Clink Clink
"Use the chakra-metal wire and thread it through the hinge to act as an antagonist agonist pair when contracting"
"Wow! You're a lot smarter than I realised elder brother"
I already knew he's a genius but even so his talent for making puppets is higher than I thought, hopefully buttering him up can help me increase my repertoire for my future puppet builds.
Buzz
Using my chakra, I delicately navigate the wire through crevice of the prosthesis I created, with the guidance of Sasori.
"Wow! I can't believe I made something this complex on my own!", I exclaim hoisting my creation into the air.
"It's… alright," Sasori mumbles, averting his eyes
"It's thanks to you brother!", I say whilst in the midst of turning towards him, however…
He already left the room.
He doesn't like waiting I guess.
Ever since our parents left for the war, he's always been waiting for them to return, it left a huge psychological scar on him.
More importantly, this prosthesis I made counted as a completed puppet.
Recently, I've been struggling to make a puppet that's complex enough to fit the necessary requirements.
Meaning I have work on my craftsmanship even more now.
[Puppets (1/10) - Completed(2)
Puppet and Baryon fusion reactor knowledge (0.4%)]
Fortunately, knowledge gained works in a positive feedback loop so the more achieved the better quality puppets I can build.
Ever since Sasori created his 3 major puppets, he's been getting commissions left and right from Chiyo and others, so he's set on parts and money for materials. Whilst I have to scrounge and pounce on any opportunity I get to find parts.
I might as well show Chiyo my creation in hopes of getting a reward.
…
Knock Knock Knock
"Granny Chiyo it's me Sora, I wanna show you something!"
"Come in"
Creak
Sitting at her desk was Chiyo examining literature on a scroll.
"Look Granny!", I exclaim as I project my newly crafted prostethic arm in the air.
She took the arm and inspected it closely.
"This is quite good craftsmanship, did you make it yourself?"
"Yes! Can I get a reward please~, I used up the last of the material you gave me last month"
"Hmm, all you've been doing recently is making puppets… I don't want you to become anti-social and locked up all day like your older brother"
"How about this, I'll ask Komushi to teach you the three body technique and when you prove you can peform it, I'll provide you with more parts free of charge."
Seriously? With my new gained chakra control mastering those jutsus will be a breeze!
However, I'm afraid Chiyo will probably promote me into a genin if I complete that task.
Since that's all it takes in this village to become a shinobi.
The reward is too enticing though, so I'll just swallow the bitter pill and just become a genin, I was bound to become one eventually.
"You can leave now little Sora, I'm busy."
-
The next day
The sun beams down on the swirling sand traversing the open training ground containing two small figures.
"Hey Sora! I heard from Granny Chiyo, you want to become a genin like me!" He exclaims, as he enthusiastically places his hand on my shoulder
Uh… that's not what I told her.
"Since I am already a full-fledged shinobi, Your big bro Komushi will show you how difficult it is, Hahaha!" He says as he tilts his Suna headband upwards with a grin.
This guy is really obnoxious… no wonder Sasori ignores him all the time.
"You got it?"
"Understood", I replied in a monotone voice
"I guess you brothers really are similar, huh"
No. You're just annoying.
"Well then stay focused, I'm going to start teaching you now"
"Don't be too let down when you can't learn it okay? Even I struggled for 2 years just to master these three jutsus"
"Okay! So the first is the clone technique"
Komushi begins to form the hand seals required, subsequently an exact replica of himself forms, enshrouded within a white cloud.
"Hehehe! Do you see how impressive your big bro is!"
"Now, to perform this technique, you have to form these three hand seals", he instructs as he weaves his hands together.
"You just practice those hand seals for now, there's no need to rush to perform the technique right …
Poof!
away…"
Right next to me an exact replica appeared, interrupting Komushi's advice.
Komushi was left gobsmacked.
"N-no way. You must have learned this before from Sasori!"
"Try this one!"
Komushi performs different hand seals this time as he transforms into me.
Poof!
I copied the same hand seals and transformed into the appearance of Komushi.
"Seriously!?"
"How about this then!"
Coping, with a desperate attempt he proceeds to perform another set of hand seals and this time he disappears into a cloud of smoke and a log substitutes his place
I copy his hand seals and then…
Clunk!
A log drops to the floor
And yet again, I mimicked his same exact jutsu.
"You're a genius Sora! I have to report this to Granny Chiyo.
In a hurry, Komushi sprints away leaving me behind.
Huh…
What's there to report to Chiyo?
Those are only E-rank jutsus, I don't think he can call me a genius based off of that. Komushi is probably really untalented if it took him 2 years.
"Granny Chiyo, I have good news!"
"Sora like Sasori, is also a genius.
He learnt all three jutsus after just one attempt!"
"What?! Even Sasori took a couple of months at first to learn those jutsus, are you certain they were performed perfectly ?"
"Yes! He performed all 3 perfectly"
"He must really be a genius. His talent will be wasted if he just sits at home all day, he's good at making puppets but Sasori's more talented than him. I summise he will be far better suited for combat"
"Okay. Bring Sora here now"
…
"Congratulations Sora, I've heard you've learned the three body techniques in just one attempt each. This is a very impressive feat for someone your age, even Sasori took months to learn those jutsu's."
Yeah because he was focused on making puppets all day…
"Since you pass the qualifications for a shinobi."
"I hereby declare you a genin of Sunagakure.", She states as she hands me a Suna headband
Sigh as expected. She made me a genin…
"Since you are now officially a shinobi of Sunagakure, you should fulfill your duties as one"
"Given your talent. It would be a waste for you to be at home all day, I will give you an opportunity to gain some experience in the real world"
"From tommorow onwards,Komushi will be your sparring partner and starting next month you will be on the same border patrol route as Komushi"
"I will ask Sasori to lend you Salamander puppet, or you can use the parts I give you as a reward to make your own"
"It's fine, I can make my own", I said while being in a dejected mood
"Don't worry, Komushi was designated a safe route, it's near impossible for anything to go wrong in that area other than the rare few rogue bandits"
"Use the chakra thread scrolls in our house to learn how to operate the puppets"
Ha! She doesn't know I already mastered that scroll
"I'll go arrange a position for you with the border security team "
Thud!
"Ow! Granny Chiyo my stomach hurts!", I plea as I clutch my stomach on the ground
"I don't think I can do this job. It's too important to risk the security of our beloved village to me, I'm too sick! Please reconsider my position granny"
"…"
"Sora, did you forget I am a master herbalist? How about testing my medicine for stomachaches? Remember the difference between poison and medicine is the dose." Chiyo says,with a devious smile.
I quickly straighten up
"Ahem… Sorry granny, it was only a short lived illness, I'm all fine now", I say whilst dusting myself off
"Good kid"
Sigh. I guess that plan was never going to work out. She's seems hell bent on not letting me end up becoming stuck in a workshop like Sasori.
I guess this is her own way of protecting me, she's quite old fashioned and unable of directly showing affection. The death of my parents must have caused her to give me this preemptive training.
"I'll have a shipment of parts delivered to your room tommorow"
"For now just ask Sasori for a Salamander puppet for your sparring sessions."
"Understood"
-
When I got home, I knocked on Sasori's door
"It's me Elder brother, may I enter"
"Come in"
His workshop was dimly lit by candles,with rows of unfinished puppets lined up. Sasori was at the end whittling a piece of wood on his desk.
"Brother, Granny Chiyo requested for me to use a Salamander puppet for training, may I take one?"
"Hmm" Sasori gave a curt nod.
"Okay, Thank you brother!"
I happily left his room with my new training puppet.
Our interactions typically last a few words, I've tried to speak more often to my brother but he ends up just ignoring me if I push it too far.
As for the reason why I'm so happy is that I never got to examine my brothers work before on my own and the reason for that is whenever I ask him to lend me one he just refuses but now I have the perfect excuse.
Since Granny Chiyo requested for me to take a puppet herself he can't refuse. I can study the intricacies of his work and better improve myself.
But for now, I'll leave the puppet alone.
In one month I'll be working border security, I know Chiyo said it is a safe route but to be extremely cautious, I should cast a safety net for myself.
So I'm going to attempt to learn the rasengan!
In order to do that, I'm going to go search for some rubber balls. Since water balloons are scarce here, I will go for the next best option.
I know the difficulty level for the rubber ball is up by one notch but I think with my chakra control, I should manage.
Taking a handful of 10 ryo coins I head outside.
Walking with my hands in my pockets, I admire the gourd shaped and other funky looking houses and enter the market full of stalls made of sand, embedded into buildings.
"It's quite lively here for such a poor country"
"I guess the economy doesn't tank until after the third war"
"Oh! I found the stall selling what I want"
"What do you want kid?" A bald burly man with a moustache asked
"Can I get 10 of those bouncy balls please!"
"Okay. That'll be 40 ryo"
After I hand him the money, I promptly return to my house.
Okay, from what I remember, what I must do is create an omnidirectional flow of chakra within the ball in order to stabilise the chakra's form.
Concentrating as hard as I can, I channel my chakra into the ball and nothing happens…
I continue to repeat this process for the next few hours until.
There was a protrusion in the ball. However, rather than being spiked as indicated in the anime, it was more reminiscent of the equatorial bulge of a planet.
As I continued to train into nighttime, the protrusion became more and more significant, until…
Hiss!
The ball rapidly deflated
Yes I did it!
I need to repeat it on the 9 remaining balls to see if it was a fluke or not.
Hiss!
Hiss!
Hiss!
My chakra control has progressed far more than I realised.
In a rapid fire fashion, I deflated the rest of the balls and was left with the final test.
I think I'm ready to test a rasengan.
Taking a deep breath, I held out my arm and channeled my chakra into my palm.
Buzz!
"What!?"
I couldn't help but exclaim out loud at what occurred , opposed to the spherical shape I was expecting , a thin rapidly spinning disc of chakra formed with the chakra source materialising from 5 of my fingertips instead of the centre palm.
This must be a result of me subconsciously combining the chakra thread method and the training process of the rasengan together .
I know Boruto subconsciously integrated lightning release but this is completely different!
I need to test this out.
Mantainjng the small buzzing disc on my right hand, I picked up a scrap piece of wood
Tss!
My rasengan slices clean through the wood and rather than leaving the typical vortex shaped indentation, it left a horizontal cut.
"Woah! The lacerative effect of this form of the rasengan is far superior but conversely, its overall destructive effect is inferior."
I tried it once more but my chakra reserves were empty from all that training.
I guess I should go asleep and try again once my energy returns.
——
Thanks for reading this far!