At eight o'clock in the evening, the desert was pitch black.
However, in a certain part of the desert, there was an ocean of light.
Looking closer.
Surrounding the ocean of light was a circle of trucks, their headlights beaming inward.
The lights shone on the heads of nearly a thousand "hard-boiled eggs."
These nearly thousand "hard-boiled eggs" then scattered the light, illuminating the entire surrounding area.
Forming an ocean of light.
At this moment, the "hard-boiled eggs" were wearing green bodysuits and setting up tents in the camp.
"Pfft! Hahahahaha~~~"
"I'm sorry, Nagato! You know me, I usually don't laugh, unless... I can't help it!"
"Hahahahaha~~~~~"
Yahiko, who was setting up a tent with Nagato, finally couldn't hold back his laughter when he looked up at Nagato's face.
Hearing Yahiko's laughter.
Nagato's right hand, which was holding a hammer, ready to firmly drive the newly placed tent stake into the ground, suddenly clenched tightly.
"Crack!" The sound of the wooden handle breaking came from Nagato's hand.
"Hahaha... *Gasp!"
Yahiko, who was still laughing, immediately stopped, as if something had choked him.
"Uh... hehe... Nagato... people really need to look on the bright side. Look! Everyone is the same, even Duy-sensei is bald!"
"Students! Can you feel it? Youth is shining! Woohoo~"
Nagato followed the direction of Yahiko's finger and saw the scene.
Immediately, Nagato turned his head back and pointed a finger at Might Duy.
He said to Yahiko.
"Do you think Duy-sensei falls within the 'normal range'?"
"Uh, well..." Nagato's deafening question left Yahiko momentarily speechless.
"Then... then there's someone else, look at your clan member! Uzumaki Kōmei! Yes! That's right, Uzumaki Kōmei, he must be fine."
After speaking, Yahiko quickly searched left and right for Uzumaki Kōmei.
"Look, he's right there! He... uh!"
Yahiko pointed a finger at Uzumaki Kōmei, and then... then he regretted it.
Uzumaki Kōmei was currently burying his head and weeping.
"Waaah!!! My eyebrows! My flowing, vibrant red long hair! Gone! All gone! Sister Kawana just called me ugly! Ah!!!"
Yahiko: "..."
[No way, buddy, are you setting me up?]
"Hehe! Yahiko!"
While Yahiko was stunned, Nagato's hand was already resting on Yahiko's shoulder.
This made Yahiko instantly shiver.
Yahiko slowly turned his head, offering Nagato what he thought was a harmless smile.
"Nagato! Are we brothers?"
"Yes! But you laughed at me!"
"Everyone is the same now! No one will laugh at you!"
"Hmm! But you laughed at me!"
"You know, the Uzumaki Clan usually takes great care of their hair!"
"Nagato! This isn't right! As a Ninja, how can you care so much about your appearance! Look at Sasori! He also has red hair! He wouldn't care about his hair!"
"He's not here!"
"Huh? What did you say! He's not here! No! Why isn't he here?!"
Hearing Nagato's words, Yahiko, who had assumed Sasori was also present, instantly lost his composure.
"Did you forget that Sasori is a research-type talent? His development path is different from ours. So he doesn't need to attend this training!"
Yahiko: "...Is that really a thing?"
"Yes!"
"Then he?"
"That's right, he still has hair! Red hair!"
Yahiko: "..."
[Wait! I didn't say he still had red hair!]
But before Yahiko could open his mouth to explain, Nagato's retaliation struck.
"Shinra Tensei!"
"Wait! Nagato! Ah~~~"
"Banshō Ten'in!"
"Ah!!!"
"Shinra Tensei!"
"Ah!!!"
"Banshō Ten'in!"
"Ah~~~"
"Oh ho! Did you see that, students! That is youth!"
In the distance, Konan, who was sitting and chatting with Pakura, patted her head and said with a tone of resignation.
"Sigh! That idiot Yahiko must have teased Nagato about being bald!"
"Huh? No way! Just because he's bald, Nagato shouldn't get that angry, right?"
Pakura, sitting beside her, asked with a face full of confusion after hearing Konan's words.
"You don't understand! The Uzumaki Clan's hair actually represents their physical condition. This is why all Uzumaki Clan members care so much about their hair!"
"For example, back when we were home, Nagato used to treat his hair every night!"
"Yikes, is it really that extreme?"
"Not exaggerated at all!"
"Do you know why I didn't go join Nagato and Yahiko?"
"Why?"
"Of course, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stop myself from laughing! Hahahaha~~~"
"..."
Rewinding the clock, a certain red-haired Ninja was also suffering psychological distress at this very moment!
Sunagakure.
Inside the Kugutsu Research Building.
The only surviving red-haired youth of the younger generation.
Was currently studying under a Puppet Master.
Specifically, his father, Yurito.
"Sasori, how is your study of Kugutsu no Jutsu knowledge coming along?"
"Father! I have memorized it proficiently!"
"Very good, you are indeed my child; it's clear you inherited my perfect puppet talent!"
Hearing that his child had excellently completed the task he assigned, Yurito was very pleased.
"However! Just saying it isn't enough. Your father still needs to check to see if you actually memorized it."
After speaking, Yurito walked to the bookshelf and pulled out a book.
It read.
Introduction to Kugutsu no Jutsu.
"Now... let's see which question I should test you on? Let me see..."
"Father!"
"Hmm? What is it, Sasori?"
"That's not the one I read."
"Oh, not this one? Then it must be this one!"
After saying that, Yurito put the book back and picked up the one next to it.
What is Kugutsu no Jutsu?
"Father!"
"Yes! What is it?"
"Not this one either!"
"Not this one?"
Hearing Sasori's words, Yurito frowned slightly but still put the book back and took out another one.
How to Quickly Condense Chakra no Ito.
"Father!"
"Not this one either?"
"No!"
Simple Steps for Basic Kugutsu.
"Father!"
"Not this one either!"
"No!"
Hearing the same answer again, Yurito did not put the book back this time.
Instead, he turned around seriously and looked intently at Sasori.
Because there were only these four basic Kugutsu no Jutsu books, and Sasori claimed he hadn't read any of them.
Yet, when he had asked Sasori earlier, Sasori said he had read them.
This made Yurito very angry, not because Sasori hadn't read the books, but because Sasori had lied.
"Sasori!" Yurito stared earnestly at his son and called out in a serious tone.
"Yes! Father!"
"Answer me honestly, did you really read the books?"
"Yes! Father, I did."