Noa POV
Puppetry is a very interesting shinobi art. Unlike the previous fox puppet I had, which relied mostly on seals and minimal mechanical components to function since it was a simple child's toy, the puppets acquired during the Third Shinobi War consist mostly of mechanical parts.
The arms detach and contain seals to store weapons and traps. The movement depends on chakra threads that pass through a core seal array. This array controls the distribution of chakra to the different parts of the puppet to ensure full control over the puppet's movement and trap activations, while maintaining the chakra threads even if parts of the puppet separate.
Even if the thread is cut, as long as I can attach a new chakra thread to the separated part, I can control it. Now the issue comes with refining my chakra thread technique to suit this art and learning how to control the puppets properly.
As a beginner, I will not have much of a choice but to use all my fingers to control one puppet. However, with practice, that number should increase. For the time being, I can use a Shadow Clone with a good portion of my chakra to ensure stable control. I could ask Sena for some poison and weapons to ensure that the puppet is as deadly as it is intended to be.
All those thoughts made me even more excited to learn this art. Looking at the old puppets, I noticed that they were highly advanced war-grade models. They were endlessly detailed and more complicated than the simple fox toy.
I was drawing the seal array on paper to start analyzing the puppet core and its mechanism when the door opened and Shizuru and Genta walked in looking tired. Genta growled, "What a pompous noble. Why are we taking so many missions to ensure that the nobilities of minor villages surrounding the Land of Fire are pleased with us? Who cares about those weaklings?"
Shizuru was puzzled as well, muttering unsurely, "I am not sure, but to me, it seems like they are building a shield of alliance around the Land of Fire. For what purpose, I am not sure." Genta slumped next to me and extended his hand, grabbing food from a nearby snack plate I was eating from. He completely ignored me as he said, "I hope those missions end soon. They are annoying and nothing ever happens." Shizuru shook her head. "From what I see, and judging by how many minor villages surround the Land of Fire, we aren't even close. This will take a lot of time."
Genta extended his hand to grab more, however, I slapped it. "Don't eat the whole thing." Genta gasped in mock pain, a fake betrayed look appearing on his face. "You dare slap my hand? You are courting death to treat this young master in such a manner." He started to flail his arms, and I did the same, ignoring my complicated study subject because I would not lose this battle.
Shizuru spoke, annoyance clear in her voice. "Stop it, you two. You are not kids anymore." Before she could continue, a rice ball hit her in the face, sliding slowly before hitting the floor with a thud. Genta exploded with laughter while I started to retreat slowly. As expected, a vicious war started, full of laughter and frantic running.
Eventually, we all sat down exhausted. I looked at the place in regret, food everywhere. I sighed, formed a hand seal, and a shadow clone appeared. It looked at me with rage before asking all three of us, "Are you kids?"
Genta and I nodded as Shizuru hid her head in shame while the shadow clone started cleaning.
Shizuru spoke with a dark tone. "I am getting influenced by your manners, or lack thereof, more and more. I have to be careful." Her eyes focused on the puppet parts in front of me and the scroll rolled on the ground with seal components. "Right, I forgot to give you my notes on the puppet information you shared with me before you left for the Chunin Exams." She took a scroll from her pouch and gave it to me.
I grinned. "Thank you, Shizuru. You are amazing as always."
A smug look appeared on her face as she nodded. "I am not going to lie. It was very intriguing. After analyzing the data, I can't help but be impressed by the ingenuity of the Hidden Sand shinobi. Necessity forced them to invent an entire shinobi art, and I am genuinely moved by their craft."
I nodded in agreement as I read through her notes, comparing them to Master Shuzo's own analysis. It was very interesting seeing different interpretations and theories from two very smart people on the same subject. It was like combining two images, the details in both complementing each other to show a fuller picture.
There was a knock on the door as Takemura's voice sounded outside. Genta shot to his feet and opened the door to his father. After observing his son, who had just come back from a mission, Takemura noticed no injuries and was pleased. However, his face twisted as he knuckled Genta in the head.
"You ungrateful son of mine. I told you a thousand times, come to me first to inform me that you are well before going anywhere else."
Genta gasped in pain as he complained, "The mission did not injure me, but you will."
Takemura snorted and walked slowly before sitting down on a cushion near us. Genta wanted to lie down on the floor same as me, but his father's twitching eyebrow made sure he sat on a cushion as well.
Genta spoke, trying to distract his furious father. "Dad, Noa is studying puppets."
Takemura's interest was raised instantly as he observed the scene around me. He asked with clear interest, "Why are you doing so, Noa?"
I shrugged and replied, "I plan on learning the art of puppetry. I have decided to use them as a main part of my fighting style."
A surprised look appeared on all of their faces. Genta said unguardly, "What? Are we even allowed to do that without causing trouble with the Hidden Sand? Is it even possible for you to do so without a specialized puppet master teaching you?"
Shizuru was surprised at Genta's unusually reasonable insight, adding contemplatively, "Doesn't that mean you'll abandon other shinobi arts? After all, this is a highly specialized art. Is the time you will spend on it even worth the final results?"
They both raised very good points, however, they both looked at Takemura, who was a war veteran. He was a retired Jonin who must have fought against Suna in the previous wars. Takemura was scratching his stubble, eyes focused as he ran through his memories before he finally spoke.
"Are you serious about this?"
I nodded, eyes clear and focused.
He exhaled before speaking. "The issue with puppetry is that although the art isn't common, a decent number of teams usually include a skilled sensor because of their versatility and usefulness in most scenarios. To those sensors, especially the highly skilled ones, even if you control the puppets from behind cover, your chakra threads act like a beacon leading straight to your location."
Shizuru nodded in agreement as I responded, "Well, I can always use a Shadow Clone to control the puppet. I have the chakra reserves for it."
Takemura nodded as he thought my words through before replying, "That is true. However, if you are serious about this, you should learn to control your puppets on the move. I believe that you have the chakra control needed for that."
I smiled at the insight only an experienced shinobi could give as I wrote his thoughts down. Takemura was pleased with how attentive I was as he said, "Also, puppetry is very expensive."
The pen in my hand shook, almost breaking in half, as he continued. "Puppet parts are specialized and created with powerful materials that can handle war, not to mention how expensive it is to fill the traps and weapons. It is both a money and time consuming endeavor."
The confident and focused look on my face almost shattered as Takemura observed me closely, expecting me to fold at the mention of money. However, I schooled my face, maintaining my focus while crying on the inside, still confident about my choice. Takemura noticed my resolve, even at the threat of spending money, and was pleased. Now he was sure I was serious.
He nodded as he said, "Depending on your control, it can be a hassle to control puppets in constrained spaces or somewhere with lots of obstacles, like a forest. However, if you have the control needed, that shouldn't be an issue. When the time comes, if you still want to pursue this art, then train in the heavy forest areas near Konoha."
I was extremely grateful for the priceless advice he was giving me as he said in a warning tone, making sure to look me directly in the eyes, "Puppetry is a double-edged sword, Noa. I have seen many shinobi fall because they underestimated a puppet, but I have seen just as many puppeteers die because they were too focused on their strings."
He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a serious tone. "In the war, the Sand's Puppet Brigade was a nightmare because of their reach. But a well-placed hit to the core of the puppet would dismantle it. Not to mention, you can't put too much armor on them, otherwise, they would be too slow and hard to control. Your best choice is a balanced approach, trying to end the fight before it begins by poisoning or killing the enemy with the first hit should be your main objective. Otherwise, if you faced a smart enemy, your death would be all but guaranteed if you lost all your puppets and failed to react in time. So it is basically a high-risk, high-reward discipline." His voice grew grim as he asked, "So, are you truly willing to take the risk?"