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"Judging purely by this puppet of yours, the concept is innovative, the design ingenious, the functionality versatile, and the tactics well-planned. However, there's one glaring shortcoming—materials!"
"Materials?" Sasori fell into deep thought.
"Yes, materials," Jinghang reiterated, pointing to the puppet lying on the ground, the Shura Maiden. "Traditional puppets are mostly made of wood, reinforced with iron weapons and mechanisms. But no matter how hard the wood, its strength is inherently limited. Take this puppet as an example."
He gestured toward the weapons and tail of the Shura Maiden. "If these were replaced with Damascus steel, a specialty of our Sunagakure, wouldn't the results be significantly better?"
Sasori listened quietly, his mind racing.
"And these wooden structural components," Jinghang continued, "could also be replaced..."
"But," Sasori interjected, shaking his head, "if everything is replaced with metal, it would limit the puppet's flexibility and adaptability during construction. Plus, the weight would increase significantly, making the puppet slow and hard to maneuver. Precision in delicate tactical movements would be compromised, and over time, the metal would rust..."
"Did I say to use iron?" Jinghang raised his eyebrows.
"Huh? Then what should I use?" Sasori asked, puzzled.
"My suggestion is—alloy materials!"
"Alloy materials?" Even Chiyo, who had been quietly observing, perked up with interest.
"Yes! Of course, I'm no expert in this field, but the technical school has a metallurgy department with specialists. Let me give you an example—bronze. You've heard of it, right?"
"Yes," both Sasori and Chiyo nodded in unison, their expressions serious.
"Bronze is a copper-tin alloy. It's not only harder and tougher than copper but also lighter. Now imagine if we could develop a new alloy that's as light as wood—or even lighter—but much stronger and more durable than hardwood. What would the result be?"
"Exactly!" Chiyo exclaimed, gripping Jinghang's hand excitedly. Sasori's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
"Jinghang, I must thank you! Your idea could bring about a revolutionary change in the art of puppetry!"
"Ah, it's not that big of a deal," Jinghang said, surprised by her reaction.
"No, it is a big deal!" Chiyo's expression turned serious.
"Since the first generation of puppet masters, starting with Monzaemon, established the art of puppetry nearly a century ago, many brilliant puppet masters have emerged, creating powerful combat puppets. However, in recent years, the field has hit a bottleneck. After the Second Shinobi War and the death of the Second Kazekage, Samon, the art of puppetry has been in decline. Now, it's just the three of us—me, my son, and my grandson—keeping the tradition alive..."
Her voice trailed off, her eyes filled with sorrow.
"But if we follow your idea and develop new alloy materials to create entirely new combat puppets, it will greatly enhance their capabilities. Defense will be sturdier, offense sharper, speed faster, and weight lighter. Calling it a revolution is no exaggeration!"
Sasori listened intently, his young mind brimming with ideas.
"Let's go, Grandma! Back to the workshop!" Sasori grabbed Chiyo's hand, eager to get started. Who cared about Orochimaru or petty grudges when there was a revolution to be had?
"Hold on, hold on," Jinghang said, stopping the overexcited Sasori. "This can't be done by just the two of you."
Sasori froze. "What do you mean?"
"Developing new alloy materials isn't a small task. It requires not only substantial funding but also a team of talented individuals. Listening to what your grandmother just said gave me an idea."
"Go on," Chiyo said, her interest piqued.
"We should consolidate our existing resources, including the metallurgy department at the technical school and the forging experts from the Hourglass Group, to establish a new alloy materials research lab in Sunagakure."
"That way, we'll have enough manpower and expertise. Plus, the research results can be shared. The new alloys could also improve the Hourglass Group's ninja tools, benefiting both the group and the technical school."
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Chiyo exclaimed. A coordinated effort would undoubtedly yield far better results than the two of them tinkering alone. The potential for such a project was enormous.
"I want to join the research lab too!" Sasori raised his hands, his small face glowing with excitement.
"Sure, but not right now." Jinghang's words were like a bucket of cold water.
"Huh?!" Sasori looked crestfallen.
"This isn't like working alone in your workshop," Jinghang explained, patting Sasori's head. "It's a big project that requires village approval, hearings, and the mobilization of resources. It'll take time."
He continued, "Your current task is to go home, eat well, sleep well, and listen to your grandmother. After summer break, have your father apply for early graduation from the ninja academy. Study hard in the meantime. If you fail the exams, forget the research lab—you won't even be allowed back into your workshop."
"Don't worry, Godfather! I'll pass for sure!" Sasori declared, thumping his chest.
Chiyo nodded in satisfaction. Finally, the matter seemed to be resolved.
As Chiyo and Sasori walked away, Jinghang watched them with a smile. The younger generation is truly remarkable, he thought. At just seven years old, Sasori was already so talented. No wonder he would grow strong enough to "kill" me by the time he was fifteen.
This time, Jinghang felt he had successfully resolved their destined conflict and even redirected Sasori's research focus. Hopefully, this would steer him away from the morbid pursuit of human puppets.
What Jinghang didn't realize was that his suggestion would eventually lead to the establishment of the Akasuna Research Institute, a future powerhouse in the field of metallurgy.
The Festival of the Wind
"What the hell is this 'Festival of the Wind'? I've never even heard of it. Do I really have to go? Can't one of the other elders or department heads attend instead?" Jinghang tossed the daimyo's decree aside with disdain.
"The Festival of the Wind is the most significant ancestral worship event in the Land of Wind, held once every twenty years," Ebizo explained with a smile. "When the Second Kazekage, Samon, attended, you were still in the ninja academy. Naturally, you wouldn't have heard of it. As a nominal subordinate, it's a matter of respect. You'd best not refuse."
"Ebizo-san, do you have any idea how much work there is in the village right now? I don't even have time to visit my own ancestors' graves. Why should I go wail at someone else's burial ground?"
Ebizo chuckled inwardly. You're an orphan of war. What ancestors? We had to dig your father's body out of a pile of corpses.
"By tradition, the Kazekage must attend. Refusing now would cause unnecessary conflict. It's not worth it. Otherwise, Sunagakure would become an outlier in the ninja world," Ebizo continued to persuade him.
Jinghang sighed in resignation. "It's not that I mind taking a few days off. I just can't stand the thought of seeing the daimyo's sour, condescending face."
"Think of it as a vacation. Spend a few days enjoying the Kunrei Plains," Ebizo suggested.
After some thought, Jinghang reluctantly agreed.
When Jinghang returned home after work, he found Tsunade looking unusually glum.
"What's wrong with you now?" he asked.
"Nothing. Just tired," Tsunade replied listlessly.
Tired? More like your gambling addiction is acting up, Jinghang thought.
"How about a few rounds of cards?" he offered.
"Playing with just you? That's no fun," Tsunade said, still looking dejected.
Jinghang scratched his head, feeling at a loss. Unlike other villages, Sunagakure didn't have gambling dens.
From its founding, Sunagakure had been known for its poverty. People barely had enough to eat, let alone money to gamble. Moreover, both the First Kazekage, Reito, and the Second Kazekage, Samon, were strict, traditional ninjas who upheld the three ninja prohibitions. This discipline shaped the village's culture.
Although Jinghang was more open-minded, he had no personal interest in gambling. The reason he chose Yuexi Peninsula as the site for a casino city was to prevent gambling culture from infiltrating Sunagakure and affecting its combat readiness. He had even worked with the anti-corruption bureau to draft policies to curb gambling among the village's ninjas.
Seeing Tsunade's pitiful expression, Jinghang's heart softened. Suddenly, an idea struck him.
He dashed upstairs and returned with a small box from the safe.
"Hand over your research lab and pharmaceutical duties, and pack a few changes of clothes."
"For what?" Tsunade asked.
Jinghang opened the box, revealing stacks of neatly arranged ten-thousand-ryo bills.
"What for? Hah! Your man is taking you to win some money!" he declared boldly.
Tsunade's eyes lit up, sparkling like the brightest stars in the sky.