When Hirito was suddenly summoned to the Kazekage Building, he was completely confused.
Sitting before him were Chiyo and Ebizo, their gazes steady as they observed him.
Beside them, Karasuke stood with his usual calm demeanor, maintaining a composed expression.
The atmosphere was serious—too serious.
Hirito instinctively checked himself. I haven't betrayed the village, have I?
Why did this feel like some kind of trial?
"Ahem, Hirito, don't be nervous."
Chiyo broke the silence, her voice warm and reassuring.
"We called you here just to talk."
Karasuke, standing behind Ebizo, gave Hirito a small nod and a subtle wink, hinting that he had nothing to worry about.
Feeling slightly relieved, Hirito relaxed his shoulders.
"Elder Chiyo, what do you want to know?"
Chiyo folded her hands together, observing Hirito closely.
"I want to know what your ideals are… what your Ninja Way is."
She paused for a moment before adding,
"You can choose not to answer. At your age, it is normal for one's path to still be unclear."
Hirito thought about it for a moment.
"My ideal? Right now, I think… it should be to become the Kazekage."
If he became the leader of one of the Five Great Nations, he would undoubtedly gain immense influence—and likely, a great surge of luck on his mysterious panel.
As for his Ninja Way, that was more complicated.
The concept itself was vague.
For example:
Naruto's Ninja Way was about never giving up and staying true to his word.
Orochimaru's was the pursuit of knowledge and immortality.
Jiraiya's was achieving peace through understanding.
The First Hokage and Madara had different paths, but both sought a way to end the endless cycle of war.
Sasori's was the pursuit of eternal art through puppetry.
Deidara's was the ephemeral beauty of explosions.
In short, a Ninja Way represented one's beliefs and motivations—their driving force.
So, after careful thought, Hirito finally answered:
"My Ninja Way is simple—to keep living and do everything I want to do, such as creating the most powerful and perfect puppet."
Ebizo nodded in approval, exchanging a glance with Chiyo.
"And in your opinion," Ebizo asked, "what kind of puppet is the most powerful and perfect?"
Hirito didn't hesitate.
"One that has impenetrable defense—capable of protecting its user with no weaknesses—and immense destructive power, capable of wiping out everything in its path."
Ebizo chuckled. "So, your Fatty Puppet is the prototype of your idea?"
Hirito smiled. "That's right."
Ebizo nodded in satisfaction.
"If anyone else said this, I would think it's unrealistic," he admitted. "But at least you've already proven the feasibility of your ideas with your work."
Then, Ebizo straightened his posture and looked Hirito in the eye.
"Now, I have one final question for you."
He paused for a moment before continuing,
"Hirito, Chunin of Sunagakure… are you willing to become the joint disciple of me, Ebizo, and my sister, Chiyo?"
"Ah?!"
Hirito was momentarily stunned.
Then, noticing Karasuke rapidly blinking at him from behind the elders—probably signaling him to accept immediately—he quickly snapped back to reality.
"Yes! Yes, of course!"
Chiyo and Ebizo smiled at each other.
This decision had multiple layers of meaning.
1. Ensuring the Future of Sunagakure's Puppetry
Chiyo and Ebizo were both nearing their later years.
They needed to train successors before they became too weak to fight.
2. Hirito and Sasori Were the Future
Sasori was Chiyo's grandson, naturally making him a priority.
Hirito, on the other hand, had been handpicked for his remarkable talent.
3. Creating a New Generation of Strong Leaders
If both Hirito and Sasori reached their full potential, Sunagakure's puppet users could dominate the next era.
For Hirito, however, the most immediate benefit was the sudden surge in his Luck Progress Bar.
Previously, his Luck Bar had reached 57.3% after expanding the Hogg United Gang in Gotham.
But now?
His luck bar skyrocketed to 91% in an instant!
Just a little more…
And I can unlock the next world.
However, not all news was good news.
Because three days later, his team would be sent to the front lines for another attack on the Land of Rain.
These next three days were just for preparing logistical resources.
That evening, Chiyo personally invited Hirito to her home for dinner, along with Sasori.
When Hirito later informed Sasori, he got an unexpected reaction.
"Then… how do we calculate our generations?"
Sasori narrowed his eyes.
"Doesn't this mean you are one generation older than me?"
Hirito grinned.
"Hey, that's easy!" He wrapped an arm around Scorpion's shoulder and laughed.
"You can continue calling me the same as before, but from now on…"
"I'll call you 'Nephew'!"
Sasori's deadpan glare said it all.
But compared to before, his expressions were far richer now.
Even though he still looked cold and serious, at least his personality was less extreme.
After a brief pause, Sasori suddenly looked serious and said,
"Hirito, I thought a lot about what you told me before… and yesterday, I even asked Grandma about it."
"What words?"
Hirito was puzzled—he had talked about a lot of things with Sasori.
"The part about why the Third Kazekage started the war… and the issue of unequal resource distribution."
Sasori then added,
"I asked Grandma the same questions I asked you before, and I also repeated your answer to her."
Then he sighed.
"I think it was because of that conversation that she made up her mind to accept you as her apprentice."
Sasori looked at Hirito with a strange expression.
"She said… you were the first young man she had ever met who thought like a Kazekage at the age of eleven."
Hirito blinked.
Wait… wasn't there someone else who got the same compliment?
A certain black-haired guy from Konoha, perhaps?
(End of Chapter 45)
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