The howling sandstorm seemed sensible enough to subside slightly on New Year's Eve, and the Hidden Sand Village was rarely enveloped in an atmosphere of relative tranquility. Warm lights shone through the windows of every household, and the faint scent of food and scattered laughter drifted through the air, attempting to dispel the last vestiges of cold left by the war.
Inside Sayo's house, the lights were bright but not noisy. The simple dining table held a few dishes that were not extravagant but prepared with enough care—this was the New Year's dinner Sharyu had managed to arrange. The father and son sat facing each other, falling into a momentary silence.
The hourglass in the corner flowed silently, marking the complete passing of the old year and the quiet arrival of Konoha Year 50.
Sharyu picked up the rough earthenware wine cup and took a sip of the slightly spicy, home-brewed light wine, his gaze resting on his son across the table. Sayo was wearing casual indoor clothes; his posture was still straight, but most of his youthful naivety had faded from his features, replaced by a composure and reserve forged by weathering trials. Watching him, Sharyu was overwhelmed with emotion and deep sighs.
"A year... just passed like that," Sharyu's slightly hoarse voice broke the silence. "It feels like I lived through a strange and fantastic dream."
Sayo also picked up his cup, but didn't drink, merely running his fingers lightly along the rim, his eyes distant. "Yes, a year... far too many things have happened."
Images flashed rapidly through his mind: the humiliation and chaos of the retreat from Kikyō Mountain, the first confrontation with Kirigakure along the Eastern Coastline, the fierce duel with the Fourth Kazekage in the desert, working tirelessly day and night during the Gundam construction, the tension and determination of the cross-sea expedition, the roaring explosions and towering flames on Bijiao Island, and the overwhelming cheers upon their return... Every instance was a life-or-death test, and every time felt like dancing on a knife's edge.
Sharyu's expression also grew complicated. He sighed, "Several times... several times I thought we wouldn't make it through. When the news from Kikyō Mountain arrived, I almost thought... Then you went to the Eastern Sea Defense Line, and I heard about you and the Kazekage-sama... Sigh, my heart hasn't rested easy for a single day."
He looked up, scrutinizing Sayo as if seeing him for the first time, his eyes slightly warm. "I truly didn't expect it... I absolutely didn't expect that little guy, who was skinny and small, afraid of being blown over by the wind, and could only hide in the corner of the Maintenance Squad fiddling with parts, could... could grow to this extent."
His voice was filled with incredible emotion and the deepest pride of a father. That premature child, whom he had to keep by his side and meticulously protect, had now become the pillar supporting the entire Village and a powerhouse famous throughout the Ninja World.
Sayo paused slightly upon hearing his father's words, then showed a gentle smile. Those childhood days in the Puppet Repair Class felt incredibly distant now, like a lifetime ago.
"I didn't expect it either," Sayo said softly. "Perhaps... it was this world that forced me to move forward." And also the memories and dreams from another world, deeply hidden in his soul.
The father and son fell silent again, but the atmosphere was no longer awkward; instead, it was filled with the relief of having survived a catastrophe and the warmth of mutual understanding. They had both pulled through and become closer than ever.
After a long while, Sayo put down his wine cup, his gaze turning serious. He looked at his father, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable strength: "Father, after all that has happened, I increasingly feel that merely having the strength to protect the Village might not be enough."
"Oh?" Sharyu looked at him, signaling him to continue.
"The Land of Wind... is too barren." Sayo's gaze seemed to pierce the wall, seeing the endless sandstorm outside. "The scarcity of resources is the root of countless conflicts and suffering. People struggle just to survive, and the Village is forced to get involved in war after war for resources. Just like... just like what we faced before, where we even had to consider..."
He didn't utter the words "sacrificing Pakura," but Sharyu understood his meaning, and his expression dimmed slightly.
"Therefore," Sayo's voice suddenly grew resolute, and a light of idealism flickered in his eyes, "I want to try to change it. Using my knowledge, using Magnet Release, using Puppet Technique, using all the power I possess, I will try to change this land."
He described his grand vision to his father: searching for water sources, purifying water quality, transforming the sand dunes, establishing an energy system, and even using Natural Energy to try to affect the local climate... He gradually revealed his dream, which combined his knowledge from two lives with his Ninjutsu expertise, to the person closest to him.
Sharyu listened quietly, his face moving from surprise to contemplation, finally settling on understanding and support. He might not fully grasp the unimaginable technical details his son spoke of, but he could understand the pure heart hidden within—the desire to make their homeland better.
"Changing the Land of Wind, huh..." Sharyu murmured, then nodded heavily, a proud smile appearing on his face. "Good! Very good! That is a magnificent dream! Much better than your old man, who only knows how to repair puppets!"
He picked up the wine pot, refilled Sayo's cup and his own, and raised it high: "Your dad doesn't have other skills, but I support my son! This path will definitely be difficult, but I believe in you! Come, for your dream, for Sunagakure's future, let's drain this cup!"
Sayo felt a warmth surge through his heart as he looked at the unreserved trust and encouragement in his father's eyes. He raised his wine cup and clinked it firmly against his father's.
"To the future!"
The crisp clinking sound echoed in the warm little house, merging with the faint ringing of bells outside that symbolized the passing of the old year and the welcoming of the new. It was as if a starting horn was sounding for the new year, and for a brand-new, hopeful dream. New Year's Eve, for them, was not just about reunion, but the beginning of a dream and a legacy.