Puppet Master Insights I: Taijutsu

Early July.

Land of Whirlpool, Uzushiogakure.

With the marriage alliance with the Land of Night having been arranged, the Uzumaki Clan, which held power over the Land of Whirlpool and Uzushiogakure, naturally received substantial support from Yayoi.

Leaving aside the large sum of borrowed funds, which carried no interest at all, the finished Chakra Metal delivered to Uzushiogakure and all manner of ninja tools made from Chakra Trees—such as blank ninjutsu scrolls, Explosive Tags, and other vital strategic resources—were sold to the Uzumaki Clan at virtually cost price.

Yayoi had even generously covered all transportation and labor expenses himself.

To Yayoi, anything that could be solved with money and resources was not difficult at all.

This level of outward expenditure would not hinder the Land of Night's development.

"That general's resources are astonishingly vast. If we take in all this Chakra Metal and these support tools made from Chakra Trees, they will be enough to last us several years, with some left over."

"But financially, this is a problem."

A red-haired elder shook his head with a bitter smile. Looking at the vast swathes of red ink on the financial report, the Uzumaki Clan truly did not have much surplus left.

"There is no helping it. Both the country and village have only just been established. We will have to work a little harder for a while longer, but we will get through it eventually."

At the Uzumaki Clan's high-level meeting, the many elders discussed matters in hushed voices.

Some were delighted, some furrowed their brows in worry, while others expressed a measure of optimism for the future.

"Come to think of it, that general also sent us a medical ninjutsu. I looked it over, and honestly, his understanding of medical ninjutsu is completely unorthodox."

A red-haired old man in his fifties, proficient in medical ninjutsu, took out an unfurled ninjutsu scroll. Recorded on it was an advanced medical ninjutsu of A-rank difficulty—

—Life-Saving Rebirth Technique.

It was an advanced medical ninjutsu created by Yayoi himself.

The meaning was simple enough: it was a medical technique for providing emergency treatment to those gravely injured and on the verge of death.

Even if part of the body was missing, or the mind stood only a thread away from collapse, as long as the body and spirit had not died outright and retained even a trace of life, this technique could firmly lock in the injured person's final breath.

The medical effect it produced might even surpass the difficulty rating of medical ninjutsu itself.

This overwhelmingly powerful medical ninjutsu left the red-haired old man, who was proficient in medical ninjutsu, both impressed and unable to stop himself from criticizing it.

Because the operational logic of this technique was simply too strange.

Its childish parts were absurdly childish, while its brilliant parts were exceptionally brilliant.

It was practically a forced mash-up of all sorts of messy things.

To put it in one sentence, the general's medical ninjutsu was far too wild. Some parts even violated the basic common sense of medical ninjutsu, making him seem like an amateur.

Yet absurdly enough, the technique's operational process actually functioned normally.

"Haha, should we call him exceptionally gifted, or a newborn calf unafraid of tigers? The way this technique operates does indeed violate medical ninjutsu common sense in many places."

Another red-haired old man, likewise skilled in medical ninjutsu, could not help chuckling as well.

If it had been an ordinary medical ninja, he would probably have cursed him as a quack long ago.

Only ninjas proficient in medical techniques could see where this technique's value lay.

Besides, no matter how ridiculous medical ninjutsu looked, as long as it could save people, it was excellent medical ninjutsu.

If this technique violated basic principles yet could still save people, then that meant the principles themselves were not entirely correct.

"Then who will go to the Land of Night next? According to their request, they need our Uzumaki Clan to send over a group of medical ninjas to help train their scarce medical ninja personnel."

Clan head Uzumaki Ashina spoke.

As the Uzumaki Clan, famed for Sealing Jutsu, the techniques they could use were not limited to Sealing Jutsu alone.

There were also many ninjas within the clan who excelled in medical ninjutsu. In the field of medicine, the Uzumaki Clan was likewise an outstanding ninja clan.

Compared with the Land of Night's halfway-built, unorthodox system, their medical framework was undoubtedly far more complete and systematic.

"I will take some people there. It has been quite some time since I last went out."

The red-haired old man who had criticized the technique earlier—Uzumaki Kano—volunteered to lead some of the clan's medical ninjas to the Land of Night.

"That will do nicely. Then I will leave the Land of Night's affairs to you, Kano."

Ashina nodded in satisfaction.

As one of the Uzumaki Clan's finest medical ninjas, Uzumaki Kano understood deeply how a medical system should be structured, and he was likewise highly experienced in training medical ninjas.

There were only a handful of people in the entire Ninja World who could rival him in medical ninjutsu.

Moreover, Uzumaki Kano was steady and reliable in his work. Ashina believed he could properly handle the special relationship between the Uzumaki Clan and the Land of Night.

"Next, there is a second matter..."

Ashina then began discussing the next important matter, and time passed unknowingly amid the discussions of the many Uzumaki Clan elders.

◎

Tenshu Tower.

Yayoi had appeared here, a rare occurrence, because for the past month or so, he had been cultivating the special advanced Sealing Jutsu known as the Seven-Star Seal.

Learning this Sealing Jutsu had taken slightly less time than Yayoi had expected. In under two months, he had basically mastered it.

All that remained was to improve his practical proficiency with this Sealing Jutsu and test exactly what level of power it could produce, lest uncontrollable flaws emerge when he used it in actual combat.

As a cautious man, Yayoi would not allow himself such an obvious mistake.

Still, there was no need to rush this matter. The Seven-Tails was sealed beneath the General's Residence, so he could test it whenever he wished.

Compared with testing the effects of the Sealing Jutsu, what concerned him more was the Uzumaki Clan's upcoming assistance to the Land of Night.

—Building a complete and mature medical system.

It could be said that this was a major investment project requiring an enormous amount of time and resources.

Although the Medical Division had long since been established under Yayoi's direction, its level of completion was little different from an empty shell.

Among more than a thousand ninjas, there were only a little over ten official medical ninjas, and half of them had merely mastered basic, low-level medical techniques.

If such a number were thrown into the entire Military Bureau system, facing over a thousand ninjas and several thousand samurai, they would not even make a ripple.

That was precisely why he had solemnly invited the Uzumaki Clan to supplement and correct the Land of Night's medical system to a certain extent.

Naturally, such an invitation had to be paid for.

After all, friendship was friendship, but when the interests of all parties were involved, Yayoi felt it was better to settle accounts clearly.

Especially since the marriage alliance with the Uzumaki Clan had only been confirmed for now. Both sides had exchanged marriage contracts, but the bride had not yet formally entered the household.

"With the Uzumaki Clan's support, the Medical Division's development should probably get on track without incident. Yuroketsu is also building the Intelligence Division, and it has shown considerable progress lately, though its coverage remains insufficient... And there is also the training of puppet masters..."

Yayoi took out a blank scroll and a brush. His movements paused, and a rare thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

To be honest, the profession of puppet master was not particularly popular during the Warring States Era.

The reason this profession had now gained fame was largely because he had single-handedly brought it forward.

Sunagakure, the cradle of puppet masters in the original work, had virtually no cultivation system for puppet masters at this time.

In other words, he was now the founding patriarch of the puppet master field.

If Chiyo, Sasori, Kankuro, and the others of the future still walked the path of puppet masters, then upon meeting him, they would have to call him "Founding Master."

Setting aside such distant nonsense, even now, because of him, quite a few ninjas in the Land of Night had begun taking a strong interest in the profession of puppet master.

Yayoi felt somewhat gratified by this development.

In his eyes, although puppet masters differed from most ninjas, if this profession developed well, it would have equally limitless prospects.

Thus, he could not help entertaining the idea of compiling teaching materials on puppet ninjutsu and establishing puppet master courses.

"Let me think about how the opening sentence should go. Hmm, let's start like this. Puppet Master Insights I: Taijutsu..."

Yayoi put brush to blank ninjutsu scroll and began writing down his understanding of the puppet master profession.

After combining theory with practice, Yayoi discovered that puppet masters should not only value puppets as weapons. Their own taijutsu also needed to be trained.

When controlling puppets in battle, a ninja's outstanding neural reactions, dynamic vision, stamina, and the like were of paramount importance.

If such qualities were not innate, they could only be improved through extensive, grueling training.

In short, the ninja himself should not become a burden to his puppet weapons.

When the ninja was no longer a burden to the puppet, but fought in coordination with it, that would be a puppet master's ultimate complete form.

Yayoi looked at the once-blank ninjutsu scroll, now filled with densely packed writing. It all concerned how to train taijutsu scientifically and effectively, while explaining the benefits of taijutsu training.

He had also specified how, after mastering taijutsu, puppet masters could coordinate with their puppets, as well as the various offensive and defensive tactics they could use once the two worked together.

The puppet master himself would no longer represent frailty, but could also become another deadly blade striking at the enemy in battle.

After checking it twice from beginning to end and finding no errors or omissions, Yayoi nodded in satisfaction.

After all, this would be for all future puppet masters. Whether in practice or theory, there could not be the slightest mistake.

"My lord husband, what has made you so happy?"

The young girl in a white kimono with twin ponytails tiptoed closer. A trace of curiosity flashed through her pure white eyes.

This girl was naturally Yayoi's concubine—Hyuga Aoi.

At this moment, the only ones accompanying Yayoi here were her and his other concubine, Hyuga Rinko.

After their work focus shifted to the Tenshu Tower, they had gradually become accustomed to the working atmosphere here, shedding their initial awkwardness.

Their efficiency in organizing documents and stamping them had clearly improved considerably as well.

Thanks to the two of them, Yayoi and Irori had saved a great deal of time. At the very least, they no longer needed to personally handle many miscellaneous affairs.

"Oh, I am compiling teaching materials on how to become a puppet master. I do not know how effective they will be when the time comes."

Though his words were modest, Yayoi's tone was brimming with confidence.

Although the puppet master materials he had written raised the difficulty of becoming a puppet master, anyone who completed every task he outlined would undoubtedly be far stronger than the puppet masters who appeared in the original work.

"If Lord Husband wrote the materials, then they will definitely be the best."

Rinko, whose shoulder-length hair framed her face, was still dressed in a maid-style white kimono. Carrying tea and sweets over, she gathered her courage and joined the conversation from the side.

After formally becoming Yayoi's concubine, her originally soft and easily embarrassed personality had changed quite a bit.

"After all, Lord Husband is a pioneer among puppet masters. It really feels like an incredible achievement."

Aoi sighed with emotion.

As only a Chunin, she could not fully understand what being a pioneer of puppet masters represented, but through guesswork, she knew that someone who became a forerunner of an entire ninjutsu system was destined to leave his name in history.

"But there are still too few puppet masters in the Ninja World, and most of them are concentrated in the Land of Night. It can be called a niche within a niche. If we want this profession to develop and gain others' recognition, it cannot be done without ten or twenty years."

As a puppet master, Yayoi knew full well how niche this profession was.

At the very least, before his rise, puppet masters, as a branch of ninjas, could be said not even to qualify for the stage.

Many puppet masters did not control puppets for combat, but used them to perform tricks and plays in order to earn a living.

"Enough about that. Where did Irori go? I do not think I have seen her since earlier."

Yayoi changed the subject, then realized Irori was not here and asked where she had gone.

"She went to the Intelligence Division. It seems there was some important intelligence that needed her attention. She saw Lord Husband was busy, so she did not disturb you and went by herself."

Aoi tilted her head as she explained where Irori had gone.

Yayoi nodded. Perhaps he had been too absorbed in writing the puppet master materials to notice Irori's movements.

"Then let her handle it. You two should go back to your work as well. I need to deal with today's official duties."

Yayoi rolled up the ninjutsu scroll, had Aoi take it and place it on a bookshelf not far away, then began his work for the day.

(In the future—Deidara kidnapped Gaara, and Kankuro gave chase—

Kankuro: Sasori, defeating my puppet was fortunate for you, but also tragic. Let me show you my second stage. Ever since becoming a Jonin, I have not fought in this form for a long time.

After saying that, his black clothes were torn apart by his swelling muscles, and the burst of Chakra instantly blew away the surrounding rock and sand.

Sasori said nothing and simply took off his clothes, revealing an indestructible steel body.

...Would the style of future puppet masters become very strange?)