Relying on the True Sight Eye, Shang Qi quickly began to stand out in the forge.
He could always identify ores with the highest iron content at a glance and provide the most appropriate advice when Nisaka Yukigoka forged alloy weapons.
This made Nisaka Yukigoka feel as though he had found a priceless treasure, causing him to teach Shang Qi with even greater dedication and encourage Nisaka Hiyori to spend more time interacting and playing with Shang Qi.
As for Nisaka Hiyori, Shang Qi didn't have any romantic thoughts about her; after all, she was only twelve years old and far too young.
People frequently came to Nisaka Yukigoka's forge to commission custom weapons.
The Red Sand Couple were among them, and Shang Qi figured out that this Red Sand Couple were none of the other than the parents of Sasori of the Red Sand, as the Second Great Shinobi World War had not yet broken out.
One day, the Red Sand Couple brought a three-year-old Sasori of the Red Sand to the forge.
Akasuna Uchao wanted to have a uniquely shaped sickle crafted to be mounted onto a puppet.
He was currently discussing the specifications and precautions for the sickle with Nisaka Yukigoka.
Seizing the opportunity, Shang Qi asked Akasuna Takase An from the side, "Why aren't there any beast-type puppets among your creations?"
"Oh? A beast-type puppet? That's actually a pretty good idea, but we're used to using human-type puppets. What are your thoughts on beast-type puppets?" Akasuna Takase An asked with a smile as she held Sasori of the Red Sand.
"It's just a modest opinion of mine, please don't mind," Shang Qi said, taking out a sheet of paper and sketching on it. "For example, making a puppet like an ox, used to transport supplies, or to haul seawater all the way from the coast of the Wind Country back to Sunagakure."
Looking at the design sketch of the ox-like puppet, Shang Qi continued speaking enthusiastically, "We can install a desalination device inside this puppet to suck in a large amount of seawater at the coast, desalinate the water during the transport process, and by the time it returns to Sunagakure, it will have turned into potable fresh water."
Shang Qi's words made Akasuna Takase An's eyes light up, and even Akasuna Uchao showed tremendous interest.
"Can you build a puppet like this? I'll take care of the raw materials," Akasuna Uchao said, leaving Nisaka Yukigoka behind, walking straight up to Shang Qi, and asking eagerly.
"I don't know the Puppet Technique, so no matter how I build it, it's just talk on paper," Shang Qi said, handing the design sketch to Akasuna Uchao.
He knew very well that such a creative concept would bring immense benefits to the puppet lineage, and Akasuna Uchao would certainly not let it pass.
"I can ask my mother to teach you the Puppet Technique. As long as you build a puppet like this, you will be a hero of Sunagakure."
Sunagakure was located in the desert and suffered from extreme water shortages. Although the Wind Country was close to the ocean, it was predominantly desert overall.
As for why no one had thought of such a method before, it was perhaps due to limited vision—all puppets were used for combat, and Sunagakure's puppeteers only added more lethal weapons to their puppets, with no one ever thinking to use them for transporting supplies or water resources.
Akasuna Uchao's mother was Elder Chiyo of Sunagakure, the strongest among contemporary puppeteers.
"You should ask your mother for her opinion first. If it's feasible, I'd be very willing to learn the Puppet Technique." Shang Qi had already achieved his goal and was in no rush; seeking instruction on one's own versus having someone come to teach personally resulted in entirely different treatment.
Akasuna Uchao took the design sketch of the ox puppet and said to Shang Qi, "Rest assured, this is a suggestion of great significance to Sunagakure, and my mother will definitely reward you."
Akasuna Uchao hurried away with his wife and child. Nisaka Yukigoka grew increasingly optimistic about Shang Qi's future, sighing inwardly: as expected of someone raised by a great family, his mind is truly brilliant.
Three days later, Shang Qi was brought before Chiyo by Sunagakure shinobi.
Elder Chiyo looked Shang Qi up and down, and spoke first, "Shang Qi, you were rescued in the desert by Nisaka Yukigoka and brought to our Sunagakure, yet you lost your previous memories. An identity like this is truly suspicious."
"I really don't know where I originally came from. If you don't trust me, then just consider everything I said before as nonsense," Shang Qi said with an indifferent expression.
"No, having a suspicious identity is one thing, but the idea for a transport puppet is another matter. I can teach you the most basic Puppet Technique; once you build a real transport puppet, I will impart more advanced Puppet Techniques to you." Chiyo maintained a poker face, making it difficult to fathom her thoughts.
"Very well, but could you provide the method for cultivating Chakra first?" Although Shang Qi had cultivated Chakra, it was merely a cultivation method he had figured out through random fumbling, and his progress was unsatisfactory. It happened to be a good time to reference Sunagakure's method of Chakra cultivation.
Shang Qi's request startled Chiyo. "You don't know how to refine Chakra?"
"I've never learned it. The Chakra currently inside my body is something I figured out and refined on my own after coming to Sunagakure," Shang Qi answered honestly.
Chiyo placed one hand on Shang Qi's wrist, carefully felt it for a moment, and said, "It really is quite reckless. I'll have someone send you the Chakra Refinement Technique shortly.
I will arrange for you to go to a place where no one will disturb you so you can study the Puppet Technique diligently and build a transport puppet as soon as possible."
"Alright."
Shang Qi was taken away by the shinobi, and Ebizou stepped out from the shadows of the room.
"Sister, what are your thoughts on this young man?"
"Brother, is he really just starting to come into contact with Chakra?"
"That's right, the Chakra on him is very faint."
"Brother, I don't think he's a spy. Which village would send someone who has never touched Chakra to be a spy? Besides, I see he's in his twenties; he might really be some destitute noble."
"At that age, there may not be much room for improvement in Ninjutsu, but his ideas are very good. Perhaps we should also develop the Puppet Technique from other angles."
……
Shang Qi knew nothing of the conversation between Chiyo and Ebizou. He had his eyes blindfolded and was led into a building.
A squad of shinobi was assigned to take care of him, and Shang Qi also received two scrolls: one for the Chakra Refinement Technique and one for the Basic Puppet Technique.
When Shang Qi viewed the Chakra Refinement Technique with his True Sight Eye, he finally understood why his previous speed in refining Chakra had been so slow.
Human body cells are the source of physical energy; the stronger the cellular vitality and physical fitness, the more physical energy is refined.
The cultivation of spiritual energy can be enhanced through stimulation, meditation, and other methods, allowing the inner self to become more calm and focused, thereby better perceiving and mobilizing spiritual power.
The combination of the two generates Chakra. Although Shang Qi had improved his physical fitness through running, push-ups, squats, and other methods,
he lacked the cultivation of spiritual energy, causing the refinement speed of Chakra to be extremely slow, as if stuck in a quagmire.
Through the analysis of the True Sight Eye, Shang Qi created his own unique Chakra cultivation method, and his progress could be described as advancing by leaps and bounds.
Shang Qi also used the True Sight Eye to look at the Basic Puppet Technique. The principle of the Puppet Technique is to use Chakra threads to control the puppet's movements, and its difficulty lies in the application of the Chakra threads.