[@MonkeyBusiness] in short, yes.

In a more detailed response however...

Yes.

No, in all serious though. While you can do this, it is best to have them connected to some other people, unless you want to travel alone or accidentally isolate your character because they have no one in their immediate vicinity to interact with.

As a note, I too have a puppet user who I will probably be bringing in, I'm not sure if he'll be part of Sunagakure, or have gone rogue. Either way, depending on your character's disposition they could know one another.

Just make an effort to talk to the other players and collaborate so you don't get isolated. I'll be as unhappy as you would be if it happens, so let's not allow it to.