Of course, there was another purpose behind it.
It helped conceal the puppet master’s true appearance, making it easier to protect themselves.
A puppet master’s primary combat strength lay in their puppets.
The fragility of their actual body was practically a universal weakness of the profession.
As a result, disguising oneself was especially important.
Confusing the enemy about which was the real body and which was the puppet had always been one of a puppet master’s favorite tactics.
During the upcoming Chunin Exams, Misumi Tsurugi would mistake Kankuro’s puppet for his real body.
His advantage from his Soft Physique Modification technique would be completely wasted, as every attack struck the puppet instead.
In the end, Kankuro would defeat him with ease.
Facial markings were highly individualized.
Aside from a few traditional styles, most puppet masters painted them however they pleased.
Even going without facial markings entirely wasn’t a problem.
As long as you were strong enough, both written and unwritten rules could simply be ignored.
As for Saya…
Daimaru had no idea what her sense of aesthetics was.
Aside from the substitute puppet she used to impersonate herself…
…every puppet she made was uglier than the last.
Kankuro at least accepted any puppet he could get.
Saya, however, even crafted the small dolls she carried in her arms to resemble monsters straight out of a horror film.
Making children cry was commonplace.
Even adults found them unsettling.
“Whatever hobbies I have are none of your concern, Lady Saya.”
“If there’s nothing else, please leave.”
If she weren’t a wealthy young lady who might become a customer someday, Daimaru would’ve stopped entertaining her long ago.
With that, he turned to close the door.
A slender white arm suddenly blocked it.
“Hey.”
“What exactly are you trying to do?”
“Looking for a fight?”
She had shown up out of nowhere just to complain, and now she refused to leave after being asked.
“I heard your old team abandoned you.”
“Is it true?”
“It is.”
“You came here just to laugh at me too?”
“As if I care about your problems.”
“I was just asking.”
“Since you don’t have a team anymore, I’ll generously take you in.”
“My team still needs one member for this year’s Chunin Exams.”
“If you obediently follow my orders, I’ll give you that spot.”
After speaking, Saya folded her arms and wore the expression of someone waiting to be thanked.
“…”
Daimaru couldn’t help laughing.
Just how terrible was this young lady’s popularity?
He had already joined a new squad over a month ago.
They’d completed three or four missions and even traveled to the border with the Land of Grass.
After all this time…
…no one had bothered telling her he already had a team.
“If I may ask…”
“Who is your other teammate?”
“Why do you care?”
“As long as I’m there, everyone else is just making up the numbers.”
Just as Saya answered impatiently, the apartment next door opened.
A girl with light purple twin-tails tied with green ribbons walked out while dragging a large pile of trash.
“Oh, Sana.”
“Cleaning your sister’s room again?”
“Yes, Senior Daimaru.”
“Big Sister doesn’t need to do chores like this.”
The young girl smiled sweetly.
Daimaru had met her several times before.
Sana appeared much friendlier than her older sister.
In reality…
…she was an extreme siscon with an absolutely dreadful personality.
She was far fiercer than Saya, though she rarely showed that side in public.
Meanwhile, her older sister, with her light blue hair, looked intimidating but was really just a sheltered young lady with almost no common sense.
She possessed virtually no life skills.
She had absolutely no idea how to communicate normally with other people.
As a result…
…her popularity was catastrophically bad.
Her words were venomous, but her heart wasn’t nearly as awful as they made her seem.
“Lady Saya…”
“The teammate you mentioned…”
“…wouldn’t happen to be your little sister Sana, would it?”
Other than her…
…Daimaru doubted anyone else would willingly join Saya’s team.
Saya remained silent.
Her silence confirmed his guess.
“Thank you very much for the invitation.”
“But I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.”
“I already have a new team.”
“What?”
“That’s impossible!”
Saya’s expression changed dramatically.
“You…”
“You’re lying just to reject me, aren’t you?”
“Even someone like you wants to humiliate me?”
“I curse you…”
“Big Sister, don’t be like that…”
Sana hurriedly grabbed the furious Saya.
“If Senior Daimaru really is lying…”
“…then punish him by making him clean your toilet for ten years.”
“…Terrifying.”
Daimaru instinctively shrank back.
“It isn’t even my fault.”
“Do you really have to be that cruel?”
“Anyone who makes Big Sister angry…”
“…is unforgivable.”
“She’s only looking for a Genin to fill the roster anyway.”
Daimaru paid no attention whatsoever to the young lady’s vicious curses.
“If you aren’t too picky…”
“…I can recommend someone.”
“How could there possibly still be an unassigned Genin?”
Saya clearly didn’t believe him.
“You’re actually being this kind?”
“The way you say that…”
Daimaru maintained a pleasant smile.
Potential future customers deserved patience.
“We’re neighbors after all.”
“It’s only a small favor.”
“Who is it?”
“As long as they obey me…”
“…I suppose I can accept them.”
Even now she refused to soften her attitude.
The young lady’s pride truly was something else. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
“A taijutsu specialist.”
“He can’t use ninjutsu or genjutsu at all.”
“That counts as a shinobi?”
“So…”
“…he actually isn’t a shinobi yet.”
“I knew it!”
“You’re making fun of me!”
“Sana, stop holding me back!”
“This time I’ll definitely curse—”
“Will you let me finish?”
Growing impatient, Daimaru casually picked up a wooden club nearby and lightly smacked both sisters on the forehead.
“Aah!”
The two female shinobi cried out simultaneously.
Clutching their foreheads, they squatted on the ground in pain.
At last…
…peace and quiet.
“The person I’m talking about isn’t a shinobi yet.”
“But his taijutsu is extremely strong.”
“Far stronger than the vast majority of Genin.”
“Lady Saya.”
“You’re only looking for someone to complete your team.”
“If you can get a taijutsu specialist, what exactly are you dissatisfied with?”
“But he isn’t even a shinobi…”
“You’re a wealthy young lady.”
“Don’t tell me you can’t even secure a single Genin quota.”
The contempt in Daimaru’s voice was unmistakable.
“Of course I can!”
Feeling looked down upon, Saya immediately retorted.
“Then that’s settled.”
“I’m not very familiar with him.”
“But my teammate Yome deals with him fairly often.”
“I’ll introduce you tomorrow.”
“Whether it works out or not…”
“…has nothing to do with me.”
“…Fine.”
Reality left her with few options.
The longer she waited, the fewer opportunities there would be.
Now that she had finally found a possible candidate…
…there was no harm in trying.
“If it works out…”
“…I’ll pay you a referral fee.”
“No need.”
“You’ll take it whether you want to or not.”
Saya casually pulled several bottles from her pocket and tossed them over.
“These are the deposit.”
“If everything succeeds…”
“…there’ll be another reward.”
“And if you refuse to accept them…”
“…I’ll curse you.”
“High-quality wound medicine.”
“You’re certainly generous.”
“In that case…”
“…I’ll gladly accept.”
(End of Chapter)
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