Chapter 8: If Ninjutsu Doesn’t Work, Use Science and Technology
"Captain Komoku, do you think His Highness Satori's plan will really work?"
A ninja from Uzushio Village asked, worry clearly written across his face.
Given the current situation, could they really protect the Land of Whirlpools?
After all, they were facing Kirigakure!
One of the Five Great Ninja Villages, home to multiple bloodline clans, while they only had the Uzumaki clan...
Even though the Uzumaki clan was large, how could just one clan build and defend a nation?
They had barely any high-level combatants—no Kage even.
"It will definitely work," Uzumaki Komoku said seriously. "Because... we cannot lose."
That's right!!
They couldn't lose—absolutely not. If they did…
Their homes, families, and clan members would all disappear. Even their properties would be seized.
Everyone fell silent.
"Don't look so down."
Captain Komoku smiled slightly. "Believe in His Highness Satori, believe in the clan leader, believe in the Daimyo. We will definitely win."
Still, everyone had seen the worry in Captain Komoku's eyes. But at this point, they had no choice but to place their faith in Satori's plan.
"How's your training with the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu going? What about the Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tags?"
The captains looked at each other, realizing that the mood was too gloomy before the war had even started. That just wouldn't do.
After all, if morale was low, how could they fight a war?
They didn't have a good way to boost spirits, so they decided to shift the team's focus for now.
Under Satori's orders, the captains first copied the ninjutsu scrolls, then their subordinates copied from them to save time. They'd finished copying on the way here.
"Focus on the Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tags first," the captains said. "In the early phase, use Shadow Clones for combat."
"Yes, sir," the squad members responded.
"Go now. Place the explosive tags in your assigned areas. Make sure to hide them well—bury them underground, hide them in trees, or cover them with rocks. Concealment is key."
"For the ones placed in central zones, don't hide them too well. We want Kirigakure to find them—but not too easily. Let the tags catch their attention."
"Yes!!"
…
"According to intel from a spy seven days ago, Kirigakure is already preparing its fleet. They're expected to set sail within two days."
The clan leader turned to Uzumaki Satori, who was fiddling with a strange bamboo-tube-looking device.
"Little Satori, what is that you're holding?"
"Oh, you mean this, Clan Leader Uncle? It's a telescope."
Satori put the telescope down and handed it over.
It wasn't yet Year 60 of Konohagakure, so devices like telescopes and TVs likely didn't exist yet.
Seven days ago, huh?
That meant they'd already spent five days on the move. Given that the journey from Kirigakure to the Land of Whirlpools takes about ten days, they had around five days left to prepare.
Satori thought carefully. To avoid detection by Kirigakure's sensors, they had picked a high vantage point and used the telescope to observe from afar.
He was carrying over ten million explosive tags. Surely that could sink a few ships.
But how to place the tags where Kirigakure wouldn't notice? Could underwater mines work?
Then again, when it came to playing with water, Kirigakure had the upper hand. The Uzumaki weren't skilled in techniques—they were all about brute force.
Using chakra and life force to overpower the enemy.
In a direct clash, the stronger wins. But now, they couldn't overpower Kirigakure at all.
They didn't have the numbers or the strength. Trying to beat Kirigakure on their own turf was pure fantasy.
So underwater explosive tags were out of the question!!
If only he had Deidara's clay bombs.
Satori thought for a moment and pulled out a bottle of gasoline.
Thankfully, the technology of this world allowed such things to exist. Otherwise, he couldn't refine gasoline by himself.
Why not make actual explosives instead?
Because the ninja world already had explosive tags. Real explosives were harder to make and use, more dangerous, and expensive—just not worth it.
As for oil...
There was a small oil field within the Land of Whirlpools. He had found it by accident.
People here considered oil the blood of demons!
Probably the whole ninja world thought so.
Land with oil fields couldn't grow any plants, so people avoided the area entirely.
Refining was a pain, too. The tools were primitive, and he lacked the expertise to build machines that used oil.
So he'd stick with low-tech methods!
"What's this now?"
The clan leader had been peering through the telescope when he noticed Satori pulling out more jars and bottles.
He put the telescope down—what a useful tool!
It expanded his vision without chakra or sensory jutsu, and Kirigakure probably wouldn't detect it either.
Looking down, he saw Satori arranging a bunch of containers on the ground.
"Gasoline bombs," Satori said. "Once lit, water can't put them out. Pouring water just makes the fire worse."
He didn't believe that combining science and national effort couldn't beat Kirigakure.
He even secretly gave a few gasoline bombs to guards heading into battle.
If Kirigakure camped together, they'd throw them in. If Kirigakure still dared camp after that, Satori would be impressed.
The only problem: they had too few.
If he had more, he'd sneak a ship into Kirigakure and douse the entire village in gasoline. No way the Mizukage would dare invade after that.
"Is this real?!"
The clan leader and elders picked up the jars in shock.
Could something this small really be that powerful?
"Isn't this kind of like Amaterasu?" the great elder asked curiously.
"The legendary black flames?"
"Nope," Satori scoffed.
Amaterasu couldn't even burn people properly, while gasoline could burn anything—especially Kirigakure.
Water couldn't extinguish gasoline fires. If this were Sunagakure, it might be a bit harder.
The only issue was low production.
He had secretly made them with a few guards. This kind of weapon couldn't be exposed easily.
If other ninja villages found out, the Land of Whirlpools would be doomed.
And it wouldn't be just Kirigakure coming for them.
This thing was a literal war weapon!
He didn't dare bring it out earlier, either.
Back then, the Uzumaki were practically best friends with Konoha—though one-sidedly.
And the reason for that one-sidedness?
The Uzumaki clan's naivety!
If he brought this out, Konoha would probably get their hands on it too.
"You're right," the great elder nodded.
That was divine fire. This little bottle couldn't compare.
"It's for burning Kirigakure's ships," Satori explained.
If he wasn't afraid of being spotted, he'd have launched a million arrows with explosive tags to rain fire from the skies.
Why not use shuriken?
Too expensive.
For one-time use, arrows were more cost-effective. They had lots of wood.
Even if fine-quality bows were hard to make, simple ones would do.
They just needed to carry explosive tags—didn't even need to hit people, just the area.
He had already distributed all the bows and arrows to the other ninja.
With a perimeter of explosive tags and a rain of them from above, if Kirigakure got through unscathed, he'd be shocked.
Let them know once and for all: stop dreaming about invading the Land of Whirlpools.
They were broke!
All their money had gone into explosive tags. Even if Kirigakure destroyed them, they wouldn't gain a single ryo.
And the later formation of the Land of Waves, poor and weak, was probably Kirigakure's doing.
After all, the Land of Waves rose from the ashes of the Land of Whirlpools.
Satori guessed the original idea was to use it to choke Konoha's access routes.
But Kirigakure had closed off and grown weaker, afraid to act in case Konoha noticed.
So the plan was shelved.
"Will it really work?"
The clan leader and elders looked at Satori again with doubt.
Would this little thing really not be extinguished by water?
If not, they'd be exposed for nothing...
(T/N: I think Amaterasu was powerful than gasoline though not enough to be extinguished by any force or im trippin' )