After escaping from that ordeal.
I returned home and decided to test out my new chakra control.
"Might as well see how far I can walk up the wall with my newly gained chakra control"
I proceeded to form a ram seal and pooled chakra into the bottom of my feet, took a deep breath and attempted it.
The first step was stable, then I took another step and then another.
"I did it! I did it!"
As soon as I had full control, I began running around my walls in an excited frenzy, to be fair it was my first time experiencing something like this, especially since I come from a world where this is far from the norm.
After expending my energy I stopped wall climbing.
"Whew, I'm tired"
I got a bit too excited, who would've thought running on walls would be so fun.
I wish there was ponds or a lake to walk on but I just had to be reincarnated into Sunagakure.
I may as well spend the rest of my time mastering the chakra thread scroll.
I had already grasped the basics of the scroll but inside were more complex weaving patterns and informative diagrams on how to control the limbs of puppets.
I also didn't realise at the time but controlling puppets also require shape transformation.
The basic premise includes focusing chakra to the smallest point on the tips of your fingers, create chakra threads , then proceed weaving them together to reinforce the tensile strength and finally latching it on to the intended target.
I had always thought that shape transformation was for rasengan or chidori style attacks, but I guess the jutsu's in this world are far more complex and nuanced then I had anticipated.
That's reminds me, I need to learn the rasengan.However, I plan to do it when my chakra is sufficient.
In this world, I need every advantage I can get and sin d the rasengan process is so well documented in the anime, I have the means to achieve it.
Unfortunately however, water balloons don't seem to be very popular in the barren desert. Although, there's a chance I may be able to do it without all the monotonous training required in the initial stage, given that I increase my chakra control first.
When the time comes and I am able to master it, I will be very conservative in its use, after all I don't want to be hailed as a prodigy for plagiarising an A-rank jutsu.
…
Its a new day now and I want to build my own puppet, this time with my new found knowledge.
I need to also test whether or not higher quality puppets can increase the incremental value of my knowledge.
Despite only gaining 0.1% knowledge, it's quite substantial and I believe I can build a basic puppet.
So I decided to sneak into my brothers workshop early in the morning and steal some parts
"Hopefully he doesn't notice", I whisper as I clutch as much items as my tiny 4 year old body can hold.
After stealthily taking back a bundle of wooden arms,legs, torsos and uncarved wooden pieces — I threw them all on the floor.
"Wow, this will take a lot of work but I think I can definitely at least make a humanoid puppet"
Using a spare kunai I found lying around, I began carving joint pieces and intricate locking mechanisms into the uncarved wooden pieces.
And after 3 hours of tedious assembly, it was finally done.
[Puppets (1/10) - Completed(1)
Puppet and Baryon fusion reactor knowledge (0.1%)]
"My new creation!"
It's still a bit rough around the edges but it's functional at least.
"Sigh, that took a lot more effort than I thought, I still have a long way to go before I match my brother."
Since I'm finished I might as well test my puppet control.
Using all ten fingers I began weaving them simultaneously.
Clank Clank
"Yes!"
Although the puppet was moving haphazardly, I got it to work.
Manipulating it's limbs with my chakra threads I began to test the mobility of my puppets, making it throw punches and kicks.
Amidst my practise, Sasori began to enter through my door
"Sora did you take ….."
Clunk!
I quickly moved my hands down and tried to hide my puppets but it was too late.
"….my puppet parts"
"Uhhm… no"
"Sora! this is from my workshop I made those limbs"
I guess Sasori won't question as to how I made this puppet, he literally made one to one replicas of our parents at age 5. My puppet pales in comparison to what he could make at around the same age.
Normally, Sasori doesn't show much emotion but I guess when it comes to me or his puppets he can behave quite human.
"I'll let you off this time, but don't take parts from me, ask Granny Chiyo," he uttered, returning back to his monotone voice.
Phew, fortunately he didn't get too mad. I don't want to be the first on his list of human puppets.
Now then. I should return to practice.
After a full day of practing chakra thread control, I was exhausted but I persevered continuing my typical regiment of exercise.
…
Nothing much changed in my routine the past year, I've continued my training and I am now currently age five.
A lot of things have happened over the course of this year, but the main thing is, I was only able to get enough parts to make 9 more high quality humanoid puppets
This is in due part to Chiyo not providing me parts that often, but also the build time required.
Ever since I've created the first 10 puppets, something really frustrating happened.
If I complete a puppet and it's of a similar complexity or less than the one prior, it doesn't count towards my progression.
Hence why, I have been really practicing on improving my puppet craftsmanship.
Also since this will be my lifeline in the future, it cancels out my time spent learning I guess.
[Puppets (0/10) - Completed(2)
Puppet and Baryon fusion reactor knowledge (0.4%)]
Fortunately, my theory regarding the quality of the puppet affecting he incremental increase was correct but since I was unable to make any functional weapons or traps in my puppets, the average build quality didn't increase that much and it wasn't too far removed from the original 0.1 increase.
However, the knowledge that I gained was still significant.
When the final puppet mechanism clicked into place, it was like a floodgate of creativity opened in my brain, my brain surged with an influx of puppet ideas.
Not to mention my chakra control had further increased.
Operating this fusion reactor must require an obscene amount of chakra control, since just 0.4% knowledge has allowed me to progress this far.
This is not the only significant thing to happen.
Sasori is now hailed as a puppet prodigy around the village.
His three puppets Crow, Black Ant and Salamander have become the certified standard for many puppet shinobis.
Furthermore he also "graduated" and became a shinobi himself
However the process is far different from Konohas clean and rigid system.
The 3rd Kazekage seems to be quite lazy and incompetent when it comes to developing a solid military or doing any form of administrative work.
All you have to do to become a genin is: Buy scrolls on chakra extraction and the three basic ninjutsus and then prove your abilities to an instructor.
There's a basic training academy with no formal curriculum, no exams and no 3 man team or a jōnin instructor to guide the new genins.
New shinobis are expected to find jobs themselves and specialise themselves, whether it's commissioned jobs,border security, etc.
At the very least, there are different places you can join to to learn skills, such as pharmaceutical division for poison and medicine, a specialised puppet division or a sealing unit.
This all will be revamped however, after my brother kidnaps and murders the 3rd Kazekage and Rasa ushers in a new era as the 4th for better or for worse.
Now to continue what I was saying, since Sasori has become a Shinobi he has been a lot busier, locking himself in his room to make commissioned puppets ordered by Chiyo and his customers.
But I haven't been lonely, since Sasori's only friend Komushi often visits our house.
Komushi became a shinobi at the same time as Sasori and pesters him even more than me.
He's always ranting about how he'll become a full fledged shinobi like Sasori.
From my memory of Naruto, I hadn't paid too much attention to Sasori's backstory, if there even is one.
So I'm not sure how influential Komushi is. Well… whatever he's probably just a background character.
When it comes to me taking the exam to become shinobi, I had originally intended to just stay at home and do nothing.
However, Chiyo will not let this slide and she will just forcefully use her influence to make me a ninja without any prior exam, regardless of what I do.
So my plan to hide out the upcoming conflicts doesn't seem to be very foolproof.
Meanwhile In Sasori's workshop
"Sasori, how have you been?", Komushi said in an upbeat tone
"Granny Chiyo said that your last puppet has been a really big hit with everybody, someday I wanna be a shinobi everybody praises,just like your puppets."
"…"
"Hey are you listening to me! Hello? I'm right here?
Clank. Clank. Clank.
Sasori maintains focused on his puppets
"Come on! answer me already!"
Komushi lightly shoves Sasori's back and a component of the puppet he's working on slips out his hand but Sasori catches it and curtly returns to assembling
"I'm sorry for losing my temper like that, but sometimes you treat me worse than your puppets"
"Anyways, Granny Chiyo has a message she wants you to finish those puppets you've bee..."
"Crow, Black Ant and Salamander", Sasori cut him off in his monotone voice.
"Everything she requested is complete"
"So your new creations! You certainly do like to work fast"
"I don't like to make people wait"
Buzz
Sasori manipulates his chakra to his fingers and channels it into the prosthetic arm he was working on, it begins to clink together and the finger joints begin to contract.
"Wow you're amazing! It's moves just like real fingers"
Sasori's stares in contemplation and with intrigue in his eyes towards Komushi whilst he imitates the puppets movements with his hands.
"Oh! About the new one, Granny Chiyo asked me if you finished the poison recipe for the Crow puppet"
Sasori promptly hands a folded note to Komushi
"Wow, these are really rare medicinal plants, you're going to make a mixture out of all of them?"
Sasori nods
"I'm gonna need permission for this, Alright! I Komushi will ask around!"
"I don't like to wait"
"I guess not, I gotta go then!"
Komushi runs and leaves in a lively manner
Chiyo's Study
Knock Knock
"Who is it?"
"It's Komushi~"
"Oh , did you relay my message to…"
Sasori enters in with Komushi
"Granny Chiyo, Sasori has a request to ask of you"
"What is it?"
Komushi hands her the poison recipe
"Oh. Well there's not much I can say without knowing the blending ratio"
She glances at Sasori's dead eyes and briefly reminiscences
"But since it's you, I foresee no issues. I'll go clear it with the pharmaceutical division"
"But right now, I'm in the middle of some research so please leave"
The golden dusk looms over
Sasori and Komushi leave walking along the cobbled sandstone path
"Man Sasori you're set, you're young yet already contributing to the village. Grammy Chiyo must be proud"
Sasori has a blank yet solemn stare as he listens to Komushi
"Hey! Are you listening? I don't know if you know this but Granny Chiyo always seems to be worried about you and Sora", Komushi says with his hands behind his head
"I can't wait for the day I become a full fledged shinobi just like your puppets"
"My own parents treat me like a kid, saying I don't have what it takes to be a full fledged shinobi"
"But guess what? I just got assigned to border security, I mean yeah it's only guard duty but if I prove myself"
"Komushi! What are you up to at this hour? I've been worried sick about you"
Komushi's mum tussles and begins to pull him away
"Cut it out! I'm going to work border security soon!"
"Oh~ You don't have to work jobs like that, I'll take care of you for the rest of my life"
She drags Komushi away whilst Sasori's stares with a faint smile.
Click
The door to our house creaks closed as Sasori returns home.
"Big brother it's rare for you to go out for so long, what are you doing out so late?"
"Work."
"Oh, Since you're finished can you teach me how you made that prosthetic arm in your workshop, Please!"
"Fine, but I thought I said you're banned from entering my workshop"
"Whoops~ I forgot!"
Sasori stays in silence but with a faint smile.
—-
Thanks for reading this far!