The Gelel Stone vein was located in the western region of the Land of Fire, a mere two hundred kilometers from the Land of Rain.
Kakashi Hatake stared at the mountain peak before him, his eyes narrowing slightly. To be honest, the location wasn't ideal. If hostilities ever broke out with the Land of Rain, the enemy would only need to dispatch a single elite squad to reach this site in no time.
But those logistical headaches would have to wait. The immediate priority was determining exactly how much power the Gelel Stones contained.
"We can head in through this cave. There's a specialized sealing ritual inside, likely set up by the ancient empire that originally utilized the stones," Jiraiya said, holding a torch to lead the way. "I've already cracked it, so you don't need to worry about that."
They navigated a winding path through countless forks in the tunnel. Eventually, the space ahead brightened, opening into a vast cavern. A faint blue luminescence radiated from every direction; embedded in the surrounding rock walls were glowing, pebble-like ores.
"So, these are the Gelel Stones?" Kakashi reached out, pried a piece from the wall, and examined it closely.
"While they harbor an incredible amount of energy, their stability is surprisingly high," Jiraiya remarked, watching Kakashi. "I've tried everything—injecting chakra to stir it up, hacking it with blades, blasting it with fire, soaking it, even trying to crush it. It won't explode. It's remarkably controlled."
Jiraiya sounded almost nostalgic as he looked at the stone in Kakashi's hand. An energy source this stable was practically a miracle.
"It is impressive. It makes sense that an empire could be built entirely on the utility of these stones," Kakashi said, weighing the ore in his palm. He could sense a significant amount of energy within this single, palm-sized fragment. If used as a power source for the Ancor Vantian, it could likely keep the fortress airborne for a full hour.
And that was just one small stone. Beneath their feet...
Using his ability to sense natural energy, Kakashi could feel that the entire area was saturated with stones just like the one he held. There was no telling how deep the vein ran.
As I thought, Kakashi mused. In terms of sheer hidden potential, this planet is a standout even on a galactic scale. No wonder those interstellar scavengers, the Otsutsuki, keep coming back here.
"In that case, let's get a mining crew organized." Kakashi tightened his grip on the Gelel Stone, his gaze sharp.
Now that the energy source for the Ancor Vantian was secured, the next step was mass production. He didn't need an entire fleet—ten of those aerial fortresses would be enough to change the world. Simultaneously, he would need to station a permanent garrison here to guard the vein.
"Kakashi, are you planning to...?" Jiraiya started. He had his suspicions, but looking at the man before him, he wanted a definitive answer.
"With these Gelel Stones, many of our problems vanish," Kakashi said, his mood visibly lifting. He looked at Jiraiya and made a promise. "What is it you want, Jiraiya? Just say the word."
"I want to go find Nagato," Jiraiya replied.
"What? You want to help me research Sage Mode? Great! No problem at all!"
"...???"
Jiraiya stared at Kakashi, a literal question mark practically appearing over his head. If Kakashi didn't want him looking for Nagato, he could have just said so. Why go through this ridiculous song and dance and get his hopes up?
And besides... research Sage Mode?
"You already know how to use it!" Jiraiya muttered under his breath.
Upon returning to Konoha, Kakashi immediately drafted a letter to the Daimyo's estate. He ordered Nara Suzaku to dispatch personnel for the Gelel Stone excavation and simultaneously directed a team to begin reverse-engineering the Ancor Vantian to start mass-producing the aerial fortresses.
At the same time, Kakashi mobilized three thousand shinobi to garrison the mine. If he could have, he would have sent Hiruzen Sarutobi himself to oversee the site. Unfortunately, the old man was getting on in years and was already helping Kakashi with Sage Mode research. It wouldn't do to overwork him.
Instead, Kakashi settled on the next best thing: he assigned Kosuke Maruboshi to the post. While Kosuke was also well into his years, the "Eternal Genin" was still as sturdy as they came.
The situation made Kakashi acutely aware of how short-staffed he was. Might Guy, Shizune, and Tenzō were all in vital positions they couldn't easily leave. Itachi Uchiha and Hayama Shiragumo were his personal bodyguards; if they disappeared from the Hokage's side, it would spark unnecessary rumors and speculation.
As for Jiraiya and Tsunade...
Forget it. Jiraiya spent half his time thinking about Nagato. Keeping him in the village allowed Kakashi to keep him in check. If he sent him to the mine, the man might just wander off to the Land of Rain on a whim. And Tsunade? She was simply impossible to boss around.
Kakashi sighed, set down his pen, and decided to check the progress in Conference Room 3. With Jiraiya's expertise added to the mix, the research into Sage Mode had accelerated significantly. Kakashi estimated that within two months, they would have a version of Sage Mode that ordinary shinobi could utilize.
Just as he was about to push open his office door, he collided with a figure rushing in. The person stumbled and fell to the floor.
"I-I'm so sorry, Lord Hokage!"
Katasuke Tōno scrambled to pick up a stack of documents, his face flushed with excitement as he apologized.
"What's the rush?" Kakashi asked, surprised. He reached down and helped the man up.
"Lord Hokage, the task you gave me... I've succeeded!" Katasuke's voice trembled with emotion as he thrust the documents toward Kakashi.
Kakashi took the file and scanned it. Katasuke had successfully produced a prototype for the first generation of Scientific Ninja Tools. Looking at the schematics, it was a far cry from the compact wrist-mounted devices Kakashi remembered from his memories of the future. This was less of a wristband and more of a full-arm gauntlet.
Still, considering the Gelel Stones he had just found, Kakashi patted Katasuke on the shoulder. "Well done. You've worked hard. Take a few days off; in a couple of days, I'm going to pair you up with a new partner."
Kakashi remembered that Dotō Kazahana was still rotting in an ANBU cell. Given Tenzō's background in the Foundation, his interrogation methods should have broken Dotō by now.
With that in mind, Kakashi scrapped the trip to the research room and headed for the ANBU headquarters instead. The Sage Mode project was moving smoothly and no longer required his direct supervision; he only needed to wait for the results.
He passed through the ANBU prison unopposed. Led by Yūgao Uzuki, he finally saw Dotō Kazahana for the first time in weeks. Dotō was dressed in white prisoner garbs, looking relatively presentable but noticeably gaunt from his time in the hole.
"Lord Hokage!" Dotō screamed the moment he saw Kakashi. He lunged at the steel bars, weeping hysterically. "I was wrong! I'll do whatever you want! Just please, don't keep me locked in here! I can't take it anymore! I'm so tired!"
During his incarceration, Tenzō had ensured he was well-fed and physically unharmed. However, he had been systematically deprived of sleep. Every time Dotō drifted off, a guard would use genjutsu to force his mind back into a state of hyper-alertness. He had spent his days hovering in the agonizing threshold between consciousness and collapse. If not for the resilient constitution of a shinobi, he likely would have died of exhaustion long ago.
Kakashi watched the sobbing man without a trace of emotion. He turned to Yūgao. "Apply the security measures."
"Understood," Yūgao replied immediately.
These "security measures" involved members of the Yamanaka clan using secret techniques to bind the subject's psyche. It would make it impossible for them to harbor hostility toward a specific person; any thought of betrayal would result in excruciating mental agony.
As Yūgao watched Kakashi walk away, she looked back at the wailing Dotō. Her brow furrowed slightly. The Hokage said... apply 'measures,' plural.
With that in mind, she decided to have someone apply the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal as well. On top of that, she planned to have the Yamanaka specialists add several layers of mental locks just to be safe.
The excavation of the Gelel Stone vein was underway, and the research into the Ancor Vantian was moving in tandem. Mass production of naval warships had begun, Sage Mode research was nearing completion, Katasuke's first Scientific Ninja Tool was a reality, and even Dotō Kazahana had been "processed."
Kakashi intended to have Katasuke and Dotō work together. By combining Scientific Ninja Tools with Chakra Armor—and adding a dash of the sky-ninja technology from the Ancor Vantian—they could create an unstoppable ground force. Given their collective genius, Kakashi was confident they could pull it off.
The hardest part of any endeavor was going from zero to one. For the team led by Tobirama Senju in Conference Room 3, they were currently breaking that "zero." But for Katasuke and Dotō, the existence of the Ancor Vantian meant the "one" already existed. Their path would be much smoother.
They'll need more help, though, Kakashi thought. He decided to write to Nara Suzaku to request a few more mechanical engineering experts to serve as assistants.
Kakashi sat on the edge of the Hokage Rock, the cold wind whipping around him as he looked down at the village—his village. Beyond the Hidden Leaf, he saw the Land of Fire, which also belonged to him.
Thinking of the uncertain future, Kakashi smiled. A future is only truly secure when you hold the reins yourself. He didn't know if Kumogakure had finished their Chakra Cannon yet, but if he didn't move faster, he might run out of time.
The wind brushed through his silver hair, following his gaze into the far distance.
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