Hattori , Puppet Tyrant in Sand

After getting Chiyo's approval, Hattori was so excited about finally learning the art of puppetry that he couldn't sleep at all.

Early the next morning, he was waiting eagerly outside Chiyo's tent. He looked just like a slacker who, despite his usual poor academic performance, had somehow managed to get into a top university.

Chiyo, however, seemed very pleased with his enthusiasm. She invited him into the tent and, with a gentle smile, began to speak.

"Hattori, from today on, I'll officially teach you puppetry. But first, let me tell you about our lineage as puppet masters."

She paused, perhaps gathering her thoughts, and then continued.

"The first puppet master was named Bunzaemon. He invented puppetry and was the first to use it in combat, making him the ancestor of all puppet masters. The one who brought puppetry to the Sand Village and made it widely known was our village's Second Kazekage, named Shamon…"

As Chiyo recounted this history, Hattori learned about some secrets of the puppet masters that hadn't appeared in the original story.

When Chiyo finished, a string of purple text appeared before Hattori's eyes, visible only to him.

*[You have obtained the career inheritance data and can change professions to a special ninja role: Puppet Master. By successfully changing professions, you will unlock puppet master skills.]*

*[Note: This profession is incompatible with the Taijutsu Master, Genjutsu Master, or Ninjutsu Master professions. Choose carefully!]*

*[Would you like to change professions?]*

*[Yes/No]*

Change professions? Puppet Master? 

Staring at the message, Hattori froze momentarily but quickly made up his mind and chose *[Yes]* without hesitation.

Although the choice might have seemed impulsive, it was actually well-considered. He'd already planned to become a puppet master and was prepared to study hard to do so. Now, there was no way he'd give up so easily. Even though he now understood that becoming a puppet master meant he couldn't switch to another profession later, why should that bother him?

Whether it was *Taijutsu Master*, *Genjutsu Master*, or *Ninjutsu Master*, none of those were even on his radar at the moment. So why should he worry about them?

It was like a slacker who somehow got into a provincial top university and, as he received his acceptance letter, was told he couldn't choose Harvard if he went here.

What would this slacker do? Give up the provincial top university, waiting instead for an acceptance letter from Harvard? 

Ridiculous! It's better to hold onto what you already have.

That's why Hattori made his decision without a second thought.

"Since I chose this, I won't regret it. Besides, puppet masters are just as impressive as those who play with ninjutsu, taijutsu, or genjutsu!"

At that moment, he suddenly pictured a strange image in his head.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Might Guy, and Uchiha Itachi were all holding signs saying *Ninjutsu Master*, *Taijutsu Master*, and *Genjutsu Master* respectively, looking at him with blank expressions as if waiting for him at a station.

Hattori started feeling nervous, but fortunately, the familiar purple text appeared again, snapping him back to reality.

*[Profession change successful. Puppet Master skills unlocked: Puppet Creation, Puppet Control.]*

*[Level 1 Puppet Creation: Allows you to use wood to create or repair a Level 1 puppet. Requires 10 experience points to level up!]*

*[Level 1 Puppet Control: Allows you to use chakra threads to control a Level 1 puppet. Requires 10 experience points to level up!]*

What the heck?

After reading his new skills, Hattori was stunned.

He had expected that gaining a new profession might bring a new way to earn experience, but it turned out to be something that consumed experience instead! What was the point?

Hattori's current feelings were like those of a slacker who, after finally getting into a top university, expected to be welcomed by a group of beautiful, kind upperclassmen who would offer him water, wipe his sweat, and carry his bags.

But instead, he found that while the upperclassmen were indeed there, they weren't beautiful or kind, and instead of helping him, they just stretched out their hands and asked him for tuition.

His dreams were shattered!

At that moment, though disappointed, Hattori didn't consider "dropping out." Instead, he started to console himself.

"It's okay. Although puppet master skills require experience to level up, it's not mandatory. I can freely choose which skill to level up. For now, I'll just focus on leveling up *Puppet Control*!"

With this in mind, he felt much clearer.

"What I need most right now is some self-defense. So I'll focus on upgrading *Puppet Control*, and I don't need to worry about *Puppet Creation* for the moment. Chiyo hasn't taught me that yet anyway. If I actually created a puppet myself, it might make her suspicious. If I need a puppet, I'll just ask her for one, and if I break it, I'll toss it back to her to fix. Two words: hassle-free!"

With that settled, Hattori's mood brightened, and a smile spread across his face.

"As expected, making the right choice makes life so much more enjoyable, hehehe..."

Hattori couldn't help but chuckle to himself until Chiyo's voice suddenly cut through his thoughts.

"I'm teaching you puppetry, and instead of paying attention, you're sitting there laughing to yourself. Are you laughing because I'm teaching it poorly?"

Her voice was calm, but Hattori could hear the anger beneath the surface.

He quickly waved his hands.

"No, no, no... That's not it! It's actually because you're teaching it so well that I immediately understood it. I was so happy that I couldn't help laughing!"

"Oh? You understood it, did you?"

Hearing this, Chiyo raised her eyebrows, then handed him a small teaching puppet.

"Very well, if you understand, then go ahead and control it with chakra threads, as I just taught you."

"Uh…yes!"

Hattori carefully took the small puppet from her.

As soon as he touched it, information about the puppet appeared before his eyes.

*[Level 1 Puppet: Attack 1, Defense 1, Durability 1, usable with Level 1 Puppet Control, 1 MP per minute to use.]*

Seeing this, Hattori felt even more confident and grinned at Chiyo.

"Please watch, sensei. I'll give it a shot!"

He then activated *Puppet Control*. Five fine chakra threads shot out from his fingertips, attaching to the puppet.

With a flick of his right hand, the puppet immediately lifted from his hand, flipped 360 degrees in mid-air, and landed directly on Chiyo's head with a thud.

Hattori: *Σ(°△°|||)︴*

Chiyo: *(╬￣皿￣)*

*(End of Chapter)*