Report to the Puppet Manufacturing Department

The day after the graduation ceremony, Shaye, led by his father, headed toward the vast complex of stone buildings west of the Kazekage Building—the Puppet Manufacturing Department.

The atmosphere here differed from the bustle of the Maintenance Unit. It lacked the urgency of emergency repairs, but carried more standardized rigor and the depth of dedicated study. The air was filled with the fragrance of fine wood, the cold metallic scent unique to chakra metal, and the pungent smell of various unidentified solvents. Rhythmic hammering, the buzz of drills, and the low hum of chakra tools intertwined into a symphony belonging solely to craftsmen.

A stern-faced Chunin team leader received him. After checking his paperwork, he businessfully led him to the work area of Puppet Limb Manufacturing Team Three.

"Tota!" the Chunin team leader called inside. "A new Genin, Shaye. He's yours. Show him the procedures and rules."

A young man of around seventeen or eighteen looked up in response. There were smudges of grease on his face, but his eyes were bright and kind. He visibly froze when he saw Shaye, seemingly surprised by how young and slight he was, but quickly smiled. "Yes, Team Leader. Leave him to me."

The Chunin team leader nodded and turned to leave. The Genin named Tota set down his tools, wiped his hands on his clothes, and walked over to Shaye, extending a hand in greeting. "Welcome. I'm Genin Tota. I've worked here for two years. You're Shaye, right? The one Elder Chiyo specifically asked us to look after?"

Shaye calmly shook his hand. "Yes, Senior Tota. Please guide me from now on." His manner was neither humble nor overbearing, and he showed no timidity despite the unfamiliar surroundings.

Tota studied him curiously as he led him into the work area and explained, "Team Three is mainly responsible for manufacturing limb components for standard-issue puppets, primarily upper limbs and joints. This is the blueprint section; the specifications for all standard parts are here... That's the materials storage area; you need to register to collect materials... Over there is the rough processing section for cutting and polishing... Inside is the fine processing and rune engraving section, which requires extreme precision..."

Shaye listened attentively, his gaze swiftly sweeping over every area as he committed the workflow, tool locations, and division of labor to memory. Compared with the disorder of the Maintenance Unit, the assembly-line model here felt more familiar and efficient to him, as though he had returned to a workshop from his previous life.

"You just arrived today, so start with something simple." Tota brought him before a pile of roughly shaped wooden forearm parts. "Smooth out the burrs around these joints. Be careful not to alter the original dimensions. This is sandpaper; different grits correspond to different polishing stages..."

It was the dullest, most basic kind of repetitive work. Yet Shaye did not complain at all. He took the sandpaper, found an empty workbench, picked up a component, and immediately got to work.

His movements quickly became steady and precise. His arm barely moved as he used only the strength of his fingers to control the sandpaper, polishing evenly along the component's contours. The force and path of every stroke were nearly identical. Before long, an incomparably smooth part that perfectly met specifications appeared in his hand. He set it down, picked up another, and repeated the process with astonishing efficiency.

Tota, who had originally intended to stay beside him and offer more guidance, gradually widened his eyes as he watched Shaye's polishing technique rival that of a seasoned craftsman and his terrifying speed. He forgot to speak. Was this really a ten-year-old child? That feel, that steadiness—it was simply unbelievable!

In just one morning, Shaye completed the workload Tota had expected him to need an entire day to finish, and the quality was flawless.

During the lunch break, Tota could not help coming over and exclaiming, "Shaye, those skills of yours... Who taught you? You're incredible!"

"I watched my father and the others work in the Maintenance Unit and practiced on my own," Shaye replied simply, taking out the dry rations and water he had brought.

"A genius!" Tota exclaimed sincerely. "Looks like Elder Chiyo didn't misjudge you. This afternoon, I'll take you to try some basic rune engraving exercises. That requires even more control."

"Alright. Thank you, Senior."

Shaye quickly adapted to the pace of the manufacturing department. He spoke little, yet his ability to learn was exceptional. Any technique clicked the moment it was explained, and once he learned it, he mastered it. His chakra control, far beyond that of ordinary people, displayed a tremendous advantage during rune engraving practice. Though his chakra reserves were weak and he could not truly activate large runes, the precision and stability of the lines on his practice boards left even the veteran Chunin instructor teaching him clicking his tongue in amazement.

He seemed to have been born to belong here.

At dinner, Shaliu hesitated for a long time before finally speaking. "Shaye, you've settled down now. I... submitted an application to the forces, requesting a transfer back to a frontline puppet master unit."

Shaye paused in the middle of eating and looked up at his father. In Shaliu's eyes burned a flame that had lain dormant for years—the longing of a ninja for the battlefield and his mission. For the sake of caring for his son, that longing had been suppressed for far too long.

"Father..." Shaye set down his chopsticks.

"I know what you want to say." Shaliu cut him off, his tone firm. "Don't worry about me. I'm a ninja. As your father, I shouldn't hide in Logistics forever. The village still needs fighting strength. I should return to a more important position."

Shaye looked at the unquestionable determination in his father's eyes, fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "I understand. Please be careful."

He knew this was his father's choice, and also a ninja's dignity.

A few days later, the transfer order was approved. Shaliu once again put on the equipment he had not touched in a long time, the gear representing a frontline combat puppet master, and handed the keys to the Logistics Unit over to his successor.

Under Shaye's calm gaze, Shaliu firmly patted his son on the shoulder, then turned and strode away. His back became straight once more as he merged into the village's windblown sand.

The house became even lonelier, and Shaye's life grew simpler and purer—traveling only between the manufacturing department and home. He had lost his father's most direct protection, but he had truly begun to grow independently on his own.

His world had completely narrowed to the components in his hands and the boundless ocean of knowledge.