Sasori and the Kazekage

Ever since returning to Konoha, Uchiha Gen had sensed someone watching him, so he had kept his Observation Haki active.

But at that very moment, his Observation Haki picked up something exceedingly bizarre.

In the bedroom of Obito Uchiha's home, Obito had already become completely oblivious to the world around him.

With the day's missions over, our Obito planned to unwind.

So he took out Team Minato's group photo, which included Rin Nohara, Kakashi, Minato Namikaze, and himself.

"Rin..."

Obito Uchiha automatically ignored Kakashi and Minato Namikaze in the photo, focusing entirely on Rin Nohara.

"No, this feels a little awkward."

Just as Obito wanted to try sneaking a kiss, he suddenly remembered being caught by Kakashi last time.

He looked around, and after confirming that Kakashi was nowhere outside the window, Obito Uchiha took some tape out of a drawer.

He covered Kakashi's head with tape to avoid feeling as though he was secretly kissing Kakashi.

Once he had done all that, Obito Uchiha picked up the photo, intending to sneak a kiss on Rin Nohara in the picture.

"Rin..."

Overcome with feeling, Obito couldn't help calling Rin Nohara's name.

"What are you doing?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from the window. Obito Uchiha jerked his head up, only to see Uchiha Gen staring at him as though he were a pervert.

"..."

"Hey, Gen, do you think there's a bomb in this world that could destroy the whole world in one go?"

Looking at Uchiha Gen outside the window, Obito Uchiha spoke flatly, his eyes lifeless.

Heh. Twice now...

Every time he tried to muster the courage to do something, someone always interrupted him.

First Kakashi, then Uchiha Gen.

Heh... a world like this... might as well be destroyed.

"There probably is. You can try making one yourself. Also, exercise some moderation."

Looking at the lifeless-eyed Obito Uchiha, Uchiha Gen curled his lips into a smile and offered that earnest advice. Then, with a pop, he dissolved into white smoke before Obito Uchiha.

The Clone Technique.

Obito's eyes widened at those words.

"Uchiha Gen!!! How can you slander an innocent person like that?!"

"I only wanted to sneak a kiss on Rin! Pah, no! There just happened to be dust on the photo. I only leaned down to blow it off!"

Then Obito started talking about things like the Will of Fire and bonds.

Unfortunately, there was no one else to listen. All that remained was a cheerful atmosphere that had somehow arisen.

At home, Uchiha Gen couldn't help smiling as he "watched" the memories sent back by his clone.

Sometimes, teasing Obito was pretty entertaining.

Check in.

[Ding! Congratulations on receiving the special talent-Blue Sentinel's Might!]

An exceedingly gentle warmth instantly spread throughout his limbs and body.

At the same time, an extremely faint, glassy blue light flashed across Uchiha Gen's eyes, vanishing too quickly to catch.

Listening to the voice in his ears and feeling the additional power within him, Uchiha Gen raised a hand and spread his fingers slightly.

Even buffs can be drawn? Now I shouldn't have to worry about chakra consumption.

Although members of the Uchiha Clan naturally had large chakra reserves, he also had many abilities at his disposal. Now, the arrival of the blue buff made up for Uchiha Gen's lack of staying power.

At that thought, a smile couldn't help rising on Uchiha Gen's face.

Other people grow by training and accumulating strength slowly, one step at a time. Weak and feeble.

But I have to check in every day to receive things. Such hard work. Sigh, poor me.

Perhaps because Uchiha Gen had carried out a mission classified as A-rank shortly after graduating, Shibi Aburame, his jonin team leader, felt somewhat bad about it.

So, over the next two months or so, most of the missions Shibi Aburame accepted were ordinary ones, the majority of which could be completed in a day or half a day.

As a result, those days passed relatively peacefully.

And time slipped swiftly by amid that peace.

Meanwhile.

Sunagakure.

The Kazekage's Office in Sunagakure was particularly oppressive after nightfall. The night wind drove yellow sand against the paper windows, producing the same monotonous sounds over and over.

"Uncle Third, take a break."

Sasori brought over a cup of tea and gently set it on the Third Kazekage's desk, speaking to him as he reviewed documents.

"Oh, it's you, Sasori. Sorry for the trouble, keeping me company so late."

The Third Kazekage looked gently at Sasori before him. Some of his mistaken decisions had indirectly caused this child's parents to face enemies they could not overcome, leading to their deaths.

Yet even so, this child had never blamed him and instead actively kept him company.

What pleased the Third Kazekage most was Sasori's talent.

With Chiyo teaching him, Sasori's mastery of the Puppet Technique had steadily improved. Chiyo had even said his future in the art was boundless. If he had not already settled early on Rasa, who possessed the same Magnet Release as himself, as his successor,

the Third Kazekage felt he would have focused on nurturing Sasori to become the next Kazekage.

"It's no trouble, Uncle Third."

Sasori lowered his head, his gaze fixed on the Third Kazekage as he raised the tea to drink. His lips curved.

"Your tea-making skills really do keep improving, Sasori. Chiyo has a fine grand... no... this tea! Sasori, you!"

Less than a moment after the tea passed down his throat, sharp pain erupted through his abdomen. The Third Kazekage, who had just realized the tea was poisoned, looked up at Sasori. By then, the potent poison had already begun racing through his blood vessels toward his limbs.

The Third Kazekage clenched the ceramic cup, its side striking the desk with a sharp clink, his gaze locked on the boy before him, who had suddenly burst into loud laughter.

He didn't understand why Sasori had suddenly become like this. Before tonight, Sasori had always treated him with the utmost respect...

"My dear Uncle Third, what makes you think you bear no responsibility for my parents' deaths? You started the war! My parents died carrying out your orders!!!

"Both you and Konoha's White Fang murdered my parents!!! Hatake Sakumo... I'll find him, and then... kill him! But... now you must go ahead and join my parents."

Sasori's laughter struck the walls of the sealed office and echoed back and forth. At the same time, he raised his hand and slammed it against the floor, completing the summoning.