"Don't mention it! You were a huge help! I just went to the blacksmith shop in town and commissioned the uncle there to make some parts. Look! This is the new weapon made based on your suggestion!"
With that, Tenten pulled out a strange device that looked like a cross between a crossbow and a large revolver, but the "ammunition" inside consisted of kunai equipped with Explosive Tags.
Rock Lee, seeing this, immediately leaned in and asked curiously, "What is this?"
"A weapon that can fire kunai and Explosive Tags all at once. How about it? Want to go to the clearing outside town to test it?" Tenten proposed eagerly.
"But Explosive Tags are very expensive! Is it really okay to waste them like this?" The poor Rock Lee had a pained expression on his face.
After all, a Genin's income wasn't high. Especially for D-rank missions, the minimum reward was only a few thousand Ryō, and the maximum wouldn't exceed fifty thousand. Furthermore, the Jonin leader took a cut before the rest was split. While the cost of living in Konoha wasn't high, and one could eat their fill, if you factored in consumable ninja tools, it was barely enough to get by.
Most Genin couldn't afford Explosive Tags at several thousand Ryō apiece, buying one or two at most as a trump card for critical moments.
But the "wealthy" Tenten didn't care about a Genin's meager income, laughing heartily as she replied, "Hahahaha! No problem! As long as I can become a powerful kunoichi like Tsunade-sama, this small amount of money is nothing."
Hearing such a bold statement, the others naturally didn't try to persuade her otherwise. Thus, the entire Team 3, including Might Guy, set out for a clearing about five kilometers from town.
Allen pointed to a hillside in the distance. "Let's use that as the target and see. Though I think with Explosive Tags involved, the power won't be small."
"Yeah. Counting the kunai, this one shot is probably throwing away fifty thousand Ryō," Might Guy remarked with a slight sigh. In his eyes, rather than following these "crooked paths," it was better to study Strong Fist with him.
But Tenten clearly had no desire to train herself into a "Vajra Barbie" physique like Biscuit, so she ignored her teacher's words and pulled the trigger at the hillside.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Relying on the linkage of complex mechanical parts, this strangely shaped crossbow didn't require manual drawing; it could fire a kunai tied with an Explosive Tag roughly every second.
In a short moment, a dozen kunai were slammed deep into the dirt of the hillside. Following that...
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Accompanied by blinding flashes of fire, violent explosions echoed continuously, sending massive amounts of soil into the air. Such a spectacular scene caused the Genin Neji and Rock Lee, who still lacked powerful offensive capabilities, to gape in disbelief.
"How was it?" Tenten, experiencing for the first time that "Explosion is Art," turned to ask Allen's opinion.
"Hmm… I can only say it's a bit underwhelming. This thing has two major flaws. First, the speed of the kunai fired by the crossbow is too slow; a fast enemy could easily dodge them. Second, this thing is way too heavy; holding it in your hands will definitely affect your speed," Allen evaluated while stroking his chin.
"Then what's the direction for improvement?" Tenten asked impatiently.
"There are two directions. First, you can choose to use Chakra-conductive metal to make the firing device and then train in Wind Release Ninjutsu to replace the crossbow for launching. Second, you can make it much larger, like a platform fixed to the ground. During battle, you summon it via a Sealing Scroll and, imitating the puppet masters of the Sand, use Chakra Threads to control multiple units simultaneously to perform full-coverage strikes over a large area. That way, even if the precision is poor, it won't matter. Especially in battles with many enemies, this kind of attack can produce unexpected results."
Allen pretended to think for a moment before providing two completely different development paths. He was curious to see how far this girl, who possessed a talent for manipulating ninja tools, could go on this path.
"Understood! Thank you for the advice! I know what to do next," Tenten said with a thoughtful expression.
"Don't mention it. I look forward to seeing the results of your research one day," Allen encouraged with a smile.
"Guy... Guy-sensei! I suddenly feel like Tenten and Allen have become so scary!" Rock Lee whispered, staring at the unrecognizable hillside.
Might Guy nodded in agreement. "To some extent, indeed quite scary. If their research truly succeeds, I'm afraid even the Third Hokage would take notice."
As someone who had participated in the Third Shinobi World War, he knew very well how much damage such powerful ninja tools, which required little Chakra and could be easily operated even by Genin, could inflict on the frontline. After all, regardless of the world, weapons are always better when they are simpler to operate and easier to mass-produce.
In contrast, Neji's expression became extremely complex. As a genius of the Hyuga branch house, he realized for the first time that his status as the strongest in this class might be overtaken by a girl. Especially with that terrifying explosion; even he couldn't guarantee he could rely entirely on Gentle Fist to deflect it. If even one kunai exploded near him, he would lose his balance and be subjected to a series of explosions; even if he didn't die, he would be heavily injured.
On the way back, Neji deliberately walked at the very back with Allen, asking in a very low voice, "Do you have any way to make me stronger quickly too?"
"Stronger quickly?" Allen looked up at him with interest.
"That's right. I believe if it's you, there must be a way." Neji's tone carried intense tension and anxiety.
"Sorry, I don't know much about the Byakugan or Gentle Fist, so I really can't give you any suggestions. However, if I have any inspiration in the future, I'll let you know," Allen replied meaningfully.
From the look in the other's eyes, he felt an unparalleled sense of rage and hatred. Undoubtedly, at this stage, Neji was still trapped in the massive psychological shadow of his father's death and the Caged Bird seal branded on his forehead. In his eyes, the Main House was likely not something to protect, but an irreconcilable enemy.
Of course, for Allen, this was a point that could be exploited. Although he currently held the status of a Konoha Genin, he had already made plans to defect. This timing, if nothing unexpected happened, should be the conclusion of the Chunin Exams, the moment the Third Hokage met his end.
As for whether to join the Akatsuki or Orochimaru's Otogakure after defecting, he still needed to consider that carefully. Compared to Konoha, which publicly preached the Will of Fire while privately engaging in power struggles, excluding outsiders, and fighting internal battles, Allen felt that organizations where strength was paramount were more suited to him. At the very least, he wouldn't have to be as secretive as he was now.