. The remaining person is unlikely to feel jealous and can only look up to them.

Because the gap is too big.

That's how these blacksmiths feel when they look at Shang Yuanxiu.

One powerful ninja sword after another, like the Zanpakuto.

So far, there are already 5 that are publicly known and have appeared in public.

Kiriichimonji, Blue Rose Sword, Lightning Blade, Water Dragon Possession, Dragon Bone.

Not many people know about Skull Emperor, Nautilus, and Laughing Aoe.

Even fewer people know about the God's Hand and the Peach Master's Garden Box.

While looking at the blacksmiths below, Uehara Shu glanced at the semi-transparent screen in front of him. The number in the reputation bar was increasing little by little. The number wasn't very large, but it was consistent.

"Everyone, I'm very glad you accepted the invitation to come."

"Let me introduce myself first. My name is Osamu Uehara, and I currently serve as the head of the forging department."

This assessment consists of two parts.

Before he knew it, Uehara Osamu found himself saying a lot of things he hadn't prepared for.

The main reason is that seeing the increase in reputation makes it hard to grasp the opportunity.

Without realizing it, I exceeded my usual performance.

It wasn't until his reputation began to grow slowly that Uehara Osamu realized he had stopped.

"Welcome again, everyone! I now declare the sword-forging competition officially open!"

Shinnosuke Tanaka, who was standing next to him, led the applause.

Unlike the second shipwreck.

Arafune is a pure blacksmith. He doesn't really understand interpersonal relationships, but he has talent and is serious about his work. Therefore, Uehara Shu felt that Arafune could be given important responsibilities and was trustworthy.

As for Tanaka Shinnosuke, he was older and therefore more knowledgeable about human relationships.

Uehara Osamu raised an eyebrow.

Because Uehara Osamu saw that this wave of applause caused the reputation bar, which had already stopped, to jump up a few more numbers.

Uehara Shu reached out and pressed down.

He then gestured to Arasenjiro.

Huangchuan Er arrived in front of the ten candidates awaiting assessment.

"I am Arasenji, a formal blacksmith in the forging department. I will be in charge of the first assessment. I hope everyone can listen carefully to the rules I announce and do their best."

Huangchuan Er led the candidates into the forging area.

When Uehara looked over, he felt that the scene in front of him was very familiar.

"It's like the Chunin Exams."

"Especially the third round of the Chunin Exams."

The only Chunin Exams that Uehara Osamu could recall was the one that Naruto Uzumaki participated in.

The first part was a written test.

The second match is in the Forest of Death.

The third match was supposed to be the final, but because there were too many remaining players, a preliminary round was held instead.

The final became the fourth match.

Some people refer to the third game as the second half of the second game.

Uehara Shu felt as if he were Hiruzen Sarutobi back then.

Aragami II is like Gekko Gale from that era.

"Shinnosuke."

"Your Excellency, Minister."

"Keep an eye on things here for Huangchuan Er. This round mainly tests forging skills, but if anyone's character doesn't meet our forging department's requirements, then you should also make a note of it."