Sunagakure,
Inside the Ultimate Puppet R&D Technology Laboratory, Hatake Sakumo stood in a white lab coat with his eyes tightly shut. On the workbench before him lay a crystal-clear ore radiating a purple glow.
"Shing!"
After an unknown amount of time, Hatake Sakumo's eyes flew open. The short white blade gripped in his callused hand left its sheath. After tracing a beautiful arc through the air, countless silver-white flashes of blade light suddenly lit up.
Slash!
Clang!
Screech!
A series of scalp-numbing cutting sounds instantly filled the entire laboratory.
"Has Aqi still been trying?"
Outside the laboratory, a red-haired young man stood in the corridor, gazing through the glass at Hatake Sakumo as he meticulously carved at the workbench, his face full of complicated emotions.
"Master Ling Lingqi has been holed up in the laboratory for three full days. He hasn't had a drop of water in all that time. If this continues, something will happen sooner or later."
The researcher behind the red-haired young man spoke worriedly, his eyes filled with concern.
"Crack!"
As a crisp shattering sound rang out, the blade flashes in the laboratory abruptly stopped.
Watching helplessly as purple mist seeped from the cracks in the ore, Hatake Sakumo tightened his trembling right hand, his eyes filled with dejection.
"Failed again."
"Aqi, you should rest first. Your health matters more than anything."
The red-haired young man pushed open the door and entered. After glancing at the ore on the workbench, its energy completely depleted, he stepped forward and patted Hatake Sakumo's still-shaking shoulder in consolation.
"Hotaru matters more."
Hatake Sakumo gently shook his head, staring fixedly with bloodshot eyes at the failed work on the operating table.
Why?
Why could he no longer carve a perfect Power furnace core?
"Don't lose heart. There will definitely be