After checking in at the Suna front-line camp and getting his assignment, Kenji immediately grabbed Kaede and headed toward the field hospital to find Aoi. With Tsunade still wandering the ninja world due to her hemophobia, refusing to participate in the war, her former student had stepped up to fill the void. Aoi had taken over many of Tsunade's responsibilities, primarily focusing on analyzing the special poisons used by Suna's puppet masters and developing corresponding antidotes.
According to reports filtering back from the front lines, Aoi's decoding speed couldn't match Tsunade's efficiency. But she'd proven herself to be exceptionally skilled in her own right. The antidotes she'd developed had played a crucial role in battles against Suna, saving countless Konoha lives that would've been lost to poison otherwise.
Kenji used his sensory abilities to track her chakra signature through the camp. It didn't take long to pinpoint her location. He found the medical tent she was working in and lifted the entrance flap.
The tent's interior was cramped. Shelves lined the walls, packed with bottles and jars and sealed containers. A table in the center was covered with scrolls, reference materials, and various tools. Aoi stood hunched over that table, absorbed in her work. She didn't even notice the tent flap opening.
"Aoi, how's it going? Need a hand with anything?"
She jerked upright, startled by the sudden voice. Her head whipped toward the entrance. Then recognition hit and her expression transformed into joy.
"Sensei!" She set down her tools and hurried over. "What are you doing here? I thought you were still in the village!"
"Got assigned to support the front line," Kenji said with a smile. "I heard you were stationed here, so I figured I'd come find you."
He studied her as she approached. The Academy graduate who'd been a nervous kid under his instruction had grown into a capable young woman. Her features had matured, losing the last traces of childhood softness. Long black hair fell past her waist, tied back to keep it out of the way while working. A faint diamond-shaped mark sat in the center of her forehead.
She carried herself with more confidence now. She'd grown taller too, her frame filling out into that of an adult rather than the lanky teenager he remembered.
"That's great!" Aoi relaxed. "Having you here makes me feel a lot safer. We've had a few close calls with Suna raids on the medical tents. It'll be good having someone I trust watching my back."
"Hey! I'm here too, you know!"
The protest came from behind Kenji. Kaede stood there looking thoroughly put out, arms crossed.
Aoi blinked, seeming to notice him for the first time. "Oh! Kaede! When did you get here?"
"I've been standing right next to sensei this entire time!" Kaede threw his hands up in exasperation. "How did you not see me?!"
"Sorry, sorry," Aoi said, though she didn't sound particularly apologetic. She'd already turned back to Kenji. "Sensei, let me show you what I've been working on. I think I've almost cracked the formula for the latest poison variant, but I could use another set of eyes on the compound structure..."
She was already moving back toward her work table, gesturing for Kenji to follow. He caught Kaede's eye and gave him a sympathetic look before walking over to join Aoi. Kaede stood there for a moment longer, clearly debating whether to sulk or accept defeat. Then he sighed heavily and trudged over to an empty stool near the table, dropping onto it.
Poor Kaede. The guy kept trying, hoping maybe someday things would change. Not likely, but hope was a powerful motivator.
"So this is the poison structure," Aoi was saying, spreading out a scroll covered in detailed chemical notation. "See how the bonding pattern differs from the standard formulation? That's what's making it so resistant to conventional antidotes. But I think if we..."
Kenji leaned in, genuinely interested. His own medical knowledge had stagnated somewhat over the years while Aoi's had flourished under Tsunade's teaching. She'd surpassed him in this field long ago. But he could still follow her explanations and occasionally offer useful observations. They spent the next hour discussing toxicology and treatment protocols while Kaede sat off to the side, occasionally trying to contribute but mostly being ignored. By the time they finished, Aoi looked energized, clearly excited to have someone to talk shop with who understood the complexities involved.
"I should let you get back to work," Kenji said finally. "But I'll check in regularly while I'm stationed here. If you need anything, let me know."
"I will. Thanks, sensei." Aoi smiled warmly. Then, almost as an afterthought, she glanced at Kaede. "You too, Kaede. Stay safe out there."
"Yeah, yeah," Kaede muttered, but he perked up slightly at being acknowledged.
---
The days on the front line settled into a familiar rhythm.
Kenji participated in several small skirmishes against Suna patrols and scouting parties. Nothing major, just the constant low-level conflict that characterized this phase of the war. He hadn't encountered any of Suna's heavy hitters yet. No sign of the Fourth Kazekage or other high-level threats. For now, the battlefield remained relatively calm.
One afternoon, after a brief engagement that had left him dirty and tired, he was sitting on the ground taking a break when Enma approached him. The Uchiha looked uncomfortable. He kept glancing at Kenji, then looking away, then glancing back. Like he wanted to say something but couldn't quite bring himself to start the conversation.
It was starting to get creepy.
"If you've got something to say, just say it," Kenji finally spoke up, breaking the awkward silence. "Don't just stand there staring at me. It's weird."
Enma flinched slightly at being called out. He looked around, checking to make sure no other ninjas were within earshot. Then he moved closer and lowered his voice.
"Your puppets can use bloodline abilities, right?"
Kenji raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected that question. "Yeah. They can. Why?"
Enma hesitated, clearly wrestling with how to phrase his next question. Finally, he leaned in even closer.
"Can the Sharingan work in a puppet?"
Kenji went very still.
That was a dangerous question. The kind of question that could get someone branded a traitor if the wrong people heard about it. He kept his expression neutral.
"...It can," he said quietly. "But I'm guessing you're not asking out of theoretical curiosity. What's this about?"
"Really? It works?" Excitement flashed across Enma's face, quickly suppressed. He glanced around again before continuing. "What would you need to make that kind of puppet? Just the Sharingan itself, or...?"
"Hold on." Kenji held up a hand, stopping him mid-question. "What exactly are you planning here? Because if you're thinking about stealing a Sharingan from a clan member, that's a terrible idea. You'd be hunted down as a missing-nin. The Uchiha don't forgive that kind of thing."
He paused, then added more grimly, "You're not planning to rob graves, are you? Because that would be even worse."
"What? No!" Enma looked shocked at the accusation. "Of course not! I have a younger sister and a niece to take care of. Why would I do something that suicidal?"
"Then why are you asking?"
Enma's expression became guarded. "Just tell me what materials you'd need. I can get them. And when the time comes, you make the puppet for me."
He seemed to read the skepticism on Kenji's face because he quickly added, "Don't worry. It'll be completely legitimate. Neither the clan nor the village will come after you. I promise."
Kenji studied him for a long moment. He couldn't imagine what "legitimate" method Enma could possibly have for obtaining a Sharingan. The eyes were precious to the Uchiha clan, treated with reverence. They didn't just hand them out. But Enma's expression was earnest. Whatever he was planning, he clearly believed it would work.
"Alright," he said slowly. "If you're serious about this... First, you'd need a living Sharingan. One that's still fresh, not degraded. Second, you'd need tissue cells from the original owner of that Sharingan. Both need to maintain their biological activity. Dead tissue won't work."
"That's it?" Enma asked, making mental notes. "You don't need the original owner's corpse or anything?"
"No." Kenji shook his head firmly. "I'm not doing that forbidden human puppet technique. That's a line I won't cross."
During his early years of learning puppetry, he had referenced Sasori's methods, pondering how he might achieve similar results if he pursued such a path. The concept of human puppets seemed feasible based on his knowledge of anatomy and chakra manipulation. It would likely involve embalming to halt autolysis and putrefaction, ensuring the integumentary system remained supple enough for joint articulation without rigor mortis setting in. Chakra threads could interface with the residual neural pathways or reinforced skeletal structure, mimicking proprioception and enabling fluid motor control, while seals might sustain the cadaver's homeostasis at a cellular level to prevent necrosis or microbial decomposition. But such a process struck him as macabre, violating the sanctity of the dead and echoing the taboo kinjutsu that warped life forces. More critically, it was outlawed under Konoha's edicts on corpse desecration and ethical shinobi conduct, clashing with the village's principles of honoring the fallen as per the Will of Fire.
Uh... Will of Fire.
"For bloodlines like the Sharingan, you need the eye because it's a specialized organ. But for most other bloodline limits, just tissue cells are enough. The rest is standard puppet-making materials."
Enma nodded slowly, processing this information. Then he held out his hand. "Give me a container for storing the Sharingan and cells."
"You're really going through with this?" Kenji couldn't keep the surprise out of his voice. He'd half expected Enma to back down once he heard the requirements. "Even if you manage to get the materials, if the Uchiha find out about it, they'll never let it go. You understand that, right?"
"I understand. But it's legitimate. I'm not doing anything illegal or dishonorable. Trust me."
The conviction in his eyes was hard to argue with. Whatever Enma's plan was, he clearly believed in it completely.
Kenji sighed and pulled a sealing scroll from his equipment pouch. He handed it over. "This contains specialized nutrient solution and preservation containers. After you put the Sharingan and tissue samples inside, reseal the scroll immediately. The solutions will keep everything viable for about a week. After that, degradation starts and the materials become useless."
"Got it." Enma took the scroll and tucked it into the innermost pocket of his vest. "Thanks, Kenji. Once I get the materials, you have to help me make that puppet. I'm counting on you."
"I already said I would." Kenji paused, then added a final warning. "But you should know, my puppets require Yamanaka clan secret techniques to control. You won't be able to use it yourself. It'll only work if I'm the one operating it."
"That's fine," Enma said without hesitation. "As long as you make it, that's all that matters."
His gaze lingering on Kenji's face. Then, almost casually, he asked, "So, what will it look like? The puppet, I mean. Will it be exactly like the original?"
Kenji blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "It'll be a perfect replica if we use the right tissue samples. As for movement... it'll mimic human gestures closely. It'll walk and talk like a real person."
Enma nodded slowly. "Good."
He turned and walked away.
Kenji watched him go, still baffled.
How did Enma plan to get a Sharingan through legitimate means? It seemed impossible. The Uchiha guarded their bloodline jealously. Even deceased clan members' eyes were usually destroyed or sealed away to prevent theft.
Unless...
Was he planning to ask a living clan member to donate an eye voluntarily? That seemed insane. Who would agree to that?
He shook his head, dismissing the speculation. Whatever Enma's plan was, he'd find out eventually. For now, he'd done his part by providing the containers and explaining the requirements. What happened next was out of his hands. Still, the conversation left him uneasy. It reminded him uncomfortably of his own situation.
He had two Sharingan puppets already. Both were incredibly powerful, combat-effective at jonin level. But he'd never used them openly. Because the moment someone recognized those eyes, he'd have to answer questions he couldn't answer. Where did you get those Sharingan? How did you obtain them?
He couldn't exactly say "Danzō gave them to me" and expect anyone to believe it. The Uchiha would demand proof. Danzō would deny everything. And Kenji would be left holding the bag, branded as a thief who'd somehow acquired the clan's most precious bloodline through unknown means.
So the puppets sat in storage, unused and gathering dust.
Maybe Enma's situation would be different. Maybe he really did have some legitimate method Kenji hadn't thought of.
He could only hope so.