Naruto - A Cursed System

Activating his child-like charm, Yukio put on a big smile as he reassured Chiyo, "You don't have to come back tomorrow. I'm still here, am I not? Lemme show you what I have left, ma'am."

"Wonderful! Thank you! May I know your name?" Chiyo asked as she took out her wallet. Initially, she was a bit disheartening to see the boy packing up to leave.

She had heard about a young boy selling wooden carvings of strange, unique monsters gaining local fame that past few days. One of her neighbors had bought won and praised the boy's creativity as he included lines of information carved underneath each sculpture.

Chiyo finally made time in her schedule to visit the rising merchant only to see that he was about to leave. Thankfully, the boy was sweet enough to have her be his last customer.

"My name is Yukio. What about you? What's your name?"

"You can call me Miss Chiyo."

Yukio laid out a cloth in front of him and placed five unique figurines on it. "Miss Chiyo, these are the figurines that I have left for the day. I don't have much, sorry."

Chiyo looked at each of the pokemon figurines and back at Yukio, "Why don't you choose one for me?"

"Me? You sure, Miss Chiyo?"

"It's perfectly fine, go on ahead."

"Hm... I like puppets. My hobby is puppeteering.

"Puppets... I know which one I should give you!" Yukio reached into his backpack and pulled out a wooden figurine of a doll-like pokemon.

On its head are three short spikes and a long zigzagging ribbon trailing off the back of its head. Its mouth looked like a zipper, and its pupils were similar to that of a snake's. Its arms were long and flat, both hands have three fingers. In contrast, its legs are short and stubby. It also had a brush-like tail.

"This one is a bit unfinished, but it's ready in terms of appearance. All that's left is to carve some things at the bottom before I release it to the public."

Chiyo took the figurine and looked at it closer, "What is it?"

A passionate smile appeared on his face, "It's called Banette, the marionette puppet. It is a ghost-type." Of all the pokemon that existed by the time of his death, Banette was his favorite. It was the only pokemon that he remembered its 'title' or whatever you call it.

"It's a ghost?" She asked in surprise.

"Yup. A doll that became alive and sentient, forever cursing whoever it abandoned it."

"Alive, huh... I'll take it." She handed him the fifty ryo.

"Yukio, you remind me of my grandson. I think you're a bit younger than him too." Yukio's joyful nature did remind her of Sasori. Well... The Sasori before his parents died. Ever since their deaths, his bright emotions slowly dimmed.

"A bit older than me? I'd like to meet him! It's always nice to have more friends."

"I'd love for you two to meet. I'll try to bring him next time. Farewell, Yukio. Stay safe and have a good night!"

"You stay safe, too! Have a nice day!"

As Chiyo disappeared from his sight, Yukio bashed his head onto the ground, 'I'm such an idiot. Why did I say day?! Sigh, it's not that bad, I guess.'

Yukio wiped the dirt from his forehead and disappeared into his personal dungeon. He lay in his imagined bed as he smiled in delight.

'I know what to do with Sasori. All I need is to advance [Intermediate Persuasion]. I'll have to persuade others into making terrible life decisions. As to how to do that... Maybe I can try using genjutsu with the skill.'

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[Mission: Honoured Grandmother Chiyo]

Progression: 1/1 Meet Honoured Grandmother Chiyo

Reward: +10 CC, 'Advanced Puppet Mastery' Book, 'Chiyo's Medical Journal'

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Chiyo arrived at her home and placed the Banette figurine on a shelf and sat down.

'How strange...'

She didn't solely visit Yukio just to check out his wares. She went to investigate him. Chiyo had already sent out a shinobi to investigate the wandering child. However, when she received a report, she decided to check him out personally.

And the report was true; there was not even a droplet of chakra within the boy.

Even if she couldn't sense chakra within him, it didn't mean the boy wasn't an enemy ninja from the Sunagakure's enemies. The world was vast, who knows if there was a technique that allowed one to completely hide their chakra, even from sensory ninjas.

Yet, it was unlikely.

As for her decision to have Sasori befriend the boy, she knew her grandson would take care of him if Yukio did something against Sunagakure.

She hoped Yukio was simply someone aspiring to be a merchant or something. It would be even better if he somehow managed to befriend her grandson.

She knew that his only 'friend' was being sent out on a border patrol mission, so who knows when he would come back.

Knowing Sasori's attitude, she doubts Sasori would put any effort into making new friends.

Chiyo sighed and looked at the Banette figurine and wondered, 'Can the puppets be designed after - what did he call them? Right, pokemon.'