Black Secret Technique

This was actually easy to understand.

It was roughly like playing a game. Normally, a person could only control one hero at a time. As for whether they could fully bring out that hero's strength and complexity, that was another matter.

The Black Secret Technique allowed one person to control multiple heroes at once, while bringing their own full skill level to bear on each one. It was equivalent to doubling or tripling one's combat power.

"The key lies not only in the Black Secret Technique's more advanced methods of using Chakra Threads, but also in how it draws upon the Shadow Clone Technique's method of using Chakra's properties to separate consciousness. It is extremely difficult. Therefore, every Black Secret Technique is equivalent to a B-rank or higher ninjutsu. Anyone who can master one proficiently is at least an elite among Chunin."

"Of course, this technique is less dangerous than the Shadow Clone Technique. When a shadow clone is released, all of its sensations and memories return to the original body in an instant. For most ninja, that is extremely dangerous, especially on the battlefield. Without a sufficiently resilient will, they cannot endure such a massive influx of information."

"The Black Secret Technique also places a considerable burden on the mind, but it is gradual. The user can stop before they are unable to continue, so it is still quite safe to practice. Moreover, once you become proficient in the Black Secret Technique, you can actually learn the Shadow Clone Technique rather easily."

"Next, I will explain the different methods of using Chakra Threads in the Black Secret Technique. After recording them, you are not permitted to share them with others..."

Shimizu silently wrote down every word from the instructor on his scroll, his pen moving swiftly.

Beside him, Sasori was doing the same.

Both he and Sasori had joined the Puppet Force's Sixth Division.

After gathering information, weighing his options several times, and asking Jonin Momi for advice on several occasions, Shimizu had ultimately decided on the Sixth Division.

During the selection, Shimizu's talent for Puppet Technique had stood out among a group of outstanding Puppeteers. The only one who could compare to him was Sasori, who was two years younger.

As a result, the terms offered by every division had been quite good. They were not necessarily worse than the B-rank Little Boy puppet.

However, the Sixth Division truly was the division most suited to him.

What finally made Shimizu decide was Sasori's invitation.

A few days earlier, Sasori had come to find him and invited him to join the Sixth Division with him. His reason was that he wanted to defeat Shimizu in their next match, and it would be more convenient if they were both in the Sixth Division.

Even Elder Chiyo's grandson had joined the Sixth Division. Whatever else could be said, the Sixth Division was definitely, as Ishido had previously claimed, the safest division in the Puppet Force.

Only after the final lesson ended could they be considered true members of the Puppet Force.

The files they had previously submitted to the Puppet Force, as well as the orders issued by Sunagakure's upper ranks, truly took effect at this moment.

Sure enough, after joining the Puppet Force, my status in Sunagakure has risen, and my importance in the entire world has increased as well.

Walking down the corridor, Shimizu remained calm as he shifted part of his attention to the System Panel.

At that moment, the progress bar shot upward. It raced from 17.9 percent to 34.8 percent before slowing down, though it continued inching forward.

"We're here."

Sasori's indifferent voice pulled Shimizu's attention away from the System Panel.

They had arrived at the Sixth Division's base within the Puppet Force headquarters.

From the outside, it looked like a factory of moderate size, built entirely from hard stone.

Sunagakure was poor, and trees in the desert were precious. Most buildings did not use wood as their primary material, relying instead on stone and compacted sand and earth.

"Aha, the newcomers are finally here! Now I'm a senior too!"

The moment they pushed open the main doors, an energetic female voice rang out.

Shimizu looked over and found two men and a woman standing not far away.

The girl who had spoken wore white face paint similar to Nohara Rin's, while a band of white cloth wrapped around the top of her head, binding her hair in place. She looked to be fifteen or sixteen.

"Ahem, Miyuki, I heard these newcomers have powerful backing, so you'd better not think about throwing your weight around as a senior."

Beside the girl called Miyuki stood a young man dressed in a similar style, perhaps two years older than her. Their features bore some resemblance.

The remaining person was Jonin Ishido, whom they had met before.

"You two finally made it. Let me introduce everyone. This is Third Squad of the Sixth Division. I'm your captain, as well as the Sixth Division's vice captain, Jonin Ishido."

Ishido folded his arms and gave a formal introduction.

"My name is Miyuki. I'm a Chunin. I specialize in Earth Release and know some basic Medical Ninjutsu."

"I am Miyaki, a Special Jonin and Miyuki's older brother. I am also Captain Ishido's assistant. I specialize in Wind Release and Earth Release."

The other two members smiled warmly at Shimizu and Sasori as they introduced themselves.

"Shimizu, Genin. I specialize in... uh, other than Puppet Technique, there's nothing else I'm particularly good at."

Shimizu shook hands with the team members as he spoke.

Other than Puppet Technique, his Taijutsu, ninjutsu, and the like were only above average among Genin. They were not particularly outstanding.

"Sasori, Genin. Same as him."

Sasori remained as cold as ever, and his introduction was equally brief.

When it came to people or things that did not interest him, his emotions were always exceedingly flat.

"This is what I was keeping for you."

Ishido handed Shimizu the Sealing Scroll that had been strapped to his back.

Inside was the puppet they had agreed on earlier: Little Boy.

"Also, Sasori, there's something your grandmother said to give you once you joined the Puppet Force."

Ishido then pulled out a notebook from his Ninja Tool Bag.

"Elder Chiyo said this copy of the Human Puppet Creation Notes had to be handed directly to you."

Sasori stared at the familiar handwriting on the cover and froze slightly.

"I understand."

For Shimizu, the best thing about joining the Puppet Force was gaining access to advanced Puppet Technique knowledge, such as the Black Secret Technique.

Second was the fact that Puppet Force members could purchase certain items from the Puppet Force warehouse at internal prices.

This would allow Shimizu to buy materials at lower prices and improve his puppets.

Not just Fatty, but Tom as well.

A puppet weighing no more than fifteen kilograms was considered a benefit for the Puppeteers who had taken part in that training selection.

However, Shimizu was in no rush to modify his puppets.

He planned to learn more before doing so.

The System Panel was merely a tool that allowed him to perfectly create puppets at the limit of his knowledge and materials in the shortest possible time.