2: Tang Sect's secret skills and puppetry, let's combine them!

The sky was faintly lit.

Tang Yan sat cross-legged on the rooftop, his back ramrod straight.

His eyes were slightly closed, and as the first ray of dawn pierced through the clouds, a faint purple hue was absorbed into his eyes.

Under the operation of Purple Demon Eyes, his eyesight was far beyond ordinary; every fine line on the weathered rocks in the distance, and even the tiny sand worms hopping between the grains of sand, were clearly perceived.

Xuantian Skill then circulated automatically within his body, one cycle after another.

His bones emitted continuous, subtle creaking sounds, not of breaking, but proof that his bones were becoming tougher and more resilient under the nourishment of inner force.

The slight fatigue from an all-night study of the scrolls quickly dissipated under the circulation of this skill, leaving him refreshed, and his inner force and mental energy became even more condensed.

The contents of Sasori's scrolls were constantly replaying, dissecting, and recombining in his mind, fiercely verifying and merging with the Tang Clan's unique skills deeply rooted in his soul.

New design ideas for puppet cores, ultimate control techniques for Chakra threads… one window after another was pushed open, revealing a broader and deeper world of puppetry. These would all become the solid foundation of his Tang Yan's unique path of puppetry, not just simple replication.

The sun had already risen in the east, and golden sunlight generously bathed the entire Hidden Sand Village, casting a warm glow over this yellowish-brown world.

Tang Yan stood up and stretched his slightly stiff muscles and bones.

Inside his body, the mainstream Chakra energy of Hidden Sand Village and the pure inner force cultivated by Xuantian Skill remained distinct, yet they strangely converged and revolved deep within his Dantian, forming a power foundation far more profound and resilient than either existing alone. He could clearly perceive that this miraculous fusion was by no means a simple one-plus-one, bringing improvements far exceeding his expectations, and control was even more effortless.

He leaped down from the rooftop, his movements so light that they made no sound, and with a few quick descents, he landed steadily in his own small courtyard. In the courtyard, a few desert plants meticulously cared for by his elder sister Cang Qi still had crystal clear dew drops on their leaves.

In the morning light, most areas of Hidden Sand Village still held a sense of unawakened tranquility.

Only in the distance, the faint, uniform footsteps of patrolling Ninja squads could be heard, along with shouts from the training ground even further away, which only served to highlight the current serenity.

Pushing open the wardrobe in his bedroom, Tang Yan skillfully pressed several inconspicuous spots on the inner wall of the wardrobe in a specific sequence. With a soft 'click', the back panel of the wardrobe silently slid inward, revealing a deep staircase leading downwards.

In the underground secret chamber, the already prepared medicinal cauldron was 'gurgling' with steam, and a rich but not pungent herbal aroma permeated the entire space. Taking a deep breath, he felt his spirit lift, and even his thoughts became clearer.

This secret chamber was designed and arranged by him, costing him a considerable amount of savings and effort. Special soundproofing and anti-detection materials were embedded in the walls to ensure his secrets would not be leaked. This was his exclusive place for various cultivations, puppet modifications, and the concoction of Tang Clan poisons. Currently, in the entire Hidden Sand Village, only his elder sister Cang Qi, with whom he depended on each other, and his trustworthy childhood friend Qian, knew the entrance here.

Thinking of Qian, Tang Yan couldn't help but smile slightly.

Tang Yan took off his training clothes, which were stained with a bit of morning dew, revealing a body with smooth lines and well-proportioned, yet not exaggerated, muscles.

He stepped into the bathtub, which was filled with a well-prepared medicinal liquid at the perfect temperature.

The warm medicinal power immediately became active, seeping in threads, vying to penetrate his skin through every opening pore, then drilling into his meridians, rapidly alleviating and repairing the subtle physical strain caused by high-intensity Xuantian Skill operation and prolonged intense mental concentration.

Every cell in his body seemed to cheer, greedily absorbing the essence contained in the medicinal liquid.

“Tang Clan medicinal baths, combined with Xuantian Skill, truly have extraordinary effects.” He reaffirmed in his heart. This method of internal and external cultivation for recovery and nourishment, in terms of efficiency and depth, was far beyond what a Ninja's simple rest or conventional medical Ninjutsu in this world could compare to. Xuantian Skill tempered the body's strength and resilience, while the medicinal bath consolidated repairs and nourished the foundation. The two complemented each other, making it one of his important reliance for rapidly increasing his strength in this perilous Ninja world.

He closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing, trying to completely calm his mind and focus on his body's absorption of the medicinal power.

However, the contents of the scrolls left by Sasori seemed to have taken root in his mind. Highly precise puppet core construction diagrams and insightful treatises on Chakra thread energy transmission and application unfolded on their own, constantly impacting and expanding his preconceived notions of puppetry.

Sasori's designs were not only bold and insane, but they also shone with the brilliance of genius and obsession, forcefully pushing puppetry, a branch of skill, to an unprecedented height.

Especially the concept of 'Human Puppets' mentioned within—retaining most of their Chakra characteristics and Bloodline Limit from when they were alive, and even being able to perform the Ninjutsu they mastered in life… Tang Yan felt a completely new understanding suddenly open up in his mind, and the subsequent images made his heart tremble, even his breathing involuntarily quickened. This was no longer simple puppetry; this was a form of… continuation and transformation of life.

“If I could fully integrate the Tang Clan's ingenious mechanisms and insidious poisons into this puppetry…” Once this thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed.

It didn't appear out of thin air, but like a seed, it had long been buried in his heart, and now, irrigated by Sasori's knowledge, it burst through the soil with a roar and grew wildly! Countless flashes of inspiration burst forth and intertwined in his mind.

“For example, Sasori's puppets pursue extreme lethality and artistry, but the core of Tang Clan hidden weapons is concealment, surprise attack, and instant kill.” Tang Yan's mind raced, “If I modify the structure of the Tang Clan's Twin-serpent Soul-chasing Death Pill and implant it into the puppet's chest or back, it would normally integrate with the puppet's structure, making it difficult to detect. In combat, with just one command, countless poisoned steel beads could cover the target, making it impossible to guard against.”

“Also, Sasori's puppet fingers can fire kunai or poisoned needles, but their quantity and power are limited. If I miniaturize the entire mechanism of the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle and then precisely control it with Chakra threads, implanting it into the fingertips of the puppet's ten fingers. In an instant, thousands of poison needles, as fine as ox hair and instantly fatal upon drawing blood, would shoot out. The coverage, the penetration…” He could even imagine the enemy's astonished and desperate expression, and a cold arc involuntarily curved at the corner of his mouth. If Sasori knew his 'artworks' were being 'practicalized' in such a way, what would he think? He would probably be so angry he'd jump out of his grave.

“Or, use Tang Clan's area-of-effect poisons like 'Soul-Bewitching Incense' or 'Bone-Corroding Mist', released silently at specific moments through specially designed internal puppet pipelines, combined with the puppet's frontal assault…”

One insidious, vicious, yet incredibly ingenious idea after another emerged. These thoughts clashed and verified with the orthodox and unorthodox puppetry knowledge in Sasori's scrolls, sparking even more inconceivable inspirations.

“Sasori of the Red Sand… you are indeed an unparalleled genius, but also a complete madman,” Tang Yan muttered to himself, his eyes, however, becoming astonishingly brighter as the medicinal mist steamed.

He could almost feel that a brand new path of puppetry, unique to him, Tang Yan, combining the puppetry of the Ninja world with the wisdom accumulated by the Tang Clan over hundreds of years, was slowly unfolding before him.

This path was destined not to be peaceful. But, so what?

The power within his body slowly grew under the nourishment of the medicine, and the blueprint in his mind became clearer and clearer.

The genius puppeteer of Hidden Sand Village? Tang Yan snorted coldly in his heart.

That title would soon change hands. And, the future 'genius' would be far more than just a 'puppeteer'.

Sasori's Third Kazekage human puppet could retain its Bloodline Limit. If I were to process it using Tang Clan methods, when it manipulates iron sand, every tiny grain of iron sand would be coated with the Tang Clan's unique 'Flesh-Corroding Bone-Eroding' poison, or even 'Vein-Severing Powder' specifically targeting Chakra flow. Then, if an enemy were grazed by the iron sand, the consequences would be unimaginable. This is far more insidious than simple physical cutting.

Tang Yan involuntarily shivered, not because of a change in water temperature, but because he was startled by his increasingly bold and insidious idea.

“Of course, I won't actively collect materials to create human puppets, but if I can capture a finished product from Sasori, like that Third Kazekage, I don't mind making it more 'practical'.”

He even imagined a puppet with a simple, dull exterior, its joints deliberately made a bit rough, like an honest farmer from the countryside.

The moment the enemy, due to its appearance, showed disdain or even a mocking smile, the puppet's chest armor would 'clack' open, revealing not a core, but densely packed 'Soul-Chasing Nails' shimmering with a faint blue light, or perhaps the simple-looking puppet would suddenly grin, and a mouthful of 'teeth'—specially made poisoned steel needles coated with 'Three-Day Death'—would shoot out.

The scene, just thinking about it, sent shivers down one's spine, and the enemy's expression changing from surprise to despair would surely be spectacular. Tang Yan's lips curved into an uncontrollable, mischievous smile, a glint flashing in his eyes.

This was far more interesting than simply controlling a few kunai or clumsily engaging in close combat with a puppet!

The warmth of the medicinal liquid gradually calmed his agitated emotions, but the storm in his mind intensified, countless ideas sprouting like mushrooms after rain.

Sasori's scrolls were the trigger, and the Tang Clan's centuries of inherited ingenuity and poison techniques were the sharpest carving knives in his hand, to sculpt an unprecedented masterpiece from the raw jade of puppetry.

“All Things Creation Box… Myriad Analysis…” Tang Yan murmured to himself, this idea gradually becoming clear in his mind.

What he wanted to construct was a precise puppet system encompassing all phenomena.

In his mind, he was already constructing a vast and precise system that would perfectly integrate Tang Clan's mechanism arts, hidden weapon techniques, and the study of poisoning and alchemy with this world's puppetry and Chakra application.

This was not a simple 1+1, but a qualitative change.

This would be his unique, new domain, transcending existing puppetry.

In his mind, the concept named “All Things Creation Box” began to meticulously dissect and reconstruct every component of existing puppets.

For example, Sasori's puppet joints, though already intricate, still had too many rough edges and weren't naturally seamless in Tang Yan's eyes, who had been immersed in Tang Clan's mechanisms for decades.

If a deep modification were made using the Tang Clan's unique 'Twin-serpent Soul-chasing Death Pill' combined with the principle of 'ball bearings', not only would the puppet's movements become smoother and more fluid, achieving the agility of a living person, but also extremely fine probes coated with 'Shadowless Poison' could be hidden in the tiny gaps of the joint connections. Once the joint received an impact or twist at a specific angle, the probes would silently stab out, catching the opponent off guard, and the victim wouldn't even know when they were hit.

'Chakra threads are the core of control, but this thing is too obvious and easily becomes a weakness. Once cut, the puppet becomes useless,' Tang Yan mused. 'If some complex attack or evasion commands could be pre-programmed and solidified into miniature linkage mechanisms inside the puppet, a series of dazzling movements could be triggered by extremely short and hidden Chakra signals. For instance, a signal for an upward strike could instantly make the puppet complete nine consecutive movements: block, side kick, and back elbow strike. Then, with nine different basic signals, the actual combat effectiveness through their permutations and combinations…' He even thought of the Tang Clan's intricately designed interlocking mechanism boxes, where a single, slight pull could trigger a series of deadly chain reactions, full of killing intent. This way, even if the Chakra threads were targeted, the puppet could still maintain considerable combat power.

His thoughts then turned to poison refining, which was the Tang Clan's signature skill.

'Sasori's Human Puppets can retain Bloodline Limits, which is certainly powerful. But what if, in the materials used to make ordinary puppets, some chronic, hard-to-detect strange poisons were incorporated, such as 'Seven-Day Drunk,' where the victim would initially only feel mental fatigue and sluggish Chakra circulation, making it difficult to realize it was due to poisoning? Or, in the Iron Sand used by the Third Kazekage Human Puppet, a portion of the Iron Sand could be replaced with 'Bone-Dissolving Poison Sand' refined with Tang Clan secret methods, combining real and illusory elements. When the Iron Sand attacks, the Poison Sand would be mixed within it, and those hit would be crippled if not killed…' He even thought of specially refining a 'Skill-Dissolving Powder' targeting Chakra's properties, colorless and odorless, which could be sprayed into the enemy's vital acupoints through specially designed tiny pores in the puppet's palm during close-quarters combat and physical contact, silently crippling their cultivation. This method, compared to Sasori's crude direct human modification, was immeasurably more ingenious.

'Combining the Tang Clan's 'Hundred Solutions to Hidden Weapons' isn't just about knowing how to use hundreds of hidden weapons,' Tang Yan thought. 'More importantly, it meticulously records the structure, firing principles, pros and cons of various hidden weapons, and most importantly—how to counter them.'

These insights can be fully applied to puppet design, allowing me to easily discern the weaknesses of an opponent's puppet, and even more effectively design puppets that counter other puppets, or puppets specifically designed to restrain certain types of Ninja.'

The analysis of this 'All Things Creation Box' became increasingly clear. It was not merely a simple superposition of technologies, but a true fusion and sublimation, extracting the essence of the top techniques from two worlds, and then, with his Tang Yan's wisdom and methods, forging it into a brand new, sharp weapon capable of shaking this Ninja world.

For a moment, Tang Yan felt a surge of energy throughout his body, even the comfort brought by the medicinal bath was almost overshadowed by this creative passion.

He even felt somewhat impatient to get out of the bath immediately, find some materials, and first try to create the 'ball bearing' and 'Twin-serpent Soul-chasing Death Pill' joint structures to see their actual effects.

Although the puppet materials in Hidden Sand Village were good, to realize his wild and insidious ideas, he probably needed more special materials and secret crafting techniques from the Tang Clan.

For instance, the 'Cold Iron Essence Mother' for making 'Shadowless Poison Needles,' or several special herbs required for refining 'Skill-Dissolving Powder,' might not be easily found in this world.

'It seems I'll be busy in the future,' Tang Yan's lips curved into a smile, a mix of anticipation for unknown challenges and absolute confidence in the Tang Clan's ultimate skills shining brilliantly in this world.

Sasori's scroll was the key, and the Tang Clan's ultimate skills would, behind this door, construct a unique palace belonging to him, Tang Yan, filled with deadly traps and endless ingenuity.

His heart involuntarily quickened, and the fatigue of almost a sleepless night was long washed away by this sudden surge of excitement.

This path, though difficult, was full of infinite possibilities and unprecedented excitement. He vaguely felt that he might be able to push puppet mastery—no, 'Mechanism Puppet Poison Arts'—into a realm that even Sasori had never imagined.

'Xiao Yan, dinner!' Cang Qi's voice came from upstairs, with a hint of worry, 'The shop might be busy today, come down early to help.'

Tang Yan opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing and then disappearing.

He quickly got up, wiped himself, and changed into clean clothes.

'Coming, sis.' He went upstairs in a few steps.

A simple breakfast of baked bread and dried meat was on the table.

Cang Qi, wearing an apron, brought two cups of hot sea buckthorn juice.

'Did you stay up late again last night?' Cang Qi pushed a cup of sea buckthorn juice in front of him, her brows slightly furrowed.

Tang Yan took the cup and took a sip, 'Hmm, researching some puppet techniques.'

'Graduation is approaching, don't push yourself too hard,' Cang Qi sat opposite him. 'The school is almost ready; they're just waiting for you guys to graduate so Hidden Sand Village can get some fresh blood.'

She paused, lowering her voice, 'I heard that the selection for the Fourth Kazekage has been intensely debated among the Village's higher-ups recently, and Rasa-sama has the highest support.'

Rasa, huh... the future Fourth Kazekage. Tang Yan's thoughts stirred slightly.

After breakfast, the siblings went to the Ninja tool shop facing the street in their front yard.

Cang Qi skillfully opened the shop door, arranging the various Ninja tools on the counter.

'Ding-a-ling—' The wind chime on the door rang.

A middle-aged Sunagakure Ninja, with a worried expression, walked in carrying a half-destroyed puppet.

'Boss Cang Qi, this puppet of mine...' He carefully placed the puppet on the counter. 'Can it still be saved? It's very important to my son.'

It was an ant-shaped reconnaissance puppet; its shell was now cracked in many places, and several of its segmented legs hung limply.

Cang Qi stepped forward to examine it, her face showing difficulty. 'The damage is quite severe. The mechanical claw hinge on the second right foreleg is broken, the axle gear on the first left foreleg is fractured, the oral senbon launcher is scrapped, and the core circuit might even be burnt out.'

Tang Yan stepped forward, his gaze falling upon the puppet.

He reached out and gently nudged one of the puppet's joints.

'The core circuit is burnt, there are also multiple hidden damages in the joints, and the shell material needs reinforcement,' Tang Yan said calmly.

The middle-aged Sunagakure Ninja's face showed even deeper disappointment. 'Then... is it beyond saving?'

'It's troublesome, but not impossible to repair,' Tang Yan's fingertip lightly touched the damaged core interface of the puppet. 'Leave it to me. Come pick it up in three days.'

Sasori's miniature joint design, the core circuit's protection mechanism... these pieces of knowledge clearly surfaced in his mind.

Perhaps, he could use this opportunity to try out new methods.

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged Sunagakure Ninja's eyes rekindled with hope. 'That's great! Then I'll leave it to you, young master Yan!'

After seeing the customer off, Cang Qi looked at Tang Yan with some surprise. 'Are you sure? The structure of this ant puppet isn't simple.'

'I'll give it a try,' Tang Yan picked up the damaged ant puppet and turned to walk towards the repair room at the back of the shop. 'It's good practice.'

Cang Qi watched his retreating figure, shaking her head helplessly. This younger brother, ever since their parents passed away, had become increasingly unfathomable.

In the afternoon, Tang Yan appeared at Training Ground Number Three.

This area was in a secluded part of the Village, where the yellow sand met the oasis, and few people ventured.

With Xuantian Skill fully activated, his figure flickered, moving between several giant rocks.

Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!

A head-sized rock was levitated by him and then thrown forcefully, exploding in the distance.

Xuan Yu Hand!

His palms became crystal clear and as hard as metal and stone. He struck a weathered rock several times, leaving clear palm prints on its surface.

Tang Clan's hidden weapon techniques, ever-changing.

Unfortunately, many powerful techniques, such as Wrath of Buddha Tang Lotus and Peacock Plume, could not be used here.

Materials and location were all limitations.

'Still not enough,' Tang Yan stopped his movements, sweat dripping down his cheeks.

Sasori's scroll had pointed him in the right direction, but transforming that knowledge into his own required extensive practice and resources.

Hidden Sand Village, after all, was too small.

Graduation was imminent; becoming a Genin might grant him access to more.

He needed greater strength to establish himself in this world, and to... re-manifest the glory of the Tang Clan in another way.

'Sasori, it will be very interesting to surpass you using your own creations,' Tang Yan's lips curved into a cold arc.

He took out a kunai from his embrace and threw it fiercely at a distant target.

The kunai accurately hit the bullseye.

Another day dawned, the morning sun streaming through the window lattice, casting dappled light on the floor.

Tang Yan sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed.

The Tang Clan's secret technique 'Observation' circulated in his mind. This was an observation secret technique, incidentally tempering spiritual power and enhancing perception and fine manipulation abilities.

His spiritual power in his previous life was already far beyond ordinary people, and cultivating it now was even more natural.

Strands of spiritual power overflowed from his glabella and spread outwards.

The teacup on the table, the veins of the tea leaves in the cup, a slender-legged spider spinning a web in the corner, the trembling of its leg hairs...

Everything was reflected with incredible clarity in his mind.

'It's done.'

Tang Yan opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing.

With 'Observation' initially mastered, his spiritual perception range had expanded considerably, and his insight into details had reached an incredible level.

This meant that the precision and range of his puppet control would undergo a qualitative leap.

'With my current spiritual power, simultaneously controlling three 'Owls' in different attack modes is not difficult.'

This kind of improvement was an area not even thoroughly mentioned in Sasori's scroll.

The Tang Clan, after all, had its unique aspects.