Puppeteer? I'll Fucking Rampage!

The legend of the man has left the Jianghu, yet his tale still echoes throughout it.

In the days that followed, Rasa kept a low profile, focusing on honing his abilities. However, his duel with Pakura had set Sunagakure ablaze with gossip.

Yashamaru, the number one Rasa fanboy, had turned himself into a human megaphone. He told everyone he met about how Rasa had single-handedly crushed Pakura, as if he were the one who had won the fight instead of Rasa.

Although Rasa hadn't shown his face, the other Sunagakure shinobi kept probing Pakura with indirect questions. From her silence and lack of rebuttal, they gleaned a shocking truth: Rasa's strength had skyrocketed, and even elite jonin couldn't last more than a few exchanges against him.

There were many names for a powerhouse of this caliber: a warrior beyond the jonin level, a strategic-grade combatant, a force capable of shifting the tide of a local campaign...

But the most familiar term of all was—Kage-level powerhouse!

The Sunagakure shinobi were stirred into a frenzy. This meant that the village had taken another step forward in high-end combat power. Following Chiyo, the Kazekage, and the jinchuriki Bunpuku, Sunagakure now possessed another top-tier expert.

Soon, word reached the Kazekage's office.

Chiyo and Ebizo, astonished by the sudden leap in Rasa's strength, summoned him to the office for questioning.

When Rasa pushed open the Space Gate and they caught their first glimpse of him, both of them became convinced that the rumors were true!

Though his face looked slightly weary, he radiated a confidence from within that could infect everyone around him, making them believe that he could do it, that he could succeed.

He looked heroic and spirited!

This was intentional on Rasa's part. Emotions are infectious, and so is confidence. Ascending to the position of Kazekage served his interests, allowing him to reshape the ninja world more easily and accumulate points.

Therefore, he had to project a confident, powerful image and display his personal charisma, much like the founding monarchs in history books, or perhaps that certain failed art student.

He looked up at the office. The Kazekage, played by Ebizo using a transformation technique, sat in the center, with Chiyo seated to the side.

Rasa asked, "Is there something you need, Elder Chiyo?"

No internal spies.

Chiyo nodded with gratification. She looked Rasa over, her kind eyes filled with satisfaction, and said, "There are indeed a few things I would like to trouble you with.

But before that, we want to know: exactly what level has your strength reached?"

"It's hard to describe. In short, it's higher than before," Rasa replied after a moment of contemplation.

Chiyo asked again, "How much higher?"

"About three or four stories high, I suppose."

Chiyo nodded, pretending to understand. If Lu Yu were here, she'd probably say, "Really? I don't believe you."

"Would you like to spar with me? It would improve your experience in fighting Kage-level powerhouses and prevent you from making unnecessary mistakes due to carelessness in the future."

Chiyo proposed this, her words filled with the intent to mentor Rasa.

War was inevitable; it would happen in the near future. Sunagakure's subtle maneuvers couldn't be hidden from others for long.

But preparations had to be made before the war. If they did nothing, pretending that nothing was happening and deceiving themselves, what would they do when the truth came out and the enemy attacked?

Should the elders guard the village gates while the Kazekage dies for the state?

That wouldn't work. It was like football tactics; in the original plot, Sunagakure played like headless chickens, getting pinned in their own penalty area and bombarded before dying in a desperate defense.

If they knew the Kazekage was dead and still did nothing, they would be setting up their defense in their own penalty area, waiting to be bombarded by the enemy.

What Sunagakure needed to do was prepare as much as possible, building a counterattack on the foundation of defense so the enemy couldn't attack with their full strength.

Rasa was a crucial link. Soldier against soldier, general against general. A Kage-level powerhouse exerted too much pressure on ordinary shinobi; trying to stall one with numbers would undoubtedly come at a heavy price.

Sunagakure didn't have many shinobi to begin with. Even if they used puppet masters to pad the numbers, they couldn't scrape together many. Once the enemy deployed a Kage-level powerhouse, Sunagakure would suffer heavy losses, and the situation would become completely passive.

Chiyo didn't want to pay such a huge price, so she wanted to push Rasa to the front lines once the war started. On one hand, it would neutralize one of the enemy's top generals.

On the other hand, she wanted Rasa to build merit so he could succeed as the Kazekage.

"Elder Chiyo is a puppet master, right?"

Rasa asked with a meaningful tone, "I'd like to ask, do your puppets contain metal parts?"

"Of course they do."

Chiyo didn't understand his intent, but she answered anyway, "It's impossible to have a puppet that doesn't use any metal.

The various joints, connection points, and even the core and frame of a puppet require high-strength, high-durability metal to construct.

Even the strings used to control the puppets are mostly made of special metal wire.

Otherwise, not only would the puppets lack lethality, but they would also be difficult to control, easily destroyed, and prone to severe wear and tear."

"Including human puppets?" Rasa asked again.

Chiyo frowned slightly. Human puppets were a special type invented by her grandson, Sasori of the Red Sands, a topic she had always wanted to avoid.

But since Rasa had asked, Chiyo could only reply, "Including human puppets, it is impossible to have a puppet that doesn't use any metal.

Or rather, as long as it is a puppet, it will definitely use precision metal components."

Rasa nodded in realization, feeling the loneliness of a master, and said, "Then there's no need to spar with you, Elder. It wouldn't provide me with any training value."

True internal-war expert.

As long as the opponent is a puppet master, don't tell me who they are, and don't tell me how many of them there are.

I am absolutely invincible, slaughtering everyone in my path, lonely in my quest for a worthy opponent. If only puppeteers were the mainstream of the ninja world.

Chiyo looked displeased. She exchanged a glance with Ebizo, feeling a slight resentment toward Rasa. He was far too arrogant, showing no regard for a Kage-level puppeteer like her.

Ebizo, transformed into the Kazekage, coughed twice to ease the tension and advised Rasa, "Rasa, we know your strength has improved significantly."

"However, do not underestimate the heroes of the ninja world. Elder Chiyo is also a Kage-level powerhouse, no weaker than your teacher."

"Confidence is a good thing, but arrogance will only lead to your downfall."

A good man; this is what a true elder should be.

Rasa smiled slightly and apologized, "My apologies, I may not have been clear. I am not targeting Elder Chiyo, nor do I have any issues with her."

Chiyo's expression softened considerably. To recognize one's mistake and correct it is a virtue. Rasa was a talent with potential and the hope of Sunagakure for the coming decades; she did not want to see him stumble due to arrogance.

Rasa added, "What I mean is, as long as they are a puppeteer, they could never be my opponent."

"Even if every puppeteer in Sunagakure attacked me at once, I would have nothing to fear."

Whoosh!

Chiyo stood up abruptly, a trace of anger between her brows. She looked straight at Rasa, wishing she could jump up and land a knee strike on him right then and there.

"Puppeteers are the backbone of Sunagakure. I will not allow you to insult them like this."

The points increased by another 20.

Rasa was very satisfied. It seems that influencing ninjas who appear frequently in the plot, like Chiyo, can yield a considerable amount of points.

New author, new book. Seeking support, recommendation votes, follows, and investments. Rolling on the floor begging for everything.