Projection magicians starting from the Uchiha clan

They simply won't die easily until they've been squeezed dry of their last bit of value.

Shisui glanced back at the Third Hokage; his figure shone in the sunlight, yet he exuded an indescribable sense of melancholy.

Shisui turned away resolutely, going against her past self, and followed Iori's retreating figure.

Chapter 145 Chakra Battery and Great Fireball Ninjutsu Gun

After returning to the Uchiha clan's territory, Iori ignored the outside world's gossip and, without getting involved herself, Minato's rise to power was a foregone conclusion.

Instead of getting bogged down in these political struggles, we should focus on more important research—the development of chakra batteries.

Although we already have the Wood Golem and Susanoo, I wouldn't mind flying an extra Gundam Iori.

Researching chakra batteries was no easy task. Iori and Orochimaru were in charge of materials science research, while Kana and her husband, as well as Kushina Uzumaki who occasionally visited, copied and adapted sealing techniques.

In the first few days, the lab was filled with all sorts of failed attempts.

Ordinary materials cannot preserve chakra well, while chakra-conducting metals are too expensive.

After countless experiments, Iori discovered that the special wood he created using Wood Release possessed excellent conductivity and storage capabilities.

By mixing some chakra-conducting metal powder around the sealing technique, the battery can be stabilized.

The difficulty of sealing techniques lies in stable input and output. Since there are few masters of sealing techniques, it is impossible for them to work like oxen to charge the battery. Therefore, a low-difficulty charging method must be designed.

After many days of research, the three members of the Uzumaki clan finally improved the Bagua seal, creating a special exit that can absorb or recharge energy after using the technique. The difficulty of opening and closing the technique is approximately C level.

Finally, after countless trials and improvements, the first version of the chakra battery was successfully developed.

In the laboratory

The group looked excitedly at the prototype Chakra Battery No. 1.

Orochimaru excitedly stroked the wooden battery. Its existence was like that of a newborn child, full of infinite possibilities despite its flaws.

As someone obsessed with all knowledge, Orochimaru created a super robot like Mechanical Naruto in the future, but his research is only just beginning.

"This version of the battery is not cheap to manufacture, and it requires a high level of sealing skill, so it cannot be mass-produced."

"But as military supplies, it is acceptable."

Orochimaru calmed down and said that although the research and development had been completed, it was only a laboratory product and was not suitable for mass production.

"So what are the specific materials, how high a level of sealing technique is required, and what are the specific effects?"

Upon hearing that the research was completed, Uchiha Setsuna rushed over immediately. As a typical Uchiha, he had no resistance to anything that could enhance his strength.

"The material is wood that Iori-kun nurtured and a small amount of chakra-conducting metal; powdered is fine," Orochimaru replied, tapping the battery lightly with his fingers, producing a dull sound.

"Sealing techniques require ninjas who can use at least A-rank sealing techniques."

"As for the effect, the simplest and most direct one is that it allows you to directly absorb and use your own stored chakra."

"The current laboratory version of the battery has three times the chakra storage of a typical Jonin."

"Moreover, the sealing technique for charging is C-rank in difficulty. Once learned, it can be charged on its own during breaks in the battlefield. When equipped by the ninja army, the Jonin's endurance can be greatly improved."

Upon hearing Orochimaru's words, Setsuna Uchiha and Fugaku's eyes lit up instantly. Chakra quantity is one of the most important indicators for a ninja, and items that can expand chakra are undoubtedly the most precious of all.

Fugaku frowned, a profound and indescribable shock surging within him.

He realized that this was just what Orochimaru called "the simplest effect".

"Lord Orochimaru, what are the other effects?" Fugaku asked curiously.

Orochimaru looked around, then slowly walked to the cabinet and took out a strange stick.

Fugaku examined it closely for a few moments, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Isn't this a musket? Is it used to project chakra?"

Orochimaru smiled mysteriously and said, "Let's go to the training grounds. Don't damage the lab."

He left the laboratory first, followed closely by the others, and together they arrived at the training ground.

This training ground was specially made by Iori for himself, and it is covered with defensive magic circles to prevent him from destroying it on a whim.

Orochimaru stood in the middle of the training field and pulled the trigger on the target.

Chakra was drawn from the battery, flowing along the lines of the sealing technique, like tiny streams converging into a river, and finally gathering at the muzzle of the gun.

A huge fireball shot out from the muzzle of the gun, cutting through the air and flying toward the target.

With a deafening roar, the exploding fireball engulfed the target, shattering it completely.

Looking at the shattered target, Fugaku estimated, "It's actually the Great Fireball Technique. Judging from its power, it should be about the same as that of a Chunin-level ninja."

A look of apprehension appeared in his eyes. It usually takes nearly twenty years to train a child into a qualified Chunin.

But now, a mass-producible weapon can easily do this, and Fugaku, like a medieval knight seeing a musket, began to doubt the future of ninjas.

Although the power of this gun was negligible to him, for most ninjas, the level of ninjutsu they could unleash in their entire lives was only equivalent to that of this Great Fireball.

Uchiha Setsuna sensed the chaotic fluctuations in Fugaku's chakra, glanced at him, and a hint of dissatisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"Calm down, Fugaku," Uchiha Setsuna said, sounding somewhat exasperated.

"It's just destructive power. Ninjas are not just cannons. Besides, are only ordinary people able to use weapons? We would be even stronger if we used them."

"I lost my composure." Fugaku composed himself. He wasn't an unsophisticated man, but the biggest problem with ninja guns was that they gave ordinary people the ability to kill ninjas.

Other ninja tools and divine artifacts only allow weaker ninjas to kill stronger ones; these are two completely different concepts.

For the past thousand years, ninjas have dominated the world, while ordinary people have struggled to survive in the background. Once the research of Iori and Orochimaru spreads, it may very well change all of this.

As a beneficiary of the existing system, Fugaku inevitably felt uneasy.

"Hehehe, you're mistaken. The greatest significance of this weapon is that it allows genin to bypass the elemental transformation hurdle and directly use advanced ninjutsu."

Orochimaru said with a smile,

"Moreover, ninjas' reaction speed far exceeds that of ordinary people. Even if ordinary people are armed with ninja guns, it is difficult for them to deal with ninjas."

"In addition, the ninja gun and battery also require chakra to charge. Instead of worrying about that, we should worry about the difficulty of mass production."

Orochimaru shook his head at the group of laymen and explained helplessly that he always felt an urge to punch them whenever he saw such people.

Chapter 146 Uchiha-style Chakra Armor (One more chapter coming later)

After demonstrating the chakra gun, Orochimaru led them through a long corridor to another laboratory.

The laboratory looked much simpler and cleaner. In the center of the laboratory, there was a strange suit of armor, lying there quietly, waiting to be awakened.

Orochimaru stood beside the armor, his fingers lightly touching its surface, a hint of pride in his voice:

"This is a custom-made Uchiha-style chakra armor for Iori-kun, created for Uchiha ninjas who have awakened their Sharingan."

Upon hearing this, Fugaku curiously touched it, finding it to be cool to the touch, just like ordinary metal armor.

"So what exactly are its effects?" Fugaku turned to Orochimaru and asked.

"On the one hand, there is acceleration. Ninjas who have awakened the Sharingan will have a significant increase in reaction speed and observation ability, but their physical fitness will not be improved enough."

"This often results in Sharingan ninjas being able to observe the enemy's attack, but not necessarily being able to keep up with the enemy's speed, leading to their defeat with regret."

"One of the major functions of the Uchiha-style chakra armor is to enhance your strength and speed, giving you the ability to counterattack in such situations."

"But just as high-speed ninjutsu is not suitable for people with insufficient nerve reaction ability, non-Uchiha Sharingan ninjas find it difficult to adapt to high-speed combat, unless they are geniuses like Minato."

Orochimaru explained the advantages and disadvantages of the chakra armor to them in detail.

"Anything else? If that's all, it doesn't seem as useful as ninja guns and chakra batteries." Fugaku frowned slightly, feeling somewhat disappointed.

"Of course it's not just that. See those patterns over there?" Orochimaru said, pointing to the inside of the armor's arm guards and leg guards.

Fugaku lowered his head and carefully examined the patterns. His fingers gently touched the surface of the armor, feeling the texture of the patterns.

"Huh, this looks like the pattern on the ninja gun. Could it be..." Fugaku seemed to have discovered something after examining it carefully.

“That’s right, just as you thought, the limbs of the chakra armor also integrate the functions of ninja guns, which can be used to activate the engraved ninjutsu.”

Orochimaru said proudly that although Iori laid the foundation, he was the one who handled the specific details.

"May I use it?" Fugaku asked Orochimaru, barely able to contain his excitement.

"Yes, it has a certain degree of flexibility, so it can be compatible as long as the height difference is not too great."

Orochimaru had anticipated their reaction and spoke calmly.

Fugaku eagerly stepped forward and, with Orochimaru's assistance, donned the chakra armor.

The armor fit his body perfectly, as if it had been tailor-made for him.

"Is that all? Why do I feel no difference?" After putting on the armor, Fugaku stretched his body but found that he did not feel any difference. A look of confusion appeared on his face.

"Don't rush. You haven't learned the corresponding ninjutsu yet, so you can't charge the armor. The armor is still in a closed state."

Orochimaru looked at Fugaku, who seemed rather impatient, and said helplessly.

"Huh? So it's unusable now?" Fugaku said with some disappointment.

Ever since he saw Orochimaru display the ninja gun, a strong sense of curiosity had been surging within him, and when the armor appeared before his eyes, this impulse became even more uncontrollable.

"Of course not. Didn't I already say this before? This is a groundbreaking creation that can allow experienced Chunin to defeat Jonin."

Orochimaru walked to Fugaku's back, opened the interface on his back, and pressed the chakra battery in his hand onto it.

As the chakra battery connected, the armor began to emit a faint glow, and chakra flowed out from the battery like tiny rivers, spreading throughout the entire armor.

The light flowed across the armor, as if giving it new life.

"Fugaku-kun, connect your chakra to the armor. Now you can operate the armor using external chakra."

Orochimaru said calmly.

"This is amazing, how can it be used in this way?" Fugaku said in disbelief.

"From my research on ancient times, I believe that chakra was originally a power that allowed people to communicate with each other. It's just that later generations isolated themselves from their own hearts and used it as a weapon."

Orochimaru recalled the past he had researched and seemed somewhat melancholy.

With a thought, power and speed surged into his limbs and bones.

"The increased strength and speed have such a noticeable effect on me?" Fugaku exclaimed, a look of disbelief on his face.

When Uchiha Fugaku reached that age, it was perfectly normal for his strength to stagnate. Unlike One Piece, in the Naruto world, strong characters really do age and their strength can decline significantly.