Human Puppet (Seeking Collection, Recommendation, Monthly Votes)

The Mist ninja attack was merely a minor episode for Qifeng.

But for the Konoha higher-ups and Suikazan Fuguki in the monitoring room, it was a significant matter that could potentially influence the diplomatic direction between Konoha and Kirigakure, as well as Kirigakure's stance and level of involvement in the impending war.

Yet when Nara Shikaku and Suikazan Fuguki learned the outcome, both were somewhat stunned.

It didn't escalate into a fight?

Or did they simply not encounter each other?

Nara Shikaku breathed a slight sigh of relief. Not fighting wasn't a good result, but at least it wasn't the worst-case scenario.

Suikazan Fuguki furrowed his brow. He knew Kisame Hoshigaki would always prioritize the mission—this situation shouldn't have occurred. But since the Chunin Exams were still ongoing, he could only wait until they ended to inquire about what had happened.

However, when Kisame Hoshigaki reappeared on the surveillance feed, the group was taken aback once more.

Two Mist ninja were missing, and Kisame Hoshigaki was completely unscathed. Even alone, he still posed a sufficient threat within the Terrifying Cave.

But the key question was: where were those two Mist ninja?

Simultaneously, the two men exchanged glances, both seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.

Still, the exams continued.

Back in the Morgue, Qifeng skillfully arranged the collected bodies and tidied their appearances.

He had to admit, though these were nominally Genin exams, quite a few participants possessed Chunin-level strength.

Especially those from Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure—the proportion of Chunin among Konoha Ninja was noticeably lower.

With so many bodies, Qifeng didn't waste time.

When he finished his work and looked at the corpses restored to their "original state," he nodded with satisfaction.

Lately, he felt his cleanliness obsession was growing worse—not just regarding his environment, but also an almost compulsive pursuit of perfection with these bodies.

"Tsk."

He clicked his tongue and shook his head.

After tidying the bodies, the next step was, as usual, looting them.

He didn't hold much hope for these corpses—nominally Genin but actually Chunin-level—and treated it as a routine lottery draw.

But unexpectedly, he actually found something good from one of them.

Success! Obtained Special Puppet Technique Scroll (First Part)!

It came from the body of a Suna-nin Chunin.

"Special Puppet Technique Scroll?"

Qifeng pulled out the scroll, somewhat surprised.

When he skimmed its contents, his expression shifted to astonishment.

Because the scroll described the process of creating Human Puppets.

Human Puppets!

As a village skilled in puppet techniques, Sunagakure considered Human Puppets a taboo. Anyone who touched this knowledge and was exposed would face merciless extermination by the Suna-nin.

Puppet techniques were an art developed by Sunagakure's Second Kazekage, Chiyo, combining Puppet Creation and Puppet Control.

Ordinary puppet creation used various woods, metals, or other materials, fused through special techniques.

Paired with Puppet Control, it allowed puppeteers to avoid direct combat and unleash some bizarre abilities.

But Human Puppet creation used human bodies, removing the internal organs while preserving the original Chakra and abilities, maximizing the retention of the puppet's original capabilities.

However, Human Puppets required human subjects, and the process was extremely cruel, so Sunagakure had explicitly banned it.

Yet some things existed for a reason.

Many Suna-nin still secretly researched Human Puppet creation.

In Qifeng's memory, the one who perfected Human Puppet techniques was Chiyo's grandson, Sasori of the Red Sands.

This terrifying figure—who would later assassinate Sunagakure's Third Kazekage and join the Akatsuki Organization—even transformed himself into a Human Puppet.

One could say that while the seeds of the Third Great Ninja War had long been sown, the true culprit behind its outbreak was him, Sasori of the Red Sands.

"Sasori's probably already tinkered with quite a few Human Puppets by now, right? Could this Suna-nin have some connection to him?"

Qifeng closed the scroll.

Though this item had high practical value, it was only the first part—containing the creation process but no control techniques. Obtaining it wasn't very useful to him.

But puppet creation shared common principles. If he could find weaknesses or flaws in ordinary puppets from it, it might prove unexpectedly useful on the battlefield later.

As for Human Puppets...

Honestly, Qifeng, who was used to seeing corpses, didn't find them repulsive.

His tolerance was high—perhaps because he'd long known of their existence.

"Besides all those messy ninja world novels, I've got another piece of leisure reading now."

Qifeng found that rather agreeable.

A scene suddenly flashed through his mind.

He crafted a Human Puppet and could control it perfectly.

Then he said to the puppet, "You handle the showing off; I'll handle the lying low."

Thinking of this, he shook his head with a smile and didn't take it to heart.

But if anyone knew he was treating the Human Puppet creation scroll as leisure reading, he wondered what they'd think.

Mainly because the novels in the ninja world were just too terrible. To someone used to all kinds of diverse stories, they really weren't much different from reading a textbook.

And the creation of Human Puppets also included a lot of knowledge about human anatomy. It might not be useful, but knowing was better than not knowing.

At the same time, the appearance of this scroll inevitably made Qifeng think of the Third Kazekage's assassination by Sasori of the Red Sands.

"War... it's coming soon."

Aside from this scroll, the remaining corpse-searches didn't yield anything unexpected.

He unremarkably gained 2 attribute points.

His strength continued to improve steadily.

He opened his attribute panel.

Character: Maruyama Qifeng

Age: 13

Attributes: Fire, Earth

Strength: Elite Chunin

Kekkei Genkai: Shikotsumyaku (Intermediate), Sharingan (Single Tomoe)

Body: 52

Spirit: 32

Ninjutsu: 26

Genjutsu: 24

Control: 29

Seals: 29

Taijutsu: Flowing Water Sword Technique

Ninjutsu: Three Basic Jutsu, Fire Release: Great Fireball, Earth Release: Rock Concealment Technique, Earth Release: Earth Shore Return, Fire Release: Flame Bullet, Water Release: Water Formation Wall, Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, Shadow Clone Jutsu

Items: Kaseki's Obsession, Inherited Headband (Equipped), Konoha Jonin Nakagawa Kamiryo Experience Card (Rare), Special Puppet Technique Scroll (First Volume)

The system's assessment still only rated him as an Elite Chunin.

Qifeng estimated that to raise the system's evaluation again to the Special Jonin level, his overall attributes would need to improve by at least another tier.

"I just hope I can raise my evaluation to Special Jonin before the war starts."

Even though Special Jonin had the word "Special" attached, it was still Jonin.

The gap between Jonin and Chunin was far greater than the gap between Chunin and Genin.

Especially considering the strength of a Special Jonin in the system's evaluation, Qifeng figured his actual strength probably wouldn't be much inferior to an ordinary Jonin.

If he could have Jonin-level strength before the war began, his ability to protect himself during the conflict would increase dramatically.

He could also complete his Corpse Collector tasks more smoothly.

As long as he survived this war, he'd have at least a decade or more of peace.

Thinking of the peace after the war, where he could laze around every day from sunrise to sunset, Qifeng felt full of motivation.

All the effort he was putting in now was for a better chance to laze around later.

After coming to the Naruto World, he had fully inherited the otaku trait, determined to take his slacker nature to the extreme.