Not far away.
Rasa saw that the two were right next to each other, yet Hoshino clearly had not reacted. He had already reached a conclusion.
"Looks like it's over, and it hasn't even been a minute!"
Judging by Hoshino's performance, he was indeed already a qualified Genin.
He could use the Three Basic Techniques in combination, had a good grasp of timing in battle, and had made some original little puppets.
The assessment could be handled with some discretion. There was no need to be too strict.
It was all about knowing how to play the social game.
"Elder Chiyo, should I tell Fūga to stop the assessment?" Rasa asked, turning to her.
"No need. I have faith in Xiaoye. He hasn't played his trump card yet!" Grandma Chiyo replied confidently.
Ebizo remained silent beside them, but his gaze stayed fixed on Hoshino, as though he were quietly scrutinizing something.
He knew of the boy, but he was not very familiar with him.
As Ebizo saw it, Sasori's defection was a settled matter, and his connection to the Third's disappearance could not be denied either.
There was really no need to find a replacement to take Sasori's place.
"Kid, still not giving up? This punch is going to hurt!"
The examiner, Fūga, felt that victory was already in his grasp.
For a ninja, intelligence was vital.
Hoshino's fly puppet was for reconnaissance, while his spider puppet was for explosions and sneak attacks.
Now the spider puppet was gone.
And Fūga was so fast that Hoshino had no time to form Hand Seals and use Ninjutsu.
I have the advantage!
"Teacher, the outcome hasn't been decided yet. Don't be so confident!"
The smile that had frozen on Hoshino's face bloomed once more. He even freed a hand and waved, as though saying goodbye to Fūga.
I really am a bad guy!
Just as Fūga's fist was about to strike Hoshino, a violent blast of wind erupted, instantly forming a massive wall.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Fūga's vision went black. It was as though a giant invisible hand had struck him hard, sending him flying backward, completely out of control.
How is that possible? I clearly didn't see him form any Hand Seals!
"Cough, cough..."
Fūga climbed to his feet from the sand, his expression rather ugly beneath his mask.
"How... how did this kid do it?!"
He looked up and suddenly saw a small doll on Hoshino's shoulder.
"Hee-hee!"
The doll looked exactly like Hoshino. Though its expression was somewhat listless, its smile was still radiant.
"Examiner, that should count as me completing the second part of the assessment, right?"
Hoshino took off his glasses and patted the doll's head with a smile.
"And..."
Fūga suddenly felt an itch on the back of his neck. He reached up and found a small spider.
Cold sweat immediately ran down his forehead.
At such close range, and on a vital spot like his neck, he would have been dead for sure if the spider had exploded.
"You passed!"
However unwilling Fūga was, he could only accept the result.
He had been led around by the nose from beginning to end. Though he had been limited to using only Taijutsu, it was still rather embarrassing.
As an Anbu Special Jōnin who specialized in combat, he should have dominated the whole fight and then held back.
"Next is the third part..."
"That's enough, Fūga. The assessment is over! The third part wouldn't mean much for this kid either. Just pass him."
Rasa suddenly cut Fūga off.
His attention was entirely on the doll on Hoshino's shoulder.
A doll that could use Ninjutsu was simply unbelievable.
After all, a puppet could not actively release Ninjutsu on its own. It could only produce effects similar to Ninjutsu through a puppeteer's control and special design.
Yet Hoshino had overturned that common knowledge.
Rasa had seen the whole process clearly.
Hoshino had not actively controlled the doll at all, yet it had used Ninjutsu directly, without even forming Hand Seals.
If this technique became widespread, the chances of Sunagakure rising to prominence would increase greatly.
But this matter could not be rushed. He needed to find out Elder Chiyo's attitude first before making further arrangements.
"Yes, Lord Kazekage!"
Fūga nodded, then took a Forehead Protector bearing an hourglass design from his robes and tossed it to Hoshino.
Hoshino caught it and examined it carefully, raising an eyebrow.
Just like that?
Isn't this a little too slapdash? I thought someone would come and put it on me personally.
Where should I wear it?
Around my neck? Too easy to get strangled.
On my forehead? Not distinctive enough. That's where cannon fodder wear it.
On my arm? It'd feel a little uncomfortable.
Maybe I should copy Kakashi, wear it at an angle and look like a one-eyed dragon.
As Hoshino pondered where to wear the Forehead Protector, Rasa raised a hand, signaling the surrounding Anbu to withdraw.
He brought Chiyo and Ebizo over to Hoshino.
Grandma Chiyo wore her usual kindly expression, clearly very pleased with Hoshino's performance.
Ebizo's gaze, on the other hand, had taken on a hint of scrutiny.
A doll releasing Ninjutsu on its own was a miracle, but behind that miracle lay a sign of something forbidden.
He knew of a similar forbidden technique that could achieve such an effect.
The Human Puppet technique.
It transformed the bodies of the living or the dead into ultimate weapons possessing both "human abilities" and "puppet functions."
The doll on Hoshino's shoulder had so much in common with that forbidden technique that it was no wonder his thoughts had wandered.
Sister, what exactly did you teach him?
"Hoshino, you're a qualified Genin now. Which department would you like to join?" Rasa's voice brought him back to reality.
He could choose which department he wanted to join according to his own wishes.
A civilian ninja naturally would not have so many choices.
But Hoshino was different.
He came from the already sparsely populated Puppet Brigade, and he had Grandma Chiyo, an elder of considerable seniority, backing him.
It was only natural that he received preferential treatment.
There was one more thing...
Sunagakure actually did not have that much work for them to carry out right now.
It really is rough!
"Lord Kazekage, what do you think?" Hoshino came to his senses and asked tentatively.
"Elder Chiyo, which department do you think would suit Hoshino?" Rasa turned to ask Chiyo.
"You're the Kazekage, so naturally it's for you to decide!" Grandma Chiyo smiled faintly, indicating that she would not interfere with where Hoshino went.
"Hahaha, good! Hoshino, starting tomorrow, you'll be assigned directly to Anbu Team Six."
"Yes, Lord Kazekage!"
It was noon. The scorching sun hung high overhead, waves of heat rolled in from the desert, and the entire training ground was baking hot.
Rasa had already left with the two elders, Grandma Chiyo and Ebizo.
Hoshino casually tucked the Forehead Protector into his waistband, thinking he would find a suitable way to wear it later.
Then he headed toward the Ninja Academy, humming a little tune.
How could he not go and show off such good news to his friends?
He was a working adult now, while they were still students. That was a difference in status.