Indeed, the Hero's Water couldn't be used by the resurrected, and if a living puppet consumed a drop, it would enter an overdrive state and end up "dead" again once its effects wore off.
At least the two drops Takara used were enough to confirm these facts, and he didn't waste anything, which wasn't bad.
"Your ideas are astonishing," Katsuyu remarked, observing the experiments with genuine interest.
Takara had summoned her to discuss the viability of the idea of Senjutsu chakra batteries for the puppets, as well as to begin discussing how to use the fragments of natural energy gem for the equipment.
But as soon as she appeared, she gave him unexpected information.
"Do you remember the cave you mentioned? It's possible that one of my clones stumbled upon the place by accident while out for a walk," she informed him in her soft voice. "There are even those cloaked figures who take supplies every week."
Takara left behind many toxins to try to locate Roshi while, through reverse summoning via the clone, he hurriedly made his way to the cave Katsuyu mentioned.
The passage to reach the Moon!
Takara didn't forget about Toneri and how he could find something there to evolve his Byakugan, which was now fully his after the changes to his body, towards the Tenseigan.
He also had a great interest in the puppets that Toneri commanded and hoped to catch a glimpse of the seal that imprisoned Kaguya.
Even if it took one or two months, his strength would undergo a significant qualitative change, and it would be much easier to deal with the other Jinchuriki.
Additionally, combining his Sage Mode practice with the library that undoubtedly existed on the moon, he hoped to locate or at least deduce where there were more Biju rebirth eggs.
There might even be some unexpected records!
As for the missions of Sunagakure, he had already sent a secret message to the village about how Konoha was attacking Otogakure, the existence of a possible son of Orochimaru proposed by Jiraiya, and how it was too dangerous to approach there at the moment.
By all accounts, Sunagakure would believe that Takara was hiding temporarily to avoid being a victim of Konoha, which they couldn't say anything more about other than thinking that Takara had bad luck.
After all, how could someone as small as him dare to make a move when one of the Sannin was present?
Avoiding being captured was already good.
Locating the cave and confirming with Katsuyu's clone that two days had passed since the last supply run, he knew he had a few days to enter without alerting anyone.
But knowing that on the other side there was only Toneri and his puppets, he wasn't really worried and decided to enter without further delay.
"This feels so strange," Takara complained as he crossed the passage to the Moon and emerged on the other side, first confirming with another puppet that there was air and gravity.
He almost expected some kind of alarm to sound, but all he could see around him were ink lines converging to form the portal between the Moon and Earth.
Of the ancient type that had been maintained over the years and with rather unprofessional abilities.
"Nothing?" Takara couldn't believe that this secondary branch was so arrogant. "No warning for use, and not even a key required?"
This was no longer arrogance; it was stupidity beyond human comprehension.
Oh, right, technically they weren't entirely human...
"Maybe I gave it too much credit. I mean, it hasn't even kidnapped Hanabi yet, and her eye sockets must be empty," he felt the urge to rub his forehead under the mask.
Theoretically, Toneri's perception was exaggerated even if his original eyes were sealed in the Energy Vessel, but that was only a problem when his enemies weren't able to take measures knowing this detail.
Thanks to the Sage Mode provided by the Ryumyaku, Takara was, in Toneri's perception, nothing more than a cluster of natural energy slightly denser than just formed. Nothing remarkable, especially since the Energy Vessel had, among other capabilities, the ability to collect and amplify natural energy.
"It also has chakra absorption, long-range ninjutsu, and although it knows taijutsu enough to hold a grown Naruto, its combat experience is practically nonexistent.
But the most dangerous part of all is the fact that it can use a green sphere capable of controlling people, making it explode, and who knows what else.
"I suppose I could have a kind of Puppet War," Takara actually felt intrigued by this idea. "Will my puppets overwhelm him, or will he be able to resist?"
Using his enhanced senses with Sage Mode, he quickly located Toneri and the location of the "Sun," which was the Energy Vessel. It was impossible to miss such a gathering of power.
Oh, right, there was also that huge golem. He had completely forgotten about it.
The plan was simple: send in the puppets, sneak behind Toneri, and prevent him from using his trump cards when he realized that things were going wrong.
Approaching as close as possible to the entrance and after checking the position of the puppets, Takara used Nakime to open a door directly and let several puppets out to start the confrontation.
Yoriichi Type Zero Puppets
Tai Lung Puppets
Tsunade Puppets
2B Puppets
Motoko Kusanagi Puppets
Hyakkimaru Puppets
Acnologia Puppets
Ulquiorra Puppets
Tanya Degurechaff Puppets
Ken Kaneki Puppets
Vash Stampede Puppets
Puppets...
Before leaving, Takara frowned and contacted Vegapunk Shaka.
"Why didn't Escanor's puppets come out?"
"They burst into flames again," Vegapunk Shaka replied briefly, sending him the images. "I've mobilized Zabuza's puppets to put out the fire. Should I prepare materials for you to try again?"
...
"It doesn't matter, forget it," Takara sighed, this being the seventh time; he had given up trying to make a stable puppet of Escanor.
He persisted so much because the level of affinity was quite good, but every time they were exposed to sunlight, they ended up like this no matter what measures he took.
Quite frustrating.
Toneri's puppets barely reacted when two of their defensive lines fell, and then, the massacre of the machines was unleashed.
Taking advantage of this chaos, Takara had no trouble moving discreetly and avoiding them, delving into the palace while ensuring to block any route between Toneri and the Energy Vessel.
Oh, he should be careful that the other party doesn't try to use the Puppet Reincarnation technique. It was a rather annoying last resort, but fortunately, the technique was unstable and impossible to control if exposed to sunlight.
He could work with that.