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

"It's different. With the puppet squad, you're on the roster but not actually employed, so you only get half pay. The elite combat unit doesn't consider you a temp, so you get a full salary. Also, Chunin get a monthly stipend of 10,000 Ryo, which they keep for life, even after retirement, until death."

Miyabi explained to Shimizu.

"That works."

The puppet squad and the elite combat unit are equal in rank. Unless you hold positions like captain or vice-captain, the salaries are the same.

In other words, he got a half salary increase plus a Chunin stipend of 10,000 Ryo per month.

A promotion and a raise are naturally good things.

That evening, Miyabi treated the members of Squad 3 of the Sixth Division to a meal.

Although it wasn't as lavish as the one Chiyo treated them to last time, it was still decent.

The next day, Shimizu organized his ninja tools and attire, and first went to the Kazekage Tower to find Ebizo. After stamping and signing the documents, his promotion to Chunin was official.

Raising one's status within Sunagakure, a top-tier ninja village, yields far more luck than transforming into a vigilante, subduing a small gang, and seizing a street in Gotham.

The luck progress bar instantly jumped from 20.9% to 45.3%, and is still slowly increasing.

Afterwards, he went to the warehouse to collect his Chunin flak jacket and headed to the Second Training Ground.

He had to meet his new teammates here.

...

...

When Shimizu arrived at the agreed-upon location at the Second Training Ground, someone was already waiting.

It was a slender and tall young woman wearing a backless outfit, with a pretty face, looking slightly older than Shimizu.

"Hello, I'm Pakura, twelve years old. I was newly promoted to Chunin last year, and I specialize in Wind Release and Fire Release. If I'm not mistaken, you must also be a newbie who was assigned to Squad Nine this time, right?"

Pakura generously extended her hand to Shimizu.

"Hello, I'm Shimizu, Chunin, temporarily seconded from the puppet squad."

Shimizu smiled and shook Pakura's hand.

After all, they would be comrades who would entrust each other with their lives during missions in the future, so it was very necessary to build a good relationship.

Moreover, in Shimizu's memory, Pakura was not an unknown person, and she must be extraordinary.

The two chatted for a while, and the remaining two members of the team arrived one after another.

"Maki, Chunin, specializing in Wind Release, Earth Release, and swordsmanship, eleven years old,"

Another "acquaintance."

Being able to become the Jonin instructor of Rasa's three children in the future, Maki's position in Sunagakure at that time was comparable to Kakashi of Konoha, and he must have been one of the top few elite Jonin in Sunagakure at that time.

It seems that his team is not ordinary.

The configuration is also very reasonable. Pakura is a typical ninjutsu-type ninja, Maki is good at ninjutsu-taijutsu, one close and one far, and he, as a puppeteer, combines both, and should be responsible for the support role in battle.

Thinking of this, Shimizu turned his attention to the last person in the team.

This was a young Jonin, wearing a white cloth on his head like Maki, but a little handsome, and the long sword on his back indicated that he should be a master swordsman.

"Have you all introduced yourselves? Then it's my turn as the superior."

The Jonin coughed twice and said:

"My name is Kazakami Chihiro, Jonin, age twenty-nine, specializing in Wind Release, Fire Release, and Lightning Release. My swordsmanship is also passable. From now on, I will be the captain of your Squad Nine. For the next week, I will take you to do some simple tasks to hone the team's teamwork."

Kazakami Chihiro introduced himself while sizing up his three new subordinates.

Before coming, Chiyo and Ebizo had naturally given him instructions.

Shimizu was the top priority, the candidate chosen by Chiyo and Ebizo to be the next generation leader of the puppet squad.

Pakura's talent in ninjutsu was the highest among the new generation of Sunagakure in recent years, and Maki was slightly inferior to Pakura, but he was also of great value for training.

Read without mistakes, one word at a time!

"I believe in a saying that the Second Kazekage once said, 'Actions speak louder than words.' On the way here, I have already taken on a B-rank mission for you."

Shimizu, Pakura, and Maki exchanged glances.

In fact, they all felt that a B-rank mission right from the start might be a bit too intense.

From Shimizu's graduation from the Ninja Academy to his promotion to Chunin, except for that one accident where an A-rank mission turned into an S-rank mission, the total number of B-rank missions he had performed added up to only three, and the last time directly resulted in him being injured and returning to the village to recuperate.

Although his strength has improved a lot now, shouldn't they do some simple tasks first when they first start working together?

But since there is such an elite Jonin to back them up, it doesn't matter.

...

...

Since joining this team, Shimizu has never done low-level missions.

Or rather, after becoming a Chunin, D-rank missions during his Genin days were already out of his reach, unless he becomes a Jonin instructor for a new batch of Genin in the future, he probably won't have the chance to take on D-rank missions again in this lifetime.

The current team usually focuses on B-rank missions. If there are no suitable missions, they can choose some simple C-rank missions to practice, or they can rest or cultivate.

Kazakami Chihiro is very knowledgeable when it comes to guiding cultivation. Whether it is Wind Release, Fire Release, or Lightning Release, he obviously has a deep understanding of them, and he even knows some basic medical ninjutsu and sealing techniques.

However, Kazakami Chihiro can't give Shimizu more guidance in puppetry, but that doesn't mean Shimizu has no one to teach him puppetry.

He is still a member of the puppet squad, and he can usually go to the hospital to ask Ishito, who is still recuperating, and occasionally continue to learn from Sasori and mooch off his family's books.

It is worth mentioning that both Chiyo and Ebizo have promised that Shimizu can ask them for guidance when they are free.

It was from that moment that Shimizu truly confirmed the change in his status within Sunagakure.

Show talent, get the attention of the higher-ups, join a faction, get resources to increase strength, and thus improve status as soon as possible.

This is a method that can be used to leapfrog one's status in any force, and it is the one with the least future troubles and the most stable foundation.

Without a doubt, Shimizu has now received the key cultivation of Chiyo and Ebizo.