Chapter 5: Forging begins, Kiriichimonj!

Uehara Soma looked at the Blueprint.

At this moment, Kiriichimonji's Blueprint no longer had the ability to allow Uehara Soma to enter the Dungeon Instance again.

There's only one chance, indeed just one chance.

Uehara Soma was grateful to have a friend like Hoshigaki Kisame.

Otherwise, even facing the young Akame, Uehara Soma wouldn't have been confident in completing the mission.

The current Blueprint is simply a forging blueprint.

But it details the various forging steps and material quantities.

However, considering the complexity of the Blueprint's content, even with such detailed annotations, not everyone can understand it. Uehara Soma finds it somewhat daunting to look at.

Without any bonuses, Uehara Soma's forging technique still reaches a good level.

He's among the best on Forging Island.

Forging Island has declined significantly over the past few decades.

Uehara Soma examined it carefully.

"There's only one set of materials, no chance for a retry upon failure."

"It must succeed!"

If it weren't for the bad news brought by Hoshigaki Kisame, there would still be room for error for Uehara Soma.

But upon learning of the village elders' decision to ban Forging Island, Uehara Soma knows he cannot fail.

Once Forging Island is banned, his forging Jutsu bonus will disappear.

In addition, he will be forced to become a mission Ninja.

Being a mission Ninja for the Hidden Mist Village is no better than outright defection.

However, defection is not a good choice without strength.

This is absolutely not the result Uehara Soma wants to see.

"I cannot fail!"

It took Uehara Soma half a day to read and memorize the contents of the Blueprint.

But he didn't start forging right away.

Instead, he closed his eyes and began to visualize in his mind.

This is a process that all forgers go through. Without this talent, one is not qualified to be a forger.

After several iterations of visualization, Uehara Soma opened his eyes.

However, he still didn't start forging formally.

Instead, he brought other materials to simulate forging.

Because different materials have different characteristics, the results of forging will definitely differ.

However, by adopting the same steps and methods, some reference can still be made.

The sound of metal being hammered echoed.

It wasn't until the end of the day that Uehara Soma emerged from the forging room.

"Soma, how's it going?"

"It's been tested almost thoroughly."

Uehara Soma said, "Once I've rested well, I can start the formal forging."

"Kisame, is there food?"

"Yes."

Seeing Uehara Soma spending so much time in the forging room without coming out, Hoshigaki Kisame went to prepare food without leaving, directly instructing a Water Clone to do so.

This is the convenience of Clone Jutsu.

Especially in areas without similar intelligence, it provides greater operational space.

Previously, in the Dungeon Instance, Hoshigaki Kisame relied on this to divert the attention of the young Akame and the Empire personnel, successfully bringing the female shop owner and her family to a safe area.

While eating, Uehara Soma asked.

"Kisame, how's the situation on Forging Island now?"

"Official orders haven't come down yet, but many forgers have left. Only a few are left. Outsiders already consider Forging Island to be practically defunct."

Hoshigaki Kisame said.

"But as long as you, Soma, are here, you can surely restore Forging Island's reputation to its former glory."

"The ones leaving now will surely regret it!"

Hoshigaki Kisame held the forgers leaving now in contempt.

Uehara Soma entered the forging room again.

He took the metal obtained from the Dungeon Instance.

Melted it at high temperatures.

This high temperature partly came from magma, and another part came from Chakra.

Namely, Fire Attribute Chakra.

In a sense, this is also a kind of Ninjutsu, but it's not suitable for use in combat, so it hasn't been labeled as Ninjutsu. It continuously consumes Chakra to maintain a high temperature.

Gradually, the metal softened.

Uehara Soma picked up a hammer and placed the metal on the forging table.

"Ding!"

With a single strike of the hammer, the metal deformed.

Through continuous hammering and forging, the toughness of the metal is enhanced.

This is the foundation of a blacksmith.

But it's not simple.

It tests a blacksmith's skill greatly.

On Forging Island, there are specialized methods for hammering, also known as techniques. By coordinating breathing, Chakra, and rhythm, different hammering effects can be produced.

The hammering technique Uehara Soma's sensei taught him is called Lava Forging.

It greatly increases the metal's toughness.

"Ding!"

"Ding!"

"Ding!"

After repeating this hundreds of times, Uehara Soma stopped.

This is the limit of Lava Forging. Continuing to forge will not provide any additional improvement to the metal.

Next, Uehara Soma begins shaping.

He shapes the forged metal into the form of a long sword.

This process is relatively simple.

But what follows is the main event.

Enchanting.

This is what Uehara Soma calls it.

In the world of Naruto, on Forging Island, such a term does not exist.

But these two words are just right.

In the Dungeon Instance, Uehara Soma obtained three types of materials.

One is the base metal, and the other two are additional materials that enhance toughness and sharpness, and another type allows Kiriichimonji to possess special abilities.

During the forging process, the first and second types of materials were used.

But the third type of material is to be used after shaping is completed.

A green crystal-like object is held by Uehara Soma.

"This is the key to Kiriichimonji. Whether it succeeds or not depends on this moment."

Without this green crystal, the Ninjato crafted would only be slightly tougher and sharper than a regular Ninjato.

But it would still just be an ordinary Ninjato.

However, if the green crystal could be integrated, the crafted Ninjato would be completely different.

It would surely reach the level of the Hidden Mist Seven Ninja Swords.

Uehara Soma closed his eyes, recalling the process he had previously visualized.

Once, twice, thrice...

"Crack!"

With a crisp sound, Uehara Soma, opening his eyes, crushed the green crystal in his hand, and a light green liquid flowed out, landing on the sword embryo.

Uehara Soma placed his hands on the sword embryo, gathering Chakra in his palms.

Under Uehara Soma's control, the green liquid slowly merged into the sword embryo.

Little by little, it seeped in.

The color of the sword embryo seemed to change gradually during this process.

Time passed bit by bit.

The process is very slow.

And it demands precise control of Uehara Soma's Chakra.

Any mistake could lead to failure.

At this time, a figure led a team and arrived at Forging Island.

Hoshigaki Kisame's eyes flickered when he saw the arrivals.