Reporting 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 noisy Maintenance Unit. It had less of the urgency of emergency repairs and more of the rigor of standardized procedures and the depth of meticulous research. The air carried the fragrance of fine wood, the crisp metallic scent unique to chakra metal, and the pungent smell of various unidentified solvents. Steady hammering, the whir of drills, and the low hum of chakra tools intertwined into a symphony belonging solely to craftsmen.

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

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

A young man of about seventeen or eighteen looked up at the call. There were smudges of grease on his face, but his eyes were bright and kind. He visibly froze when he saw Shaye, apparently surprised by how young and slight he was, but he quickly smiled. "Yes, Squad Leader. Leave it to me."

The Chunin squad leader nodded and turned to leave. The Genin named Tota set down his tools, wiped his hands on his clothes, then walked over to Shaye and extended a friendly hand. "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 servile nor arrogant, and he showed no timidity despite the unfamiliar surroundings.

Tota studied him curiously as he led him into the work area and introduced the place. "Team Three is mainly responsible for making the limb components of standard-issue puppets, especially upper limbs and joints. This is the blueprint area, where the specifications for all standard parts are kept... That's the material storage area; you need to register before collecting anything... Over there is the rough-processing area for cutting and grinding... Further inside is the fine-processing and rune-engraving area. That requires a high degree of precision..."

Shaye listened attentively, his gaze swiftly sweeping across every section as he rapidly memorized the workflow, tool locations, and personnel assignments. Compared to 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 components. "Smooth out the burrs around these joints. Be careful not to alter the original dimensions. This is sandpaper; different grits are used for different stages of polishing..."

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 controlled the sandpaper with the strength of his fingers alone, polishing evenly along the component's contours. The force and path of every stroke were almost identical. Before long, an incomparably smooth piece that fully met specifications appeared in his hand. He set it down, picked up the next one, and repeated the process with astonishing efficiency.

Tota, who had originally intended to stay nearby and offer more guidance, gradually widened his eyes as he watched Shaye's polishing technique, comparable to that of a veteran 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 amount of work Tota had expected would take him an entire day, and the quality was flawless.

During the lunch break, Tota could not resist coming over and asking in amazement, "Shaye, where did you learn those skills? You're incredible!"

"I watched my father and the others work in the Maintenance Unit, then practiced on my own," Shaye answered 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 rhythm of the Manufacturing Division. He spoke little, but his learning ability was extraordinary. He understood any technique with a single explanation and mastered it as soon as he learned it. His far superior chakra control displayed an enormous advantage during rune-engraving practice. Although his chakra reserves were too weak to truly activate large runes, the precision and stability of the lines he etched onto practice boards left even the veteran Chunin instructor teaching him clicking his tongue in wonder.

He seemed to have been born for this place.

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 the frontline puppet master units."

Shaye paused in the middle of eating and looked up at his father. In Shaliu's eyes, there was a flame rekindled after years of silence—the longing of a ninja for the battlefield and his duty. To care for his son, he had suppressed that longing for far too long.

"Father..." Shaye put down his chopsticks.

"I know what you want to say." Shaliu interrupted him, his tone firm. "Don't worry about me. I'm a ninja, and 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 resolve 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 was approved. Shaliu put on the equipment he had not touched in a long time, the gear that represented a frontline combat puppet master, and handed the keys to the Logistics Unit over to his successor.

Under Shaye's calm gaze, Shaliu gave his son's shoulder a firm pat, then turned and strode away. His back straightened once more as he disappeared into the village's wind and sand.

The house became even quieter, and Shaye's life grew simpler and purer—traveling between the Manufacturing Division and home. He had lost his father's most direct protection, but he had truly begun to grow independently.

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

(End of Chapter)