A Number Of Fragments

003: Behind the mask part 1, Art is..

'Interesting title.' Shikamaru says.

Naruto puts a finger on his chin. 'I wonder what that means?' The others in the room agree with him.

The scene starts with a shot of a blond-haired man. His hair is long and covers one eye. 'An artist must always seek ever greater stimulation lest his senses turn dull.'

'Who's that?' Lee asks the group. He's never seen that man walking around.

It seems he's not the only one. 'I guess we'll find out.'

'What? Those pyrotechnics of yours… art?' The focus shifts to another man. His face is partially covered and there is this large mechanical tail sticking out from him. 'Art is a work of beauty, captured and left for posterity… it is the beauty of all eternity.'

'What the point of this scene?' Shikaku asks the rhetorical question no one but number would be able to answer.

'Sasori as a fellow artist, I respect your perspective.' The blond says to the man next to him, who is apparently the missing ninja from Suna. 'But in my opinion art is transient beauty that fades after just a moment, hmm.' The blond ends his sentence with a guttural grunt. They are sitting in some sort of cavern. The blond sits on top of a body and there is a cartoonish looking bird next to them.

'What is happening here?' Sasuke asks his brother, because his brother knows everything.

'A bit on context would be helpful.' Shisui mutters. How is he supposed to make notes if he doesn't know what it is about?

'I have heard of Sasori before.' Shikaku says.

'Who is he?' Naruto asks.

'He's a ninja from Suna who's mysteriously gone missing around the same time as the third Kazekage.' Conclude from that what you will. But the obvious conclusion everyone should be able to make.

'A dangerous man indeed.' Hiruzen agrees. If he's able to take down a Kage without anyone noticing… certainly someone they would have to watch out for.

The focus then shifts to Naruto and then Sakura. They are slightly older than in the previous scene. 'What's with them?' Sakura questions.

'Wow, we look old.' Naruto says. Sakura agrees with him. She does think she looks really strong.

'You're like what, fifteen there?' Jiraiya laughs at the kids. Even in the future they are still kids.

'That's almost ten years into the future.' Sasuke explains because he can do math.

The adults think. 'I suppose for a kid that is a long time.'

'Enough of this!' Naruto takes out a scroll and unleashes a giant shuriken. He grabs it and sends it after the two men. The mechanical one only swishes his tail to change its course.

The two men do not even take any notice. 'Deidara you fool. Are you trying to make me angry?' Sasori voice deepens.

'Have you heard of Deidara as well?' Naruto asks the adults. All of them shake their head.

'No, I haven't.' Hiashi replies.

'He looks to be only a bit older than Naruto over there. It's likely he's still a child right now.' Shikaku explains. They all agree with him.