On Izu Island, puppets aren't just toys, they're a way of life. At least the 14 years I've been alive. See, there's one thing that separates us from the rest of the world… puppeteering. Here on Izu we use puppets for a lot of things, but what we're most known for is using them as weapons. For generations the people of Izu have used their puppets to fight. All Battle Puppeteers begin their training at 14 years old. We first have to study a whole year for the entrance exam. A year later, if we pass, we become official students of the Puppet Arts Academy.
I'm Ogata Kintaro, and ever since my grandpa showed me my family's sacred puppet, Jiraiya, I've been on the path to not only becoming a Battle Puppeteer but the greatest the world has ever seen!
I remember the first time I ever saw Jiraiya…
It was my fifth birthday, my grandpa led me to the small shrine in our backyard I'd never been allowed to go near. He opened the door and there it was, a large wooden figure, similar to the ones you'd normally see when living on Izu… but this one had a hole right in the middle of its chest. My grandpa put on the gloves that controlled the puppet. He'd then say "Kin, one day this'll be the puppet you control. I'd like you to meet him for the first time today." My grandpa then sat down in deep concentration and shouted out "AWAKEN, JIRAIYA!" Suddenly, a yellow flame appeared in the cavity in the puppets chest. The puppet would then burst into flames, the flames forming Jiraiya's wild flowing hair, followed by his haori and hakama, and settling once his face had formed.
"Gintaro… It's been some time. Why have you summoned me" Jiraiya stood firmly above my grandpa. "I'd like to present you to my grandson, Kintaro. He turns five today, he hopes to be able to wield your power in the future" My grandpa would respond. I'd shyly say hi to him, slightly intimidated by the flames that made up his features. Jiraiya would laugh, amused by me. "So this shy boy hopes to wield my power? He can keep dreaming." After hearing that, my heart took over. "I will wield your power, Mr. Jiraiya! And with it, I'll become the greatest puppeteer ever!" Jiraiya stepped back slightly, shocked by my change in attitude. My grandpa laughed harder than Jiraiya had originally. "Kin here is quite the spirited boy. I'd like you to continue to get to know him until he's ready to wield you." Jiraiya would then kneel down to my level, his eyes looking deep into my soul. "Hmph. Very well, Gintaro. In five years I'll allow him to test my strength. Until then I want you to continue bringing him to me so I can get to know him better." My grandpa smiled ear to ear after hearing this.
After that day I'd have a one hour chat at the shrine with Jiraiya every week until I was 10 years old. On the day of my tenth birthday, my grandpa came out of the shrine with Jiraiya in tow. "It's time, Kin. Jiraiya wants to train with you." And ever since then, I've been training with good ol' Jiraiya.