Sasori seemed to have laid down the burden in his heart. He got up and bumped fists with Mukai.
Mukai sensed two bioelectric signals, one large and one small, heading from the Iron Sand hill toward the puppet workshop.
Without asking, he could guess that they were Konan and Chiyo, who had been worried about the two of them.
His bonds with this world were growing more numerous, too.
With Sasori's troubles resolved, the two prepared to return to the workshop.
Just then, Sasori suddenly asked:
"A ninja squad needs three people. Are you planning to bring Konan in?"
Mukai sensed that Konan and Chiyo had already reached the puppet workshop. Hearing Sasori's question, he shook his head:
"No, Konan is still from the Land of Rain. I don't want to put her in a difficult position.
"Let's have Shisō join instead!"
"Shisō?
"Is there a ninja by that name in the village?"
"He hasn't become a ninja yet, but he has great potential. The village just hasn't discovered it yet.
"Trust me, he'll definitely become an outstanding Taijutsu ninja."
Sasori trusted Mukai's judgment, so he naturally had no objections.
The two walked down the Iron Sand hill as they discussed plans to improve the puppet mecha.
There was still a year until the Chunin Ninja Exams, and he needed to start getting stronger himself.
Sunagakure
Shisō had left Mukai's family izakaya and was walking to another hauling site.
Ever since Mukai had given him the Chakra Extraction Technique, he had practiced it diligently every night.
Besides the Chakra Extraction Technique, Mukai had also given him quite a few Nintaijutsu techniques he had exchanged for.
But for some reason, Shisō still couldn't perform the Three Basic Techniques.
The Clone Technique, the Substitution Technique, and the Transformation Technique.
Anyone who could perform those three techniques properly could graduate from the Ninja Academy and become a basic Genin.
Yet he could perform those extremely difficult Nintaijutsu techniques with ease.
Now Shisō was doubting himself again, wondering whether he really had no talent for being a ninja.
As he walked, he adjusted his breathing.
Suddenly, he sensed someone approaching quickly. His body instinctively sidestepped, avoiding a shoulder charge from a burly man beside him.
The man had put too much force into it and had never expected Shisō to dodge.
Caught off guard, he slammed straight into the wall of a nearby shop.
"Ow! Shisō, you trash, how dare you dodge!"
The burly man, who wore a Sand ninja's Forehead Protector, got up and shouted at Shisō.
Only then did Shisō realize that the man was Kawasaki Ryūji, who had taken the ninja village's exam alongside him back then.
They had both been pursuing a woman from the village at the time: Shira's mother.
Kawasaki had lost to him, someone who hadn't become a ninja, in the Taijutsu portion of the first stage. Shisō hadn't expected him to still be holding a grudge.
Shisō didn't want a conflict with him and said calmly:
"I don't want to fight you. Please move aside, I need to get through."
Kawasaki Ryūji's two Genin teammates were watching the show from the side.
He rubbed his chin and thrust his head forward until he was in Shisō's face, then taunted him:
"Shisō, you trash, our business isn't settled yet!
"I really don't know how Delia could have been so blind as to fall for trash like you.
"I've got some time today. How about I give you a duel?
"Don't tell me you're too much of a coward to accept?"
Looking at Kawasaki Ryūji's face so close to his own, Shisō took a deep breath, and his heartbeat began to quicken.
His muscles tensed, and he clenched his fists.
"Sorry, I still have work to do. Please move aside."
Seeing that Shisō wouldn't accept his challenge, Kawasaki Ryūji grew even more arrogant:
"Oh! Shisō, you trash, have you even lost your nerve?
"I'm in a good mood today. How about I give you a handicap and use just one hand?
"Watch me beat you senseless anyway!"
Village rules forbade ninja from harming villagers without cause.
However, the rudimentary laws also stipulated that ordinary duels were exempt from this restriction.
That was why Kawasaki Ryūji had been scheming to provoke Shisō into a duel.
If Shisō couldn't bear his insults and struck first, that would be even better!
He could take the opportunity to accidentally kill Shisō without being punished!
And Kawasaki Ryūji's insults began to go too far:
"Impotent Shisō, did Delia die of anger because you weren't a man?
"Whose little bastard is that son of yours?
"I'm awfully curious!"
Shisō could endure Kawasaki Ryūji insulting him,
but he could never tolerate him insulting his late wife and his son Shira.
Shisō took several sharp breaths in a strange rhythm, and his lungs and heart began to work harder.
His eyes began to turn somewhat pale.
His muscles gradually swelled, and his clenched fists gave off a dangerous aura.
Seven Heavens Breathing Method, second activation!
Even if the village punished him, he wouldn't let Kawasaki insult Delia!
Kawasaki Ryūji had been waiting for this very moment. In the hand he held behind his back, he gripped a Kunai wrapped with an Explosive Tag in a reverse grip.
As long as the enraged Shisō struck first, he would kill this former rival in love on the spot!
Just then, a strong gust of wind suddenly swept past as Shisō was about to raise his fist.
A hand crackling with tiny arcs of electricity caught him by the wrist.
Under normal circumstances, the strength of that hand could never have stopped him with his second activation open,
but the familiar voice that followed made his breathing settle.
For the voice belonged to Mukai:
"Shisō, a duel between ninja should naturally be fought by ninja.
"Could you step back a little and give me the chance to take this duel instead?"
Mukai, who had suddenly appeared, wore the Zealot Mecha, its design handsome and exaggerated.
Kawasaki Ryūji instinctively used the Body Flicker Technique to retreat to a safe distance, coming to a stop beside his teammates.
"Who are you? Are you that Genin, Mukai?
"The dead last from the Ninja Academy, young master Sasori's little lackey?"
Shisō's eyes were still grayish white as he maintained his first activation and tried to pull free of Mukai's arm.
"Young master Mukai, I'm terribly sorry, but I have a reason I must fight. Please don't stop me."
The moment Mukai spoke, he dispelled that thought:
"Shisō, I recommended you for the squad taking the Chunin Ninja Exams next year.
"I brought your Genin paperwork and Forehead Protector with me. Are you sure you don't want to take a look?"
Before Shisō could react to what Mukai had taken out, Kawasaki Ryūji rushed over from across the way:
"Impossible!
"Shisō is trash who can't even use the Three Basic Techniques.
"How could he possibly become a ninja?"
Mukai was glad he was wearing the Zealot Mecha. Otherwise, with a child's stature, he would have had to tilt his head up to speak, which would have been far too lame!
He opened Shisō's ninja identification and slapped the inside page straight against Kawasaki Ryūji's face:
"Take a good look. He was specially recommended by the village council of elders!
"What, are you questioning the village's decision?"
Kawasaki Ryūji looked at what really was Shisō's ninja identification and could hardly believe his eyes.
Before he could open his mouth to retort, a fist smashed straight into his face:
"How dare you hit my fist with your face!
"I'm furious!
"I, Mukai, challenge you to a duel between ninja!"