After completing various tasks and handing over the Hokage's office duties to Tsunade, who would oversee the village in his absence, the Hokage departed for the Iron Country. He was accompanied by two ANBU teams tasked with ensuring his safety during the Five Kage Summit.
This time, Shinki refrained from using puppets for direct guard duty. While puppets were useful in combat, they lacked the adaptability of human ANBU unless controlled directly, which was too exhausting to sustain. Instead, he opted for the two ANBU teams, led by their captain, Yiying.
"Let's move out," the Hokage ordered.
The group departed from Konoha, but they hadn't gone far before something unusual occurred.
Shinki pulled out a scroll and summoned a massive puppet—a tiger-like construct made from the body of a ten-meter-tall beast. Without hesitation, Shinki climbed onto its back and settled in comfortably.
"..."
The Hokage stared, baffled, as Shinki mounted the puppet. The accompanying ANBU members exchanged stunned glances. Even Minato, the youngest among them, seemed at a loss.
Was Shinki seriously implying that the Hokage and the rest of them were to walk, while he leisurely rode atop his puppet?
"What's everyone looking at?" Shinki asked, feigning ignorance. "We're traveling, right? Minato, you should run. It's good for building stamina and strengthening your body."
Minato blinked, dumbfounded. Was this really happening?
Shinki smirked, completely unconcerned. The puppet was his creation; how he used it was his business. If they didn't have mounts, they could simply rely on their legs.
He thought for a moment about Sarutobi Hiruzen's summoned monkey, Enma, and chuckled internally. The mental image of the Hokage riding a monkey was too amusing to entertain for long.
"Deputy Minister, cough... cough!" Yiying cleared his throat loudly, subtly suggesting that Shinki offer the Hokage a seat on the puppet.
Shinki glanced down at him. "What's with all the winking? Do you want to ride too?"
"..." Yiying wisely said no more.
"Let's keep moving."
The Hokage's expression twitched, but he said nothing, resigning himself to the situation. As the team continued their journey, Shinki's tiger puppet trotted leisurely at the rear. Minato, still processing the absurdity of it all, ran alongside the group, his blond hair bouncing with every step.
The spectacle was... unusual.
The Hokage and ANBU jogged ahead, with Minato trailing them. Behind them, Shinki rode his enormous puppet like a lord surveying his domain. Passersby on the road stopped and stared, unable to believe what they were seeing.
In truth, Shinki could have used his flying puppet to transport the group directly to the Iron Country, but where was the fun in that? He wanted the Hokage to stretch his legs and get some exercise—something Shinki considered long overdue.
At a fork in the road, Yiying stopped and asked, "Do we take a detour, Deputy Minister?"
Shinki had initially planned to travel southward to release Minato's psychic beast near the coastline, but he dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand.
"No need. We'll head straight to the Iron Country. I'll handle the beast later with a flying puppet. It'll only take a few hours."
Yiying opened his mouth, then closed it again. What could he say? Shinki's approach to everything was as unconventional as it was efficient.
By now, Yiying had given up trying to improve relations with Shinki. The deputy minister seemed determined to keep his distance, both figuratively and literally, riding comfortably on his puppet while the rest marched on foot. Any attempts at conversation were met with Shinki's aloof demeanor.
The team's odd dynamic was further highlighted when they encountered the delegation from the Rock Village.
The two groups met on the road, with Konoha's Hokage and his ANBU on foot while Shinki lounged on his puppet. The leader of the Rock Village, Onoki, squinted at the scene, his expression shifting from confusion to barely contained amusement.
"Is that... the famous god-killer Shinki from your village?" Onoki asked, gesturing toward the puppet rider.
"That's correct," the Hokage replied, his tone steady despite the situation. Whatever internal conflicts existed within Konoha, they had to present a united front to outsiders.
Onoki smiled slyly. "I've heard of Shinki's exploits. His puppets are renowned throughout the ninja world, especially after the devastation of the Sand Village's forces. But I must admit, I'm curious... why is the Hokage walking while your famed puppet master rides in style?"
The Hokage's eye twitched, but he maintained his composure. How could he even begin to explain this?
Meanwhile, Yiying internally screamed. Damn it, Shinki! Why must you always make things so awkward?
Shinki, sitting atop his tiger puppet, merely smirked. "Well, Lord Hokage has always preferred leading from the front. I simply ensure that I'm ready to support when needed."
The sarcasm in his tone was subtle but unmistakable. Onoki chuckled, shaking his head.
The two groups eventually parted ways, but the encounter left an impression on everyone present. As Konoha's team resumed their journey, the Hokage could only sigh. Traveling with Shinki was anything but boring.
The trip continued, and Shinki remained as unbothered as ever. If his methods bothered the Hokage or the ANBU, he didn't let it show. He had a job to do—and if he could do it comfortably, why not?
>>>>>
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