A new batch of Genin had just graduated from the Ninja Academy. The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, had appointed the most powerful ninja in the village—you—as the instructor for his children.
At the first meeting with Rasa's three children, a rare glimmer of light flashed through your once emotionless eyes.
Though it was only your first encounter, and despite the nineteen-year gap between you, you couldn't deny that something stirred within your soul at that moment.
It was because of her—Temari, a girl as beautiful as a desert spirit.
She greeted you with a radiant smile, one so warm that it seemed capable of melting the coldest of hearts.
"Hello, sensei! My name is Temari. This is my brother Kankuro, and this is Gaara. We look forward to learning from you!"
"...Shiro. My name is Shiro."
The core that sustained your life trembled unnaturally within your puppet body.
In that fleeting moment, you felt something you hadn't in a long time—something you could only describe as love.
As their teacher, you trained them, guiding them through rigorous lessons. And in that process, your emotions—long thought to be dead—began to return.
Temari became the second person, after Sasori, who could awaken something within you.
Shiro, who had been observing this simulated life unfold, was already in tears.
"Finally... after all these countless simulations, I'm actually going to experience love?"
And with Temari, no less—the so-called flower of Sunagakure!
But... why did it have to happen after he had become a puppet?
"What's the point of having a girlfriend if I don't even have a functioning human body anymore?!"
"System, are you messing with me?!"
During training, you found yourself paying special attention to Temari.
She confided in you about her father, Rasa, who had put Gaara through merciless training since childhood. He had even arranged for constant assassination attempts on him—including one from their uncle, Yashamaru.
Rasa believed that such cruelty would make Gaara stronger, but Temari feared that if it continued, her brother would become nothing more than a heartless killing machine.
In response, you stormed into the Kazekage's office and, in front of his subordinates, beat him to a pulp.
You demanded that he immediately stop his assassination attempts and apologize to Gaara within three days.
Since then, Gaara had become your most devoted follower.
Temari worried that Kankuro relied too much on his puppets, fearing that it would become his weakness in battle.
So you smashed all of Kankuro's puppets and forced him to train in taijutsu with you every day.
Even though those puppets were personally crafted by your younger brother, Sasori.
Under your brutal training, Kankuro, once a promising puppet master, became a mountain of muscle, capable of carrying an ox on his shoulders and splitting boulders with his fists.
Temari also complained that her battle fan was too heavy and inconvenient to carry.
You dismantled your grandmother Chiyo's most prized puppets—the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu—to extract their rarest, lightest metal: Scarlet Star Iron.
Using it, you forged a brand-new, lightweight battle fan for Temari.
They said you were a devoted grandson, but Chiyo nearly died from your "devotion."
Your love for Temari only deepened, but due to your puppet body, unstable emotions, and the age difference, you never confessed your feelings.
Deep down, you knew someone like you didn't deserve her love.
So, you buried your feelings and continued to present yourself as a cold, unfeeling mentor.
In the thirty-second year, Orochimaru secretly arrived in Sunagakure and proposed the "Konoha Crush Plan" to the Fourth Kazekage.
At the same time, Konoha announced the upcoming Chunin Exams and invited Sunagakure to participate.
You, as the leading Jonin, took Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara to Konoha under the guise of the exam. But in truth, you were the true mastermind behind Sunagakure's involvement in the attack.
Hearing that you were leading the Sand delegation, Konoha was on high alert. Even Jiraiya and Tsunade hurried back to the village to keep an eye on you.
However, despite their presence, the "Konoha Crush Plan" was carried out successfully.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, perished in battle.
Yet, there was no joy in victory.
Because you soon discovered that the real Fourth Kazekage had long been murdered by Orochimaru, who had taken his place.
Enraged, Konoha's shinobi turned their fury toward Sunagakure, launching a relentless counterattack.
During the retreat, Temari was injured by a sneak attack from Konoha's forces.
Blinded by rage, you unleashed a slaughter, leaving behind a trail of bodies before escaping with the Sunagakure troops.
On the way back, you carried the wounded Temari on your back, walking at the rear of the group.
Suddenly, she spoke softly into your ear.
"Shiro-sensei, do you… like me?"
You froze.
You pretended not to hear and kept walking.
You never noticed the fleeting sadness that crossed Temari's beautiful face.
Back in Sunagakure, you declined the villagers' offer to make you the Fifth Kazekage. Instead, you pushed for Gaara to take the position.
Under your guidance, Gaara began training in Sunagakure's combat unit, preparing to lead the village one day. Temari and Kankuro followed him.
Once again, you were alone.
And your heart, which had briefly thawed, turned to ice once more.
In the thirty-third year, while stationed in Sunagakure, you received a letter from an unknown source.
"Brother, I'm waiting for you twenty miles west of the village. –Sasori."
Regardless of whether the letter was truly from him or not, you had to go.
When you arrived at the designated location, Sasori was there—smiling at you.
"You came, brother."
He looked exactly the same as you remembered, but his smile felt… wrong.
For the first time in a long time, you—who had lost all emotions—felt something close to fear.
You knew.
Your little brother had gone too far down a path of no return.
And this time, you would bring him back.
"Come home with me, Sasori."
But Sasori only shook his head, still smiling.
"No, Brother. This time, I'm here to take you away."
You fought.
Sasori had grown unbelievably strong.
But against your monstrous taijutsu, it wasn't enough.
In no time, you shattered his limbs, rendering him immobile.
Just as you prepared to carry him back to the village—
You realized… you couldn't move.
"Brother, did you forget?" Sasori chuckled. "Your body was made by me. Which means, if I want to… I can control you anytime."
"Your current body is too old. But don't worry… I'll build you a better one. This time, you'll become my greatest masterpiece… and stay by my side forever."
The last thing you saw was Sasori's hand reaching toward the core in your chest.
Then—darkness.