While Yanbai was away from the office.
Shikaku Nara stayed put, handling the work at hand while keeping an eye on Sasori.
Because after Yanbai left the office, Sasori had not left.
Shikaku Nara had a duty to watch what Sasori did.
After all, that enormously expensive puppet was still here, and no one knew what mishap might occur.
At that moment.
Sasori took the "Raiden Shogun" out of its custom coffin and placed it on a cushion in the reception room, sitting back on its heels.
Sasori sat across from the puppet, carefully applying suitable makeup little by little with the cosmetics Yanbai had prepared.
His movements were gentle and cautious, as though he were tending to his own child.
Sasori had been here for half a year now.
Shikaku Nara knew Sasori fairly well. He knew Sasori was a very dedicated puppeteer, and he felt some admiration for the young man.
Although Shikaku Nara still believed Sasori harbored improper intentions toward Yanbai, Sasori forgot the entire world whenever he was working on his creations.
That led Shikaku Nara to believe that, at least while working, Sasori had no room for Yanbai in his head.
After carefully finishing the puppet's makeup, Sasori moved behind it and began gently, painstakingly combing its hair.
From that angle, Sasori happened to catch Shikaku Nara watching him.
As he carefully braided the puppet's hair, Sasori asked expressionlessly, "Mr. Shikaku, that 'Three-Kidney Pill' you mentioned when the Hokage was still here... what is it?"
It was nothing more than casual small talk.
"Oh... well, the Three-Kidney Pill is..."
Shikaku Nara saw no reason to hide anything, so he told Sasori how two of Yanbai's disciples had come asking for help conceiving, and how Yanbai had prescribed medicine to "tonify their kidneys."
Because it worked