Hattori , Puppet Tyrant in Sand

Chiyo's firm stance left Hattori with no choice but to lower his expectations for the defensive puppet, stating that as long as it didn't look too ugly, he'd accept it.

This response, of course, earned him another scolding from Chiyo.

However, since he had managed to create a sealing puppet, Chiyo restrained herself and only scolded him briefly before stopping. She then asked about the second thing he had kept hidden.

Given his accomplishment with the sealing puppet, Chiyo no longer dared to underestimate Hattori.

Her instincts told her that this second hidden matter would be another shocking revelation. So, she did her best to calm herself, preparing to avoid an overly surprised reaction that might compromise her dignity as a teacher.

Once she was mentally prepared, Hattori finally spoke.

"Teacher, the second thing I kept from you... I've already been to Shikkotsu Forest!"

"Gasp…"

Hearing this, Chiyo couldn't help but take a deep breath, her face showing utter shock.

Clearly, all her preparations were in vain.

But she couldn't worry about that now, and immediately pressed him for details.

"You mean Shikkotsu Forest, the place that's as famous as Mount Myoboku and Ryuchi Cave? One of the Three Great Sage Regions?"

"Yes!"

Seeing Chiyo's shock, Hattori smiled and nodded.

"Yes, that Shikkotsu Forest—and I even met the Great Slug Sage!"

"Gasp…"

With Hattori's confirmation and learning that he had met the Great Slug Sage, Chiyo inhaled sharply again, her face filled with disbelief.

"Then… does that mean… you can also summon slugs?"

Her voice was trembling with excitement.

Seeing her reaction, Hattori grinned and nodded again.

"That's right. I can summon slugs, and the one I summon is larger and stronger than the one Tsunade summons!"

With that, he bit his finger and performed the Summoning Technique right before Chiyo.

"Summoning Technique—come forth, Katsuyu!"

*Boom!*

As his words fell, a powerful sound echoed.

In the swirling white smoke, a massive slug appeared within Chiyo's tent.

To save MP, Hattori used only 100 points this time, summoning just one percent of the Great Slug Sage's division.

Despite that, the nearly five-meter-tall slug blew Chiyo's tent wide open, sending various items scattering.

However, Chiyo wasn't at all concerned with these minor details; her attention was entirely on the enormous summoned slug before her.

"It's… it's really Tsunade's slug. But how is this possible?"

Seeing her disbelief, Hattori laughed and then sat cross-legged on the slug's head, gently patting it.

"Katsuyu, tell my teacher, didn't I sign a summoning contract with you?"

"Yes, Master Hattori!"

The giant slug Katsuyu replied, bowing her head toward Chiyo with a soft voice.

"We meet again, Lady Chiyo. But don't worry; Master Hattori has signed a blood pact with the Great Slug Sage. Without his orders, I would never attack you!"

"Uh…"

Hearing Katsuyu words, Chiyo widened her eyes again. Then, as if something dawned on her, she quickly asked Katsuyu, "Since you're here, where is Tsunade? Where is she now?"

"I don't know where Lady Tsunade is!" Katsuyu shook her head, a note of sadness in her gentle tone.

"Ever since Lord Dan passed away, Lady Tsunade has not summoned me in a long time, so I'm unaware of her current whereabouts."

"Oh, I see!"

Hearing Katsuyu's response, Chiyo finally relaxed a bit.

But seeing her reaction made Hattori feel a little dissatisfied, so he pouted.

"Teacher, you still don't believe me, do you? I told you I contracted the slug on my own. Do you really think I have some connection to Tsunade?"

"Nonsense!"

The moment Hattori finished speaking, Chiyo couldn't help but snap at him.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Do you know who Tsunade is? Even if you wanted a connection with her, she wouldn't give you the time of day! Now, get down here—you want me to strain my neck to look up at you?"

"Uh…"

Realizing his mistake, Hattori quickly jumped down from the slug's head and obediently stood before Chiyo.

"Hehe, Teacher, you're kidding, right? I wouldn't dare make you look up at me. If anything, I'm the one who should look up to you, right? Hehe!"

"Pfft…"

Seeing his expression, Chiyo couldn't hold back her laughter, reaching out to tweak his ear again.

"You're something, aren't you? Not only did you give me a scare, but you caused such a commotion. Look around—how many people are watching you?"

"Uh…"

Hearing this, Hattori turned and saw that, at some point, the Sand ninja and medical ninjas in the camp had all gathered around.

They stood there, staring in shock at him and the massive summoned slug beside him.

Realizing this, Hattori was stunned, then angrily shouted at them.

"What are you staring at? It's the middle of the night! Don't you all have work tomorrow? Go back to sleep!"

Hearing Hattori's righteous scolding and seeing Chiyo tugging his ear, the onlookers couldn't help but react with peculiar expressions.

Soon, strange sounds reached Hattori's ears.

"Snicker…"

"Pfft…"

"Ahem…"

Hattori: "(╬￣皿￣)"

Who dared to laugh?

"Who was laughing? Step forward!"

Feeling his dignity compromised, Hattori erupted.

"You guys are seriously undisciplined! Don't you have anything better to do—ow, Teacher, I'm giving a lecture here. Don't pull my ear—it damages my image as a elder in the Sand Village!"

"Image? What elder image? Stop babbling nonsense and come with me!"

Chiyo showed him no mercy, dragging him away by his ear.

Seeing this, the Sand ninja dropped all pretenses, bursting into laughter.

"Hahaha…"

"Hehehe…"

"Ha-ha-ha…"

Hearing the laughter behind him, Hattori, led by Chiyo, widened his eyes in anger and shouted at the slug behind him.

"Damn it! You people are so disrespectful to a senior Sand Village official like me! Katsuyu, take a good look at who's laughing—I'll make sure they pay for it later!

"Ow, Teacher, don't twist—I was wrong… ow, my ear… it's going to come off… YAMETE…"

"…"

**(End of Chapter)**