Before long.
Hoshino stood at the entrance to the puppet factory, frowning slightly at the scene before him.
There were several obvious traces of battle on the factory's outer walls.
Though they had already been cleaned up, he could still see how fierce the fighting had been last night.
He pushed open the door and entered the factory.
A faint smell of burning hung in the air, clearly left over from the battle.
Kankuro was standing beside a fearsome-looking puppet, a report in his hand.
"You're here. You heard about what happened last night, right?"
Hoshino nodded and gave a cold laugh.
"More than ten rogue ninja. Quite an operation. Looks like some people couldn't sit still any longer."
Kankuro handed Hoshino the report.
"This is the record of last night's battle. Those ninja weren't weak. Most were at Chunin level, and a few were even Special Jōnin."
"If the Spirit Puppets hadn't reacted so quickly, the factory might have suffered even greater losses."
Hoshino took the report and quickly skimmed through it.
It recorded the course of last night's battle in detail, including how the Spirit Puppets had reacted swiftly and used Ninjutsu to drive off the intruders.
Similar incidents had happened before, but most had been minor scuffles involving no more than one or two ninja, and they had caused little damage.
After all, Kankuro and Temari were the Kazekage's children, while Hoshino was Grandma Chiyo's adopted grandson.
The elders backing them were key figures in the Kazekage's faction and the elders' faction, respectively. Ordinary people wouldn't dare provoke them lightly.
But the scale and intensity of this attack had clearly exceeded anything before it.
Hoshino asked, "How did those rogue ninja get in?"
Kankuro shook his head. "We don't know yet. No abnormalities were detected in the defensive barrier around the village, and the patrols didn't report anything suspicious either."
"Then someone in the village opened a back door for them."
"That's what I thought too. This attack was clearly premeditated, and they definitely had support from a faction inside the village."
Hoshino gave a cold laugh, a glint of ice flashing in his eyes.
They've got some nerve. Do they think the storm from half a year ago has blown over, so they're ready to hit us hard?
He walked up to a Spirit Puppet and reached out to gently stroke his outer shell.
"How did the Spirit Puppets perform?"
"Extremely well," Kankuro said proudly. "They reacted even faster than we expected, and their Ninjutsu was exceptionally precise."
Hoshino nodded, satisfied with the Spirit Puppets' performance.
He and Kankuro had poured a great deal of effort into building these puppets.
Not only were they powerful in battle, but they could also carry out complex instructions on their own. Last night's battle had proven their worth.
"What are you going to do next? We can't just let this go!" Kankuro's tone turned serious.
"Of course we can't just let this go!" Hoshino said. "This attack was clearly aimed at the technology for making Chakra Crystals. Those puppet-master families couldn't sit still any longer."
Kankuro nodded. "That's right. The Spirit Puppet Series has become a huge hit on the market and seriously threatened their interests. They won't let this go."
Hoshino sneered. "Since they want to play, we'll play with them to the bitter end."
He had long anticipated an outcome like this.
With its advanced technology and powerful capabilities, the Spirit Puppet Series had quickly captured the high-end market.
Meanwhile, the traditional puppets Kankuro had improved were popular in the mid- and low-end markets, thanks to their affordable prices and reliable performance.
That had undoubtedly affected the puppet-master families' interests and provoked their intense dissatisfaction. It was only natural.
He just hadn't expected them to go so far as to bring in more than ten rogue ninja for an attack.
Have they really forgotten my other identity?
Just then, the factory doors were pushed open once again.
The newcomer looked a little tired, evidently having just returned from a mission.
"I heard the factory was attacked last night?" Temari asked urgently as soon as she entered.
Kankuro nodded. "That's right. More than ten rogue ninja tried to seize the technology for making Chakra Crystals."
Temari's expression grew grave. "It must have been those people. I'll go find Father."
With that, she turned to leave.
Hoshino reached out to stop Temari and said with a smile, "There's no need to rush. Going to him now won't get any results."
Temari frowned. "Why not? Father is the Kazekage. He must have a way to deal with those families."
Hoshino shook his head without answering.
Temari's trust in her father was only natural, but Hoshino knew better than anyone.
Though Kazekage Rasa held a high position and great power, the factions within Sunagakure were tangled and complex, and the Kazekage's faction did not hold sole sway.
Those puppet-master families had deep roots and immense influence in the village. In some respects, even the Kazekage had to be wary of them.
Since they dared to do this now, they would surely wash their hands of the whole affair, and might even turn around and bite back.
Besides, it was hard to say whether Rasa really knew nothing about it.
After all, the four of them had built the puppet factory together.
Although the Kazekage's faction had a share, Hoshino had chosen not to hand over the Chakra Crystal technology.
Of the four, only Hoshino and Kankuro knew how to make Chakra Crystals.
Rasa had previously asked Kankuro about it in private, but Kankuro had politely declined Rasa's request, saying that the technology was complex and required a special talent.
In truth, it wasn't as though Hoshino had never considered handing over the Chakra Crystal technology.
But the factions in Sunagakure were too complicated, and there were many spies from other villages inside the village.
If it fell into the hands of an enemy nation or someone with ulterior motives, the consequences would be unthinkable. He was better off keeping it in his own hands as political capital for the future.
Taking ten thousand steps back, even if he were willing to hand over the Chakra Crystal technology, Rasa might not be able to keep the situation fully under control.
Otherwise, he would never have sacrificed Sunagakure's hero... Scorch Release Pakura, for the sake of a ceasefire with Kirigakure.
That act had directly caused many Sunagakure ninja to distrust the higher-ups.
"Temari, don't take any missions for the time being. Stay here and guard the factory with Kankuro. I'll handle things outside!"
"All right, I'll listen to you, but be careful. Those families won't give up easily."
Though Temari was still unwilling to accept it, she knew Hoshino had always thought things through carefully. Since he had said so, he must have had his reasons.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. If all else fails, don't we still have Gaara?"
If they really pushed him too far, he would have Gaara pretend to go berserk in the puppet-master families' territories.
Let's see who can outlast whom!
But that method could only be used once. Afterward, Rasa would definitely lock Gaara up.
After Hoshino left the factory.
He first went to the place where missions were posted, then accepted that mission in his capacity as an Anbu.
Afterward, he ran briskly toward Team Six at the Kazekage's building.
"Since you want to play, I'll play with you to the bitter end." Hoshino sneered inwardly, a glint of ice flashing in his eyes.