Ding!
"Expand your homeland using self-produced materials! Upon completion, you will be rewarded with one of the Tenseigan's abilities: Chakra Extraction!"
The previous task had just ended, and the next one began almost immediately. Moreover, the scale of the home space expanded again—from ten thousand square meters to one hundred thousand.
When Hinata saw the massive workload detailed in the construction blueprints, even with her mental preparation, she couldn't help but gasp and feel a headache coming on. It was clear—she was going to be very busy.
After taking a quick look to grasp the general plan, she logged out of the home space.
Having gained the ability to control puppets wirelessly, Hinata decided to test something she had long been unsure about—making the puppet move.
A wave of unusual chakra fluctuations rippled outward from her body, linking to the puppet. Following the proper control technique, she gradually seized control of its form—starting with the head, then the arms, shoulders, waist, and finally the legs and feet.
Hinata exhaled softly, relieved to find the puppet not as heavy as she had expected. It moved fluidly, and she could walk it around with relative ease.
Ordinary puppeteers, to better control their creations in battle, often did their utmost to reduce weight—removing unnecessary limbs and installing intricate mechanisms and hidden weapons.
Hinata's approach, however, was entirely different. She installed no mechanisms at all. Her puppet was crafted purely according to the human template. Except for the absence of internal organs, a brain, blood, and vessels, everything else—muscles, ligaments, joints—was made from similar or nearly identical materials to those found in a real body.
"The left side feels heavier than the right… the balance is unstable, and the joints aren't very flexible," Hinata murmured thoughtfully.
She controlled the puppet to perform various movements, even attempting a few Gentle Fist techniques. Surprisingly, even without direct contact, her chakra could flow through the puppet as though transmitted through thin air, enabling seamless motion.
She meticulously recorded every issue discovered during testing before returning to her workbench.
With the ability to wirelessly control her puppet, Hinata realized something crucial: this technique could only reach perfection through the Tenseigan. The Tenseigan could grant puppets a semblance of self-awareness; without it, the puppeteer could only move them manually.
Although curious about the wonders of the Tenseigan, Hinata harbored no unrealistic ambitions. She simply focused on doing what was before her, step by step.
A week later, after countless trials, Hinata finally succeeded. As she tested the puppet one last time, a bright smile spread across her face.
Perfect.
This creation, born from a massive investment of time and effort, was finally complete. Without her Byakugan's insight, none of this would have been possible.
If one ignored the absence of internal organs, a brain, and blood, the puppet was essentially human—albeit without flesh or skin. As for that, Hinata had already prepared simulated flesh made from a special blend of resins and rubbers.
The ninja world was vast and brimming with resources. The powerful Hyuga clan, to her surprise, had fully supported her request. Looking back later, Hinata felt deep gratitude for that.
Without her clan's assistance, creating this puppet might have taken her ten times longer—or even more.
Just as Hinata was about to attach the synthetic flesh to the puppet to improve its appearance, the door slid open. It was her father, Hiashi Hyuga.
He stepped into the room, his expression darkening. The narrow passageway was cluttered, the floor buried beneath blueprints and design notes. Hiashi didn't want to be here, but he couldn't ignore it any longer. People outside were laughing—laughing at him, and at the entire Hyuga clan.
"Hinata! Stop your research on puppets immediately!" Hiashi ordered, his tone sharp and unquestionable.
Hinata lowered her head timidly.
"Yes, Father…"
Hiashi nodded, slightly appeased. At least his eldest daughter was obedient. Her strength, too, was commendable—but her meek personality wasted it all. What a pity, what a waste.
No sooner had he sighed and turned to leave than Hinata quietly resumed her work—draping the puppet in simulated flesh and skin.
Not far away, Hiashi, still within range, subconsciously activated his Byakugan—and froze. His face darkened again, and he immediately turned back.
"Hinata!" His voice thundered. "Your only redeeming quality is obedience. Are you throwing even that away? I told you to stop your research on puppets! You agreed—so how dare you go back on your word!"
Hinata feigned a small tremor, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Father, I… I'm done."
It's done, he thought bitterly. So now she thinks that makes it acceptable? Unbelievable.
Hiashi glanced from his daughter to the puppet beside her—now covered in flesh and skin, looking disturbingly human.
"This is your puppet?" he asked, pointing at it. His hand was trembling.
Hinata nodded.
Hiashi let out a furious laugh.
"Do you take me for some ignorant fool who's never seen a puppet before? This—this doesn't look like a puppet at all! Where are the mechanisms? The hidden weapons? They're all buried under that layer of flesh! What kind of puppet is this supposed to be?!"
Hinata paused, then said softly,
"Then… it's not a puppet. It's a doll."
"Enough!" Hiashi snapped. "Is this about puppets and dolls? Or the fact that it's useless?! You could have spent this time perfecting your Gentle Fist! At least that would earn you respect—or even money on missions! Instead, you waste time and resources on this—this thing! Are you trying to make me laugh, or make me furious?!"
His hands shook as he pulled a bottle of medicine from his robe, quickly swallowing two pills. Only then did his pounding heart begin to calm.
Hinata hadn't expected her puppet to anger her father this much.
"Father, are you alright?" she asked softly.
Hiashi's face flushed, his silence heavy. Then—
"Enough!" he barked suddenly, eyes blazing with fury. "I'll show you just how useless your so-called puppet truly is! Get that trash out here!"
Without another word, he turned and stormed off. Hinata hesitated, then followed with her puppet in tow.
Inside the dojo, Hiashi stood in the center, his expression hard.
"After this match," he said flatly, "you'll understand that for our clan, the Gentle Fist and Byakugan are the true foundations. These other unorthodox methods are nothing but a waste of time."
"Father—" Hinata began, but Hiashi cut her off.
Assuming a Gentle Fist stance, his Byakugan flared.
"Attack!"
Hinata had no choice but to comply. Though nervous, a quiet determination burned within her. The puppet she had worked so hard to create had been called trash—she intended to prove otherwise.
Activating her Byakugan, Hinata unleashed her chakra, wirelessly channeling it into the puppet. Instantly, the puppet—an exact replica of her—darted forward like lightning.
"Good! Let's see how long it lasts!" Hiashi declared, confidence surging as he gathered chakra into his palms.
Ordinarily, puppets relied on chakra threads for control; sever those threads, and the puppet would crumble. Confident he'd expose her folly, Hiashi focused his Byakugan—only to freeze.
Where were the chakra threads?
He couldn't see them.
Impossible… he thought. Have my eyes gone blind?
Before he could question further, the puppet was already upon him. Hiashi gritted his teeth and met it head-on. But Hinata had already foreseen his next few moves, every subtle shift and feint.
In just three swift exchanges, she found an opening—her puppet striking with a precise, powerful palm to Hiashi's abdomen.
The impact, delivered by a steel-forged body, sent shockwaves through him. Hiashi staggered back, his chest burning as though fire had erupted within. For a moment, he nearly coughed up blood.
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[Translator's Note: Chapters Updates Deal;
+100 Power Stones = 5 chapters!
Ps: Will be uploaded immediately when I see it.]