"In the past five years or so in Konoha, there was a certain person." Logan mused, with the vibe of 'The First Snow of 2008'.
"Oh."
"By the way, Sasori, do you have a girlfriend?" Thinking of the gentle and lovely Sumika, Logan couldn't help but show off a little. He deliberately asked Sasori, while already knowing the answer.
Sasori felt like he was being asked a stupid question and replied bluntly: "No."
"Hahaha, but I do! Didn't see that coming, did you?" Logan seamlessly switched gears, exuding the noble superiority of someone who could flaunt their relationship over a single dog.
And honestly, it might just be a species advantage.
"Girlfriend?" Sasori was clearly unfamiliar with the term. In his world, there were only puppets and the pursuit of eternity.
"Yeah, the thing I was reminiscing about earlier was related to her." Logan fiddled with a branch, "A beautiful girl. I wonder how she's doing now, what she's up to."
Sumika's existence and her importance in Logan's heart wasn't something he minded sharing.
Trust was one thing, but she was in another world now, living a peaceful and stable life.
No matter how bloody things got here, with Ninjas killing each other, wars raging, and schemers clashing, none of it would affect the other side in the slightest.
Right now, she was probably somewhere binge-watching dramas, variety shows, or lying around scrolling through TikTok.
"I see..." Sasori paused after hearing this. "If you have someone you love deeply, then don't say any more."
"Huh?"
Sasori cut off the conversation in a blunt manner.
Even someone as emotionally detached as Sasori understood that information about loved ones shouldn't be carelessly revealed. Logan wasn't just an ordinary Ninja after all. He was tied to Akatsuki and Konoha, bound by their causes and effects.
Killing and hatred showed no mercy. The slightest misstep could lead to collateral damage, dragging down everyone around them.
Logan scratched his head. It wasn't hard for him to see the reasoning behind Sasori's words, "Okay."
He had wanted to show off a bit more to vent his longing, but now…
The night deepened into darkness. Sasori shifted back, choosing a suitable spot to rest, but his eyes remained open for a long time.
The flickering light cast uncertain shadows. Truthfully, Sasori was very unaccustomed to this kind of 'heart-to-heart' conversation.
It wasn't about killing someone, turning them into a human puppet, or deciding how a target would die… it was about the past, about someone they loved, a carefree chat devoid of ulterior motives.
In that moment, the world felt tranquil and harmless. It was a rare, almost surreal experience.
…
As they continued their journey, Sasori's aloof state of complete indifference gradually improved.
Logan noticed this. If the enemy retreated, he'd advance. Since Sasori's attitude was improving, there was no need for him to stay silent. Having enjoyed the comforts of modern society, returning to a world without phones or entertainment made poking at this 'ice block' a pastime during boring moments.
"Sasori, let's test your reaction speed. I'll hold up one finger for 'forget,' two fingers for 'love,' and three fingers for 'water'."
"Oh."
"Then let's begin."
"Forget, forget, forget, forget, forget... Woof… why are you only holding up one?" (T/N: Forget sounded almost the same as dog's barking in Chinese.)
"Hahaha!"
"Sasori, if you've never had a girlfriend, does that mean you're still a virgin?"
"...Get lost!"
Sometimes, Sasori would get annoyed and speed ahead, leaving Logan behind. Logan would then call out without a care, "Hey, wait up! Let's walk together."
The Land of Birds was small and peaceful, and it didn't take long for them to reach the northwestern corner of the Land of Earth.
…
Click.
Logan opened the door and they returned to the old place. The furnishings in the wooden house were just as they had been, but the dust stirred up as soon as they entered, floating everywhere.
"Cough, this place of yours really needs better decor," Logan covered his nose and waved his hand, stepping back outside. He repeated the criticism he'd given before.
"Take it or leave it."
Sasori calmly walked inside. Though he often returned here after missions, this base was only somewhat important because of the underground puppet workshop.
A place to return to, something to cling to… these were the kinds of emotional bonds Sasori had always seen as obstacles and burdens. But now that he was back, it felt... a little warm.
He touched the Core of Living Flesh in his chest. The damaged area still seemed to carry the phantom pain of the blade that had nearly pierced it.
This time, he had come dangerously close to death, just a hair's breadth away... Perhaps it was this lingering fear that had stirred up these unnecessary thoughts.
Now that he was back in his hideout, the first thing Sasori had to do was repair his puppet body. Being unable to use his familiar strength was deeply frustrating, so after a brief rest, he plunged into the basement.
When Logan saw this, he expressed his understanding. As for him, just like last time, he would stay here for a few days.
After all, he has no money. If there was a rich guy right in front of him, wouldn't it be a waste not to freeload?
Speaking of financial status, Kage-level fighters were never poor. In a world where the law was weak, strength was far more useful than talent.
Sasori spent a lot on puppetry, but aside from that, he was a shut-in. His daily step count was the same as that of people lazing around during summer break… firmly staying in the double digits.
If Akatsuki had a step-count leaderboard, Sasori would undoubtedly be at the bottom.
Logan had already planned things out on the way here. After the Land of Wind, he'd run out of kunai, and his clothes had been torn and frayed after the fight with Naruto.
With no income now and only nominally back in Akatsuki, expecting Pain to pay him was less realistic than outright robbery.
Therefore, returning to the Land of Earth with Sasori had deep strategic significance. After cleaning up the house and settling in, Logan didn't hold back. He let Sasori know and then headed to the nearby town to buy what he needed.
He'd saved this guy's life, so using some material possessions was only fair.
Clang, clang.
The sounds of metalworking echoed from the underground workshop. While Sasori busied himself with repairs, Logan took it easy. He went out occasionally, trained his Chakra, reflected on his experiences, and when tired, he sat on the roof to gaze at the moon.
This routine lasted for about a week.
The rural areas of the Land of Earth remained as desolate as ever. The dirt path outside the wooden house stretched into faint, wavy lines.
Logan wasn't planning to stay forever. One morning, as Sasori emerged to get some air with weary atmosphere, Logan took the chance to announce his departure.
"You're leaving?"
They said goodbye in the open space outside the house, facing each other.
Sasori seemed momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then nodded to show he understood.
It had always been clear that Logan was only staying temporarily before moving on to his own affairs. Though where Logan was going or what he planned to do, Sasori didn't know, and didn't ask.
"Thanks for the trouble these past few days." Logan said, adjusting the pack on his back as he prepared to leave.
A few gnarled trees leaned against the edges of the house and hills, the only traces of green in the barren landscape.
"Wait a minute, there's something." Sasori spoke up. After saying that, he turned around and returned to the house without explaining anything.
Logan was puzzled, but since he was leaving anyway, a couple more minutes wouldn't hurt. After about two minutes of waiting, Sasori returned with a Ninja Pouch.
"For you."
Taking the pouch, Logan felt its weight, "Aw, you shouldn't have! Giving me a parting gift?"
Logan grinned playfully, but when he opened it, his expression froze slightly.
Inside was a three-pronged weapon, and its hilt was engraved with formula whose purpose he recognized instantly.
It resembled a kunai but was distinctly different from the standard type.
"This is... the Flying Thunder God kunai?"
"When did you make this?" Logan asked in surprise. Over the past few days, he had considered asking Sasori for another favor, but seeing how busy the other man was, with him rising early and returning late to repair his body, he had hesitated.
Custom kunai weren't some legendary, irreplaceable artifacts, and any skilled craftsman could make them.
"Just these past few days. I referenced some old records, so it should work." Sasori replied calmly.
The key to a custom kunai lay in its seal formula. The Second Hokage had used patterned seals, while the Fourth Hokage had employed written ones.
Sasori had likely replicated Minato's design, which coincidentally matched the technique Logan had mastered.
"Thanks."
Logan's expression turned more serious. He had no reason to refuse and accepted it solemnly.
Sasori nodded with a calm expression. At this time, the atmosphere of farewell slowly settled between them, but Sasori remained as steady as always, making the moment feel almost formal. To him, repaying a debt was a given.
With his clothes fluttering in the breeze, Logan looked at the Scorpion in front of him, and suddenly, a question that had nothing to do with this moment came to mind.
"What are your plans for the future?"
"Hm?" Sasori's eyes showed confusion. He clearly hadn't prepared for such a question.
According to the original work's development, Sasori should have been dead by now. But now, he is still alive, and the path ahead was uncharted.
"I will…"
Sasori found the question strange. What was he supposed to say? Did it hold some special meaning? Once his strength recovered, barring any unforeseen circumstances… he'd make puppets and carry out missions for Akatsuki.
Few people are willing to work hard under someone else.
After a brief moment of thought, Sasori frowned slightly, feeling vaguely dissatisfied with the conclusion he reached.
"Forget it, just pretend I didn't say anything." Logan smiled and waved his hand, 'Maybe the fact that the future was unknown was what made it meaningful. My question had come out of nowhere, and there's no way I would get a satisfying answer.'
Having finished what needed to be said, silence fell between them.
Sasori: "Go."
And with that, Logan took his leave.