"Puppet Core"

The concept of the "Body Refining Furnace" was like a lamp lit in Shaye's mind, showing him the way forward. Yet the brighter its light shone, the rougher and more perilous the road it revealed. A grand blueprint needed a solid foundation, and the first—also the most crucial—stone was the question of energy.

Chakra was indeed a readily available energy source, but how could it be converted into the kind of energy the "Body Refining Furnace" required—energy that could be safely injected into the human body for restoration? Ordinary chakra could not be used directly. Elder Chiyo's warning still rang in his ears: the intense rejection caused by foreign chakra was no different from poison.

His thoughts turned to Medical Ninjutsu. The Yang Release Chakra used by medical ninja was gentle and brimming with vitality, the closest thing to the "restorative energy" he envisioned. But the problem was that Medical Ninjutsu involved ninja converting their own chakra into a Yang nature, an internal process. How could such a conversion be achieved externally? Turning violent Fire Release Chakra or razor-sharp Wind Release Chakra into life-filled Yang-nature chakra through an external device? It sounded like pure fantasy.

He buried himself in the records once more, searching for every account concerning chakra nature transformations and energy conversion. The Production Department's materials focused more on puppet applications, with very little research into such fundamental energy transformations. He tentatively designed several conversion circuits, using runes for guidance and fine adjustments, but countless issues emerged during theoretical simulations: low efficiency, severe energy dissipation, incomplete attribute conversion... Any flaw could contaminate the energy fed into the furnace, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

His progress reached another dead end. He realized that the available shared knowledge of puppetry was simply incapable of achieving such delicate energy manipulation. He needed technology closer to the essence of "life" and "energy."

His gaze unconsciously drifted toward the Chiyo Clan—or, more precisely, toward the genius immersed in forbidden fields: Sasori.

He knew it was risky. Sasori was eccentric and cold, impatient with others, and even less likely to share his core techniques so easily. But Shaye had no other choice.

This time, Shaye did not go empty-handed. He brought a structural sketch he had designed for an energy conversion circuit—naturally, a revised and simplified version. He concealed the true purpose of the "Body Refining Furnace," describing it only as an idea for improving the energy efficiency of a puppet core.

Sure enough, when Sasori saw the sketch, his attitude remained cold and disdainful.

"An idiotic design with miserable efficiency. The rune nodes are redundant, and energy passing through here loses at least fifteen percent. This conversion approach is even more laughable. You think a fixed pattern can harmonize chakra of different attributes? Chakra is not a dead object. How could its vitality be completely restrained by a few runes?"

Sasori's criticism was as cutting as ever, but it precisely identified several fatal flaws in Shaye's design. Shaye did not argue. Instead, he humbly noted each point before posing the question he had prepared long ago.

"Senior Sasori, then... is there some method, or some kind of core, that can handle and convert energy more 'intelligently'? Perhaps even... simulate a certain kind of life activity in order to control chakra better?"

The question faintly touched upon the core of Sasori's research.

Sasori's hand, which had been polishing a component, paused slightly. He raised his head, and for the first time, his deep violet eyes truly focused on Shaye with a hint of scrutiny. Silence spread through the workshop, leaving only the faint sound of tools scraping against metal.

After a long while, Sasori suddenly gave an unreadable snort. He set down his tools, walked to a dust-covered scroll rack, searched through it for a moment, then pulled out a small, ancient-looking scroll with damaged edges and casually tossed it to Shaye.

"A garbage idea. But if you insist on wasting your time, look at this." Sasori's tone remained indifferent. "These are incomplete fragments of some early failed concepts concerning a 'Regeneration Core.' They mention crude theories about maintaining energy activity and limited simulation. They were discarded long ago. Take it. Destroy it after you finish reading, and don't bother me again."

With that, he ignored Shaye and returned to his own world.

Shaye forcefully suppressed his excitement and gripped the old scroll tightly, as though he were holding a key to a new world. He solemnly bowed to Sasori's back before quickly leaving the workshop.

Back in his small room, Shaye eagerly spread open the scroll. The writing on it was sloppy and ancient, and they were indeed immature research notes filled with errors and records of failure. Yet their central subject was precisely how to create a "core" capable of sustaining a certain degree of energy activity on its own and engaging in more efficient energy interactions with puppets and even living bodies!

These "garbage" theories that Sasori considered long obsolete were priceless treasures to Shaye! Concepts such as "activity maintenance," "energy resonance," and "mimetic cycles" instantly shattered his previous fixed way of thinking!

He did not need to fully replicate a genuine "Regeneration Core." He only needed a simplified version focused on "energy conversion and harmonization"!

Inspiration erupted like a volcano! He immediately spread out a fresh sheet of blueprints.

Knowledge from his previous life regarding energy converters—the operating principles of transformers and rectifiers—collided and fused wildly with the concept of "active harmonization" mentioned in the scroll.

He abandoned his original idea of complex, layered rune conversions and instead designed an extremely simple core model containing a marvelous cyclic structure. Inside the core, he preset several tiny chakra guidance circuits of different attributes, based on his understanding of Wind and Earth affinities. They were not meant for direct conversion, but to generate a "resonance field."

Chakra of different attributes fed in from outside would first be scattered by this "resonance field," neutralizing most of its personal imprint and transforming it into a relatively chaotic stream of neutral energy. The energy stream would then enter a miniature cyclic structure designed around Yang Release theory, borrowing from medical notes and the incomplete Regeneration Core fragments, where it would be nurtured and harmonized until its nature came infinitely close to harmless life energy.

The entire core's design emphasized "guidance" and "harmonization" rather than "forced conversion," greatly reducing energy consumption and complexity while improving safety.

His brush raced over the paper. Complex energy circuits, precise internal structures, and sketches marked with calculation data and explanatory notes gradually took shape. His eyes were focused and bright, as though the entire world had narrowed to the blueprint steadily taking form before him.

When the final stroke fell, an entirely new design born from the crystallized wisdom of two worlds came into existence.

Shaye looked at the exquisitely structured, profoundly intricate core component on the blueprint and let out a long breath.

He knew this was only the first step of a long journey. Manufacturing, testing, and optimization would bring countless difficulties. But this core blueprint provided the first—and most crucial—piece of his seemingly impossible dream of the "Body Refining Furnace."

He named it—the "Puppet Core."

(End of Chapter)