If this were his previous life, buying her a handbag would have done the trick-a bag cured all ills, after all. But what could he give her now to coax her out of her mood?
Sasori and Kakuzu stared blankly, giving Anyo no response whatsoever.
Right, he was better off coming up with something himself than counting on those two. After a moment's thought, Anyo said, "Once the Third Shinobi World War is over, how about I go back to Kumogakure with you?"
"Really?" A flash of delighted surprise crossed Mabui's eyes, but they soon dimmed again. "Forget it. You're full of nasty schemes. Nothing good could come of you going to Kumogakure."
Is your impression of me really that bad? Anyo's eyes were full of innocence.
Mabui clearly understood his look and said with absolute certainty, "You know perfectly well."
There was nothing he could do. Anyo knew perfectly well how Mabui had joined the organization, so he could only put up with her resentment. With a sheepish smile, he changed the subject. "Oh, right, Sasori, didn't you say you had something to show me? Let's all go."
"All right." Sasori showed a rare flicker of excitement. It seemed what he had made this time was quite extraordinary.
They followed Sasori through all of Sunagakure to a stretch of wasteland behind the village. As Sasori formed hand seals, an enormous opening split the previously empty ground, with flights of stairs leading down. It was actually a secret underground base.
They descended the stairs and found an exceptionally spacious area, with piles of puppet materials on the floor and an enormous object in the middle covered by a piece of gauze.
Sasori took a deep breath, walked up to the gauze, and lifted it with excitement all over his face.