Chapter 62: Father and Son
The First Research Institute embodies the pinnacle of Hidden Sand Village's technology, and Saito's sensory reach watches over it every second.
So the instant Yūto and Sasori stepped onto the subterranean third floor, Saito—citing an inspection—arrived with his secretary in tow.
After all, a clash between father and son is far more entertaining in person than through sensor feeds.
"Saito, do you know why those two are practically breathing fire at each other?"
Uzumaki Kana, still bewildered, glanced from the standoff to Saito and asked.
Moments earlier she'd been filing documents in her office.
Then Saito had barged in, hauled her off, and claimed he needed company for a routine tour.
Please—she was one of only four people who truly knew him.
Whether it was an inspection or not, others might be fooled, but not her.
With his sensory range, he had no reason to show up in person.
Clearly he'd sniffed out fresh gossip and wanted a front-row taste.
"Well now… how to put this? Let me think…"
Just as Kana braced for some convoluted tale, Saito's next line struck her like lightning.
"Short version… it's over a woman."
"Eh? A woman?"
"Does Meng Yue know?"
"She does."
"So you're telling me father and son are about to brawl over a woman—and Meng Yue's okay with it?"
"Yup. Why?"
"Why? He's Sasori's father—how could he fight his own son? And Meng Yue just watches? How is that acceptable?"
Kana's mind spiraled into a lurid family melodrama: forbidden love, tearful pleas, callous indifference—an intricate web of scandal.
Just as she teetered on eruption, someone beat her to it.
"Oi, Lord Kazekage, next time give the full story. Your 'short version' just painted me as history's worst father!"
"Worst? You are! Hugging girls left and right—spare a thought for your son standing right there! Utterly shameless!"
"Oi, Sasori! Be careful what you say—I'm devoted to your mother."
"Then why were you hugging Shion with one arm and Mom with the other?"
"Er… that I did. So what?"
"Then duel me, old man!"
With that, Sasori summoned the puppets of his parents to the arena.
Now, having heard every word, Kana realized the truth.
It was all Saito's prank.
Turning a little girl into 'a woman'—despicable.
The more she thought, the angrier she grew.
She lashed out.
Her right hand shot forward and pinched the tender flesh inside Saito's thigh.
"Aah! Mercy! I give up!"
Watching him feign agony, Kana relented and withdrew her hand.
She knew he was acting—but he sold it so well.
She'd let him off… just this once.
"Heh-heh, Kana, you sweet angel, you care."
"Hmph. Behave next time or I'll finish the job."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Sit down—they've already started."
"On it."
"Kana."
"Hmm?"
"Let me lie on your lap."
"Oh, all right—just don't block my view."
"Got it!"
And so, in the stands, two hearts in harmony.
On the field, two blades in strife.
Perfect balance.
Below, the duel had reached fever pitch.
Yūto controlled three puppets: two crouched as a base, the third standing on their shoulders.
"Puppet Technique: Triple Treasures Vacuum!"
A violent cyclone erupted from the trio, locking Sasori's two puppets in place.
"Sasori! I admit I wasn't your equal at your age—but today you're still no match for me. Surrender now!
Do so, and I swear to give you an hour with Shion every single day."
"Hmph, Father, you think this is all I've got?"
"What, do you still have another trick? Both of your puppets are under my control; one squeeze and they'll fall apart."
"Then go ahead and break them!"
"Think I wouldn't dare?"
"If you break them, I'm telling Mom."
"You—cheating little brat! Fine, I'll keep them locked down. Let's see what else you've got. Surrender now!"
Facing Yūto's demand, Sasori stayed perfectly calm.
Then—
Sasori's right hand jerked toward his left.
The Chakra threads that had extended from his right hand now linked to those on his left.
His freed right hand slipped inside his robe.
While Yūto stared in shock, he pulled out a new scroll.
He unfurled it.
In the center was the character for "middle."
"Father seems to have forgotten something."
"What?"
"Those two puppets were built when I was six, right after I finished the basic Puppet Technique course."
"In other words, Father has only beaten six-year-old me.
Next come the puppets I created at nine!"
With that, he released the seal.
Five puppets appeared in front of him.
Swish—five threads sprang from his right fingers, each anchoring to a puppet.
Instantly the motionless marionettes lifted their heads.
Each extended a short blade from its forearm and charged Yūto.
Yūto was stunned.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What did I just see?
Am I fighting my mom?
No fair!
How can you control seven puppets?
That's not a skill a twelve-year-old puppeteer should have!
I can only handle three!
Damn it!
But the battlefield gave him no time to think.
He abandoned control of Father and Mother, pulled his three puppets in front of him, and set up a defense.
With Father and Mother released, all seven puppets rushed him together.
What? Why not destroy the first two?
Could you? Never mind Mom finding out—could you smash a kid's very first puppets right in front of him? And they're called Father and Mother!
So—
With one side hopelessly outmatched, the outcome was never in doubt.
Under assault from seven puppets, Yūto lasted five minutes before surrendering.
He had always known his son would surpass him one day, but when the day arrived it still felt complicated.
Too soon.
Only twelve!
It made him feel a bit useless.
And he'd lost his chance to cuddle Shion!
"Father!"
While Yūto brooded,
Sasori spoke from beside him.
"Hmm? Come to gloat? It's fine, your old man—"
"I still don't know how to look after my little sister. Could you teach me?"
Sasori cut him off mid-sentence.
Yūto looked at his son's earnest face.
The melancholy vanished, replaced by a grin.
"Ha! Of course! Come on, I'll tell you everything. Shion's a little rascal, you know…"
Side by side, father and son walked off, one explaining, the other listening intently.
"Got it all?"
"Got it!"
"Figures. One run-through's enough for that brain of yours. I'm jealous—you're twelve and already running seven puppets. I'm stuck at three."
"If you want to learn, Father, I can teach you. It's easy!"
Yūto: "…"
As if everyone were you!
Damn it!
"Well… it's probably still pretty hard, right?"
"Mm, not really. At your level… Grandma will walk in right when you're doubting life the most."
"So if Grandma laughs at me, what do you gain?"
"She'll set aside a research room for me—bigger than yours!"
"Hah!"
"Remember to give me access!"
In the stands—
"Weird. They were trying to kill each other a minute ago, now they're all buddy-buddy."
Watching the laughing pair on the platform, Uzumaki Kana rubbed her head, puzzled.
"Simple: one's a sis-con, one's a daughter-con. That's why they fought."
"Then why make up so fast?"
"Because they're father and son—and the son just beat the dad!"
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