Within the largest secret workshop of the Hidden Sand Village, the air seemed to solidify with reverence. All personnel involved in the construction—from high-ranking figures like Chiyo and Ebizō to Sayo's father Sharyu and every craftsman and researcher who had poured their sweat into the project—held their breath, gazing up at the completed steel colossus before them.
It stood silently on its specially designed support frame, reaching a staggering height of seventeen meters. Its streamlined silver-blue armor flowed with a cold, sacred brilliance under the workshop's lights. Its design was utterly different from the traditional Puppet styles of Sunagakure, or indeed the entire Ninja World. It was closer to a perfect humanoid weapon that transcended its era, a fusion of power and aesthetic beauty (the visual impact akin to that of the freedom gundam). Even motionless, it radiated a heart-stopping, monumental Aura and the cold, imposing dignity unique to precision machinery.
"Finally... it's complete..." Sayo's voice held a tremor he couldn't quite conceal, the boundless excitement of a dream becoming reality. He stood at the giant's feet, looking up at this ultimate creation that embodied the wisdom of his two lives, the collective effort of his entire village, and the hopes for the future.
"Begin the final test, Sayo," came the voice of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa. Though he tried to maintain composure, his slightly clenched fist betrayed the shock and anticipation within.
Sayo nodded heavily, taking a deep breath. He formed hand seals and uttered a low incantation: "Puppet Technique: Super Brain Technique!"
Then, focusing his will, a greater number of more refined Chakra Threads than ever before erupted from the back of his head, connecting precisely with the Gundam's thousands upon thousands of Chakra receptor points!
"Hmm—"
A deep, powerful hum resonated from within the Gundam's chest, like a slumbering beast beginning to stir. The 'natural energy puppet core' embedded in its central power region—crafted from a larger god tree fragment and emitting a soft green glow—was fully activated!
Vast, pure Natural Energy was converted into a gentle yet immense torrent of Chakra, instantly flooding every energy circuit of the Gundam! The giant's eyes (monitors) abruptly lit up, emitting sharp, ice-blue light!
The powerful energy fluctuations made every sensory-type Ninja present shudder!
"Energy output stable! Far exceeds projections!" a researcher exclaimed, his voice cracking with excitement as he watched the instruments.
"Sensory System, activate!" Sayo's voice transmitted through the Chakra Threads. The extraordinary sensory power granted by Natural Energy was amplified by the core and combined with the precision sensors in the Gundam's head. Instantly, every rustle of grass, fluctuation of Chakra, and even the subtle flow of Natural Energy within a radius of dozens of miles transformed into crystal-clear data streams, fed back into Sayo's mind. This sensory range and precision were enough to rival, even surpass, the Byakugan!
"Suspension System, activate!" Sayo exchanged a glance with Elder Chiyo, whose eyes were filled with gratification and pride. This was their masterpiece, born of painstaking effort!
This was no simple magnetic levitation! The Gundam's massive, ornately designed wings (similar to those of the freedom gundam) slowly unfolded from its back. The wingtips and vector thrust nozzles located across the body emitted a faint blue glow. Simultaneously, the core at the Gundam's waist—the'Suspension Power Furnace'—was activated! This was an independent suspension furnace developed by Sayo after consulting Rasa. It represented a deeper application of Magnet Release principles, combining Natural Energy with Magnet Release theory!
The hum rose in pitch! A powerful lift field, generated by a mix of magnetic force and Natural Energy, instantly enveloped the entire Gundam! It wasn't merely lifting off the ground; it was completely freeing itself from the bonds of the earth!
The support frame was slowly moved aside.
Under the awestruck gazes of all present, the seventeen-meter steel giant steadily, silently, and with a lightness that defied common sense, hovered completely in mid-air! No longer skimming the ground, this was true, all-domain suspension!
"Mobility test!" Sayo willed a slight adjustment.
The Gundam's massive wings adjusted their angle slightly. The various vector thrust nozzles precisely expelled streams of adjusted air. The colossal frame instantly executed a short, swift lateral shift, followed by a smooth in-place rotation. Its movements were swift as lightning, devoid of any sluggishness expected of such a behemoth! Its aerial maneuverability approached perfection!
"Weapon Systems, deploy!"
The left shoulder armor slid open, revealing densely packed multi-barrel senbon launchers within. Poison-tipped senbon, enhanced by Natural Energy, gleamed dangerously. The solid 'Giant Ship-Cutting Sword' mounted on the right shoulder deployed, grasped in the Gundam's massive mechanical hand. A highly compressed flow of Chakra from the 'Wind Release: Wind Cutter' instantly wrapped around the blade, emitting a scalp-tingling, sharp shriek. Its sharpness seemed capable of tearing space itself!
The survival Systems added for transoceanic combat (water pressure resistance, maritime mobility modules, oceanic stability, etc.) also all passed self-diagnostics.
Sayo piloted the Gundam, slowly descending to the center of the workshop. Even with the use of the Light-Weight Rock Technique to reduce mass, when its enormous metal feet truly touched the earth, it still produced a deep, resounding impact—a thud that seemed capable of suppressing everything—
Boom!
The entire workshop floor trembled slightly! It was as if this giant wasn't merely landing, but was planting the weight and significance of its existence deeply, unshakably,'standing' upon this very earth!
Silence!
A deathly silence!
Then, deafening cheers and gasps erupted! Father Sharyu and his comrades from the Maintenance Squad had tears in their eyes. The researchers from the Research and Development Department frantically recorded data.
Ebizō's pipe dropped from his hand, unnoticed.
Elder Chiyo murmured to herself, "It surpasses... the limits of the Puppet Technique..."
Even the Fourth Kazekage Rasa was rendered speechless. Gazing up at this steel giant named 'Gundam,' the last trace of doubt in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by an unprecedented, blazing light called 'hope.'
Sayo leapt down from the Gundam, landing before the crowd. He turned and looked once more at his creation, his voice firm and resounding through the workshop:
"Its name is Gundam!"
"It shall carry the will of Sunagakure across the seas on a distant campaign!"
"This time, victory is assured!"