**Chapter 94: In Pakura’s Eyes, Hattori**

Hattori's Four Symbols Seal could capture tailed beasts and create sealed puppets, but it couldn't yet make sealing scrolls.

At least, not yet.

So he had to run to Chiyo for help.

"Teacher, I've made too many explosive puppets! One sealing scroll isn't enough. Could you give me two more?"

"Not enough?" Chiyo looked puzzled at Hattori's request.

"That can't be. The scrolls I gave you are the highest-tier sealing scrolls and can hold hundreds of puppets. Just how many explosive puppets have you made?"

"Uh... I didn't count. Just a lot!"

Hattori didn't want to reveal that he had sealed puppets, as explaining it would be too much trouble. So he dodged the question.

Luckily, Chiyo didn't press him on it and handed him two more scrolls.

"I'm out of high-tier sealing scrolls, but here are two mid-tier ones. Use them sparingly; I don't have many left."

"Will do!"

Hattori accepted the scrolls Chiyo handed over, then glanced at their attributes.

**[Mid-Level Puppet Sealing Scroll: Can seal individual puppets up to level 40, with a total level capacity of 400. Current capacity 0/400]**

Seeing these properties, a hint of satisfaction appeared on Hattori's face.

Although these scrolls weren't as good as the one Chiyo had given him before, they were still sufficient for his needs.

"From now on, I'll store sealed puppets in high-tier scrolls and explosive talisman puppets in mid-tier ones. It'll be easier to keep track this way."

With this plan in mind, he thanked Chiyo and turned to leave.

However, after he'd taken only a few steps, Chiyo called out to him.

"Hattori, we're planning to set out in a couple of days. Go back and get ready. Leave early tomorrow to deliver a message to Ebizō on the eastern front. If you encounter any trouble, return and notify me immediately."

"Understood!" Hattori nodded, then asked, "Anything else you need, Teacher?"

"That's all. You're dismissed."

With Chiyo's permission, Hattori bowed and returned to his quarters with the scrolls.

Back at his place, he sorted out his puppets and sealed them into the three scrolls.

Seeing this, Pakura couldn't help but feel a bit envious.

"Chiyo-sama gave you two more scrolls? She really has a soft spot for you!"

"Heh, yeah, I guess it's because I'm a genius!" Hattori chuckled as he tucked away the scrolls, then looked at Pakura.

"Sister Pakura, Teacher wants us to leave early tomorrow to pass a message to Old Man Ebizō on the eastern front, so we should turn in early tonight!"

"Alright, you should get some rest then!" Pakura smiled. "You've been busy all day; you must be exhausted."

She was right—Hattori was indeed worn out.

He had used over a hundred chakra pearls to make 20 sealed puppets, depleting nearly all his chakra and leaving him mentally drained.

In his exhausted state, he didn't have the energy to joke around or get handsy with Pakura and simply went to bed.

Barely had he closed his eyes before he was fast asleep. When he woke up, daylight had already filled the room.

Pakura was sitting beside him, and when she saw he was awake, she handed him a damp cloth to wipe his face and smiled.

"You're finally awake. Chiyo-sama stopped by earlier but didn't wake you since you were sleeping so soundly!"

"Oh!"

Hattori replied as he hopped out of bed, pulling on his shoes and asking, "Where is she now?"

"She's directing everyone to pack up. Do you want to go see her?" Pakura asked.

"No need!" Hattori shook his head while putting on his shoes.

"She has her tasks, and we have ours. Let's each do our part."

He strapped on his three scrolls, threw on a windbreaker, and nodded at Pakura.

"I'm ready. Let's go!"

"Alright!"

Pakura nodded and followed him out of the tent, where they climbed onto Hattori's summoned giant-winged dragonfly and set off for the eastern front.

Standing on the dragonfly's back, Pakura glanced at Hattori, who was intently focused on the way ahead, her face showing a hint of mixed emotions.

At first, when she met Hattori, she thought he was a talented but timid kid.

But over the following days, she realized he wasn't as simple as she had thought.

In her eyes, Hattori was an odd mix of a child's looks, a teenager's temper, a young adult's skills, and a middle-aged man's... cheekiness.

He knew how to act spoiled when it suited him, displayed impressive power at just the right moments, and, without fail, somehow managed to get a bit handsy with her.

Feeling his hand wandering across her back, Pakura's mouth twitched, and she straightened her face.

"Hey, that's enough! If you keep this up, I'm going to get angry!"

"Huh?"

Hearing her reprimand, Hattori turned to her, looking thoroughly confused.

"What's wrong, Sister Pakura? Did I do something? I don't know what it was, but I'm sorry!"

Pakura: "…"

Innocent, are you?

Watching Hattori's pitifully apologetic look, Pakura's mouth twitched, and she barely managed to say one word.

"Hand."

"Hand?" Hattori still looked puzzled. "What hand? Is something wrong with your hand, Sister Pakura?"

Pakura: "(╬￣皿￣)"

This kid was still playing dumb!

Seeing that words weren't working, Pakura decided on a more direct approach.

She turned, grabbed his "wandering" hand, and raised an eyebrow.

"What exactly was your hand just doing?"

"╭(°A°`)╮Huh?"

Looking down at his hand trapped in Pakura's grip, Hattori made a shocked face, as though he'd just discovered something terrifying.

"Is this... my hand? That's terrifying! It's acting on its own!"

Saying this, his right hand moved toward Pakura's chest, but just in time, his left hand shot out to catch it.

He slapped it twice.

"Disobedient! How dare you misbehave with my favorite Sister Pakura. Do it again, and I'll chop you off, got it?"

After this, he looked up at Pakura and gave her a sheepish grin.

"Heh, I've punished it. It promised it won't misbehave again. Let's let this go, alright?"

Pakura: "(⊙o⊙) …"

You can deal with it like that?

**(End of Chapter)**