Chapter 42: Customized Raid suits

"Germa's Raid suits?" Judge who heard Yami answered without turning his head from what he was doing.

"These are specially customized and may take considerable time. The price is also extremely expensive, and they cannot be provided in large quantities."

Judge examined the various data displayed on his analysis screens with intense focus.

He discovered that this information bore almost no similarities to any bloodline factor data he had encountered previously.

It resembled something from a completely different species, the kind of information only seen when analyzing non-human creatures.

He responded mechanically to Yami's request, his attention consumed by studying the enigmatic Uchiha bloodline.

"There's no need for the type you're currently using, with all its various abilities and functions," Yami clarified.

"As long as it provides resistance to attacks and increases defensive capabilities, nothing else matters."

"It doesn't need flight or acceleration capabilities. Even the compression feature can be removed."

Ninjas were physically fragile, even the Uchiha clan members.

As long as they could withstand twice as many attacks, their survival rate would improve dramatically, which was a crucial advantage.

Ninjas excelled in offensive capabilities, but they sorely lacked in defense.

"Such a product wouldn't have much value," Judge responded with some puzzlement.

After all, in his opinion, ordinary soldiers had no need for such protection.

No matter how many functions were removed, a suit's price wouldn't be particularly affordable.

Compared to the cost of personnel, the suits remained far more expensive.

"Can you make it?" Yami asked.

While he could explain, he didn’t feel like it.

Seeing Yami's expression, Judge immediately snapped to attention.

"If it only has defensive functions, a suit's production cost can be reduced to approximately 20 million berries, and it can be manufactured," he replied.

"That’s the lowest possible price. The production cost for the one I'm using exceeds 500 million berries, and that's not counting failed attempts or wasted materials."

Judge quickly elaborated.

Technology demanded substantial investment.

Even Orochimaru had needed to find a daimyo partner and use money to conduct research, Judge faced the same reality.

Establishing Germa 66 served not only to satisfy his ambitions but also to generate research funding.

"Then produce one hundred initially," Yami nodded.

Although he considered the price steep, these weren't disposable items.

He instructed Judge to create a hundred sets to equip the majority of clan members who ventured to sea.

"Well, Germa 66 doesn't currently possess that much capital, Yamikage-san," Judge admitted with diminished confidence.

The other party expected him to use his own resources, but he couldn't afford that.

Instead, he spoke cautiously.

"Aren't you the overlord of the North Blue?" Yami asked, genuinely confused rather than angry.

"You don't even have two billion berries?"

If he approached Doflamingo requesting ten billion berries, it probably wouldn't pose a significant problem.

This situation made Germa 66 seem financially strained.

"This kingdom actually operates at considerable expense. We must continuously produce clone soldiers, which requires purchasing vast quantities of resources," Judge explained.

"Additionally, Germa 66 doesn't produce its own food or possess mineral deposits. Almost everything must be purchased, and these costs accumulate significantly."

"Although we're the overlord of North Blue, Germa 66 cannot oppose the World Government, so we must still abide by certain regulations. These personnel expenses consume substantial funds."

"Producing the Raid suits also requires extensive time, and ordinary people cannot manufacture them. Special production conditions are necessary."

Judge provided his explanation.

His research expenses also consumed enormous resources, nearly a half of Germa 66's annual budget, though he chose not to mention this detail.

"Just produce as many as possible," Yami conceded.

"By the way, put this logo on the suits. This is the Uchiha clan emblem, for my people to use."

"Also, I want one personally. It doesn't need special functions, mainly to display my identity. Make it as distinctive as possible."

"This one needs compression capability. I won’t use it when I'm traveling. I only need it during clan meetings at home.”

Yami didn't press the issue forcefully.

His Sharingan remained active, and he could see that Judge wasn't lying, though he was concealing something.

Yami chose not to pursue it further.

Instead, he rearranged his priorities and emphasized the important details.

"Understood." Judge nodded quickly.

He possessed enough awareness about working under someone else's authority.

Moreover, his fascination with the bloodline made him particularly respectful toward Yami, someone who possessed such power.

He believed that individuals like Yami, who could transcend bloodline limitations, were absolutely extraordinary beings.

Most importantly, since he couldn't defeat the man, honesty remained the wisest policy.

****

The next day.

"Yamikage-san, the blood analysis results are complete," Judge reported after locating Yami during his training session.

"The Uchiha bloodline differs completely from ordinary human Lineage factors. There appears to be a strange energy within it, but you mentioned that Uchiha clan members don't possess particularly powerful bodies."

"Is this energy the secret behind the Uchiha bloodline?"

After receiving the results, Judge had immediately sought out Yami.

He felt the analysis had been surprisingly straightforward.

He had barely conducted any in-depth research, relying primarily on instrumental analysis of the Uchiha blood to obtain results.

If the findings hadn't seemed so unusual, he would have continued his research based on these initial discoveries.

"Ah, that energy is unique to our clan. It's specifically used to manifest special abilities, like fire techniques, lightning, water manipulation, and other elemental powers. It also includes bloodline abilities, some of which consume this energy."

"It's called chakra, a relatively versatile special energy that the human body can use."

"This is chakra."

When Yami heard Judge's words, he realized that the scientist had discovered chakra rather than anything new.

People in the ninja world retained chakra in their bodies even without training, due to generations of inheritance that had nearly integrated it into their genetic makeup.

After explaining, Yami raised his hand directly, manifesting a [Rasengan] in his right palm.

This provided the most straightforward way to visualize chakra with the naked eye.

After hearing Yami's explanation, Judge stood stunned for a moment, then stared intently at the [Rasengan] in Yami's hand.

"Yamikage-san, are you saying this energy can be freely transformed into other elements and used by the human body?" Judge grabbed Yami's arm, his body trembling with excitement.

In a world where only Devil Fruits and physical prowess dominated combat, the sudden appearance of an energy that could freely convert into elements essentially broke the world's fundamental rules.