The whole 'Kankuro inherited the puppets' thing that you see in some of the character descriptions makes no sense to me. So here is my version of events. This occurs during the both the story arcs, so beware of Shippuden spoilers. Rated 13+ for violence and language. I do not own the majority of these characters, just borrowed them for awhile.
Gifts of the Kazekage
One-An Old Man's Request
There was a storm coming along. Baki could hear the wind rising in the darkening streets. He was thinking about calling it an evening when someone tapped on his door. He looked up and was surprised to see Ebizo standing there, hands tucked into his long sleeves. Baki put his pen down and stood.
"Ebizo-jii-sama, good evening. How may I help you?"
"Baki. I apologize for the intrusion and for letting myself in. I did not want to disturb anyone."
"Please, it is no intrusion. Sit down. Could I get you something?"
The old man waved the offer away as he sat, "No, no it is not necessary."
After sitting he did not say anything, but just sat, frowning. His deep set eyes were unreadable. Baki let him sit. You did not rush a man of Ebizo's standing, but he was curious to know what had brought the old man out at this hour.
"It is most tiring," Ebizo said finally and sighed. "And upsetting. A man my age should be sitting quietly in a corner, enjoying a well earned retirement."
Baki nodded. He could guess now why the old man was visiting. He smiled a little, but was careful not to let the old man see his amusement.
"Ebizo-jii-sama, I suppose you are referring to your new student? I am sorry, he can be a handful. It is my fault that he is not more…respectful."
"Bah!" Ebizo's eyebrows twitched up and down like antennae as he vented. "If that were the only problem; he is stubborn, impulsive, loud, and profane in the extreme. I have never met anyone so disinclined to listen to instruction. The circumstances of his upbringing may excuse some of it, but…" the old man made an irritated sound, his eyebrows twitched again and then fell back into place.
"However," he continued after a moment, "he is also intelligent, strong, and fiercely loyal to his village. And above all, he is devoted to his art. And for that alone I will continue this painful exercise. I do believe that poor Chiyo-nii-chan would approve."
"I am very grateful for that, Ebizo-jii-sama. I cannot tell you how grateful. I was worried about Kankuro after what happened. But now I am sure that he will be back to normal very soon."
It was the truth; it had been hard to watch Kankuro struggle with the massive damage done to his puppets. Baki had been at a loss, until Ebizo had offered to take Kankuro on as a student. Puppet techniques had been always been rare; it required an enormous amount of training and skill. Puppeteers had always been viewed with some suspicion by others because their methods were so different. And with the defection of Sasori of the Red Sands, the art had fallen into outright disfavour. There was almost no one left who was trained in the art, Kankuro was the only puppeteer of his generation in the Sand village.
"Normal!" Ebizo huffed. "I should hope not. If he is to continue to train with me then his previous ways must end."
"I...uh…well…" Baki stopped. He would not contradict the old man, but he had a difficult time imagining Kankuro any other way than he was. But then, if Gaara could endeavor to change…
"Humph, not his personality. Sadly, I cannot hope to have any affect on that. He is his father's son in more than just his looks. No, no, it is the lack of training that will end." Ebizo shook his head. "I still cannot figure it out. How did he not receive all the training?"
"All? But Ebizo-jii-sama, he has perfect control over his three puppets. I am no expert in puppet techniques, but…"
"That is painfully obvious! My poor Chiyo-nii-chan thought this village had gone soft, having to call on outsiders to deal with the Akatsuki, but she would have been appalled to see how forgetful of tradition we have become. A true puppeteer makes his own puppets! He may train on his master's, or someone else's, but he eventually makes his own. Puppets that are so infused with his chakra that they can almost respond to his thoughts. That is what results in perfect control. And three! No one in my generation would be promoted to jounin with only three puppets."
He sighed. "This is all very tiring. So I will get to the point of my visit; Baki I want you to tell me why he never made his own puppets? Why does he still use puppets made by Sasori of the Red Sands?"
"Ebizo-jii-sama, I am sorry but I think that you should ask Kankuro that question. It is something he should tell you himself."
"I did! He told me that he had inherited them and learned to use them and that was all that was important. He would not give me any details." Ebizo sniffed. "Inherited! That is ridiculous!"
Baki frowned, "Ebizo-jii-sama, I am sorry but I would have thought that you, of all people, would know about these things."
"That may be true, but you did see him learn to use each of those puppets. I can tell that he did not start out with all three. He has used Karasu for a long time and Shanshouo much less. You know the details of the circumstances?"
Baki nodded, "I do."
"Then tell me. Sasori would never have left anything to the Kazekage or his family. The Fourth Kazekage took the puppets from Chiyo-nii-chan. It was the last thing he forced her to do. She would never tell me exactly what happened and she never spoke of them again. I did not even know what had happened to them until I saw them after Kankuro had fought with Sasori. I never got a chance to ask her about it before she…" he trailed off.
The rising wind was the only sound in the office for some time.
"So tell me." Ebizo said. "Start with Shanshouo. He is the last addition and is a strange choice for someone as fierce as Kankuro."
"Ah, Ebizo-jii-sama, that is not a pleasant story."
Baki shifted his chair so he was looking out the window. Various images surfaced from his memory; a child's wooden toy, swirling sand, Gaara's blank stare, the Fourth's tired face, a dog-eared book, a fire damaged puppet limb, and Kankuro's fierce grin.
Baki rotated the chair forward again, "To tell all three of these stories will take some time. If you do not mind, would you accompany me somewhere more comfortable? My sister lives nearby. If I am going to do this, then I would prefer to be somewhere more comfortable and private."
"That would be acceptable. But if you are looking for privacy…"
"Do not worry. My sister lives alone. Temari stays with her when she is here, but she is away right now. My sister is most discreet, and knows most of the story."
"Is that so. That is good then."
Baki's sister lived in a house a short walk from the Sand village's administrative offices. The house was small, but well appointed. She ushered the men into a sitting room and left to get them food and drink. She accepted their appearance at the late hour with absolute poise.
Ebizo looked around the room, it was decorated with fans, each one exquisite. Delicate paper, numerous varieties of wood, and bone hung on the walls around him. He had not realized that she was Baki's sister. She had aged well; a stern slender woman in an elegant kimono. She still moved like the dancer Ebizo remembered.
And he remembered the stories told about her missions on behalf of the Sand. In one, she had danced in front of the military leaders of an enemy. They had all been rendered immobile by her beauty and grace. She had finished her dance and disappeared into the night, leaving ten men dead, their throats cut with the deadly edges of her fans. Her cuts were so well executed that no blood had spattered, the men had not moved, and no one else noticed until she was long gone. It was possible that the men had not noticed their own deaths, such was the beauty of her dancing.
Ebizo took another, more careful, look at the fans hanging around him. Now that he was really looking he could see the well maintained edges, hidden behind the paint, ink, lacquer, and graceful carvings. He was surprised to feel a thin chill run down his spine; at his age it was rare that anything could make him feel something like that. He could be annoyed. Yes indeed, he was often annoyed, but this was different.
The woman returned and served them.
Baki thanked her and apologized for the intrusion.
"Yes, thank-you. This is a far more soothing place on my old bones. And you are as lovely as ever Wind Dancer," Ebizo said.
She withdrew a small fan from her sleeve and raised it so it covered the lower half of her face. Beautiful, ageless eyes regarded Ebizo.
"Why thank-you Ebizo-sama, I am honoured that you should remember me." Her voice was low, musical, but had a thin edge of steel. "Wind Dancer. I have not heard that name in many years. I am honoured to lend you my poor dwelling on this night. If you need anything else, please let me know."
She shifted away, settling down at the correct distance, so that they could have privacy and she would still be close enough in case they wanted anything else.
Ebizo nodded at her. This was much better than the office. He liked sake and a comfortable seat to go with storytelling.
"Now then, Baki. Tell me about Shanshouo."
Baki nodded. He took a drink and settled back, "Like I said before it is not a pleasant story. I am at fault for what happened. You see…"
"Baki."
Baki blinked in surprise and looked at his sister.
"I am sorry to interrupt, but what, may I ask, are you doing?"
Baki explained.
His sister snapped her fan shut. Her mouth was drawn into a small moue of distaste. The fan fluttered open again and her tranquil appearance was restored.
"I remember that child. Small boys are nasty creatures. Their only redeeming feature is that they eventually grow into young men. And young men have much to recommend them…as do older men."
Her eyelids fluttered. Ebizo felt another little thrill; her gaze was like a caress.
"But otōto-chan, if you are going to tell a story you must go about it properly. Start at the beginning."
Baki went red, "I, uh, Ebizo-jii-sama asked…"
"No, no." Ebizo waved one bony hand in the air. "Our lovely hostess is correct. You should not see the end of the dance first. So, from the beginning it is."
The woman inclined her head and murmured another apology.
"Of course, as you wish." Baki paused. "So. Karasu."