Hattori , Puppet Tyrant in Sand

"Crap! The medium's out of control! Quick, go get the sealing squad!"

"No, that's useless in this situation; they can't handle this. Someone call the Third Kazekage now, hurry!"

"Got it! You all hold it off—I'm going to get him right away…"

Hearing frantic shouting and hurried footsteps, Hattori slowly opened his eyes.

**[Discovered Sunagakure]**

**[XP +5]**

**[Level +1]**

As soon as his eyes opened, three lines of purple text floated before him briefly before disappearing. A scene of rubble and ruins gradually came into focus.

In the middle of the wreckage, he noticed a group of people holding various weapons, all looking tense and terrified.

Above their heads floated transparent boxes, resembling status bars in a video game.

Glancing at the nearest person, Hattori saw their information displayed in front of him:

**[Name: Asakusa]**

**[Level: 14]**

**[HP: 120/143]**

**[MP: 20/131]**

**[Specialty: Wind Release]**

**[Combat Power Assessment: C]**

"…"

Hmph, weakling!

After checking the stats, Hattori scoffed. But then he noticed a similar status bar floating above his own head.

**[Name: Hattori]**

**[Level: 1]**

**[HP: 9/12]**

**[MP: 10/10]**

**[EXP: 0/10]**

**[Specialty: None]**

**[Combat Power Assessment: D]**

"…"

Alright, I take back my comment.

Seeing his own stats left Hattori a bit dejected, but questions quickly flooded his mind.

"Wait, what's going on here? A new VR game based on *Naruto*? Is it really this realistic, or am I dreaming?"

As he pondered, a loud explosion suddenly sounded in the distance.

"Boom!"

A shockwave rolled through, throwing him uncontrollably across the ground. He came to a painful stop against a wall.

"Ouch… that hurt!"

Hattori looked down at his own small arms and legs, his face showing pure shock.

"This can't be a game or a dream… did I actually… travel to another world?"

Stunned by this conclusion, he barely had time to process it when a tremendous roar echoed nearby.

"Roar!"

Snapping out of his daze, Hattori looked towards the source of the sound. A massive figure came into view.

A giant monster made entirely of sand.

It looked like a tanuki, its body covered with violet markings. Its large tail was lined with sharp spikes, giving it a ferocious appearance.

This creature was immense—just squatting, it reached several stories high. Its stats left Hattori in awe.

**[Name: Shukaku]**

**[Level: 75]**

**[HP: 3955/4560]**

**[MP: 6700/6800]**

**[Specialty: Chakra Life, Enhanced Wind Release, Sand Control]**

**Combat Power Assessment: S+**

"S+? Is this… a Tailed Beast?"

Staring at the giant, Hattori's eyes widened as he paled.

"Hell no, I'm not sticking around to face a boss like this! Better to bail than to be the first isekai traveler to get killed right after arrival!"

With that thought, he scrambled to run.

Just as he was about to move, a powerful voice echoed above him.

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method!"

With that call, a mass of black iron spikes formed from sand descended from the sky, piercing Shukaku's body and pinning it to the ground.

After taking this hit, Shukaku immediately stopped moving. Its massive form began to crumble into streams of yellow sand.

Hattori stopped in his tracks, dumbfounded.

"Is it… over already?"

He had assumed it would be tough to subdue Shukaku, even if it was weaker than the Nine-Tails. But with one move, the Third Kazekage had seemingly "one-shot" it.

"Maybe that's why the Third Kazekage is called the 'Strongest Kazekage'?"

Hattori looked up to see a figure in a blue robe with a white cloak hovering in the air.

**[Name: Third Kazekage]**

**[Level: 77]**

**[HP: 1300/1300]**

**[MP: 400/1030]**

**[Specialty: Magnet Release]**

**[Combat Power Assessment: S+]**

Clearly, the Third Kazekage was powerful. But could he really "one-shot" a beast as strong as Shukaku with those stats?

Hattori's doubts were soon answered.

When the Kazekage descended, a ninja stepped forward to report to him.

"Lord Kazekage, the medium has been confirmed dead!"

Medium?

The mention of the word "medium" made Hattori understand immediately.

In Sunagakure, many viewed Shukaku as a desert spirit, so they called the person hosting it a "medium."

As the medium, once they died, the sealed Shukaku would disappear with them.

So the Kazekage had killed the medium in one move, which caused Shukaku to "vanish"!

But wasn't the Sunagakure medium Bunpuku or Gaara? Who could this berserk medium be?

Hattori couldn't figure it out and assumed it might be an unsuccessful attempt with an interim host.

Most importantly, he knew that although Shukaku disappeared for now, it wasn't permanently dead as a chakra-based lifeform.

It would reappear in the desert in a few years.

For now, the Third Kazekage wasn't concerned about that. After hearing the report, he nodded.

"Understood. Have the medical squad tend to the injured immediately. Everyone else, fortify the frontline to guard against attacks from Iwagakure or Kirigakure!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Sunagakure ninjas responded, relaying the Kazekage's orders and quickly getting to work.

Soon, the medical squad arrived, tending to the wounded. Those unable to move were carried off on stretchers, while minor injuries were treated with bandages on the spot.

Hattori, having only minor scratches on his arm from the earlier blast, wasn't seriously hurt.

Even so, a kind medical ninja carefully wrapped his arm in bandages and then kissed him on the cheek.

"Smooch…"

"(⊙o⊙)…"

Hattori froze, his eyes widening in shock as he stammered.

"You… you… kissed me?"

"Hehehe…"

Seeing his astonished expression, the medical ninja giggled and nodded.

"Yes, a reward for your bravery! Bye, little guy!"

She waved to him before rushing off to treat the next patient.

As her figure disappeared from sight, Hattori finally came to his senses, huffing lightly.

"Hmph, do all medical ninja get to kiss whoever they want?"

He touched the spot where she'd kissed his cheek, a faint smile curling on his lips.

"In that case, I should become a medical ninja too!"

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