Chapter 47: Entering the Building
Souta stepped deeper, Souta's eyes trying to capture every detail in the room. Where Souta could smell the faint scent of wood and polishing oil, mixed with the scent of fine dust that indicated this place had been used for a long time.
Souta's heart beat faster.
If this place really used Chakra Threads, then this could be the beginning of something big for Souta.
With bated breath, Souta stepped further into the theater.
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In a corner of Sunagakure, under the scorching sun hanging high in the desert sky, stood a building with unique architecture. The building seemed to blend in with the surrounding nature, made of a mixture of sand and clay that hardened under the heat of the sun, forming solid golden yellow walls.
Several flags and dark red silk cloth hung in front of the entrance, fluttering in the desert wind that occasionally hit.
Souta slowly stepped into the deeper part of the building. Souta's sandals touched the cool sandy floor, providing a slight contrast to the hot air outside.
The sunlight filtering through the gaps in the tall windows cast long, slow-moving shadows on the walls, giving the room a mysterious feel. Inside, the scent of old wood mixed with the subtle scent of silk and ink—signaling this place to be more than just an ordinary building.
As Souta walked deeper, his steps stopped. Souta's eyes caught sight of a woman walking out of the building.
The woman had a striking appearance. Her hair was long and brown, tied with a simple black ribbon. She wore a maroon kimono with gold patterns in the shape of swirling clouds, giving her an air of elegance and authority. The woman's golden yellow eyes stared intently at Souta, but not with hostility—instead, curiosity.
"Hm?" The woman frowned slightly, then stopped right in front of the boy. "Little one?" The woman's voice was soft but held a firmness that was hard to ignore. "What are you doing here, little one? Would you like to watch a show?"
A faint smile appeared on the woman's face as she looked Souta up and down, as if assessing something from him.
"Excuse me, but the theater is only open at night."
Souta, who had been silently observing the woman, then shook his head before finally smiling politely. "Ah, that's not it. I came here to apply for a job," Souta said in a calm but determined tone.
The woman looked at Souta with a confused expression. The woman's eyebrows raised slightly. "Apply for a job?"
Souta nodded, then glanced outside the building. "Yes, outside I saw an announcement that the Puppet Theater was looking for additional workers to help clean. That's why I came here to apply for a job."
For a moment, only silence filled the hallway.
The woman folded her arms in front of her chest. Her gaze turned slightly sharp, as if she was assessing the boy in front of her more seriously.
"Even so... you're still a child," the woman said in a low voice, this time with a slightly hesitant tone.
Souta immediately bowed deeply. "Please!" Souta's voice sounded firm, almost desperate. "Any job is fine! I'm an orphan studying at the Ninja Academy. Even though orphans get a subsidy from the village every month, it's still not enough! I need a job, any job, so I can save up and buy ninja equipment!"
Souta's eyes flashed, filled with determination and the will to survive.
The woman fell silent. Where the woman could feel the sincerity in the boy's voice.
Sunagakure was not a friendly village for orphans. Although the village government provided financial assistance, in reality, the money was rarely enough to meet essential needs, especially for an aspiring ninja like Souta.
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Chapter 48: A Test
Ninja equipment is not something that comes cheap. Every kunai, shuriken, storage scroll, or even a small sword costs quite a bit, especially for children who don't have families to support them.
If children from prominent families can easily get the best equipment, then orphans like Souta can only buy second-hand equipment that is worn out and no longer in perfect condition.
However, Souta is not just looking for a job for money. Souta's goal is actually much bigger than that. Souta wants to be in this theater, not just to dust or sweep the floor, but to observe, learn, and understand the Kugutsu technique—the art of controlling puppets, one of Sunagakure's signature techniques.
If Souta can get a job here, even if it's just as a janitor, then Souta will have the opportunity to watch professional puppeteers at work, study their hand movements, and maybe one day, Souta can use the Kugutsu technique like one of them.
On the other hand, the woman is looking at Souta with a look that is hard to interpret.
"We are indeed short of manpower to clean the theater. In the next few months, we will be very busy with performances," the woman muttered in a low voice. Where the woman bit her lip slightly, still hesitant. "But… taking a child this young as a worker?"
The woman looked at the boy in front of her more closely. Judging from Souta's stature, Souta was probably only five or six years old. Too young an age to work, even just to clean a room. However, something in this child's expression reminded the woman of herself as a child.
A strange feeling stirred in the woman's mind.
"Am I just being sentimental?" the woman thought with a soft sigh. "Or… do I see a shadow of my past in this child?"
The woman knew very well that the orphans in Sunagakure had to struggle harder than others. Their lives were never easy.
The woman's eyes then returned to the boy.
"I can't just accept this child right away… But, how about I test this boy first?"
Finally, the woman smiled slightly, then the woman crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Alright, kid," the woman said in a lighter tone. "I'll accept you... if you can complete a test from me. How about it?"
Souta immediately raised his head. The look in Souta's eyes showed unwavering confidence.
"No problem!" Souta replied without the slightest hesitation.
The woman chuckled, slightly amused by the boy's courage. "Alright... let's see if you're really worthy."
"Then, follow me, kid." The woman walked slowly down the narrow hallway, her long robes swaying with her movements.
Her footsteps seemed calm, almost soundless, as if she was used to walking as quietly as possible. Souta immediately followed behind, while Souta looked around curiously.
The hallway they were walking through felt long, with walls made entirely of sand that was compacted until it looked as strong as stone. The air inside felt cooler compared to the scorching heat outside.
On some of the walls, oil lanterns hung, casting dim light that danced across the sand, creating strange, eerie shadows.
After a while of walking, the passageway finally opened up into a large room—a vast main hall with a high ceiling supported by neatly carved sand pillars.
On the floor, Sunagakure's signature geometric patterns were carved into the compacted sand, giving the impression that this was no ordinary building, but one with a long history.
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