Hattori , Puppet Tyrant in Sand

Seeing Hattori devouring the potato cakes with a look of "deep gratitude" on his face, Chiyo stayed silent.

Meanwhile, Sasori put down his utensils without any expression.

"I'm full," he announced, then stood up and left the table, walking straight outside without another glance.

Chiyo didn't say a word. After she heard the door close, she turned to Hattori and asked, "Hattori, are you still hungry? If you are, you can have Sasori's portion too."

"Huh?" 

Hearing Chiyo's words, Hattori noticed that Sasori's potato cakes had barely been touched.

So... should he eat them?

From a personal perspective, Hattori would rather not eat someone else's food. Cleanliness was one thing, but pride was the main issue.

However, as he was playing the role of an "orphan," the life he portrayed shouldn't be one of abundance.

Besides, this was Sunagakure, a village where resources were scarce.

Thinking of this, he quickly adopted a response that fit his character.

"Alright... thank you, Teacher Chiyo!"

Without delay, he eagerly pulled Sasori's plate toward him and devoured the potato cakes with gusto.

Watching him enjoy his food, Chiyo's face softened into a smile.

"Slow down. If it's not enough, I'll give you mine too."

"Mmm…"

Swallowing his food, Hattori quickly shook his head toward Chiyo.

"No... no need, I'm already full. Thank you, Teacher Chiyo!"

"What a good child!"

Chiyo's smile deepened, and her eyes revealed a hint of reminiscence.

"My little Sasori used to love my potato cakes, but now... it's quite worrying, sigh…"

Hattori thought, "No need to worry. Once he turns himself into a puppet, he won't have to eat anything."

Of course, Hattori kept these thoughts to himself.

Given his current situation, every word and action needed to fit his "character."

So, after Chiyo finished speaking, he put on a concerned expression.

"Um... Teacher Chiyo, does Lord Sasori dislike me, is that why...?"

"Haha, of course not!"

Seeing Hattori looking "dejected," Chiyo waved her hand with a laugh before he could finish.

"Don't worry. Sasori is always like this, and he's just heading out now to make the puppets the village needs."

**Making puppets?** 

Hearing this phrase, Hattori couldn't help but recall the scene from the hospital earlier.

The sight of the small, covered corpse on the hospital bed, and the woman kneeling before Sasori in tears, replayed in his mind like a vivid film, causing him to frown unconsciously.

Even this subtle movement didn't escape Chiyo's attention; she looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Hattori, what's wrong? Do you dislike puppets? Or is it Sasori...?"

"Uh... of course not!"

Hattori wouldn't be foolish enough to criticize puppets or Sasori in front of Chiyo, so he quickly shook his head.

"I really like puppets, and I don't have any special thoughts about Lord Sasori. I'm just a little uncomfortable with how he looks at me."

"Sasori's gaze?" Chiyo asked, perplexed. "What about his gaze? Did he glare at you?"

"No, no!"

Hattori quickly waved his hand.

"Lord Sasori wouldn't glare at me; it's just that when he looks at me, it feels as though he's looking at a lifeless puppet... um... it's probably just my imagination, haha... haha…"

"..."

Watching Hattori's forced laughter, Chiyo seemed to think of something, her brows knitting together in contemplation.

"A puppet... that must be a coincidence, it should be a coincidence... No, I have to go check!"

She stood up as she spoke and turned to Hattori, "Hattori, I need to go out for a while. Wait here for me to return."

"Yes, Teacher Chiyo!" Hattori nodded quickly, bowing in her direction. "Please take care."

"Hmm!"

After nodding in acknowledgment, Chiyo headed toward the door, following in Sasori's footsteps.

Hattori promptly stood up to escort her to the door before returning to clear the table.

After washing the dishes in the kitchen, he tidied up the kitchen and the living room before returning to his room to check his stats.

**[Name: Hattori]**

**[Level: 10]**

**[HP: 122/122]**

**[MP: 101/103]**

**[EXP: 50/100]**

**[Specialty: Medical Skills]**

**[Combat Power Assessment: C]**

"Just as I expected!"

Reviewing his stats, Hattori nodded with a smile, pleased with the results.

"Experience went up by 40 points, likely from using the Chakra Scalpel before. Looks like my leveling strategy is working."

"And after a full day's rest, my Chakra, or MP, has almost fully regenerated. Time to keep going."

With this in mind, he focused his thoughts, and a layer of white Chakra covered his hand.

"Chakra Scalpel!"

He was initially ready to strike his thigh with the technique but hesitated, recalling the intense pain from before. He couldn't bring himself to do it.

"It's not that I'm not tough enough, but this move is just too cruel. I'll figure out something else!"

Finding an excuse for himself, he dissipated the Chakra from his hand, collapsed onto the bed, and exhaled deeply.

"Whew... Even though the start was rough, things have gone somewhat smoothly since.

With my understanding of the plot, if I stay cautious and level up slowly, I might just make it to the end.

After all, if the sky falls, the tall ones take the hit. As a healer, all I need to do is cheer from the sidelines."

Thinking this, he felt his burden lighten.

His initial anxiety and unease about being transported to the ninja world faded, and, feeling relaxed, he drifted into sleep.

The nights in Sunagakure were quiet, with the war not yet reaching the village. The occasional gusts of wind outside did nothing to disturb Hattori's sleep, instead lulling him further into slumber.

It wasn't until the morning sunlight shone into his room, warming his face, that Hattori stirred, squinting as he opened his sleepy eyes.

"Hmm... morning already?"

Seeing the sunlight streaming in, he yawned widely, rubbing his eyes as he stepped out of his room.

Unexpectedly, the first person he saw wasn't Chiyo or Sasori, but a woman in a white robe waiting outside.

She seemed to have been waiting for a while and bowed as soon as Hattori stepped out.

"Young Master!"

Hattori: "???"

What's going on here?

(End of chapter)