51-60

*Chapter 51: Preparations*

Hattori felt a sense of regret for the death of the Third Kazekage, but that didn’t mean he respected the man. He could still recall the first words the Kazekage spoke when they met:

“Show me your worth!”

Every time Hattori remembered that phrase, he felt uncomfortable.

“What right does he have to judge my worth? Just because he’s the Kazekage?”

To the Third Kazekage, perhaps a person’s capabilities equaled their worth and purpose.

But to Hattori, while personal ability was related to personal value, it was not absolute.

He firmly believed that a person’s value wasn’t determined solely by their abilities, but by their character.

If someone had a good nature, even without much ability, they could contribute to society by being hardworking and diligent all their life.

Such a person was valuable.

In contrast, if someone had a bad nature and did nothing but harm, then no matter how capable they were, they would only add to their own sins and endanger society.

What value did such a person hold?

By equating “capability” with “value,” the Third Kazekage had marked a fundamental difference between himself and Hattori.

And it was precisely because of this that Hattori had become sensitive whenever he heard the word “value.”

So, as soon as Karura finished her sentence, he turned to her, his expression serious.

“Karura, sacrifice is something we do out of necessity; it shouldn’t be equated with value. So let’s not use words like ‘a worthwhile sacrifice’ anymore.”

Without waiting for her response, he turned and sprinted down the street.

Karura watched his figure disappear, blinking in confusion.

“Strange… what’s gotten into him today?”

Karura couldn’t understand Hattori’s thinking, and Hattori knew this too, as they were from different worlds.

Different experiences naturally led to different perspectives.

He wasn’t expecting to change Karura’s views overnight; instead, he planned to influence her gradually over time, along with everyone else.

“But first, I have to get through this crisis!”

Thinking of this, he sped up, moving to the next street and resuming his “loot and burn” operation.

Thud! Thud! Thud! 

With a series of heavy crashes, the homes he raided were quickly stripped bare.

He piled up large amounts of flammable materials in the streets, setting them alight to release scorching flames and thick, suffocating smoke.

Thanks to his efforts, these “smoke stacks” rose one after another, sending plumes of smoke skyward and dispersing the swarming bees overhead.

The bee attack was temporarily halted, but Hattori knew this was only the beginning.

The bee assault was meant to cause chaos in the village and test its defenses.

What would come next was the real threat—a full-scale assault from Iwagakure!

“The real battle is about to start!”

With that thought, he hurried back to Karura’s place to prepare traps.

Given the situation, it was highly likely that the enemy would arrive before reinforcements did, so setting traps was the best way to gain the upper hand!

For a ninja, making traps was a basic skill, and not particularly difficult.

It was usually just a steel wire and a few explosive tags; one touch, and the enemy would trigger an explosion—hopefully injuring them, or at the very least, alerting him to their approach.

But Hattori didn’t want to settle for something so basic.

As a medical ninja, setting such a simple trap wouldn’t befit his status as a master puppeteer, nor the expense of 2,000 ryo per explosive tag.

“As a puppeteer, I should act like one!”

With that resolve, he leaped onto Karura’s rooftop, took out his scroll of sealed tools, and opened it.

Bang! 

With a small explosion, a pile of shuriken and explosive tag-laden kunai appeared atop the scroll—the tools he had sealed away earlier.

Hattori grinned as he looked at the weapons in front of him.

“These cost me two months’ salary; now it’s time for you to earn your keep!”

He picked up four explosive-tagged kunai and tossed them toward the street corner.

Hattori wasn’t skilled at kunai-throwing, but he possessed a more powerful ability:

*[Level 30 Puppet Control: Allows control over targets up to Level 30 using chakra threads. Maximum total control level: 300. Requires 300 experience points to level up!]*

This combat skill, painstakingly leveled up after he became a puppet master, made precision no issue at all.

Under the control of his chakra threads, the four explosive kunai he threw landed precisely in a hidden corner.

Afterward, he tossed out a shuriken.

With the same chakra-thread precision, it landed right beside the four kunai, just as he intended.

In this way, Hattori threw out 40 explosive-tagged kunai and 200 shuriken laced with sedative, one by one, without missing a single one.

In front of him, only ten ordinary kunai remained.

“Alright, that should do it!”

Satisfied with the spread of weapons, Hattori nodded and popped a military ration pill into his mouth.

*[MP +100]*

The ration pill provided some satiety and a slight MP boost, although under the strain of the Hundredfold Yin Seal, the added MP wouldn’t last even two hours.

He was well aware of this and furrowed his brow once more.

“Be it the Iwa-nin attackers or the Suna reinforcements, someone had better show up soon, or I’ll be out of MP again! How am I supposed to fight like this?”

As if in answer, a man wearing an Iwagakure headband, clad in dark red armor and a flak jacket, came into Hattori’s view.

A dozen more Iwa-nin, wearing gray flak jackets, followed closely behind him in an encircling formation, charging toward Hattori’s position.

While advancing, they performed Earth Release jutsu to clear the “smoke stacks” Hattori had created.

“Clearing the way for the bees—a smart strategy!”

Seeing this, Hattori’s eyes narrowed, and a slight smirk appeared on his lips.

“But I put a lot of effort into those. Did you even ask me first? You’re dead meat!”

With those words, he shook his hands forward sharply, sending the remaining ten kunai flying.

“Manipulating Blades!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 52: Battle with the Rock Shinobi (Part 1)*

*Manipulating Blades*—as the name suggests, it’s a technique of controlling weapons like ninja blades or kunai with chakra strings to launch a surprise attack on an enemy.

Though it sounds impressive, it’s actually an entry-level technique for puppeteers; anyone who can use chakra strings can use it.

Of course, the effectiveness varies according to the skill level of the puppeteer.

For example, when Hattori met Yashamaru, Karura brother, Yashamaru's Manipulating Blades technique was more like throwing shurikens.

He could throw more than ten at once with decent strength and accuracy, but his control was lacking.

In short, he couldn’t make them curve, and once thrown, he lost control over them.

However, Hattori's version of Manipulating Blades was quite different.

With his Level 30 puppet manipulation skill, his control of low-level ninja tools like kunai was no weaker than veteran puppeteer Chiyo's!

As soon as he moved, ten kunai turned into streaks of light, shooting towards the charging Rock Shinobi.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Moving so fast, the kunai created faint slicing sounds, quickly alerting the lead Rock Shinobi in the red cloak.

"Watch out for an enemy ambush!"

Upon this shout, he clapped his hands together and shouted.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

At his command, a massive earthen wall, dozens of meters wide, sprang up from the ground, blocking the kunai’s path.

At the same time, Hattori’s kunai struck the wall, producing sharp clinks.

Clink, clink, clink...

The kunai bounced off the stone wall. Seeing this, Hattori retracted his hands, and the ten kunai instantly flew back to his palms.

Meanwhile, the stats of the red-cloaked shinobi also appeared before him.

*Name*: Wotu

*Level*: 42

*HP*: 440/443

*MP*: 300/331

*Specialty*: Earth Release

*Battle Rating*: A

“Damn, he’s a jōnin—this could be tough!”

Seeing the stats, Hattori's expression changed. He jumped off the rooftop and darted down the street behind it.

Since Karura and two children were inside the building, he was worried the fight would affect them, so he decided to shift the battle location.

To Wotu, the red-cloaked Rock Shinobi, it looked like Hattori was retreating in fear due to his lack of strength.

Without hesitation, he ordered, "He’s a ninja from the Hidden Sand Village. Catch him and kill him!"

"Yes!"

Following the command, several Rock Shinobi behind him took off after Hattori.

As Hattori ran ahead, he glanced back and saw that Wotu, the jōnin from the Rock Village, was not pursuing him directly, instead leaving the chase to a few lower-level shinobi. Amused, he laughed.

"Damn, looking down on me, huh? I guess it's time for some blood."

With that, he abruptly stopped, lifted his hands again, and shouted, "Manipulating Blades!"

Ten kunai shot out once more, this time aimed at the pursuing Rock Shinobi.

These pursuers were just genin and didn’t have Wotu’s skill of quickly forming seals for an Earth Flow Wall. They could only pull out their kunai to block Hattori's projectiles.

Clink, clink, clink...

The sound of clashing kunai filled the air as Hattori’s projectiles were deflected without injuring any of them.

Seeing this, Hattori’s expression shifted to one of terror.

"How could this be? How are you all so strong? Impossible! I... I... I..."

After a few seconds of stuttering, his terrified expression changed into a bright smile.

“Gotcha!”

Seeing this grin, the Rock Shinobi immediately sensed something was wrong, but it was too late.

Shing, shing, shing...

With a few swift slashes, the Rock shinobi suddenly found themselves plunging their own kunai into their throats, faces frozen in terror and disbelief.

They couldn't understand how Hattori had managed it.

Had they looked closely, they would’ve noticed thin blue chakra strings connecting Hattori's kunai to their own.

When they blocked his initial kunai attack, the chakra strings on Hattori’s kunai had latched onto theirs.

Hattori's "terrified" expression had only been a trick to lower their guard.

But it was too late now—gasping for breath, they soon died from their self-inflicted wounds.

At that moment, purple notifications appeared in Hattori's vision.

*You successfully killed a Level 15 shinobi. EXP +0*

*You successfully killed a Level 13 shinobi. EXP +0*

*You successfully killed a Level 16 shinobi. EXP +0*

…

Due to the level difference, Hattori didn’t gain any experience points, but he noticed several white orbs floating above the Rock Shinobi's corpses.

"Did I get loot?"

Curious, he picked up the orbs to examine them closely.

*Earth Orb (Normal)*: Used to synthesize Earth attribute puppets from Levels 1 to 19; currently unusable.

“Puppet materials? But unusable?”

Seeing this information, Hattori blinked, confused.

Just to be safe, he pocketed the orbs and stored them in his ninja pouch.

"Can’t use them now, but who knows? They might come in handy later!"

After storing the orbs, he considered searching the bodies further, but before he could, the red-cloaked Rock jōnin rushed towards him.

Seeing this, Hattori grabbed a pouch from one of the fallen Rock Shinobi and flee.

"Time to run!"

Seeing Hattori flee, Wotu, the Rock jōnin, roared in frustration.

"Get back here, you coward!"

Of course, Hattori didn’t listen. Instead of stopping, he sped up.

One after the other, they ran for hundreds of meters, Wotu chasing closely behind.

Wotu expected Hattori to keep fleeing, but to his surprise, Hattori suddenly stopped at a corner.

Wotu quickly grew wary, scanning the area, fearing a trap.

But Hattori showed no hesitation. Finding a suitable spot, he launched an attack.

“Take this!”

Pulling out a kunai from the pouch, he hurled it at Wotu, who easily dodged.

Against a jōnin, it was nearly impossible to land a hit without overwhelming them with a barrage of projectiles.

However, Hattori seemed oblivious to this, continuously pulling ninja tools from the pouch to throw at Wotu.

"Take this kunai! And shuriken! Senbon! Smoke bomb! Flash bomb! And... a ration pill? Uh, wrong one!"

Wotu: "..."

What’s this guy doing?

Just as Wotu was left bewildered, Hattori suddenly flicked his wrist.

Shing, shing, shing...

In an instant, all the ninja tools Wotu had dodged earlier reversed direction, as if magnetized, and embedded themselves in his back.

But as the weapons struck, Wotu didn’t bleed. Instead, his body crumbled into brown earth.

Seeing this, Hattori’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing.

"An Earth Clone... impressive!"

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 53: The Battle with the Rock Ninja *

As Hattori exposed Wotu's clone, a low voice suddenly sounded from the other side.

"Fine, I admit it. I underestimated you. You’re worthy of seeing my full strength, kid."

"Playing cool and mysterious type, huh?"

Hattori's face flashed a cold smile.

"Come on, show me what you’ve got so you don’t regret it when you lose. Make it quick; I’m on a tight schedule!"

"…"

Wotu's brows furrowed at Hattori’s cocky demeanor, but he didn’t waste time with more words. Instead, he quickly started forming hand seals.

"Rabbit-Boar…"

His hands blurred with speed as he formed the seals, creating an illusion of afterimages.

But before he could complete it, Hattori suddenly launched himself forward.

"Too naive! You think I’ll just let you power up?"

As he spoke, Hattori closed in on Wotu and swung his fist.

"Die!"

"Boom!"

With a loud explosion, Hattori's punch struck the ground right in front of Wotu, creating a two-meter-wide crater!

Wotu, who barely dodged in time, turned pale at the sight.

"This power… this destruction… What kind of monster is this?"

He was shaken, but grateful he had dodged. With Hattori’s strength, a direct hit would have left him crippled, if not dead.

"I thought I’d prepared enough, but I still underestimated him. Who is this kid?"

For a moment, Wotu looked at Hattori with newfound dread.

In contrast, Hattori, who had missed his mark, wore an expression of disappointment.

"Damn it, missed!"

He knew that missing his chance would only make Wotu more vigilant, lowering his odds of success on the next strike.

Wotu's expression confirmed as much.

"A Jonin isn't so easy to take down… Fine, I’ll deal with small fry first."

With that thought, Hattori feigned another attack toward Wotu. When Wotu raised his guard, Hattori abruptly retreated, disappearing around a corner.

Seeing this, Wotu frowned.

"Did he run?"

Wotu was confused. Based on Hattori’s earlier display, it hadn’t seemed like he was losing the upper hand.

But Hattori had escaped without hesitation. This act baffled Wotu.

Just as he was debating whether to pursue, he suddenly sensed a massive chakra wave.

"Not good!"

His face changed, but before he could react, a woman’s voice echoed.

"Wind Style: Kamaitachi!"

With this, a fierce windstorm engulfed Wotu, trapping him inside.

In the whirlwind, invisible vacuum blades slashed at him, leaving dozens of deep wounds that cut to the bone.

And this was only the beginning.

Watching from about fifty meters away, Hattori glanced back, smirking.

"Tch, this guy’s done for. Losing focus on the battlefield? Serves him right."

He then waved toward the distant figure wielding a three-star fan and gave her a thumbs-up.

"Nice job, big-belly!"

"(╬￣皿￣)"

Hearing this, Karura gritted her teeth.

"This brat… I’ll deal with him when we’re back!"

Despite her words, her gaze stayed focused on Wotu's figure within the storm. She knew better than to underestimate a Jonin from Iwagakure.

When the wind technique finally subsided, Wotu, bloodied and limp like a rag doll, collapsed to the ground, motionless.

Seeing this, Karura retracted her fan and prepared to leave.

When she returned home, she found Hattori already there.

"You…"

She started, only for Hattori to raise his hand, interrupting her.

"Sis Karura, Iwagakure has already launched an attack. I don’t mind you fighting; I’ll be here to support you. But Tamari and baby must be taken to the shelter first!"

Karura had no reason to argue after Hattori’s insistence, especially with her children’s safety on the line, so she nodded in agreement.

"Alright, let’s get the kids there first!"

"Not ‘we’—just you."

With that, Hattori pointed out the window.

"Those guys came because I lit the signal fire. They’re the first wave, but more will come. The signal fire can’t go out until reinforcements arrive."

"This…"

Looking at the smoking fire outside, Karura frowned.

After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded firmly.

"Fine. Don’t push yourself. If anyone comes, hide until I return. Promise me!"

"Mm. Don’t worry!"

Satisfied with his answer, Karura reminded him once more, then took Tamari and baby to the shelter.

After Karura left, Hattori popped an energy pill into his mouth and stepped outside.

If his previous plan had been to lay low until the end, this Iwagakure attack had changed his mind.

His eyes glinted coldly as he looked at the bodies of the Iwagakure ninjas not far from his home.

"Hiding isn’t cowardice. I’m not out here looking for trouble, but if you’re coming for me, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

With that, he dragged the Iwagakure ninjas’ bodies to various road intersections. Then, he took explosive tags from their weapon pouches and tucked them under the corpses.

Finally, he smeared some of their blood on his hands and face, then lay down a short distance away, feigning death.

Soon, hurried footsteps approached.

Hattori opened his eyes just a sliver to see several more Iwagakure ninjas running toward him.

He scanned their ranks and confirmed they were like the previous wave, a group of one Jonin and a few Genin.

They were clearly drawn to the signal fire and began dismantling it on arrival. One of the Genin approached his “corpse.”

Kneeling beside one of his fallen comrades, the Genin checked for any sign of life, sorrow and anger flashing across his face.

"Cursed Sand Village!"

He was just about to stand up when, to his shock, the “dead” Iwa-nin suddenly grabbed him.

Simultaneously, Hattori’s eyes shot open, and he quickly backed away, muttering to himself.

"Three… two… one!"

As his countdown ended, Iwagakure ninja embraced by his comrade’s corpse met his end.

"Boom!"

With a resounding explosion, flames erupted!

*(End of Chapter)*

*Chapter 54: Battle Against the Rock Ninja *

The explosive tags more than justify their price; even a Jonin would meet a swift end if hit at close range without defenses.

That end? Death.

If a Jonin can be taken out like this, a Chunin stands no chance.

So, the Rock Village Chunin ambushed by Hattori didn’t even have time to scream before the explosive tags blasted him, ending his life instantly.

A clean kill in one move.

From the terror frozen on his face, Hattori guessed he died wondering why his supposedly dead teammate had suddenly come back to life.

But all of that no longer mattered now.

*[You have successfully killed a level-17 ninja. EXP +0]*

Looking at the purple notification and the mangled bodies in front of him, Hattori couldn’t help but gag.

“Ugh… Such a gory scene, and no censorship? Minus points for that!”

Fighting back the urge to vomit, he reached out to grab the orb floating above the body.

*[Earth Orb (Common): Used to synthesize Earth-based puppets for levels 1–19. Currently unusable.]*

Just like before, Hattori didn’t gain any experience from the kill, only an unusable puppet material orb.

After taking the orb, he quickly retreated; the sound of the explosion had already drawn a few nearby Rock Ninja his way.

Seeing Hattori flee, the Rock Ninja pursued without hesitation.

Among them was a Jonin from the Rock Village. His skills and speed far surpassed the others, allowing him to close in on Hattori within a few breaths, leaving his comrades behind.

Then, Hattori suddenly turned around, grinning, showing a row of eerily white teeth.

“Heh, I’ve got good news for you, buddy. Your pals? They’re gone!”

“Huh?”

Hearing this, the Jonin froze in confusion.

Before he could react, a huge explosion erupted just behind him!

*Boom!*

Hearing the blast, he stopped in his tracks and turned toward the source of the sound.

As he looked, he saw the bodies of fallen Rock Ninja suddenly spring up, latching onto other Rock Ninja passing by before detonating themselves!

*Boom, boom, boom…*

With several explosions, the Rock Village Chunins who had followed were left as dismembered, unrecognizable corpses.

At that moment, Hattori’s voice rang out again.

“This move is called the Corpse Explosion Technique, specially prepared for scum like you who slaughter civilians. Satisfied?”

“You!”

The Rock Jonin’s eyes burned with fury, and he made a quick hand sign, slamming his hands into the ground while pouring his chakra into it.

*“Earth Style: Earth Mountain Technique!”*

With a roar, Hattori felt the ground beneath him shake violently, nearly causing him to lose his balance.

As he steadied himself, two enormous hemispherical mountains erupted from the earth on either side of him, quickly closing in to trap him.

If he stayed put or continued running, he would be crushed between the earth walls, leaving him with only one choice: to turn back!

“Well played, cutting off my escape route!”

Hattori praised his opponent, quickly pivoting back to face the Jonin and throwing a punch in his direction.

“Then I’ll take you down as you wish!”

If the late Wotu had seen this punch, he would have dodged without hesitation, knowing well the strength of Hattori’s punches.

But Wotu was already dead, and this Jonin didn’t know any better.

Consumed by the loss of his comrades and the defilement of their corpses, his anger demanded release!

“Die! Earth Style: Rock Fist Technique!”

With a roar, his right hand transformed into a massive rock fist and shot towards Hattori.

As he swung, he could already envision Hattori’s body bursting from the impact, his eyes glinting with cruelty.

But when Hattori’s fist met the rock fist, his expression changed.

The moment their fists connected, an overwhelming force surged from Hattori’s punch, coursing through the Jonin’s arm.

*NANI!*

The thought flashed through his mind, but it was too late to pull back.

He could only watch as Hattori’s punch shattered his rock fist, breaking his arm and slamming into his chest.

*Thud…*

With a resounding impact, the Jonin’s body flew backward like a kicked soccer ball, crashing into a wall and collapsing it.

He lay there with a caved-in chest, coughing up blood until he finally die.

*[You have successfully killed a level-41 ninja. EXP +410]*

*[Level +1]*

Seeing these two purple notifications, Hattori let out a relieved sigh.

“Finally, it’s over!”

He stepped forward to the Jonin’s body, retrieving the orb floating above it.

*[Earth Orb (Superior): Used to synthesize Earth-based puppets for levels 40–59. Currently unusable.]*

Looking at his new acquisition, Hattori grinned.

“Seems pretty useful; hope it comes in handy later!”

Tucking the orb into his pocket, he sat down next to the Jonin’s body.

Although the battle had seemed effortless, it had actually been anything but.

Setting traps, using puppetry to manipulate corpses for surprise attacks, and landing the finishing blow—all of it had drained his mental and physical strength.

And a lot of MP.

His MP was nearly depleted, and once it ran out completely, unconsciousness would be inevitable.

Given the current state of Sand Village, if he passed out here, it was uncertain whether he’d ever wake up again.

Left with no choice, he pulled out another soldier pill.

“No other option. It’s uncomfortable, but it beats an untimely death!”

With that, he prepared to swallow the pill.

Just then, a familiar voice reached his ears.

“Ha… Hattori! Are you okay?!”

“Huh?”

Turning his head, Hattori saw Karura running toward him with her three-star fan, followed closely by Baki and Yashamaru.

Seeing them, he finally felt at ease.

“With Baki and Yashamaru back, Rasa and the others must be back too. Finally, I can get some real sleep!”

As his fatigue swept over him, Hattori’s eyes grew heavy, and he allowed them to close.

Before he drifted off completely, he faintly heard Karura’s voice, thick with tears.

“Hattori!!!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 55: The Puppeteer’s Taboo*

When Hattori woke up, the battle in Sunagakure was already over.

Facing the large returning forces of Sunagakure, the invading Iwagakure ninja realized they couldn’t stand a chance. They retreated quickly, leaving nearly a hundred bodies behind.

Though Sunagakure managed to defend the village, it couldn’t be considered a victory.

Due to inadequate defensive forces, Iwagakure shinobi were able to penetrate deeply, causing extensive destruction in a short time.

Hundreds of buildings collapsed, thousands of lives were lost, nearly ten thousand people were injured to varying degrees, and more than half of the village was affected by the ravages of war— the scale of loss was almost incalculable!

As Hattori looked around at the crowded shelter, filled with wounded, and heard the sorrowful cries and suffering, his expression grew dark and heavy.

“Damn this war!” he muttered.

Now he began to understand Third Kazekage.

In this era, a person’s strength is equated to their worth because, when facing attacks from enemies, kindness is utterly useless.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but murmur to himself.

“It seems I was wrong. I was wrong from the very beginning—I was too naive!”

“No, the one who was wrong was me.”

Just as he finished speaking, Chiyo’s tired voice came from behind him.

“If I had listened to your advice back then, things wouldn’t have come to this.”

“Sensei?”

Hearing Chiyo’s voice, Hattori immediately turned around and respectfully bowed to her.

“I’m so glad you returned safely, Sensei. Sunagakure needs you now more than ever!”

“Ha… such a comforting child.”

Chiyo chuckled softly, patting his head.

“Hattori, I’ve already heard everything. You did very well this time. You saved hope for Sunagakure. On behalf of the entire village, I thank you!”

“Heh.”

Hattori scratched his head sheepishly, embarrassed by her praise.

“It wasn’t much. I didn’t know Iwagakure would launch a sneak attack. I was just being cautious. I’m just glad Sensei isn’t upset with me for acting on my own.”

“There’s no need to be modest.”

Chiyo shook her head and smiled again.

“Ebizo told me before that you are both brave and wise. Now I see he was right. Most importantly, you care about village. That brings me much comfort.”

“Ha ha ha…”

Being praised so earnestly, Hattori could only respond with a silly grin.

Seeing this, Chiyo couldn’t help but laugh again, gently grabbing his hand.

“Come. Sensei will take you somewhere.”

“Okay!”

Hattori nodded and followed her out of the underground shelter.

As they exited, a loud voice called out nearby.

“Thank you, Lord Hattori! Thank you for saving my child!”

Turning to look, Hattori saw a middle-aged man wearing a Sunagakure forehead protector bowing deeply toward him.

“Huh?”

Before he could react, several others followed suit, bowing in gratitude just like the man.

“I’m grateful too, Lord Hattori!”

“Yes, thank you, Lord Hattori! If you ever need anything, just say the word!”

“That’s right. We’ll do anything Lord Hattori commands!”

Seeing this, Hattori was taken aback and quickly looked over at Chiyo.

“Sensei, they’re…”

“They are people who benefitted because of you.”

Chiyo smiled, patting Hattori’s head again as she explained.

“You protected the Sunagakure hospital, allowing their injured loved ones to be treated. You also safeguarded the school, sparing their children from harm. That’s why they’re so grateful to you!”

“Oh…”

Understanding her explanation, Hattori quickly raised his hand to the bowing people.

“That’s enough. I appreciate your thanks, but no need to be so formal. Get up; we still need you all to rebuild the village!”

“Yes, Lord Hattori!”

As Hattori finished speaking, everyone responded eagerly, standing up with excitement on their faces.

“Lord Hattori has spoken! Let’s work hard to restore the village!”

“Everyone, let’s not slack off. We can’t let Lord Hattori down!”

“Exactly…”

The atmosphere suddenly turned lively. Seeing this, Chiyo chuckled again.

“It seems everyone has great respect for you, Hattori. Now, let’s go. Sensei will take you to a special place.”

“Alright!”

Hattori nodded again, following her to one end of the village.

Before long, they arrived at their destination—an old, slightly rundown warehouse.

“This is it. Come inside with me!”

Chiyo opened the warehouse doors and led Hattori inside.

As they entered, rows of storage compartments greeted Hattori’s eyes.

Although the place looked worn, it was neat and clean, clearly maintained by someone regularly.

Seeing him glance around curiously, Chiyo smiled.

“This used to be Sunagakure’s supply warehouse. Since we don’t use it anymore, I converted it into the puppet combat unit’s warehouse.”

“Puppet combat unit?”

Hattori immediately understood.

“So, Sensei brought me here to set me up with a puppet?”

“Yes, that’s one way to see it.”

Chiyo smiled and nodded.

“I will indeed give you a puppet, but it won’t be a ready-made one. You can create the kind of puppet you want. Here we are!”

She stopped in front of a storage compartment and opened the door.

Immediately, rows of puppets and materials filled Hattori’s view.

“This…”

Hattori froze, looking back at Chiyo in confusion.

“Uh… Sensei, didn’t you say you wouldn’t teach me how to make puppets? Now you’re…”

“I changed my mind!”

Chiyo stepped inside and gestured to the puppets and materials around.

“You can use any of these materials as you like. The cabinet contains designs left by Sasori; you may take them with you. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me. I have only one requirement.”

“Oh… what’s that?”

“You must never use puppeteering techniques to control human corpses, not even those of enemies.”

Chiyo’s expression grew stern.

“A puppeteer must not use human corpses to create puppets or manipulate them with puppet techniques. It’s an absolute taboo for all puppeteers and must never be broken!”

*Chapter 56: Puppet Design and Creation *

Chiyo looked serious, and a hint of confusion flashed in Hattori's eyes.

"How does she know I used puppet techniques to control those corpses? No one should’ve seen that…”

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Chiyo seemed to have guessed what he was thinking and spoke again.

"I examined the bodies of those Iwa-ninjas. Some showed signs of chakra threads controlling them."

At this, she gave Hattori a slight smile.

"I hadn’t realized your talent for puppetry was so great, so I didn’t tell you about the rules. But now that you know, there can be no next time. Even ninja need to have some boundaries, understand?"

"Yes, I understand!"

Hattori immediately nodded obediently, though whether he would follow this advice was another matter.

After all, boundaries only matter if you're alive. If your life is at stake, who cares about boundaries?

Chiyo, unaware of his thoughts, was pleased by his quick agreement and nodded.

"Good, as long as you understand. You’ll stay here to learn puppet creation for a few days. I’ll make sure someone brings food to you."

"Thank you, Sensei!"

Chiyo nodded again before turning to leave the storage room.

Once she was gone, Hattori turned back into the puppet storage room and started flipping through the puppet blueprints on the shelves.

But after a quick glance, he put them back.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand them—the designs were just too basic for him to bother with.

"I thought my level 20 puppet crafting skill was low, but compared to the Sand Village's technology, my level is actually pretty high."

This realization made him chuckle.

“No wonder Sasori turned to the forbidden art of human puppets. He must’ve felt the limitations of puppet crafting.”

Hattori figured that with Sasori’s passion for puppets, it was no surprise he would turn to human puppets to break through those limitations.

Though to Sasori, human puppets were probably just another tool, so long as they could fight—no taboo there.

To Hattori, however, using human corpses as puppets was revolting and seemed twisted.

But when he used chakra to control the bodies of the Iwa-ninjas, he felt nothing wrong with it. In fact, he found that method of combat quite effective.

Recalling the terrified expressions of the Iwa-ninjas held by their comrades' corpses just before the explosive tags detonated gave him a wicked satisfaction.

How was that taboo?

Isn’t recycling a good thing?

But since Chiyo said otherwise, he had no choice but to comply.

No sense asking questions or making trouble.

After all, under someone else's roof, he had to play along.

"If I can’t use corpses, I’ll just make a few puppets. The materials are all here anyway—no sense wasting them."

With that thought, he immediately started planning what kind of puppets to create.

After a while, he had a plan.

Based on his puppet-control skill descriptions, he knew that the number of puppets he could control depended on their level.

Simply put, the higher the puppet’s level, the fewer he could control; the lower the level, the more he could control.

Using this principle, he decided to create three types of puppets.

The first would be low-level puppets, used to carry explosive tags for detonation.

The second would be mid-level puppets, meant for engaging enemies in combat.

The third would be high-level puppets, used to defend against enemy attacks.

With a solid plan in mind, he began designing the first type, a low-level puppet to carry explosive tags.

These puppets would be small, stealthy, numerous, low-cost, and able to withstand high losses.

After finalizing the specifications, he settled on two design models: spiders and lizards.

These animals were the perfect size for carrying explosive tags and were common enough to remain unnoticed during a stealth attack.

On the battlefield, who would pay attention to a tiny spider or lizard?

Even if a cautious ninja spotted one or two, there’s no way they’d locate every spider and lizard around them.

As long as one went unnoticed, Hattori would have a chance for a sneak attack.

Of course, the puppets had to be well-sealed since water could ruin an explosive tag.

With these details in mind, Hattori began his work.

Thanks to his level 20 puppet crafting skill, he was practically a master craftsman by now.

In no time, he had crafted two life-like wooden spiders and lizards.

Although their appearances differed, they had identical stats:

*[Level 1 Puppet: Attack 1, Defense 1, Durability 1, Usable with Level 1 Puppet Control, Consumes 1 MP per minute.]*

The low level was intentional.

Both the spider and lizard puppets were simple, with hollowed-out interiors coated in waterproof tung oil and moveable limbs attached.

Structurally, they were more like wooden toys than sophisticated puppets.

The only true difference was whether they carried an explosive tag inside.

"All right, the first type is done. Now onto the second!"

Placing the finished puppets aside, Hattori started designing the second type—a mid-level puppet for close combat.

This puppet needed to be medium-sized, agile, fast, and versatile, able to both fight and flee as needed, or gang up on an opponent in numbers.

After refining the design, an image of a dashing, sword-wielding figure flashed through Hattori’s mind, making his eyes light up.

"In honor of my glory days in the arena, the mid-level puppet shall be you—the Unstoppable Sword Master!"

Having made his decision, he immediately took out paper and pen and started sketching, lines flowing smoothly on the page.

"If I’m doing this, I’ll do it right. Performance can be the same, but appearances will be unique, and skins have to be included. Strength may be temporary, but style is forever!"

As he sketched, he muttered to himself.

"Unification of Heaven and Man, Soul of the Warrior, Ruthless Swordsman, Project: Forest, Starforged Sword, Sword Legend… Ah, so cool, I’m practically drooling…"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 57: Crafting the Puppet *

In creating the ultimate puppet of the Sword Master he envisioned, Hattori started sketching out the design, keeping the key traits of the Sword Master in mind. As a master who once dominated battles, Hattori quickly identified three core aspects of Sword Master, speed, fierceness, and endurance.

Speed meant his ability to strike fast. His attack speed was swift, his dodges were quick, and his strikes were faster than any opponent—he could deliver two slashes for every one by others.

Fierceness referred to the intensity of his attacks. No matter who his opponent was, he would charge in and land multiple slashes, each with critical hits and added damage, taking down enemies and structures alike.

Endurance highlighted his survivability. With his meditation skill, he could heal mid-battle, recover, and jump right back into the fight.

Considering these traits, Hattori ruled out complicated mechanisms in his puppet's design. The Sword Master relies solely on his sword—relying on hidden weaponry wouldn’t embody a true Sword Master!

Once he settled on the basics, he thought about materials. Most puppets are made of wood, which is readily available and lightweight. Metal would make the puppet much too heavy, hindering both movement and control.

Initially, Hattori considered wood but ultimately decided on bamboo. Bamboo is lighter, stronger, and more flexible, ideal for a puppet that needed to be fast and agile.

With bamboo as the main material, his next focus was the weapon. The choice was obvious: a longsword. Hattori’s storage held many ninja blades, with decent materials suitable for his needs. He chose two swords for his Sword Master puppet, one in each hand, coated with poison for double the damage.

This choice fulfilled the “fierce” aspect perfectly.

As for endurance, that was simple. Puppets don’t have health points; they have durability. So, Hattori decided to reinforce it—bamboo on the inside, a cloth cover for dust resistance, and an outer ninja armor layer to protect against slashes and stabs.

With the design ready, construction was straightforward. Hattori rolled up his sleeves and assembled the Sword Master puppet in no time, then began decorating it. Two hours later, a formidable Sword Master puppet stood complete.

*[Level 20 Puppet: Attack 200, Defense 100, Durability 100, requires Level 20 puppet control, consumes 20 MP per minute.]*

High attack, high defense, and high durability—it met Hattori’s expectations perfectly. With his current Level 30 puppet control, he could manage up to 15 of these puppets simultaneously!

However, controlling multiple puppets didn’t mean he could bring out the full potential of each one. Just like in Summoner’s Rift, some players excel while others struggle.

Hattori understood this well. So, looking at the puppet he had just created, a thought struck him.

“If I only control one, I could bring out the full potential, but handling multiple at once would be tough. They’d just end up as disposable weapons. If only I had a keyboard and mouse like before... Wait, a keyboard and mouse?”

A sudden flash of inspiration struck him, and he clapped his hands in excitement.

“Right! If I can control the puppet with chakra threads, why not create a ninja tool specifically to manage these threads for better puppet control?”

He hurried back to his desk and started sketching. “To make puppet control easier, it should be an all-in-one device. A keyboard and mouse might not work, but a joystick and buttons like an arcade setup could do the trick.”

Mumbling to himself, he sketched several joysticks and buttons on paper.

“These joysticks would control each puppet’s movement and direction, and the buttons would manage their attacks. Each button would represent a specific move—A for horizontal slashes, B for vertical slashes, C for diagonal cuts, D for thrusts…”

Within moments, he had designed a “super arcade controller” with ten joysticks and forty buttons. Hattori looked at his creation with satisfaction.

“Yes! With this, I can fully unleash the strength of ten Sword Master puppets simultaneously! The only issue is…”

“The lack of chakra-conductive metal!” a voice interrupted from behind. Hattori, absorbed in his work, was startled back to reality.

“Teacher? When did you get here?”

“I just arrived!” Chiyo smiled and handed him a lunchbox. “Here, I brought you some lunch. Eat up!”

“Thank you, Teacher!” Hattori accepted the box, opened it, and began eating, savoring every bite.

Watching him eat with delight, Chiyo’s face softened with a gentle smile. When he finished, she took the box, and spoke to him.

“The tool you designed won’t work with ordinary materials since they can’t conduct chakra. Without that, you can’t control the puppet.”

“Huh? Then what should I do?” Hattori asked quickly. “Isn’t there any other way?”

“There is! You can use chakra-conductive metal,” Chiyo replied with a laugh. “It’s very rare, though. Even in Sunagakure, it’s hard to come by. But since you protected the hospital and school, using it as a reward would be well-deserved!”

Hattori’s eyes lit up with excitement at her words.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 58: Puppet Design and Creation *

How precious is chakra-conducting metal? Just look at Konoha’s Asuma Sarutobi. His father is Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of Konoha Village, and he himself is a Jonin of the Konoha Ninja Village, as well as a young clan leader of the Sarutobi family.

Despite his prestigious background, the chakra-conducting metal he possesses is only enough for two knuckle blades. For most people, even a tiny amount of this metal is incredibly difficult to acquire, let alone forging a weapon entirely from it. At best, some rare alloyed weapons might contain a trace, crafted to enhance a beloved weapon’s power.

Stone understood this rarity, so when he learned that Lady Chiyo planned to reward him with some, he felt like he could fly from joy. “That’s amazing! I just hope it’s enough. If there isn’t much, I’ll have to make the control levers and buttons a bit smaller.”

Caught in a mix of excitement and worry, Stone didn’t notice Chiyo’s sly smile as she turned and walked off with an empty lunch box. Once Chiyo left, Stone came to his senses and smacked his thigh. “What am I thinking? The puppet isn’t even finished yet! No time to waste daydreaming!”

Only one of his Sword Master puppets was completed, and he still had eleven Puppet left to create! Plus, maintaining the Yin Seal took a lot of energy, meaning he had to sleep to recharge his chakra reserves. With time so limited, he really couldn’t afford to dawdle.

With renewed focus, he returned to his puppet work. Deep in concentration, he didn’t realize that the schematic he had just finished drawing had vanished. Meanwhile, Chiyo, already outside the warehouse, pulled drawing from her sleeve with admiration.

“What a genius! This design is simply out of this world—revolutionary, even. With such talent, he’s sure to become a master puppeteer, maybe even reach Monzaemon’s level.”

Monzaemon was the founder of puppet techniques, so her compliment meant a great deal. But Hattori was unaware of this high praise as he worked on the second Sword Master puppet.

As the saying goes, “Once you’ve done it once, it gets easier.” With his first puppet’s experience under his belt, the second one was coming together much faster. Since the storeroom had plenty of semi-finished materials, he only needed to modify them slightly for the Sword Master puppet. And without complicated mechanisms, it was essentially a well-crafted doll once armed.

After another half hour, the second Sword Master puppet was assembled. Then, he spent an additional hour and a half giving it a customized finish—essentially adding a new skin. With such a simple structure, it had to look stylish to deserve its Level 20 puppet rank.

Time flew by as he worked. Just as he finished the third Sword Master puppet, he heard Mizusuna calling at the door.

“Master Hattori, I’ve brought your meal!”

“Oh, come in!” Hattori stretched and yawned as Mizusuna entered, handing over a hot bento box.

“It’s still warm, Master Hattori, so eat up before it gets cold!”

“Thanks!” Hattori took the bento and began eating, nodding as he tasted it.

“Not bad! Mizusuna, your cooking’s really improved—it’s almost as good as Karura’s!”

With a giggle, Mizusuna replied, “Actually, Lady Karura made it herself!”

“Ah, that explains why it tastes so familiar… The tofu’s really great!”

Hattori quickly finished the bento and handed the empty box back to Mizusuna.

“I’m full. You can head back. I’ll be here for a while, so keep an eye on things at the hospital and let me know if there are any issues.”

“Understood, Master Hattori. Take care!”

After Mizusuna left, Hattori jumped back into puppet-making, now on his fourth Sword Master. Outside, the sky had begun to darken, but he hadn’t noticed; he was too absorbed in his work. It wasn’t until fatigue hit him that he realized his chakra was almost depleted. Startled, he set the puppet aside and went to bed to recover.

He slept until midday, waking only when Mizusuna arrived with his next meal.

“Master Hattori, time to eat!”

“Mmm…” Yawning, Hattori rubbed his eyes and got up, sleepily washed his face, and took the bento from Mizusuna, eating in a half-asleep daze.

When he finished, rice grains clung to his face, making Mizusuna chuckle as she wiped it with a towel.

“You work so hard, Master Hattori! It’s okay to take it easy once in a while!”

“That’s not an option!” he replied with a shake of his head. “Once I decide to do something, I have to finish it quickly, or I’ll just pile up more work and never get to rest.”

He slapped his face lightly to perk himself up, then struck a triumphant pose.

“I’m a puppeteer! I love making puppets. Crafting puppets makes me happy. I’m completely absorbed in it!” He finished with a loud hiccup.

Mizusuna: “…”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 59: Rewards and Gratitude*

In the days that followed, Hattori didn't leave his puppet storage room, focusing entirely on crafting twelve unique Sword Master puppets. The storage room had no windows, and with no view of the outside, he lost track of time. But that didn't matter to him. When he was hungry, Mizusuna would bring him food. After eating, he would continue working on his puppets. If he got tired, there was a bed in the storage room for him to rest before he resumed crafting.

Once the Sword Master puppets were finished, he moved on to creating lower-level spider and lizard puppets. Through this work, Hattori proved his earlier words: his obsession with puppet-making was unwavering.

It was only with Chiyo’s return that Hattori was finally brought out of this state.

"Hattori, I’ve brought what you asked for!"

"What I asked for?" Hattori, pausing in his puppet-making, was momentarily confused but then his eyes lit up. "Is it chakra-conducting metal?"

Excited, he turned to look at Chiyo. But when he saw what she held, he froze once again.

"Isn’t this... the puppet controller I designed?"

Indeed, in Chiyo’s hands wasn’t chakra metal but a completed controller device, something Hattori had designed to manipulate multiple puppets simultaneously! Originally, he’d planned to use the chakra metal to craft parts and assemble the device himself. He’d never expected Chiyo to have it fully made—and even more refined than his own design!

He was thrilled beyond words.

"Teacher, is this... really for me?"

Seeing how happy he was, Chiyo couldn’t help but laugh.

"Of course it’s for you! I said it would be your reward for defending the village. Take it!"

She placed the controller, about the size of a keyboard, directly in his hands.

As he held it, she continued, "To make this controller, I had to use all the village’s chakra-conducting metal. Now, I’m entrusting it to you—use it well!"

"I will!" Hattori said, nodding and bowing gratefully. "Thank you, Teacher!"

"Haha, you’re always so polite!" Chiyo chuckled and lifted him up. "This is a reward from the village; it’s what you’ve earned, so there’s no need to be so formal with me. Besides, as your teacher, I have a personal gift for you!"

"Huh?" Hattori was taken aback. "A gift from you?"

"Yes!"

Chiyo nodded and pulled out a black scroll, about a meter long, from her sleeve and placed it in his hands.

"Carrying puppets around isn’t easy, so I made this sealing scroll to store them. Keep it safe and use it well!"

"Thank you, Teacher!" Hattori thanked her again and promised, "I’ll make good use of it; you have my word!"

"I trust you," Chiyo replied with a gentle smile, ruffling his hair before turning to leave.

After she left, Hattori looked down at the two items in his hands.

- *Puppet Controller*: An auxiliary puppet tool that reduces MP consumption by half when controlling puppets.

- *Advanced Puppet Sealing Scroll*: A scroll personally crafted by Chiyo, capable of sealing a single puppet up to level 70 or multiple puppets with a combined level of up to 700.

After reading the descriptions of the two items, Hattori couldn’t help but feel moved.

"Chiyo-sensei has been incredibly generous to me," he thought.

Hattori had learned the value of sealing scrolls during previous visits to the ninja tool shop. Even an ordinary explosive tag—an expendable item—cost around 2,000 ryo per tag. The scroll Chiyo gifted him could seal high-level puppets and be reused repeatedly; its worth was astronomical. It would take him years of saving to afford something of this caliber. Clearly, his teacher’s kindness was beyond repayment with a simple ‘thank you.’

"To make this scroll, she must have given her all. She truly cares about me. I’m so lucky to have her as my teacher," Hattori thought, grinning.

"Well, I’ll find a way to repay her someday. There’ll be plenty of opportunities for that in the future!"

With that, he opened the sealing scroll and proceeded to seal his newly made Sword Master puppets, along with a sizable assortment of spider and lizard puppets. The scroll still had nearly half its capacity remaining, so he decided to seal a few dozen unfinished puppet components, which he could later use for assembly or repairs.

Satisfied, Hattori closed the scroll, tied it up, and slung it over his back.

"Alright, that should do it!"

He took a few steps, looked at the scroll on his back, and laughed to himself.

"All the top ninjas carry a scroll! The First Hokage had one, Jiraiya had one, Naruto had one—and now I have one too! I’ll take that as a good omen."

In high spirits, he decided it was time to step out and get some fresh air. As for his original plan to make a third type of puppet, he decided to put it on hold.

It wasn’t due to laziness, but he felt he wasn’t skilled enough to attempt a defensive puppet. His idea for the third puppet was a high-level defensive puppet meant to shield him from enemy attacks. It would need to be sturdy, spacious enough for a person, and agile.

After all, he wanted a defensive puppet, not a coffin.

Most importantly, the puppet would need to allow him to control his other puppets while sheltered inside it. This mix of offense, defense, and flexibility was beyond his current level 20 puppet-making skill.

"I have a feeling I’ll get there soon enough," he thought with a grin.

Then, he strode to the storage room door, pushed it open, and stepped into the sunlight.

"What a beautiful day!" he exclaimed, glancing at the sky and narrowing his eyes against the brightness.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 60: Unnoticed Rise in Status

After several days of hard work, the village of Sunagakure showed considerable improvement, even though it had been left in ruins by the attack from Iwa-nin. While many of the damaged houses remained unrepaired, the roads had been cleared, and numerous tents were set up on open ground to provide temporary shelter for displaced villagers.

Though the village had regained a degree of peace, the scars left by war were not so easily healed. The Iwa-nin attack had thoroughly enraged Sunagakure, and the demand for revenge was growing louder and louder.

This response was only natural. After all, in the age-old logic of justice, a life is repaid with a life, a debt with payment. Forgiveness was out of the question; blood could only be repaid with blood.

"The great war is on the horizon," Hattori thought as he glanced at the faces around him, all marked with hatred. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion.

"The Third Great Ninja War is a continuation of the Second, and the disappearance of the Third Kazekage is the fuse that ignites it. Can the story really be that hard to change?" he murmured to himself, a trace of helplessness passing across his face.

"No, maybe it's not that the plot can't be changed, but that I’m too weak to change anything. But one day, I will change it all…"

As he spoke, his hand unconsciously reached for the scroll strapped to his back, and a sharp glint flickered in his eyes. "Definitely!"

With this resolve, Hattori’s expression turned firm, and his stride became noticeably quicker and more purposeful.

First, he went to the hospital in Sunagakure. The original hospital had been destroyed by Iwa-nin, and repairs would take some time, so medical operations were temporarily relocated to an underground shelter. This setup had an advantage, as it was easier to accommodate the injured and prevent further ambushes from the enemy.

When he arrived, the hospital was bustling with activity. The supervisor, Mizusuna, was especially busy. Fortunately, they had set up a medical emergency unit with personnel selected from the ninja academy. Without them, the situation would be even worse.

Seeing everyone working so hard, Hattori couldn’t just leave without lending a hand. He made his rounds, demonstrating various bandaging techniques to the emergency medics, and used his healing jutsu on several severely injured patients. Once he had nearly exhausted his chakra, he left the hospital amid looks of admiration from the others and headed toward Karura’s home.

The area where Karura’s home was located had been relatively less damaged, thanks to Hattori’s strategic maneuvers during their fight. Although most of the houses had survived, some of them were nearly empty, their contents used by Hattori to fuel the signal fires he had set. At the time, the crisis had warranted it, but now that things had settled, he felt a bit guilty. He didn’t have any money to repay the villagers, but he figured the village itself could handle the reimbursement. "Until that’s sorted out, I’d better steer clear so I don’t get caught up in an awkward situation," he thought.

Changing course, Hattori turned and headed for the Kazekage’s office building, which had taken the brunt of the Iwa-nin attack. The upper floors, marked with the character for “Wind,” were almost entirely destroyed, so all village business was temporarily conducted on the lower floors.

As he arrived, a few Sand-nin were just leaving after picking up their assignments. When they saw Hattori, they immediately bowed in respect. "Lord Hattori, good to see you! Thank you for protecting the village! If there’s anything you need, just let us know," they said.

Smiling and waving a hand dismissively, Hattori replied, "No need to be so formal. I only did what was necessary. I’m here to see my teacher, so go ahead with your tasks."

"Yes, Lord Hattori!" they responded, bowing again before leaving. The guards at the entrance then saluted him with deference.

"Lord Hattori, Advisor Chiyo is currently in a meeting. I’ll take you to her," one of the guards offered.

"Thank you," Hattori replied, following the guard into the Kazekage’s building toward the meeting room.

Since the meeting was in session, the door to the room was tightly shut. The guard knocked on the door, which opened slightly, and a hushed voice asked, "What’s going on?"

"It’s Lord Hattori. He has a matter to discuss with Advisor Chiyo."

The door opened, and a Sand-nin stepped out, bowing to Hattori. "Lord Hattori, Advisor Chiyo is in a meeting, but I’ve sent word to her. Please wait a moment."

"Sure," Hattori nodded, understanding.

It wasn’t long before the meeting room door opened again. A Sand-nin came out, bowed, and said, "Lord Hattori, Advisor Chiyo will see you now."

"Me, inside?" Hattori was taken aback but nodded after a moment. "Alright, I understand. I'll head in. You all carry on."

The Sand-nin bowed, and Hattori waved them off before stepping into the meeting room.

The council chamber of Sunagakure was designed much like a Western parliamentary hall. At the head was the Kazekage’s seat, flanked by three large statues of previous Kazekages. Photos of the First, Second, and Third Kazekage adorned the walls. Two advisor seats were positioned beside the Kazekage’s seat, while other senior leaders’ seats circled outward.

With most of the seats empty, Hattori quickly spotted Chiyo, who beckoned him over. "Hattori, come here," she called out.

"Yes," Hattori replied, approaching her. But before he could speak, Chiyo gestured to the seat beside her. "Sit here!"

“Uh…” Hattori hesitated, eyeing the seat beside her with a sheepish grin. "Teacher, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to sit here? Maybe I should just stand."

"Haha," Chiyo’s brother, Ebizo, chuckled, turning to his sister. "See? I told you—he’s talented and more mature than most his age!"

"Yes, very much so," Chiyo agreed with a smile as she looked at Hattori and his scroll. "Now, sit down already. You’re not only my student but also a jonin, personally appointed by the Third Kazekage. You’re the head of the emergency medical unit and the future head of the Sunagakure Medical Department. You have every right to be here!"

"Uh…" Hattori looked at the seat that symbolized a position of high authority in Sunagakure, his face a mixture of confusion and surprise.

"When did I become this important without even noticing?"