In the silent night, Sunagakure was rarely windless and quiet. The bright moonlight shone over the sleeping village, calming even the One-Tail Jinchuuriki, whose heart was as wild as fire. He leaned against the corner of a roof, enjoying the peace brought by the moonlight.
In the dark corners untouched by moonlight, ANBU operatives obediently followed the orders of the Fourth Kazekage, monitoring every move within the village.
In a collective apartment for single ninjas, a young man was sweating profusely as he exercised his muscles, unaware of a pair of eyes watching him from outside the window.
"That's him, right? He seems like a good guy. Apart from his talent and strength, his diligence surpasses most ninjas," thought Otokaze, a new jounin who had just returned to the village from a mission.
Assigned to temporarily lead a newly formed genin team, he reluctantly came to observe the young man who would become his subordinate. The first member made a good impression. Seeing him in action was much more intuitive than reading intelligence reports. As for the other two teammates, he could only assess them the following day.
Daimaru, oblivious to the scrutiny, lay on the floor to rest after his workout. Remembering something, he pulled out a small wooden box from under his bed. Inside was a doll, about the height of an adult's arm. Its face was still blurry, but its figure, limbs, and clothing were already very detailed.
"I always feel like something is missing! Oh, and I need to prepare a fan," he thought to himself. The materials for puppets crafted by puppet masters are relatively expensive. Rare wood and chakra-conducting metals are hard to find.
With his limited finances, Daimaru could only hunt large creatures like giant desert scorpions and quicksand pythons, using their fangs, bones, and scales. While not as ideal as rare materials, they could still be effective if used skillfully. However, hunting was risky for a genin.
Every year, Sunagakure produced numerous puppets, many of which were scrapped. Second-hand materials were virtually impossible to find. The chakra reactions and battle marks on a puppet would reveal the puppet master's techniques and fighting style. They had to be destroyed unless rendered completely unusable.
General damages could be repaired, but continued usage was often a challenge.
"Let's visit Temari and Kankuro first to see if I can get some materials. If not, i'll have to hunt down some bigger creatures. I want to finish this before the Chunin Exam," he resolved.
Daimaru had been studying puppet techniques for some time, gaining considerable experience, yet he lacked a single usable puppet. As for any trump cards he had, he kept those hidden from others.
Three days later, Daimaru received notice to meet with his team leader and teammates. The Jounin, Otokaze, had messy brown hair, a youthful face, and a hint of arrogance at just twenty-six years old. This was his first time leading a genin team. Although it was temporary, it felt significant.
The other two teammates had intriguing backgrounds.
"Sen? I didn't expect to see you here. We seem to run into each other everywhere," said Daimaru, his surprise genuine. Sen was a genjutsu specialist who relied on battlefield layout, secret medicine, and a fan to exert her strength. Although her physical skills were weak and her ninjutsu average, she had a sharp mind that made up for some of her shortcomings.
Yome was a ninjutsu-assisted ninja with impressive sensory capabilities, able to perceive her surroundings up to dozens of kilometres away and transmit information over short distances. She had basic medical ninjutsu but was not particularly adept in combat situations.
While the two seemed to complement Daimaru's fighting style on the surface, their shortcomings were glaringly apparent.
The two female ninjas were not suited for frontline combat, leaving Daimaru to assume dual roles as both human shield and damage dealer, while also protecting them from any lurking danger.
The odds of them succeeding in a skirmish seemed to diminish with every passing moment.
"It seems we all know each other, so there's no need for formal introductions. For now, I'll lead you all through the upcoming tasks," Otokaze said, looking at his three subordinates with a serious expression.
Though they had their flaws, they were all qualified by genin standards. If they could leverage their strengths and work together, D-rank missions would be manageable, and C-rank missions wouldn't be too difficult either.
However, it was clear they still had a distance to cover before reaching Chunin status.
"This is our first meeting; let's wrap it up for now. We'll gather tomorrow morning. I've already picked a mission: eliminating a bandit group entrenched on the border between the Wind and Grass Kingdoms. Be prepared," he instructed, his voice steady and authoritative.
"Understood!" the trio replied in unison, a mix of excitement and anxiety stirring in their bellies.
"Very good. Dismissed." Otokaze said, signalling the end of their meeting.
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Sen and Yome were surprised to find themselves on the same team as Daimaru so soon.
"Daimaru, I heard you were abandoned by your original team. I thought it was just a rumor, but it seems it's true. How did someone like you end up in such a situation?" Sen asked, a hint of sympathy in her voice, her gaze softening.
"Enough with the chatter!" Daimaru retorted, feeling a bit embarrassed as his previous majesty dwindled.
"Aren't you both abandoned as well?" he pointed out, trying to shift the focus away from himself.
"We're different!" Sen replied, her mood shifting as she spoke. "One of my teammates was seriously injured and retired, leading to our team's disbandment. The other got absorbed into another team..."
Losing a core member often meant a genin team would disband. Finding replacements who could match the original members' skills was challenging, especially when one could no longer contribute.
"What about you, Sen? Why are you alone?"
"That's a complicated story..." Yome said shyly, clearly reluctant to delve into the details. She fidgeted with her hands, avoiding eye contact. Sen quickly jumped in to explain.
"Yome's abilities are a bit... tricky. She was overestimated when joining her previous team and placed with a stronger group. However, the teacher and her teammates felt that Yome's growth didn't meet their expectations. They thought she couldn't keep pace with the others..."
"Do you think you're too weak?" Daimaru murmured, a bitter smile forming on his lips. His heart ached for his teammates as he realized they all shared a similar plight.
Ultimately, Sunagakure's evaluation standards for genin were lacking, and its training methods felt juvenile. The village's focus on quick success overshadowed any long-term planning. This current setup indicated a lack of faith in Daimaru's potential. The overall strength of his teammates was concerning, especially with formidable competitors in the upcoming Chunin Exams.
Yet, their supportive abilities might help Daimaru navigate the first two tests in the Death Forest, provided he could maintain his own strength and resolve.
"Complete missions, earn money, buy materials, and train. The next few months will be hectic!" he thought, determination solidifying within him. "With the Konoha Ninja School's new genin on the horizon, I'm truly looking forward to it!"
As Daimaru mentally prepared for the challenges ahead, he felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. His journey was only just beginning, and he was eager to carve out his path as a puppeteer in the world of shinobi.