So Does That Mean I Can Collect Two Salaries?

"We were just about to go out for a meal."

Sasori raised his eyes and looked at Chiyo.

Chiyo's heart stirred.

Sasori's gaze seemed a little more lively than before.

"Haha, good. Then you two wouldn't mind adding this old woman to the table, would you? It's on me."

"Sis, why not add me too? It's not like you're short on that little bit of money."

Ebizo said with a chuckle.

Ebizo thought highly of Shimizu and was willing to support him.

He possessed exceptional talent in Puppet Technique, was friends with his grandnephew Sasori, and belonged to the Puppet Force—the last point alone naturally placed Shimizu within Chiyo and Ebizo's faction.

The food at Sunagakure's best restaurant was actually quite good.

There were drinks made from cactus and honey, pastries made from grains and dates, stews prepared with meat, vegetables, and spices, as well as grilled food.

There was even soup made with river fish and shrimp.

This was probably the finest food people living in the desert could enjoy.

"What's that child's background?"

After Shimizu and Sasori left, Chiyo wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and asked Ebizo.

"Shimizu and Sasori are in the same squad. I arranged it."

Ebizo slowly poured himself a cup of sake and spoke to Chiyo.

"That child's background is clean enough, and he has excellent talent in Puppet Technique. Though his control isn't among the very best, it's still decent. But his talent for puppet construction reminds me of Teacher Monzaemon."

Chiyo put away her handkerchief.

"Are you sure?"

Having received Monzaemon's guidance alongside Ebizo in her youth, Chiyo understood better than anyone just how extraordinary Monzaemon's talent in Puppet Technique had been.

Puppeteers were a ninja profession invented by the Second Kazekage, but the one who had truly perfected the system and taken it to its limit was Monzaemon.

Even after all these years, Sunagakure still had no Puppeteer capable of creating puppets that surpassed the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu.

Those ten supreme puppets, along with a legacy that could allow Puppeteers to become Kage-level experts, were the most precious wealth Monzaemon had left to Sunagakure and the entire ninja world.

Later generations of Puppeteers, Chiyo included, had all followed the paths Monzaemon left behind to become top experts in the ninja world.

Although Puppet Technique had developed somewhat in the years since Monzaemon's death, it had never escaped his system, nor had anyone managed any major innovation.

That doomed later generations to only ever approach Monzaemon's heights, never reach or surpass them.

Yet Ebizo was saying that a child barely eleven or twelve years old possessed Puppet Technique talent equal to Monzaemon's. It was like claiming that a student who had just graduated elementary school possessed a gift for physics comparable to Newton or Einstein.

"Not just Shimizu. I actually think Sasori might also become that kind of Puppeteer, provided they receive enough training and don't die young."

Ebizo took a bundle of scrolls from his sleeve and handed them to Chiyo.

"These contain all information on Shimizu from his birth until now, as well as Sasori's performance since entering the Puppet Force."

Chiyo took them and began skimming through them.

"Graduated from the Ninja Academy's elite class, modified training puppets into puppets with qualified Genin combat strength, repaired and created Chunin-level puppets capable of covering a Puppeteer's entire body for protection, developed an unknown puppet super-strength ninjutsu, and Sasori's performance is good as well... There was even an S-rank mission... Wait? White Fang? They encountered the Konoha White Fang?"

Chiyo grabbed Ebizo by the collar.

"How could you let Sasori encounter that bastard White Fang?!"

"Sis, it was an accident. No one could have expected Hatake Sakumo to break through the border alone and appear within the Land of Wind. And judging by the outcome, no one was killed. Hatake Sakumo was seriously injured by the Third Kazekage, and even Ishido, who was hurt the worst, will fully recover next month. This was already the best possible result."

"When the Puppet Force goes to the Land of Rain this time, Sasori won't be going with them. And from now on, every mission assigned to Sasori must be reviewed by this old woman first."

"I understand, Sis. In that case, Captain Ishido is still recovering and cannot return to his post, Miyaki is not yet qualified to serve as a Jonin, and Shimizu is also a talent who needs special protection. If we're sending new Puppet Force members to the battlefield for experience, I suggest temporarily breaking up the Sixth Division Third Squad's formation."

Ebizo moved Chiyo's hand away and made his suggestion.

"This old woman will personally arrange for that boy Shimizu to be evaluated in other squads. If he truly is as you say, this old woman will spare no effort in cultivating him into the next pillar of the Puppet Force."

Ever since Sasori's father and mother had been killed by Hatake Sakumo, Sunagakure's top experts had suffered a generational gap. Besides dealing with the war and plundering resources, nurturing promising members of the next generation had become the most important task for Sunagakure's upper ranks.

The Third Kazekage had already taken Rasa and Karura as disciples and was teaching them Magnet Release. Chiyo and Ebizo also had to pass down Monzaemon's Puppet Technique legacy.

Shimizu and Sasori were currently the best candidates.

"Starting today, the Sixth Division Third Squad's formation will be temporarily dissolved and reorganized once Captain Ishido recovers and returns. I've been transferred to the First Division to assist in combat. Miyuki has been assigned to Elder Chiyo's newly formed Medical Support Squad. Sasori will remain in the Sixth Division to maintain its basic operations while awaiting Captain Ishido's return."

At the Puppet Force base, within the Sixth Division's station, Miyaki held the newly issued orders from the upper ranks and announced them to the Sixth Division's members.

"As for Shimizu, in consideration of his qualifying past achievements and the village higher-ups' recognition of his overall combat ability, he has been promoted to Chunin and transferred to the Elite Combat Force's Ninth Squad. With this letter of appointment, he may exchange for a standard combat vest at the village's logistics warehouse."

"All of you will retain your Puppet Force affiliations."

Sasori stood to one side with an indifferent expression, his eyes carrying an unreadable meaning.

Everyone else had been transferred away, while he alone had been left behind. From the look of it, they intended to bind him to the village and keep him from setting foot on dangerous battlefields.

Everyone knew who had done this.

"Um... what exactly is this Medical Support Squad?"

Miyuki raised her hand and asked.

"I heard that on the Land of Rain battlefield, Konoha's Princess Tsunade trained a group of Medical Ninja with outstanding medical abilities, greatly changing the situation on the battlefield. Elder Chiyo has therefore decided to imitate the idea on a trial basis and establish a Medical Squad. Miyuki, you have a foundation in Medical Ninjutsu, so you were assigned to it."

Miyaki explained.

Of everyone present, aside from Sasori, Miyuki's assignment was clearly the safest.

"Um, retaining my Puppet Force affiliation means I can collect two salaries, right?"

Shimizu raised his hand as well and asked.