The First Research Institute represented the highest technology in Sunagakure, and Sunaen's senses were constantly focused on it.
So, the moment Yurito and Sasori went to the third basement level, Sunaen, along with his secretary, also came here under the guise of an inspection.
After all, how could sensing a father-son duel be as interesting as watching it live?
"Sunaen, do you know why those two are so hostile?"
Uzumaki Kana, still bewildered, looked at Yurito and Sasori's state on the scene and asked Sunaen.
She had been organizing and filing documents in the office just moments before.
Then Sunaen suddenly burst in, taking her directly with him, saying he needed her to accompany him on an inspection tour.
Are you kidding? As one of the only four people who truly knew Sunaen.
Others might not know if Sunaen was really going for an inspection, but how could she not know!
With his sensory abilities, did he really need to personally inspect anything?
It was clear he'd spotted new gossip and wanted to witness it firsthand.
"Well, how should I put it? Let me think..."
Just as Uzumaki Kana thought the matter would be very convoluted and was ready to listen carefully, Sunaen's next words utterly stunned her.
"Simply put... over a woman!"
"Eh! Over a woman?"
"Does Hazuki know about this?"
"Yes, she does."
"So you're saying, these father and son are about to fight fiercely here over a woman, and Hazuki knows about it!"
"Yes, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong? How can it be like this! Yurito is Sasori's father, how can he be with Sasori! And Hazuki knows about it but doesn't do anything, how can this be!"
At this moment, Kana had already conjured a thrilling and morally corrupt family drama in her mind.
A complex web of relationships: he met her, she fell in love with him, he disagreed, he stubbornly pursued, she was weak and helpless, she watched coldly, and so on.
Just as Uzumaki Kana was about to burst out in anger.
Someone else couldn't hold back before her.
"Hey, Kazekage-sama, next time you explain the reason, please don't simplify it. Your simplification makes me sound like an utterly wicked father!"
"Utterly wicked? Aren't you! As a father, you embrace two women at once, completely disregarding my feelings as your son! You are simply utterly wicked!"
"Hey, Sasori! You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want! When have I ever embraced two women at once? I'm devoted to your mother."
"Didn't you hold Shion with one arm and Mom with the other!"
"Uh... that! Well, your father did embrace two women at once, so what!"
"Heh heh, let's duel, old man!"
After speaking, Sasori once again summoned the Father and Mother puppets... In the stands.
At this point, Uzumaki Kana, having fully heard the conversation between Yurito and Sasori, had also come to her senses.
She knew that it was all Sunaen's prank.
Calling a little girl a 'woman'!
What an extremely bad attitude!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got!
She directly reached out.
Her right hand shot out and fiercely pinched Sunaen's inner thigh.
"Ah! Ah! Ah! Ow ow ow! No more! No more!"
Seeing Sunaen's pleading expression, Uzumaki Kana merely gave him a small punishment and withdrew her right hand.
Actually, Uzumaki Kana knew it was all an act from Sunaen, but he acted so convincingly.
So, she'd reluctantly forgive him this once.
"Hehehe~ Kana is still the most understanding, she knows to care for me."
"Hmph, I'll forgive you this time. If you simplify things like that again, just see how I deal with you."
"Yes, yes, yes! Next time for sure."
"Then hurry up and get ready, they've already started fighting."
"Alright."
"Kana."
"What is it?"
"I want to lie on your lap."
"Oh, you're impossible. Lie down if you want, just don't disturb my viewing."
"Alright!"
Just like that, the two in the stands loved each other.
The two in the arena fought each other.
Utterly harmonious.
The battle on the arena had already reached a fever pitch.
Yurito controlled three puppets, two puppets below, and one puppet standing on the shoulders of the other two.
"Kugutsu: Sanbō Kyūkai!"
A powerful tornado erupted from the three puppets, firmly sucking in Sasori's two puppets.
"Sasori! Your father admits that at your age, I couldn't compare to you, but you are still no match for your father now, so surrender quickly!"
"As long as you surrender, your father promises to give you an hour every day to spend with Shion."
"Hmph! Father, do you think I only have these tricks?"
"What, do you have other tricks? Both of your puppets are already under my control. If I exert a little more force, your puppets will fall apart."
"Then make them fall apart!"
"Do you think I wouldn't dare?"
"If you dare to break them apart, I'll tell Mom."
"You! You little brat, you're playing dirty! Fine, then I'll just keep them controlled. Let's see what else you can do! Just surrender!"
Facing Yurito's persuasion to surrender, Sasori remained remarkably calm.
Then.
Sasori's right hand pulled towards his left hand.
The Chakra no Ito that had extended from his right hand now connected to the threads on his left hand.
Immediately, his free right hand reached into his robe.
To Yurito's shocked gaze, he pulled out a new Scroll.
He opened it.
In the middle of the Scroll was written the character 'Middle'.
"Father seems to have forgotten something."
"What?"
"The previous two puppets were built when I finished the basic Kugutsu at six years old."
"In other words, Father only defeated me when I was six years old."
"Next, are the puppets I created at nine years old!"
After speaking, he directly released the seal.
Five puppets appeared one after another in front of Sasori.
"Swish*5" Each of the five fingers on his right hand connected to a puppet.
Immediately.
The puppets, which had been standing still with their heads down, all raised their heads.
Each of the five puppets extended a broken blade from the outside of their arms and charged towards Yurito.
And at this moment, Yurito was already stunned.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What did I see?
Is my mom fighting me on the other side?
No, you're cheating!
How can you control seven puppets!
Is this a skill a twelve-year-old Puppet Master should have?
I can only control three!
You fool!
But the situation on the battlefield wouldn't give Yurito much time to think.
Yurito decisively gave up controlling the Father and Mother puppets, placing his three puppets in front of him, ready for defense.
As Father and Mother were released from control, all seven puppets charged towards Yurito simultaneously.
What! You ask why he didn't destroy the previous two puppets.
Could you destroy them? Not to mention telling Mom, could you destroy a child's first puppet in front of them? And it's Father and Mother!
Thus.
With one side under threat, the outcome of this battle was already decided.
Yurito held out for five minutes under the attack of Sasori's seven puppets before voluntarily surrendering.
Although he knew he would eventually be defeated by his son, when this day truly arrived, his heart was still complex.
Too early.
Only 12 years old!
This made him feel a bit useless.
And, he lost the chance to hold Shion!
"Father!"
Just as Yurito was feeling downcast.
Sasori's voice came from beside him.
"Hmm? Are you here to show off to me? It's fine, your father..."
"I'm not very good at looking after my sister yet, I hope you can teach me!"
Before Yurito could finish his sentence, Sasori had already spoken his mind.
Yurito looked at Sasori's extremely serious expression.
The face that had been filled with melancholy now broke into a smile.
"Hahaha, of course! Let's go, let's go, your father will teach you well. I'm telling you, Shion is very mischievous..."
And so, father and son walked together, one explaining various key points, the other listening intently.
"Did you remember everything?"
"I did!"
"Right, with your brain, it's just a matter of doing it once. I envy that you can control seven puppets simultaneously at such a young age; I can only control three even now."
"If Father wants to learn, I can teach you. It's very simple!"
Yurito: "..."
Do you think everyone is like you!
You fool!
"This... this should still be quite difficult, right?"
"Hmm, it's alright. With Father's aptitude... when Grandma comes back, she should just happen to see you at your most existential crisis."
"So, me being laughed at by your grandmother, what benefit is that to you?"
"Grandma will specifically grant me a research lab... better than Father's!"
"Heh heh!"
"Remember to give me access!"
Viewing area.
"How strange, they were fighting to the death just now, and in the blink of an eye, they're in father-son harmony."
Looking at the two chatting and laughing on the platform.
Uzumaki Kana rubbed her small head, saying with a puzzled expression.
"It's simple, one is a sister-complex! The other is a daughter-complex! So they fought."
"Then why did they make up so easily later?"
"Because they're father and son! And the son won against the father!"