Kankurō, eight years old this year, already a genin of Sunagakure, frowned after hearing the words. The painted lines on his face twisted in anger.
"My business is none of yours!"
"Yo, such a small kid, but such a big temper." Shigeo chuckled, walking at his side and glancing around. "You went alone to meet those people. Aren't you afraid they'd kidnap you?"
"You're annoying!"
Suddenly Kankurō barked in a low voice, spun, and attacked.
Don't be fooled by his age. Compared to his peers his ability wasn't shallow at all. After several taijutsu strikes, his fingers flicked and a puppet appeared in front of him. Fierce attacks followed, but none touched even the hem of Shigeo's cloak.
"Really, why such a bad temper? I'm doing this for your sake. Those guys are swindlers. I saw you give them money. That must be your savings, right? For a kid like you, saving's not easy." Shigeo stepped forward lightly.
"Quit nagging…" Kankurō's stubborn face tightened as he calmed his breath, then charged with his puppet again.
"Damn, this brat's got the 'cold CEO' act down, calling me nagging?"
Shigeo slipped past the puppet. A palm strike cut Kankurō's chakra threads clean. The boy lunged with a kick, but Shigeo stopped him with one hand, gripping his headscarf and hair, holding him aside.
"You—you—you—"
Kankurō clawed and kicked but couldn't reach. His scalp ached from the pull, forcing his voice low. "Let me go…"
At last, his violent tone softened.
"Still gonna fight?" Shigeo asked, pressing his head.
"Let go of me!"
"Answer properly. Still gonna fight?" Shigeo's fingers tightened.
Ten seconds later, Kankurō froze and muttered: "Not fighting, not fighting, okay?"
Shigeo released him. The boy turned away, furious, and walked toward the village.
"Hey, what are you doing with those people?" Shigeo pressed. He knew their plan would unfold tomorrow and wanted to know the truth.
"None of your business!"
"They'll scam you. They're not good men!"
"None of your business!"
Tch. A stinking rock in a latrine—stubborn and foul.
At Sunagakure's gates, Kankurō entered. Shigeo followed. The boy glanced back, watching him tuck the pass slip into his pocket, and looked him up and down.
"You're not from the Sand."
"Of course not. I'm a wandering ninja. Came here to help my employer collect profits. By the way, little guy, what exactly are you planning tomorrow? Tell me. Maybe I can help."
Kankurō went silent, sighed softly, and lowered his head. His voice was faint, but Shigeo still caught it:
"Don't follow me. The less you know, the better. For your own good."
"People say more friends mean more paths. You think it won't help me, but maybe it'll help you." Shigeo smiled, eyebrows raised.
The boy stared, surprised, then frowned.
"Impossible. You can't solve anything."
But as he turned to leave, his legs wouldn't move. Black magnetic sand bound his ankles tight.
Magnet Release had risen from the ground. No one else nearby. Kankurō turned, stunned. The cloaked figure stood calmly, wrapped in mystery.
"You have a kekkei genkai!"
"Yep. Now do you believe I have some ability?" Shigeo smiled broadly, a flower-shaped blade of Jiton (Magnet Release) spinning on his fingertip.
The boy nodded. The sand loosened. He stepped forward, whispering:
"Tomorrow morning wait here. I'll entrust you with something. If you fail, I won't blame you. If you succeed, I'll give you all my savings. Wait for me…"
With that, Kankurō dashed off.
Watching his back, Shigeo sighed. "So stubborn. I chased him all this way and still don't know the plan."
Back at the inn, he slept soundly. At dawn, Shigeo waited at the crossroads.
Soon Kankurō came panting, waved, and they ran together toward the gate.
Straight north, thirty li, they stopped by a gravel plain in a canyon.
Hiding behind rocks, they watched the flat valley.
"Hey. What deal do you have with that fake Shigeo? Is Gaara really coming here?" Shigeo asked again.
The boy turned, nose wrinkling.
"What fake Shigeo? That is Shigeo. The sealing master. Even advanced fūinjutsu can't restrain him. He can break talismans tens of times stronger than normal."
Shigeo raised his brows. That rumor was true enough.
"So, you want him to unseal or seal Gaara?"
"You—" Kankurō hadn't expected him to guess.
"Why so many questions? Just watch. When I say move, you move."
Shigeo grinned. Together they waited. Soon the fake Shigeo arrived with his four accomplices, waving.
Kankurō gestured back. The five busied themselves in the canyon clearing, oblivious to the fact that the real Shigeo stood right beside Kankurō.
He frowned at their farce, dressed in black cloak, the sight almost unbearable.
"That's your sealing master?" Shigeo muttered.
"You don't get it. They're skilled."
"They're frauds." Shigeo's tone held cold anger. He had spared them once. They wasted it. When he cleaned up, they'd regret it.
"You do your job. Stop meddling." Kankurō snapped.
The five clowns finished their act, came to collect payment.
"Eight thousand in total. Pay up, young master!"
(End of Chapter)
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