Naruto:Suna Shinobi

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Hiriito observed Sasori closely during their battle and noticed one glaring flaw—the boy lacked real combat experience.

Every time Tom's attacks pushed him into a corner, Sasori would falter, his movements becoming less composed.

Hiriito smirked. Time to shift my strategy.

"Black Secret Technique: Snake Fang."

Tom's mouth opened, and two polished conical fangs shot out with a sharp whistling sound, targeting Sasori's head.

Hiriito wasn't worried about injuring the grandson of Elder Chiyo. After all, two experienced Jonin stood nearby, ready to intervene.

As expected, Sasori, who wasn't used to high-pressure combat, dodged clumsily, momentarily pausing his puppet's movements.

Perfect timing.

Hiriito seized the opportunity, manipulating Tom to shake off Sasori's puppet, Termite, and rush toward its controller.

Tom's design, inspired by a lynx, prioritized agility. Its movements were far faster than Termite's, which relied on Sasori's exceptional control skills to compensate for its lack of speed.

But now, Sasori's control faltered, leaving Termite behind. Tom darted forward like an arrow, closing the distance in an instant.

"Ah!"

With no puppet to defend him, Sasori hastily drew a kunai, holding it in front of himself as Tom tackled him to the ground.

Ishido and Sunagami Sayama tensed, ready to step in.

Pinned beneath Tom, Sasori struggled to keep the kunai lodged between himself and the puppet's mouth. Meanwhile, he shot a single chakra thread from his free hand, attempting to recall Termite for protection.

"You've already lost, Sasori," Hiriito said calmly, raising his hand slightly.

Tom's mouth opened wider, revealing a concealed mechanism that extended outward with a click.

A wooden cylinder emerged.

"There's a venom sac inside," Hiriito explained. "When triggered, it sprays venom at close range. The venom isn't just toxic—it disrupts chakra flow and numbs nerves."

Sasori's grip on his kunai tightened, but he lowered his eyes in resignation.

"I concede," he said quietly. "Your puppet… it's excellent. Better than mine."

Sunagami Sayama and Ishido exchanged glances before stepping in. Sayama pulled Tom off Sasori, while Ishido helped the red-haired boy to his feet.

"While I knew you had potential, I didn't expect you to be this good," Ishido said, clapping a hand on Hiriito's shoulder.

Hiriito flinched slightly. Ishido's grip was firm, but his words carried genuine praise.

"The puppet you repaired—Little Boy—belongs to Ishido-senpai, right?" Hiriito asked, glancing at the Chunin-level puppet.

"No, its original owner was a comrade of mine in the Puppet Brigade. He died in battle two months ago. The village purchased the puppet from his family and assigned it to you for repairs," Ishido explained.

"I see," Hiriito murmured.

"By the way," Ishido added with a sly grin, "with how well you and Sasori performed today, there's no doubt you'll join the Puppet Brigade. So, how about coming to the Sixth Division? If you join, this Little Boy puppet will be yours."

Hiriito hesitated. "Is the Sixth Division different from the others?"

"Not officially," Ishido replied, leading him to a nearby rock to sit. "All six divisions are part of the Puppet Brigade, but each has its own focus.

"The first and second divisions have the strongest overall combat power. They consist of Jonin and Special Jonin, and they often accompany Elder Chiyo on high-risk missions.

"The third, fourth, and fifth divisions handle frontline offenses. They're responsible for deploying traps and attacking with puppets, sparing human lives in the process.

"The Sixth Division, though… it focuses on maintenance, manufacturing, and research. We rarely see direct combat unless there's a manpower shortage. It's the perfect place for a talented puppeteer like you."

Hiriito considered Ishido's words carefully. The Sixth Division sounded ideal for refining his craft, but he wasn't ready to commit.

"Can I think about it before deciding?"

"Of course," Ishido said with a wink. "But trust me, you'll pick the Sixth Division. You'll get more out of it."

He handed the sealing scroll containing Little Boy to Hiriito.

"I'll keep it safe for now," Ishido said with a grin.

DC World – Arkham Asylum

The dim blue light filtered through the glass walls of the cells, casting an eerie glow over the silent, oppressive atmosphere.

"Oh, look at this!" Black Mask's mocking voice echoed from the next cell. "German sausage for dinner! And—wait for it—bacon hidden under the stew! What a feast!"

He laughed sarcastically, scarfing down the bland food as quickly as possible.

The so-called "feast" was, in reality, meager in portion and utterly unappetizing. The food's poor quality ensured prisoners lacked the energy to attempt escape.

Black Mask's speed wasn't due to hunger but necessity. The faster he ate, the less his taste buds had time to process the awful flavors.

In contrast, Hiriito chewed slowly, enduring the terrible taste for the sake of better digestion and chakra refinement. Every ounce of energy counted, especially in this bleak environment.

"Ugh!" Black Mask spat into his empty bowl, shoving it into the wall cabinet by the glass door.

An hour later, a staff member would retrieve the dishes for cleaning.

Hiriito finished eating shortly after and placed his own bowl in the cabinet, his movements calm and deliberate.

"Damn it!" Black Mask cursed. "When's this hellhole gonna let us out? That bat-freak in tights should be locked in here instead, right, Puppet Master?"

Hiriito smirked faintly, keeping his tone neutral. "Sure. Just don't go eating any bats next time you're out, or you might get poisoned."

His words were disjointed, distracted by the small object he was fiddling with behind his back, hidden from the surveillance cameras.

It was a miniature puppet, barely over two centimeters in size. Its body was made from one of his own teeth, supplemented with nails, hair, and other small pieces of his body.

The first piece of his escape plan was complete.

(End of Chapter 9)