Puppet Master Insights I: Taijutsu

Early July.

Land of Whirlpool, Uzushiogakure.

With the marriage alliance with the Land of Night finalized, the Uzumaki Clan, which held power over both the Land of Whirlpool and Uzushiogakure, naturally received substantial assistance from Yayoi.

Not to mention the large sum of money they had borrowed, which came with no interest whatsoever. The finished Chakra Metal transported to Uzushiogakure, along with all kinds of ninja tools made from Chakra Trees—such as blank ninjutsu scrolls, Explosive Tags, and other important strategic resources—were also sold to the Uzumaki Clan at practically cost price.

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

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

This degree of outward flow would not hinder the Land of Night's overall development.

"That general's influence is astonishingly vast. If we take in all this Chakra Metal and Chakra Tree-made support equipment, it will be enough to last us several years, with plenty left over."

"But financially, this is a problem."

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

"There's no helping it. The country and village were only just established. We'll have to struggle a little longer, but we'll get through it eventually."

At the Uzumaki Clan's high-level meeting, the elders whispered among themselves.

Some were delighted, some frowned in distress, while others expressed a measure of optimism for the future.

"Speaking of which, 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, highly proficient in Medical Ninjutsu, took out an unfurled ninjutsu scroll. It recorded an advanced Medical Ninjutsu with an A-rank difficulty—

—Life-Saving Rebirth Technique.

It was an advanced Medical Ninjutsu created by Yayoi himself.

The meaning was simple enough: it was an emergency medical technique for those critically injured and on the brink of death.

Even if parts of the body were missing, or the mind stood just one step away from collapse, as long as the body and spirit had not immediately died and retained even a trace of life, this technique could firmly lock down the injured person's final breath.

It was an advanced medical technique whose effects might even surpass its Medical Ninjutsu difficulty rating.

This overwhelmingly forceful Medical Ninjutsu made the red-haired old man, who specialized in Medical Ninjutsu, both admire it and itch to criticize it.

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

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

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

To put it simply, this general's Medical Ninjutsu was far too wild. Some parts even violated the most basic common sense of Medical Ninjutsu, making him seem like a complete amateur.

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

"Haha, should we call it extraordinary talent, or a newborn calf unafraid of tigers? The way this technique operates truly violates the common sense of Medical Ninjutsu in many places."

Another red-haired elder who was likewise proficient in Medical Ninjutsu could not help chuckling.

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

Only ninjas proficient in medical techniques could see the value of this technique.

Besides, no matter how absurd Medical Ninjutsu looked, as long as it could save people, it was excellent Medical Ninjutsu.

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

"Then who will be going 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 them train their scarce medical ninja personnel."

Clan head Uzumaki Ashina spoke.

As a clan renowned for Sealing Jutsu, the Uzumaki Clan could use far more than just Sealing Jutsu.

There were also quite a few ninjas within the clan who specialized in Medical Ninjutsu. In the medical field, the Uzumaki Clan was likewise an outstanding ninja clan.

Compared with the Land of Night's makeshift and unorthodox approach, their medical system was undoubtedly far more complete and structured.

"I'll lead a group over there. It has been a long 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 would be good. Then I'll 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 deeply understood how to establish a medical system and had extensive experience in training medical ninjas.

In the entire Ninja World, there were only a handful of people who could rival him in the field of 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 issue. Time slipped away unnoticed amid the discussions of the many Uzumaki Clan elders.

Tenshu Tower.

Yayoi appeared here unusually rarely. Over the past month or so, he had been training in the special advanced Sealing Jutsu known as the Seven-Star Seal.

Learning this Sealing Jutsu took 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 the Sealing Jutsu and test what level of power it possessed, so that no uncontrollable mishaps would arise when he used it in actual combat.

As a cautious person, Yayoi would not allow himself to make such an obvious mistake.

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

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

—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 been established under Yayoi's leadership, its completion was little different from an empty shell.

Among more than a thousand ninjas, there were only a dozen or so official medical ninjas, and half of them had only 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 rectify 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 believed it was better to settle accounts clearly.

Especially since he and the Uzumaki Clan had merely confirmed their marriage alliance and exchanged marriage contracts. The bride had yet to formally enter the household.

"With the Uzumaki Clan's support, the Medical Division's development should finally get on track. Yuroketsu has also been building up the Intelligence Division, and there have been considerable results lately, though its coverage remains insufficient... Then there's the training of Puppeteers..."

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

To be honest, the profession of Puppeteer was not particularly popular in the Warring States Era.

The profession had only gained recognition now because he had single-handedly brought it forward.

Sunagakure, which would become the cradle of Puppeteers in the original work, was currently almost nonexistent when it came to training them.

In other words, he was now the founding pioneer of the Puppeteer field.

If Chiyo, Sasori, Kankuro, and the others of the future still walked the path of Puppeteers, then upon meeting him, they would have to call him their founding patriarch.

Setting aside such distant nonsense, even now, because of him, quite a few ninjas in the Land of Night had developed a strong interest in becoming Puppeteers.

Yayoi found this development somewhat gratifying.

In his eyes, although Puppeteers differed from most ninjas, the profession had equally limitless prospects if developed properly.

Thus, he could not help considering writing teaching materials on puppet ninjutsu and offering Puppeteer courses.

"Let me think about how to write the first sentence... Hmm, this will do. Puppet Master Insights I: Taijutsu..."

Yayoi began writing on the blank ninjutsu scroll, recording his understanding of the Puppeteer profession.

After combining theory with practice, Yayoi discovered that Puppeteers should not focus solely on puppets as weapons. Their own Taijutsu also needed training.

When controlling puppets in battle, a ninja's exceptional neural reactions, dynamic vision, physical strength, and other qualities were of utmost importance.

Unless one was born with such qualities, they could only be improved through a great deal of arduous training.

In short, the ninja should not become a burden to their puppet weapon.

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

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

He also noted how Puppeteers who had mastered Taijutsu could coordinate with their puppets, as well as the various offensive and defensive tactics they could employ after the two worked together.

The Puppeteer would no longer represent frailty, but could also become another deadly blade attacking 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 eventually be intended for all future Puppeteers. Whether in practice or theory, there could not be the slightest mistake.

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

A girl in a white kimono with twin ponytails tiptoed closer, a trace of curiosity flashing through her pure white eyes.

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

At this moment, only she and his other concubine, Hyuga Rinko, were here with Yayoi.

Since their work focus shifted to the Tenshu Tower, they had gradually grown accustomed to the working atmosphere here after their initial awkwardness.

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

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'm writing teaching materials on how to become a Puppeteer. I don't know how effective they'll be when the time comes."

Although his words were modest, Yayoi's tone was full of confidence.

Though the Puppeteer materials he had written raised the difficulty of becoming a Puppeteer, anyone who completed every subject he had outlined would undoubtedly be far stronger than the Puppeteers who appeared in the original work.

"Since it's teaching material written by my lord husband, it must be the very best."

Rinko, with shoulder-length short hair and still dressed in a maid-style white kimono, brought over tea and sweets. She gathered her courage and joined in from the side.

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

"After all, my lord husband is a pioneer among Puppeteers. It really feels like an incredible achievement."

Aoi sighed in admiration.

Though she was only a Chunin and could not fully understand what it meant to be a pioneer of Puppeteers, she could still vaguely guess that becoming a trailblazer for an entire ninjutsu system meant being destined to leave one's name in history.

"But there are still too few Puppeteers in the Ninja World. Most of them are concentrated in the Land of Night, so it can be said that they're a niche within a niche. If this profession is to develop and gain recognition from others, ten or twenty years won't be enough."

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

At the very least, before he rose to prominence, Puppeteers as a branch of ninja did not even have the qualifications to step onto the stage.

Many Puppeteers did not even use their puppets for combat. Instead, they controlled them to perform tricks and plays to earn a living.

"Enough about that. Where did Irori go? I haven't 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 that my lord husband was busy, so she didn't disturb you and went by herself."

Aoi tilted her head and answered where Irori had gone.

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

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

Yayoi rolled up the ninjutsu scroll and had Aoi take it to the bookshelf nearby before beginning his work for the day.

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

Kankuro: Sasori, it was fortunate that you defeated my puppet, but also tragic. Let me show you my second stage. Ever since becoming a Jonin, I haven't fought in this form for a long time.

After saying that, his black clothes were torn apart by his swelling muscles, and his erupting chakra instantly blasted away the surrounding rock and sand.

Sasori said nothing, merely stripped off his clothes to reveal an indestructible steel body.

...Would future Puppeteers inevitably develop a very strange style?)