Naruto:Suna Shinobi

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"We were planning on going out to eat," Sasori said, glancing at Chiyo.

Chiyo's eyes softened.

For the first time in years, there was a hint of life in Sasori's expression.

"Haha! Then you two won't mind adding me to your plans, right? I'll treat you both," Chiyo said with a chuckle.

Ebizo smirked.

"Sister, how about adding me too? You don't need that little money anyway."

Chiyo rolled her eyes but didn't refuse.

Ebizo was quite interested in Hirito.

Not only was Hirito a talented puppeteer, but he was also close to Sasori—a rare feat.

Even more importantly, Hirito was a member of the Puppet Corps, meaning he was already aligned with Chiyo and Ebizo's faction.

The best restaurant in Sunagakure served surprisingly good food.

Cactus drinks mixed with honey, cakes made from grains and dates, stews filled with meat, vegetables, and spices, and freshly grilled skewers.

There were even river fish and shrimp soups—a luxury in the harsh desert.

After Hirito and Sasori left, Chiyo wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and turned to Ebizo.

"What's the background of that boy?" she asked.

Ebizo poured himself a small cup of sake, speaking calmly.

"Hirito and Sasori are on the same team. I arranged it."

Chiyo raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"The kid has a clean background, and his puppet-making talent reminds me of Monzaemon."

Chiyo's hand froze.

"Are you sure?"

She and Ebizo had trained under Monzaemon as children.

Even now, decades later, no puppeteer in Sunagakure had surpassed his legacy.

Puppetry was invented by the Second Kazekage, but it was Monzaemon who had perfected the system.

His Chikamatsu Ten Puppets were still the pinnacle of puppetry.

Every master puppeteer, including Chiyo herself, had only followed Monzaemon's blueprint.

No one had surpassed him.

So for Ebizo to compare Hirito to Monzaemon was like saying a student fresh out of school had the potential of Newton or Einstein.

It was unbelievable.

"Not just Hirito," Ebizo continued.

"I believe Sasori might also become a puppeteer on Monzaemon's level—if trained properly and not killed young."

He pulled a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Chiyo.

"This contains everything about Hirito, from birth until now, as well as Sasori's progress in the Puppet Corps."

Chiyo unrolled the scroll, scanning through it.

"Graduated from the Elite Class at Ninja Academy… Used basic teaching puppets to build a Chunin-level puppet… Developed his own Puppet Ninjutsu… Successfully completed an S-rank mission… Wait—"

Chiyo's eyes widened.

"They encountered Hatake Sakumo?"

She snapped her head up, glaring at Ebizo.

"You let Sasori face that bastard White Fang?!"

Ebizo sighed, already expecting this reaction.

"Sister, it was an accident. No one could have expected Hatake Sakumo to break through the border alone and appear in Wind Country territory."

Chiyo gritted her teeth, fists clenched.

Ever since Hatake Sakumo killed Sasori's parents, she had despised him.

"…At least Sasori wasn't injured," she muttered.

"Even Ishido, the most wounded, will recover within a month. And Hatake Sakumo himself was seriously injured by the Third Kazekage."

Chiyo exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself.

Then she made a decision.

"Sasori will not go to the Rain Country."

Ebizo nodded.

"I understand, sister. Ishido is still recovering, and Nanaken isn't strong enough to be a Jonin yet."

"Hirito is also a valuable asset, and we can't risk him on the frontlines."

"In that case, I'll temporarily disband the Third Unit of the Sixth Squad and reassign them all."

At the Puppet Corps Headquarters, Nanaken held up a newly issued command scroll.

"**Effective immediately, the Third Unit of the Sixth Squad will be temporarily disbanded. It will be reformed once Captain Ishido recovers."

Nanaken's gaze swept over the room.

Nanako has been reassigned to Elder Chiyo's new Medical Support Team.

Sasori will remain in the Sixth Squad to maintain base operations.

Hirito has been officially promoted to Chunin and transferred to Elite Combat Squad 9.

His Chunin appointment letter could be exchanged for a standard combat vest at the logistics warehouse.

However, all four of them would still be officially part of the Puppet Corps.

Sasori stood quietly, an unreadable expression on his face.

Everyone had been sent away, but he was being kept behind.

He didn't need to ask why.

He already knew who was responsible.

"…Wait, why was I sent to the Medical Team?" Nanako asked.

"It's because of Tsunade," Nanaken explained.

"On the Rain Country battlefield, Princess Tsunade of Konoha trained a Medical Corps. They greatly increased Konoha's survival rate, so Elder Chiyo is copying the strategy."

"Since you already know some medical ninjutsu, you were assigned to the team."

Nanako sighed.

"So I just got demoted to a nurse?"

Hirito raised his hand.

"Um… Since I'm still technically part of the Puppet Corps, does that mean I get two salaries?"

(End of Chapter)

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