Right now, there was no idea where Sasori and Deidara had gone. Kakashi suggested to Baki, "Please take me to where Kankuro fought."
Baki looked at Kakashi in surprise.
Kakashi explained, "Don't underestimate me like this, but I'm actually an expert tracker. As long as there's even a slight trace of their scent left..."
At this moment, Kankuro regained consciousness and weakly spoke, "There's no need for that..."
Kankuro struggled to sit up with effort. "My puppets have all been recovered, right?"
A ninja brought over Kankuro's shattered puppets.
Shindai looked at these puppets with interest. "Yo, these three puppets were definitely made by that guy Sasori! Hmm? This puppet... isn't this a cheap piece of junk I once carelessly put together when I was in Sunagakure? It looks like it's been well maintained—someone must have kept up the care regularly.
"Wait, after so many years, you guys still haven't improved at all, treating these puppets made by me and that guy Sasori as treasures? You're truly pathetic.
"Hmm? Wait a second, this puppet does seem to show both my style and that guy Sasori's, but what exactly is this? 'Junk metal' would be an overstatement."
Suddenly, Kankuro spat out a mouthful of blood.
Having already been severely criticized by Sasori before, he was now crushed again by Shindai, which greatly damaged his pride.
Naruto seriously said to Shindai, "Shindai, stop talking. Although these puppets indeed look pretty bad, you should let him keep a bit of dignity!"
Kankuro felt his heart breaking—here came another one!
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You two really should stop talking! Can't you just let him say what he needs to say first?"
If Sakura hadn't gone with the medical ninja to gather herbs, she'd have surely kicked Shindai and Naruto out by now, healing duties or not.
Hinata silently looked at the remains of the broken puppets on the ground. Although she didn't speak, she secretly thought they indeed looked quite shabby; her teacher Shindai could make better ones without even trying.
After regaining his strength for a while, Kankuro finally managed to say, "There are two enemies. One of them has Gaara. We can simply track Gaara's scent. Even if they split up, this place still carries that guy's scent."
Kankuro pointed at a puppet's broken arm.
The broken puppet arm opened its palm, revealing a scrap of torn fabric.
"I had Crow grasp a piece of that guy's torn clothing."
Kakashi picked up the piece of clothing. Thinking about how harshly Shindai and Naruto had attacked Kankuro's pride just now, he decided to give some praise: "Not giving up even after being knocked down—that's the spirit of a real Suna ninja."
This time, Kankuro finally showed a smile.
Suddenly, Kankuro stared at Naruto, leaving him puzzled.
"Uzumaki... Naruto, huh? Gaara mentions your name often."
" Naruto asked, 'Why do you mention my name so often?'
'You and he are similar, but your life is completely different from Gaara's,' Kankuro replied. 'Although he never says it outright, I can tell Gaara deeply envies you. He admires you.'
'Admires me?' Naruto said, slightly dazed.
Kankuro gave a bitter smile. 'Because, unlike Gaara, you—as a jinchuriki—don't carry any hatred in your heart. You're willing to risk your life for your comrades. Gaara, on the other hand, feels that his past battles had no meaning. That's why he keeps searching for the meaning of his existence, Naruto...'
'I'm here.'
'Please, if there's anyone who can help Gaara break free from this meaningless existence, it's you.'
Naruto looked at Kankuro seriously. 'I will!'
Kakashi formed hand seals and performed the Summoning Jutsu, calling forth his Ninja Hounds Ninken.
He let the dogs sniff the fabric scrap in his hand before sending them off to track.
Baki spoke to Kakashi and the others. 'You all should rest well tonight. I've prepared rooms for you.'
Naruto was eager to chase after Gaara immediately. 'No, we need to catch up with Gaara quickly...'
'In that case, I won't refuse your hospitality,' Kakashi told Naruto. 'We'll definitely push forward faster tomorrow. Tracking takes time, so just rest well for now.'
...
At night, Shindai wasn't resting in the assigned room but instead strolled through the streets of Sunagakure.
Kakashi appeared beside him. 'So, why aren't you resting?'
Shindai sneered. 'Is it really necessary to follow me like this? Do I look like someone who'd act recklessly and endanger the bigger picture?'
Still keeping his hands in his pockets, Kakashi walked alongside him. 'It's not about following or monitoring you. I just feel something's off about you.'
'Tch,' Shindai scoffed. 'What exactly is wrong with me? Seeing how Suna ended up, I should be delighted.'
Kakashi sighed. 'You're still the same old contradicting self. After living here for so many years, surely you must have some attachment to this place.'
'If that were true, it wouldn't be me saying it.' Shindai spat. 'When I fired the [Chakra Cluster Cannon] at Sunagakure, did I show any emotion?'
Kakashi recalled that scene. Thinking back, Shindai truly seemed devoid of feeling.
If Shisui hadn't intervened, Shindai would have destroyed the entire village.
Without realizing it, the two had wandered to a dilapidated earthen house right at the edge of Sunagakure.
Shindai murmured, 'Surprisingly, it's still here. Time sure flies. So many years have passed, and this house has deteriorated like this.'
Kakashi looked surprised. 'So, this was your original home in Sunagakure?'
Nodding silently, Shindai pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The interior decorations had also been eaten away by time, looking quite run-down. However, several Puppet Parts remained scattered across the floor, covered in dust.
Shindai picked up one of the Puppet Parts and said, "You know, Kakashi, back then I cooped up at home and never went outside. Even when someone came to deliver food, I'd have them leave it at my doorstep and wait until they were gone before picking it up.
Because to me, the world felt far too dangerous. I was afraid—afraid that I might die suddenly for no reason at all. So I just stayed at home, pretending I wasn't talented, and only did the things I liked.
My Kannazuki took form right in this house. But everything's different now. I never would've imagined ending up like this."
Kakashi looked at the house where Shindai had lived as a child and smiled slightly. "I think if your younger self saw how you are now, he'd definitely be happy. You've become such a powerful Ninja."
But Shindai retorted, "Nope. My childhood self would totally scold my present self. The way I live now is completely opposite to what I wanted back then. Now I've got missions to do, and after coming home, I still have to deal with Pakura and Hikaku. There's just no way to lounge around doing nothing anymore!"
Kakashi quirked his lips slightly. Shindai as a kid must've been pretty hard to understand, too.
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