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

"In addition, I would like to take this opportunity to announce the compensation measures that the Forging Department will take for the guards who were injured or killed in the last incident, starting with the Foundation."

The guards whose names were called stepped forward.

For those whose names were called but who had already died, Uehara Osamu arranged for other people to represent them.

After today, the compensation will be delivered to their families.

This made the newly joined guards feel an immediate sense of closeness to the forging department.

A department that treats its subordinates so well must offer tangible benefits.

It felt like coming home.

End of the meeting.

Uehara Osamu looked at the guards who were lined up.

The four team leaders were actually selected during the previous assessment.

These are the four winners from the practical assessment.

Sixty people, lined up neatly.

"With the increase in the number of guards, it's time to recruit more blacksmiths and hold a forging competition to reap some prestige from these people in the forging department."

"You should be able to accumulate around 3000 reputation points by now."

Uehara Shu originally wanted to slow down the pace and make things a little easier for himself.

After all, the situation in Kirigakure has stabilized.

Victory is imminent in the war.

However, it won't be that quick for the Akatsuki to actually take action.

However, the changes in Konoha gave Uehara Shu a strong sense of urgency.

"The Hidden Mist Village needs more top-tier ninjas."

"If Konoha were to resurrect Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju using the Impure World Reincarnation technique, and even transplant Hashirama's cells into many other ninjas, then the number of top-tier ninjas in Konoha would be unprecedented."

Even if the person resurrected through the Impure World Reincarnation technique is far less powerful than they were in life.

"Especially the unmodified Impure World Reincarnation technique."

"But there have been too many strong ninjas in Konoha's history."

"I need to forge more ninja tools."

"Moreover, it's an even stronger ninja tool."

"Therefore, at least forty consecutive draws are required."

"With a choice of six, the chances of selecting a suitable ninja tool are much greater."

"My personal skills also need to be improved."

Uehara Osamu divided his time into three parts.

One was to learn the Water Release ninjutsu that Hozuki Izumo had brought over.

Previously, Hozuki Izumo only knew a portion of the Hozuki clan's secret techniques.

Now, with the "extinction" of the Hozuki clan, Hozuki Izumo has brought all the Water Release techniques to Uehara Shuu, as well as the scroll that can summon ninja swords.

"Water Release: Water Healing Technique!"

Then they saw Uehara Shu's arm transform into a stream of water.

The water current entangled an injured fish.

The fish's injuries healed at a visible speed thanks to the water flow.

"This healing effect is extremely powerful!"

"Comparable to Konoha's Palm Healing Technique, no, even more effective than Konoha's Palm Healing Technique."

Uehara Shu looked at the fish, which had fully recovered, and gently tossed it back into the sea.

"In terms of healing ninjutsu, with this Water Healing Technique, I have already reached a fairly good level in healing external injuries. Now, if I go to the medical department, I can be considered a high-level medical ninja."

"Next up is Water Release: Oil Transformation."

The art of water transformation is to turn the body into water.

Water Release: Oil Transformation is essentially turning a body that has already become water back into oil.

This is a prerequisite ninjutsu that must be learned before learning the Steam Explosion Technique.

Uehara Osamu carefully read through the ninjutsu scroll.

Then, he closed his eyes and mentally rehearsed the scenario.

The next moment, he opened his eyes and formed a hand seal.

"Water escape, oil transformation."

Uehara Shu looked at his hands.

"Compared to other water-style techniques, this water-style technique is much more difficult. Just like when I first learned the water transformation technique, it takes time to make progress."

"Instead of saying that I have an extremely high level of water-style talent and can learn it in one go."

"But now, I can be considered a master of water release techniques."

Uehara Osamu summarized his Water Release ninjutsu.

They have already mastered all the standard Water Release techniques used in Kirigakure.

Water Dragon Bullet, Water Prison, Water Clone, Mist Concealment Technique, Exploding Water Wave, Water Barrier, Water Pillar, Rain Slicer, Water Whip, Water Fang Blade Technique, Water Fang Bullet Technique.

Next came the secret techniques of the Hozuki clan.

Water Transformation Technique, Water Gun Technique, Water Gun Double Dagger, Water Gun Sweep, Water Gun Scatter Shot, Oil Transformation Technique, Water Ball Technique, Powerful Water Arm Technique, Water Transformation Healing Technique.

"Of Hozuki's Water Release techniques, there are only two left that I haven't learned."

"One is steam explosion toxicity."

"A highly aggressive and destructive ninjutsu."

"The other one is a shield and ewer hat."

"Defensive ninjutsu."

The shield eboshi hat involves hydrating the entire body and then using chakra to create a large amount of water, or directly taking water that already exists in nature and covering one's body with it.

It's like putting on a giant suit of armor.

It transformed into a behemoth-like being.

In a sense, it is similar to the Susanoo of the Uchiha clan.

It's just that the strength is a bit weaker.

After that, the shape became less regular and more fluid and changeable.

"In terms of appearance, it looks like a slime."

"In the original story, Hozuki Suigetsu used this ninjutsu to briefly contend with the Eight-Tails."

"This ninjutsu has a certain degree of effectiveness when facing huge creatures."

The second part is still about improving forging technology.

This is something that Uehara Osamu will be involved in for a long time.

The third part is the knife forging competition.

"After the sword forging competition ends, we can start working on the dimensional material dungeon for the Soul-Stealing Blade."

Soon, Arasenji completed the preparations for the forging competition.

A list appeared in Uehara Osamu's hands.

Uehara Shu summoned several blacksmiths from the forging island.

"Your Excellency, Minister."

Uehara Osamu nodded slightly.

"For this sword forging competition, I plan to recruit three blacksmiths at once. With the expansion of the broadsword business, the blacksmithing department is already short-staffed and urgently needs to be replenished."

"Moreover, the revenue from this expanded business is also sufficient to support the expenses of the forging department."

"With more people, the rules must be stricter."

Uehara Osamu said, "Regarding blacksmiths, I've decided to create a ranking system."

"Divided into trainee blacksmiths, junior blacksmiths, intermediate blacksmiths, and senior blacksmiths."

"A blacksmith who has just joined the blacksmithing department is an apprentice blacksmith. Once he or she has passed the apprenticeship, he or she becomes a junior blacksmith."

"Chakra melting technique, breathing forging method, if you reach the beginner level in either one, you are considered an intermediate blacksmith."

"If one has mastered at least one, one is a senior blacksmith."

For now, Uehara Osamu's assignment will only go this far.

After all, apart from Abandoned Ship II, there wasn't another one who had reached the intermediate level.

As for Arasen II, he could only be considered to have reached the beginner level of the Breathing Technique.

Different ranks receive different treatment and have different statuses.

This is the catalyst that motivates blacksmiths to work hard.

Two days later, nine blacksmiths arrived at the blacksmith island.

"The Third Sword Forging Competition has officially begun!"

As soon as Uehara Shu's voice fell, the nine blacksmiths got to work.

"Ding!"

"Ding!"

"Ding!"