Hiding in the sand, splitting into many places, starting with Arkham

The reason is simple: only the Sand Village possesses high-level puppeteer knowledge.

The puppeteer is a new type of ninja profession created by the Second Kazekage and promoted by Monzaemon. It has been less than thirty years since its birth. Other ninja villages have at most acquired some basic knowledge of the puppeteer system. Truly powerful puppeteers only exist in the Sand Village.

"He came from the ninja school's elite class. The Jonin leading the team is Moya, a typical Wind Release ninja. He probably can't teach him these things. In fact, even if someone could teach him, being able to achieve this at this age means his future prospects are limitless."

Ishido continued to speak to Ebizo.

"Hmm, I see. You want to transfer him to your Sixth Squad?"

"Yes, Lord Ebizo. Two years ago, White Fang nearly wiped out more than 70% of our Sixth Squad's puppeteers. We still haven't finished rebuilding. So, when I see a good seedling, I can't help but..."

"Alright, I understand."

Ebizo moved his hand away from his gray beard and examined him again for a while.

Such a genius is worth nurturing.

Moreover, his age is only two years younger than Sasori, making them peers.

He could try letting him interact with Sasori.

After all, Sasori has become increasingly isolated since his parents died.

"It's impossible to directly transfer him to your squad. I will select eighty of this new generation of puppeteers to enter the training list. When the time comes, which one enters the puppet unit and which squad they join will depend on you leaders of each squad to decide."

...

A week after Shimizu submitted the puppet maintenance task, he received such a notice at home.

"Yes, you must seize this opportunity. The Puppet Unit is the village's elite force. In the past ten years, almost all puppeteers who have become Jonin have come from here."

A ninja with bandages wrapped around his shoulders, looking over fifty years old, placed a form on the table.

This was Shimizu's previous team leader, Moya, a veteran Jonin of the Sand Village. He was just getting old and, due to injuries, retreated from the front line of the Rain Country with Shimizu in the same batch.

Of course, Shimizu was not led by Moya on the battlefield. As a Jonin, the tasks he performed were not something that Shimizu, a Genin who had graduated for a year, could come into contact with.

"I am not a puppeteer. I rely on Wind Release ninjutsu and swordsmanship to become a Chunin. My help in puppetry is limited. So, if you want to continue to move up in the future, you must seize this opportunity."

Moya said, looking at the young man in front of him.

He was well aware of the potential of his student.

His talent in ninjutsu could only be considered above average, and his swordsmanship was okay. If he followed the rules, becoming a Chunin would definitely not be a problem. If he didn't die prematurely, he might reach the level of Jonin in some aspects after a few more years, becoming a Special Jonin when he came of age.

The chances of becoming a Jonin were there, but not great.

However, Shimizu's talent in puppetry was so high that it amazed Moya. He believed that if Shimizu could obtain a high-level puppeteer inheritance, becoming a Jonin would be inevitable.

In the future, there might be a chance to become a big figure like Elder Chiyo.

"Thank you, Teacher Moya."

Shimizu took the form from Moya's hand and thanked him.

"There's nothing to thank me for. When you graduated and were assigned to a team, it was the most intense time on the battlefield. At that time, the village's powerful puppeteers..."

Moya shook his head.

"What happened to those puppeteers?"

Shimizu asked curiously.

"At that time, Elder Chiyo handed over the Puppet Unit to her son and daughter-in-law. They were also very powerful puppeteers, and were considered two candidates to take over the Fourth Kazekage's banner in the future. Unfortunately, in a battle, the puppet unit they led encountered White Fang's team from Konoha, resulting in heavy casualties, and even the two of them died in battle."

"The Jonin originally assigned to lead you was also temporarily added to the Puppet Unit after the war and rushed to the front line, so I could only find someone like me who was neither high nor low to lead you."

Moya patted Shimizu on the shoulder.

Among the five major ninja villages, the number of active ninjas in each village has reached five figures. Of course, each graduating class of Genin will not be like in the anime, with only twenty-seven people, and some of them have to be eliminated.

In fact, these twenty-seven people have higher talent potential, or a strong enough background. Only they will have a Jonin lead them after graduation.

Shimizu was one of them.

His talent was different compared to the top geniuses, but it was higher than the average, and he squeezed in with an early advantage.

...

...

That night, in front of the desk, Shimizu fiddled with puppet parts absentmindedly, watching the progress bar at the bottom of the panel slowly advance.

"The application form for puppeteer training seems to have been approved."

Ninety-seven percent, ninety-eight percent, ninety-nine percent...

The progress bar slowly but firmly reached one hundred percent, and then cleared instantly.

【System Updating…】

【New Features Opening…】

【System Update Complete!】

The panel changed at this moment.

On the left side of the original Fatty Puppet's panel, a new sub-panel appeared, displaying a three-dimensional image of Shimizu himself.

"This is... my own data chart?"

Shimizu looked at the changes on the panel in surprise and immediately looked at his own attributes.

【Name: Shimizu】

【Age: Eleven】

【Occupation: Ninja (Main), Puppeteer】

【Professional Attributes: Nin: 4, Tai: 3, Gen: 3, Ken: 5, Power: 3, Speed: 4, Spirit: 4, Seal: 5】

"This is... the Eight Ninja Stats?"

The Eight Ninja Stats are a way to evaluate a ninja's comprehensive abilities using numerical values. The ninja school also uses this method to score a ninja's various abilities.

These values can roughly reflect a ninja's level, but they do not represent everything. For example, if a ninja is not good at genjutsu, but is very good at dispelling genjutsu, then his Gen index will not be very high, but it can also have six or seven points. It is generally difficult for someone with a Gen attribute of ten to cast genjutsu on this person.

Typical examples include Might Guy and Jiraiya, who are not good at genjutsu, but that does not mean they are not good at resisting genjutsu.

That being said, the numerical values of the Eight Ninja Stats are still very meaningful for reference.

Shimizu curiously tapped the word "Nin" with his mind.

It couldn't be upgraded, but a sub-window popped up, displaying the branch attributes of the Nin value.

【Wind Release Ninjutsu: LV1, Puppetry: LV2】

"If it's just like this, it seems to be of limited help to me."

Shimizu reluctantly tapped every corner of the panel again.

After opening Wind Release Ninjutsu, the two C-level Wind Release ninjutsu he currently mastered appeared: Wind Release: Gale Palm, and Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.