Land of Wind.
Sunagakure.
Kazekage's Office.
The Third Kazekage, clad in white robes and sporting a spiky hedgehog-like hairstyle, pushed the two letters beneath his hand forward.
"Take a look, Elder Chiyo. Can you tell me what this is about?"
Chiyo, who had been working overtime in the Puppet Workshop making parts before suddenly being summoned, picked up the letters on the desk with a puzzled expression.
The first letter had been sent by her grandson, Sasori of the Red Sands, and the stationery still carried a faint trace of dampness.
The letter was not long. Its general meaning was that he had found some materials in the Land of Water especially suited for making puppets, so he needed to stay longer to research new puppets.
Although the letter was full of lofty-sounding reasons, Chiyo knew her grandson far too well.
Again and again, she read the true meaning Sasori wished to convey between the lines—
This place is so enjoyable that I have no wish to return.
After reading it, Chiyo looked rather embarrassed.
It felt a little like having the school catch your child skipping class to visit an internet cafe.
No, perhaps it was more like an employee skipping work, only for the boss to come knocking at the family home?
If she were not herself a member of Sunagakure's board of directors, Sasori's behavior would have been grounds for immediate dismissal.
In any case, she could only squeeze an apologetic smile onto her wrinkled old face. "Lord Kazekage, I'll write to him and give him a thorough scolding, make him..."
"Don't rush. Finish reading them first."
The Third Kazekage cut her off and gestured for her to continue.
"Oh, oh, all right."
With uneasy suspicion, Chiyo picked up the second letter.
A spiral-shaped emblem was stamped