"Lord Kazekage, what is this?"
Tategami arrived at the Kazekage Building and was stunned looking at the scroll Rasa handed over.
"Take it."
Only then did Tategami take it, but he was still puzzled.
Rasa smiled.
"Don't be so nervous, Tategami. I heard you took a talent test for puppet masters before, and it was quite good?"
Hearing this, Tategami's expression couldn't help but darken.
This was Tategami's sore spot.
Clearly possessing very good talent as a puppet master, but because his father offended someone, he was targeted by the clan.
Not only could he not become a puppet master, but even being a ninja was fraught with difficulties.
"I consulted with Elder Chiyo. With your talent, if you are willing to work hard, you can make up for the lost time and become a very excellent puppet master."
Tategami's eyes lit up.
"Is that true? Lord Kazekage."
"With Elder Chiyo's attainments in puppetry, you still don't believe it?"
Rasa patted Tategami's shoulder.
"Tategami, you are a meritorious official of the village, a hero ninja of the village. I hope you can fulfill your talent and make greater contributions to the village."
"And this is my expectation for you."
"Inside this scroll is a puppet."
"Train well. I hope to see you control this puppet proficiently as soon as possible, go to the battlefield, kill those damned Mist ninja, and render meritorious service for the Sand Village again."
Tategami looked at the scroll in his hand.
The next moment, he puffed out his chest.
"Yes, Lord Kazekage, I will definitely give it my all."
Watching Tategami's back as he left, Rasa withdrew his gaze.
Chiyo's speed in making puppets was even faster than Rasa had anticipated.
This showed that Chiyo had long-standing experience in this area, and rich experience at that.
Plus, having not made new puppets for so many years, she had accumulated quite a few materials.
Therefore, she quickly made one.
It was none other than Jinin Akebino.
"Possessing this puppet, Tategami's upper limit can be raised significantly."
"If Tategami's talent is really as good as Chiyo says, then my Sand Village has gained another talent."
Rasa looked toward the corner again.
There were two ninja swords.
Hiramekarei, and the Kiba blades.
The Helmet Splitter and Nuibari, in Rasa's view, actually had limited strength, and given the current situation of the Sand Village, no ninja could use them relatively well.
In comparison, in the hands of Jinin Akebino and Kushimaru Kuriarare, who had been made into puppets, they should be able to perform better.
Puppet Jinin Akebino holding the Helmet Splitter and puppet Kushimaru Kuriarare holding the Nuibari, even if their strength wasn't as good as when they were alive, wouldn't be too far off.
However, currently, Rasa hadn't given the Helmet Splitter to Tategami yet.
Even if Tategami was as loyal to the Sand Village as Itachi Uchiha was to Konoha.
But rewards still had to be given step by step.
Rasa actually had an idea.
Since the Mist Village could create the Seven Ninja Swordsmen around the ninja swords.
Then the Sand Village could also create a corresponding elite squad around puppets.
High-talent puppet masters were hard to find.
But the Sand Village still had puppet masters with medium talent.
Sorting through them, a few decent ones could also be found.
If the puppet master's own strength wasn't enough, but the puppet was strong enough, the overall strength would also be quite good.
If the puppet master's personal combat ability really wasn't good, a guard squad could be specially formed for this puppet master.
"Mainly because now, I can confirm that Chiyo indeed masters the human puppet technique."
"This type of puppet can save a large amount of precious materials."
"Bring down the cost of high-level puppets."
Of course, even if the cost was brought down, it wouldn't be reduced to a very low level.
Many necessary materials were still needed.
As for Hiramekarei and the Kiba blades.
"The Kiba blades pair relatively well with my ability."
"Gold dust and lightning are an excellent combination."
"They can further enhance my damage capabilities."
Rasa fetched a wooden box, which Chiyo had sent over along with the puppet scroll.
Two scabbards.
This was what Rasa asked Chiyo to prepare for the Kiba blades.
The Kiba blades weren't one, but two.
Inserting them into the scabbards and fastening them at his waist, Rasa sized himself up in the mirror a few times. After wearing these two ninja swords, his whole temperament seemed to have undergone some change.
He became a bit sharper.
"Hiramekarei——"
Rasa thought of a suitable user.
Hiramekarei's main ability came from the user killing enemies.
The more enemies the user killed, the stronger the power Hiramekarei could unleash.
And in terms of killing ability, on the front lines of the Sand Village, if Pakura considered herself second, no one could rank first.
"Obtaining Hiramekarei, Pakura's sustained combat capability and explosive power can both be improved."
"One thing to note is that the Hozuki clan possesses special scrolls that can summon these ninja swords, so the ninja swords cannot leave the user for a long time."
Rasa summoned Baki.
"Baki, you will personally deliver Hiramekarei. I will arrange a squad for you."
"Yes, Teacher."
Baki nodded heavily.
"I will definitely deliver Hiramekarei safely to Mistress."
"Go."
Once out of the village, Baki traveled at full speed. Soon, he arrived at the frontline battlefield and handed Hiramekarei to Pakura.
Rasa stood by the window, calculating in his mind.
"Now my Sand Village has a considerable advantage over the Mist Village."
"In terms of ordinary ninja, my Sand Village has the advantage."
"In terms of top-tier ninja, Juzo Biwa and Jinpachi Munashi combined wouldn't be Pakura's match."
"Defeating the Mist Village probably won't take long."
"I can start thinking about how to make the Mist Village pay reparations."
Suddenly.
A figure rushed in quickly.
"Lord Kazekage."
Rasa turned to look at the door.
"Ebizo? Is something the matter?"
Ebizo's expression was serious.
"Lord Kazekage, bad news. The Mist Village and Konoha have formed an alliance. Konoha ninja have already joined the Mist army."
"What?"
Rasa was stunned for a moment.
"Given Konoha's current situation, they still dare to meddle in the Mist Village's affairs and support the Mist Village?"
Ebizo shook his head.
"I have indeed received definite news. There are Konoha ninja in the Mist army, and they are from the Nara clan."
"Nara——"
Rasa's eyes flickered.
The vast majority of Nara clan ninja were positioned as strategists.
This was a ninja clan more famous for their IQ than their Shadow Paralysis Jutsu.
Inside the Land of Fire, with the help of Nara clan ninja formulating targeted tactics based on the local environment, the situation of the Mist army could indeed improve.
"Konoha isn't using this opportunity to kick the Mist Village while it's down, but helping them instead?"
"Originally, I lacked inspiration for rumors, but now, it seems I don't need to think anymore."
"Let the second rumor be settled then."