Anyo took out a scroll, slowly unrolled it, and laid it on the ground. Then he formed hand seals and slammed both hands onto it. A medium-sized, four-wheeled wooden ox puppet appeared in the desert.
Looking at the puppet, Anyo smiled slightly. "I wasn't planning to sneak in this time. We'll just walk right in openly. Uncle, hop aboard."
"You bought this in that town where we gambled?" Kakuzu quickly understood. "You've studied the Puppet Technique too."
"Hehe, I know a little." Anyo manipulated chakra threads with all ten fingers, setting the puppet, which had no offensive capabilities, moving across the sand.
Seeing that Anyo really could control a puppet, Kakuzu couldn't help remarking, "You've learned quite a mixed bag of things, kid."
And so, the two rode the puppet brazenly up to Sunagakure's gates. Anyo enthusiastically waved to one of the guards and went straight in with a broad smile.
Seeing this, the other guard said enviously to his companion, "Not bad, buddy. You even know such a young puppeteer."
The guard gave a somewhat uncertain, awkward chuckle. "Uh... do I? Haha, he does look a little familiar."
As they walked along Sunagakure's streets, houses built of stone stood everywhere, most of them single-story. There was clearly very little commercial development. Even the plain colors of the buildings were worlds apart from Konoha. This could probably be called the poorest ninja village in the Five Great Nations.
The two chose a restaurant and sat down. A menu was soon brought over. Surprisingly, it offered quite a variety, but as for the prices-well, those who knew, knew.
By now, Anyo naturally paid little heed to money. What was money? A bastard. Without it, you got pushed around wherever you went. With it, why not hurry up and put it to use? After so many days on the road, they needed a good meal to replenish themselves.
Perhaps this was the first time the proprietor had encountered such a big spender. He asked tentatively, "Are you two sure you want to order this much?"
Anyo naturally understood what the proprietor meant. He casually took out two banknotes and handed them over. "Here, your tip."
The proprietor hurriedly accepted them, thanking him delightedly over and over. "Thank you, young man."
Since there were few customers in the restaurant, their table was soon covered with dishes, their enticing aromas wafting toward them.
Just then, a bald, middle-aged man walked in. His appearance was quite unusual, with tattoos covering the top of his head. He sat down opposite them as though they were old friends and swallowed as he looked at the table full of food.
Kakuzu paused for a moment, then said coldly, "These are our seats."
The man chuckled and rubbed his hands. "I know. Could you let me have some too?"
Seeing that the man didn't know better, Kakuzu wasn't about to indulge him. "Get lost."
The man's expression soured, and he stood up, muttering.
At that moment, Anyo smiled slightly. "Sir, come over here. Bring this customer a table of the same dishes. I'll pay."
"Hmm?"
Both Kakuzu and the man looked at Anyo in surprise and doubt.
Anyo told the man, "My uncle doesn't like dining with strangers, but since fate brought us together, it's only a meal. I can still afford to treat you."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony." The middle-aged man gave Anyo a thumbs-up.
When the proprietor came over, he visibly paused at the sight of the middle-aged man. It seemed they knew each other. He immediately answered Anyo, "Of course, young man. We'll get right to it."
"Kid, even if you have money, that's no way to spend it." Kakuzu's view of money was clearly fundamentally different from Anyo's.
Anyo took a bite of grilled meat and replied leisurely, "You can earn more money once it's gone. But if you don't eat, you'll starve to death."
"Well said, young fellow!" The middle-aged man came over with a cup. "Here, a toast to you both."
Kakuzu didn't even glance at him, simply continuing to eat the food on the table.
Anyo, however, stood and raised his cup in return. "You're too kind. When you're away from home, another friend means another path open to you. I treat you today, you treat me tomorrow, and after a few rounds, we'll all know each other."
"Haha, you're an interesting young fellow." The middle-aged man looked very pleased, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Anyo. He raised his cup and drained it.
After the drink, the middle-aged man asked, "May I ask what brings you to Sunagakure? Neither of you looks like you're here to stay with relatives."
Anyo replied, "Naturally, I've come to Sunagakure to see the puppeteers here. If I could meet a skilled puppeteer and study under them for a while, that would be even better."
The middle-aged man paused, then suddenly caught on. "Well now, young fellow, have you already noticed?"
"Noticed what?" Anyo was puzzled.
"A skilled puppeteer is standing right in front of you!" The middle-aged man looked very proud.
Anyo had indeed noticed that this man's hands differed from the rest of his body. Like Anyo, he had a pair of exceptionally nimble hands. But since Anyo wanted to learn, he naturally wanted to learn from the best.
"Uh, actually, if possible, I'd like to study under Lady Chiyo."
"You want to learn from my sister? She won't teach you."
It turned out that this middle-aged man was actually Chiyo's younger brother, Ebizo.
Ebizo gave a mysterious smile. "And I can make puppets too. I made the puppet you used to enter the village just now."
Well now, so he'd followed us all the way here. He even managed to keep both Kakuzu and me from noticing. He's no ordinary man. Still, Anyo had no recollection of him and didn't know whether his Puppet Technique was actually any good. But his ability to make puppets alone did give Anyo some ideas.
Anyo said frankly, "Then studying under you would work too. Are there any conditions?"
"Hehe, the conditions are easy enough to discuss. But are you sure you want to learn?" Ebizo looked delighted. "It takes at least a year just to get started with the Puppet Technique. Mastering it takes years of practice, and that means even more time. You might have to live in Sunagakure for a very long time."
Hearing how long it would take, Kakuzu had already made up his mind. As soon as the kid agreed, he would leave immediately. What a joke. Stay in Sunagakure for a year? I couldn't stand that.
Anyo was equally clear on this point. Rather than agreeing immediately, he considered it for a moment before replying, "Well, does it really take that long? Then I'll need to discuss it with my uncle."
"All right. Come find me anytime once you've discussed it." Ebizo didn't rush him. Smiling, he returned to his seat and continued enjoying his meal.
Anyo and Kakuzu, meanwhile, had lost interest in eating. They soon settled the bill and left.
Shortly after they stepped outside, Kakuzu spoke first. "Kid, you aren't really thinking of staying here for a year, are you? You should know perfectly well what the situation is like in the various nations right now. You should know full well what will happen if your identity is exposed."
Anyo suddenly laughed. "It feels like you're worried about me."
Before you continue