Chapter 25

The paycheck had arrived, and not only was Tsunade feeling confident, but even Shinki felt a bit of excitement. Of course, Shinki didn't plan to visit the casino; instead, he wanted to purchase high-quality materials and parts for puppet-making.

He wasn't one to recklessly splurge on luxuries or gamble his earnings away.

Despite the few puppet ninjas in Konoha, the village had official channels for acquiring materials. 

After work, Shinki said to Tsunade, "You go ahead to the market for the vegetables. I need to buy some materials and parts; what I have isn't enough, so I need a new batch."

"Go, go. Don't waste time—I have important plans tonight," Tsunade said, waving him off without a second thought.

*Important plans,* Shinki thought with a knowing smile. With cash in hand, Tsunade was itching to hit the gambling dens. She wouldn't rest until she'd gambled away everything in her pocket.

After buying the materials, Shinki headed home to start dinner.

---

After dinner, Tsunade lounged on the sofa, watching Shinki with curiosity as he got to work. He unsealed various materials from a scroll, including an animal carcass.

The sight of the massive tiger, over three meters tall and more than six meters long including its tail, would have shocked people in his previous life. But in the ninja world, such creatures weren't unusual; there were plenty of beasts as large as hills.

Given the limited space in the living room, Shinki decided to work with smaller materials for now. He'd save the larger projects for when he could find an open area to work, lest the house collapse under the strain.

As Shinki embedded various parts and mechanisms into the tiger's body, Tsunade, who had been lying on the sofa, sat up with interest. She couldn't help but wonder why Shinki was so invested in making such a puppet.

Puppet masters weren't exclusive to Sunagakure. Each major village had its puppet users, although the Sand Village was known for them. Typically, puppets were humanoid or, if animal-shaped, constructed from parts, not actual animal corpses. Corpses were far more difficult to work with and were considered unsettling.

Soon, Shinki completed assembling the parts. Chakra threads glistened between his fingers as he activated the puppet. The tiger corpse, previously lifeless, stood up, towering over the room. But its movements were stiff and mechanical.

A failure.

Tsunade's initial interest faded. This puppet seemed to be more about form than function, lacking the practical attack methods that made traditional puppets useful.

Without those, what good was a puppet like this? It would be a waste of resources.

Shinki stood before the tiger, deep in thought, placing his hand on it and closing his eyes as if sensing something.

*What's he doing?* Tsunade watched with mild confusion. The puppet seemed useless to her. Maybe Shinki was just attached to it as a first creation, unwilling to discard it despite its flaws.

*I get it,* Tsunade thought. *It's like the feeling of making your first special medicine, even if it's a failure.*

"You can keep studying it. I'm heading out—I have some classes tonight."

Shinki didn't look up, his focus solely on the puppet, much like Orochimaru when engrossed in an experiment.

Tsunade shook her head. "Take it easy. With your medical ninjutsu, super strength, and physical skills, you're strong enough. No need to waste time on puppets."

"Bang!"

The door closed behind her, and Shinki's lips curled into a smile.

*Is making puppets really a waste of time?* he thought.

He placed his hand on the puppet and channeled chakra into its control core. The puppet's dull eyes, once reliant on chakra threads and limited in movement, suddenly gleamed with life.

The tiger moved smoothly, like a living creature. It prowled around the living room, executing intricate moves effortlessly. The floor creaked under its weight, threatening to give way.

"Lie down," Shinki commanded.

The tiger puppet immediately lay down, motionless.

*I'll need to work outside the village to avoid causing a scene,* Shinki realized. While there were hidden corners in Konoha, the Third Hokage had a habit of monitoring the village with his crystal ball. Shinki didn't want to expose his secret yet.

He planned to build a flying puppet next and save the remaining materials. He would go outside the village during breaks to continue his work and test his creations' strength.

---

For the next few weeks, Shinki dedicated most of his free time to puppet-making. His work at the hospital continued as usual, ensuring no one suspected a thing.

As the year drew to a close, snow blanketed Konoha, and villagers wrapped themselves in thick coats as they strolled through the streets. Shinki sensed the coming of the Tenseigan awakening, feeling it would happen soon after the New Year.

Winter was the perfect time to stay indoors, wrapped in blankets. But today, Shinki was up early, already out at the market. Tsunade had insisted he go.

Being woken up and sent out into the cold was annoying, but Shinki had little choice when dealing with Tsunade's iron will.

Kushina and Nawaki might protest, but Tsunade would go as far as storming into his room and pulling off the covers.

Back home, Shinki began organizing everyone for a small feast. The grill was set up, with Tsunade handling the charcoal, Nawaki and Kushina running errands, and Shinki doing the grilling.

Soon, the aroma of marinated meat filled the air. Tsunade, Kushina, and Nawaki's mouths watered as the scent wafted through the room.

Once the meat was ready, Shinki brushed oil on it, waited a few minutes, and announced, "Alright, time to eat!"

Tsunade, who had been waiting impatiently, grabbed a fork and took a large bite. "Mmm, so good. If you weren't a medical ninja, you could open a barbecue place and make a fortune."

"I want some too!" Nawaki said, mimicking Tsunade's enthusiasm. He took a bite but winced as it burned his mouth.

"Kushina, don't follow their example and rush. You're not starving," Shinki said, slicing two pieces of beef and placing them on a plate for her.

"Thanks, Shinki! You're so kind," Kushina beamed, her big eyes curving into crescents.

*Starving?* Tsunade nearly choked at that and shot Shinki a glare.