After the banquet ended, Kazahana Sōsetsu brought the two of them to his study.
"Lord Kakashi, please speak frankly if there is something you wish to discuss." Kazahana Sōsetsu sat behind the desk, the smile on his face fading slightly.
Kakashi's expression became serious. "Lord Daimyo, according to Konoha's orders, we need to take Kazahana Dotō back to Konoha for interrogation."
Kazahana Sōsetsu's expression changed slightly.
After a long silence, he slowly spoke. "Dotō is my younger brother. We grew up together. I always thought he was merely a little extreme in temperament. I never imagined he would do something like this."
He sighed, his eyes filled with exhaustion and helplessness. "I originally intended to imprison him in the Land of Snow and give him time to reflect on his actions. But since this is Konoha's order, I cannot refuse."
"After all, if it weren't for you, the Land of Snow would already have fallen into his hands." He raised his head and looked at Kakashi. "I agree to let you take him back to Konoha, but I have one request."
"Please tell me."
"Please do not kill him." Kazahana Sōsetsu sighed. "Give him a chance to change his ways."
Kakashi nodded. "I will convey your request to Lord Hokage."
"Thank you."
"There is one more matter. We would like to inspect the Land of Snow's weapons factory," Kakashi added. "We need to confirm how many unfinished chakra armors remain there and whether any related technical documents exist."
Kazahana Sōsetsu nodded. "Of course. The factory has already been taken over by samurai loyal to me, so it is safe."
...
Early the next morning, Asama Sandayū led the way, his expression somewhat complicated.
"My lords, this is the secret weapons factory that Lord Dotō established." Asama Sandayū pointed ahead. "Part of the factory was built underground, making it extremely well hidden."
Kakashi entered the factory and swept his gaze around.
The massive smelting furnaces had already gone cold, while various unfinished components lay scattered across the workbenches.
The smell of metal mixed with machine oil still lingered in the air.
Shin-chan followed behind them, his nose twitching. "This smell..."
Sandayū spoke apologetically. "I'm sorry. The ventilation system has not yet been completely repaired."
"That's not it." Shin-chan shook his head with a serious expression. "I wanted to ask whether they sell food here."
Sandayū froze where he stood.
Kakashi shook his head. "Ignore him."
Sandayū led them to the archive room.
"This is where the chakra armor blueprints and technical documents are stored." Asama Sandayū pointed at the documents covering the walls. "All of Kazahana Dotō's research is kept here."
Kakashi walked over to a bookshelf, picked up a thick technical manual, and began flipping through it.
However, the more he read, the tighter his brows furrowed.
The pages were filled with complicated formulas and circuit diagrams, along with symbols and technical terms he had never seen before.
"How is it? Can you understand it?" Asama Sandayū asked.
Kakashi shook his head. "It's too complicated. This technology is already beyond my understanding."
Shin-chan leaned over and took a glance, then revealed an expression of sudden realization.
"You understand it?" Kakashi asked in surprise.
"I understand." Shin-chan nodded. "This isn't an instruction manual for making ice cream."
Kakashi: "..."
Sandayū coughed dryly. "Actually, it isn't just you. Even the most skilled craftsmen in the Land of Snow can only follow the blueprints Lord Dotō drew step by step. They don't understand the principles behind them at all."
He then led the two of them farther into the factory.
He pushed open a heavy iron door. "There are also some completed products stored here."
Twelve sets of chakra armor were neatly arranged on metal racks inside the warehouse.
Shin-chan reached out and knocked on the helmet of one suit.
"This helmet looks really impressive," he said. "Will wearing it make someone smarter?"
Sandayū answered honestly, "It will not."
"Then I'm not wearing it." Shin-chan immediately lost interest.
Kakashi walked around the warehouse once. "Mr. Sandayū, did Kazahana Dotō ever sell these armors to anyone else?"
"Not as far as I know."
Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief. "This technology is too dangerous. If someone else uses it the way Kazahana Dotō did, the consequences would be unimaginable."
"His Lordship thinks the same way. If Konoha is willing to take away these documents and armors, that would be ideal. Otherwise, we intend to destroy the entire weapons factory and eliminate the danger permanently." Sandayū glanced at Kakashi.
Kakashi's brows furrowed slightly.
Of course, he wanted to take all the documents and chakra armor back to Konoha.
The problem was that the blueprints and technical records were piled up like mountains. There was no way they could transport everything.
Sandayū took the opportunity to continue. "Traveling overland from the Land of Snow to the Land of Fire takes at least ten days, and you would have to pass through two smaller countries along the way. A transport convoy this conspicuous would easily attract unnecessary trouble."
He paused, then spoke sincerely. "How about this? You can choose a few of the most important suits to take with you. As for the rest... I will order everything destroyed."
The moment Sandayū finished speaking, Shin-chan raised his hand.
"I have an idea."
Kakashi and Sandayū both looked at him.
"What idea?"
"I can seal the entire weapons factory."
"Seal... the entire factory?" Sandayū's expression froze. "Lord Shinnosuke, are you serious?"
Shin-chan nodded. "Of course I'm serious."
Sandayū turned toward Kakashi, hoping the more reliable ninja would say something sensible.
Kakashi pondered for two seconds. "It's feasible."
Sandayū's eyes widened.
"Wait, Lord Kakashi." He hurriedly spoke. "I still think destroying it would be safer. With a seal, what if someone manages to undo it one day...?"
"No one outside Konoha can break Shin-chan's sealing techniques," Kakashi said with certainty.
Sandayū's lips moved. In the end, he could only sigh.
"Since both of you believe sealing it is the better option... I won't insist."
Shin-chan asked Kakashi and Sandayū to retreat outside the weapons factory.
He walked to the exact center of the entire complex, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
The next second, an extraordinarily vast amount of chakra erupted from Shin-chan's body.
"Sealing Technique: Super-Wide-Range Object Seal!"
Shin-chan slammed both hands onto the ground. Black formula patterns spread out from beneath his palms, rapidly covering every corner of the entire weapons factory.
"Seal!"
At Shin-chan's command, the enormous weapons factory was completely sealed.
Kakashi stood nearby, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
As expected, Shin-chan never disappointed him.
Sandayū's mouth hung open for a long time without closing.
"It's... it's done?"
"It's done." Shin-chan dusted off his hands and stood up.
"Then what if someone tries to force their way inside...?"
"They can't get in." Shin-chan waved his hand. "As long as I don't release the sealing technique, no one can enter."