Running through the village Eien Kingyo ran to his Great Grannies home. Eien had messy red hair and green eyes. At twelve years of age he stood at four feet seven inches. He usually wore a dark blue long sleeve shirt, a white belt just at his waist line, he wore light grey capris style pants with wrappings covering his lower calves, on his legs were four scrolls with each holding a puppet. The small boy was beyond happy. Even though he wasn't quite old enough to graduate the academy he was getting the chance to apply early to become a Genin for Sunakagure.

"Granny-san!" Running in he found Chiyo and her brother Ebizo fighing in their little personnel pond. Looking over Chiyo saw her great grandson. Standing up she held her arms out as he fell into them, "Oh little Eien! What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you before my test to become a Genin for Suna." Chiyo smiled as she ruffled his head, "Oh how I wish you wouldn't be a shinobi my boy." Eien pouted for a moment before Ebizo spoke up, "Lighten up Chiyo! If anyone is going to redeem our family its that boy right there!" Looking over at her brother, her glare sending chills down his spine, "That's enough of you!"

"Now. You will be tested today." Chiyo was visibly worried. There was only one other child this age testing today. Gaara Kazekage. If Eien was to pass than hopefully he wouldn't be placed on a team with Gaara. Though she was sure in time Eien would be skilled and powerful enough to handle a tailed beast on his own, "You will be tested in combat, intelligence, and in ninjutsu."

"I'll be careful Granny. Promise!" Ruffling the boys hair she said her farewells and wished the boy luck. He wouldn't be the only puppet user but he would definitely be the youngest. Suna tried to keep it's children from becoming ninja before their teenage years. Not because it's the right thing, but because they are a resource that are not easily replaceable. They were a precious thing that the Village will push to battle and possibly go to war for no reason.

Chiyo thought to her own son and grandson. Sasori was deeply traumatized by the war. His parents killed by Konokagure's white wolf. If she had been smarter and more empathetic to her her grandson than maybe he wouldn't have left the village. One of the most dangerous missing ninja in the world. Luckily she got to try again with Eien.

So much like his mother. Kyatsu Uzumaki, she was a strong women. Long red hair and hazel eyes. Between her and Chiyo they made Eien a skilled and powerful boy. He had taken interest in puppets at a young age. Not from her though. When he was but three years of age she took him to a street fair. One of the entertainers had shows with small puppets for the children. Eien was thoroughly enamored by the performance. So she began teaching him how to use puppets.

With the threat of Sasori coming for his son though. Kyatsu decided to train him in the shinobi arts. Using seals to enhance his tactical mind and options for traps, Taijutsu to give him a fall back, and kenjutsu to give him an advantage in close quarters. He was far more well rounded than most puppet users. Something she was quite grateful for.

Eien arrived to the a training field outside the village. Several spectators were around to judge and watch the applicants. In total there were fort-five applicants. Most were older than him. Being around thirteen to fifteen. Not that he was complaining though. It was more of a challenge. One boy was his age. He could see the boy had a massive gourd on his back. His clothes were quite similar to his own. Wearing a black body suit with a short sleeve shirt. It looked like he had a fishnet shirt underneath. His red hair was slightly darker than his own and much spikier.

Suddenly the Kazekage appeared in front of them all. Several Jonin were with him to observe each of them. Looking at all the potential Genin Rasa began, "Today you are all here to see whether you are worthy of joining our village as shinobi of the sand. There will be three tests. First will be a written test. Second will be a test of ninjutsu. Finally, a test by combat. Now go and prove to me you belong. I shall be watching." His words lingered on the other boy in the crowd.

Desks of gold sand appeared in front of all the contestants. Summoning his puppet Byakko to sit on Eien began. Many of the Jonin looked at the puppet as they walked by. One of the shinobi taking a bigger interest in him now. The puppet wasn't that special in his opinion. It was a tiger puppet with two extremely sharp teeth. It possessed claws on all four feet and pipe in the mouth for shooting senbon. In it's back were two blades that would shoot out on both sides as it ran at its enemies.

"Time!" They called as Eien finished his own test. Getting up he watched the desk fall away as he put his puppet back into it's scroll. From there everyone was put into groups of five. Eien's group followed an older shinobi to a different part of the field. Three judges sat at a desk to grade their performance.

Eien watched closely as each other contestant. None of those kids had anything that special. Basic cloning jutsu. A boy showed off his kenjutsu. One of the girls had a pretty powerful wind jutsu. Then there was one boy who created a clone out of sand. "Eien Ningyo. You're up next."

Stepping up he pulled out two scrolls. The other four kids watched him in amusement, "He's just a kid." "Yeah, someone that small can't be that good." Smiling he threw the two scrolls into the air. Two puppets appeared in front of everyone. The first was his personnel favorite. Futsuumeichi was a small but agile puppet. It had an exoskeleton like look, light brown with black eyes. It was hunched over and had red tuff of hair. It was the first puppet he had built and was by far his favorite.

His second puppet though was much more powerful. Kinja was a serpent puppet. He created it after reading about the summoning snakes that worked with the Snake Sannin of Konokagure. It was built using a technique that he created with a little help from Lady Chiyo. Using scales, it was almost indestructible. It had great strength and could shoot poison breath at his enemies. Bind them in its body crushing them or biting them with its powerful mouth.

"Interesting. Puppets of your own design?" They moved easily without making a ton of noise like other older designed puppets. Moving smoothly and efficiently, "Let's see how they hold up." Forming hand signs, he sent a blade of wind at the puppets. With a flick of his finger Futsuumeichi jumped behind Kinja instantly. The attack hit the bigger puppet but didn't budge.

The judges all nodded in approval as he sealed the puppets away again. All the other students were quiet not saying anything. Rasa who was standing on top of a small tower was watching closely. His eye lingered on Eien while he walked to the next area. Seeing the arena gave Eien chills. Knowing he was actually fighting someone this time made him nervous.

"You are all going to be paired against another student. It is a fight to submission or till we tell you to stand down." One by one everyone fought each other. Eien watched as each match went on. Nothing was too crazy until a girl with long brown hair that framed her white collared shirt stood out with her black shorts. She created water scythes with her hands and attack the boy across from her. Throwing rapid fire attacks at him, he was desperate to keep up. Spinning she landed a slash across his chest knocking him down. "Winner Ameno."

"Next Eien Ningyo versus Gaara." Both boys stood opposite each other in the arena. He saw that the proctor was afraid of Gara. Looking at the other boy though made Eien feel nervous but not of fear. For something else he couldn't place. "Begin!"

Sand shot out from behind Gaara. Only as the sand was about to smash into him, he summoned Kinja. The Snake like puppet shot through the sand and headed straight to Gaara. The puppet stuck down at Gaara. As its teeth were about to bite down on him sand shot out wrapping around the it. With a flick of his hands the snake shattered the sand before coiling around Eien. Throwing another scroll into the air he summoned Byakko. The tiger puppet ran at incredible speeds. Controlling the tiger with his left he kept control of the snake with his write.

Yura was baffled. The two boys were going head-to-head now. Eien was riding his snake puppet around the field while attacking Gaara with his other puppet. Gaara was doing everything to stay in the fight. His ultimate defense was holding strong, but a few hits got by. His second defense had cracks on it, and he was getting frustrated. Why hadn't Rasa called it off yet?

Gaara froze as his defense covered both sides of him. In an attempt to protect himself he raised his arms. Only as the sand started to pull away Eien appeared above him. Flipping he landed a powerful kick on Gaara's head before rolling away. Getting on his snake and riding it to the other side of the arena. Gaara felt the need for blood kicking in as he stood up. Only for his so-called father to call the match.

Eien watched as the boy walked off painfully. He had beaten him, but Eien wasn't stupid either. After seeing the sand, he knew what that boy was. Gaara was the boy with a demon inside him. Suna's secret weapon. If he had pushed to hard the boy may have very well went into a frenzy and would have had to been stopped by the Kazekage. Hopefully he wouldn't have to fight him again. Though he wondered if he'd be able to talk to him again.

Making his way over to the other potential genin Eien took in the sight of all the other children. Most were older than him. He'd spent much of his time away from other kids. His mother being very protective of him. Initially she thought him being here kept him protected. Eien wasn't sure of what though. He'd never been outside the city. Not that he even knew who his father was.

Four Years Ago

Pieces of Eien's new puppet were everywhere. On the stand above his workstation was a his little Futsuumeichi. Fashioning the teeth into sharp points he started fusing them to the head of the puppet. The design was intricate, with several pieces making the main body giving it a life like feel and movement. Its outer body was made with chakra infused wood using his own chakra to strengthen it. It was beautiful.

Granny saw his work and marveled at the ingenuity of her great grandson. His work ethic and dedication was incredible. Though it didn't help her in worrying for the boy. Fear that her son would come and take him. Fear that he'd turn her baby Eien into a puppet. Also though, the fact that he obsessed with his puppets. His designs he was always drawing up.

Even his mother had been teaching him. Kenjutsu, Taijutsu, and Kenjutsu. She was turning him into a warrior that can face his father. Chiyo wished he could just be a boy. Make friends in the village. Be normal learn how to just be a child. Maybe one day he'd meet someone who could bring that out of him.

"Granny Chiyo! LOOK!" The Tiger stood up from Eien's chakra strings, "It's so pretty! I can't wait to practice with it!" His eyes sparkled with wonder and passion. No, her baby didn't need to worry about losing his humanity. Eien had so much love in his heart. He just wasn't ready to show the world yet.

Eien looked at his Granny as she set a bowl of fried rice down in front of him, "Hey Granny." She saw that the boy was staring into his food, "Um who was my daddy? Why is he gone?" Tears filled Chiyo's eyes as she scooted closer to him. Seeing just how much he looked like her little Sasori right now, "Your dad was a great ninja. He was so powerful that he fended off entire nations alone out in the sands protecting Suna."

"Really?" Eien asked with hope in his eyes, "He is gone now though. His heart just couldn't take the pain held for so long." She watched as Eien's shoulders slumped, "Does he hate me?" Chiyo wasn't sure how to answer that at first. She didn't think Sasori hated this precious boy. In fact, she worried that he might try to make him immortal in his own eyes.

"He loved you more than anything in this world. More than every grain of sand in our dessert."

Present

No matter how many times Eien asked he never got an answer about who his father was. All he knew was he'd be stronger than him. He'd become someone he'd be proud of and help Suna become a village that doesn't take away people's parents.

Spacing out Eien didn't notice how many people were called up until the end, "That is all of the passing shinobi. Everyone else is dismissed for the day." Eien was confused. He'd passed every test and showed them how strong he was. Why were they sending him away.

"Sir I think you missed me!" Eien shouted causing everyone to freeze. Gaara though watched closely. The boy who fought him surely deserved to be a part of a genin team. The proctor looked at the boy with a smirk, "What makes you say that?" His gaze boring down on him.

"Because I fought the Kazekage's son. I even held back my best puppet and my sealing jutsu! I deserve to be a ninja." Eien glared back at the shinobi. He wouldn't be intimidated by some jerk.

Meanwhile the Kazekage though watched from his perch. He was intrigued, as was his son on the other side of these other whelps. In his time, he'd never seen anyone not be afraid of his son. He knew that this puppeteer had figured out who he was facing as soon as the sand emerged. Yet he didn't flee, beg for mercy, or cower. No, he fought and stood strong. That was either very good or it would mean trouble. What if this kid is like his father. What if he decides to be like Sasori of the Red Sand. When he is older would they be able to stop him?

Standing up he raised his hand, "Do you now? Or are you merely a replica of your father." Everyone in the crowd was silent as the Kazekage used his sand to drop down to the boy, "You showed us your skill. Yet what of your own blood lust?" Stepping in front of the small boy, "Hmm? What of it knowing who your father was?"

Eien looked wide eyed at the man standing before him. He knew who his father was. The Kazekage knew and from the sound of it he wasn't a good person. Maybe he was wrong coming here? Maybe he shouldn't have become a ninja.

"Let's see how you do. Then we'll decide what to do with you." Rasa smiled handing him a head band. Eien wasn't sure what to think but right now he wouldn't question it. No, he'd go home and celebrate with his mom.

Arriving home to their small house, Eien opened the door with a proud smile, "Mom! Look I'm a shinobi now!" His mother walked out of the kitchen with a giant smile, "I'm so proud of you Eien!" She yelled running up and wrapping her arms around her small boy, "Thanks mom!"

Stepping back his mom put her hands on his shoulders. A soft smile gracing her face, "I made sure to buy you those pieces you were asking me for." Eien's grin widened in excitement, "Thanks mom! I can add these to my puppets!"

"What is it you want to add?" Looking down at her enthusiastic boy. Almost vibrating he looked at her, "Well I am going to put them in Byakko and Futsuumeichi." Pulling out the small darts, "These will shoot from their backs! I even made a new poison with the help of Granny!" Pulling out the chakra metal he smiled even brighter, "These I'm going to test inside them! The chakra infused metal should let me use my own chakra in my puppets making them super strong."

Shaking her head fondly, "That's great. Now before you work on your puppets you know the rules. Kenjutsu and Fuinjutsu practice first. After I want you to work on using your chakra chains." Eien tried giving his mom puppy dog eyes to no avail. Crossing her arms she gave him a stern look making him submit before going outside to move through his kata. Drawing his two tanto he began moving. Going through his foot work and hitting each target needed.

Kyatsu watched as her son moved from one exercise to the next. He wasn't the most physically powerful child. He was fast though. Highly intelligent and knew how to use his puppets in masterful ways. When he was little Chiyo had him practice with many of the puppets his father had designed. At first, he loved those puppets. Then he started criticizing them for the load chittering sounds they made when moved. So, he started making puppets with a more efficient body. Chiyo said he was a genius for his age. Something she feared as well.

Though even with his ability to create powerful tools of death, he cared. He wanted to help the people in the village. Eien was a kind boy. Always wanting to make friends but not knowing how to connect with others. She hoped that one day he'd meet someone that could help him achieve a true connection. Not one with his puppets. However, he was so shy outside of their home. She supposed that was partially her own fault.

Later that night Kyatsu walked to her baby's workstation to see him passed out. His little Futsuumeichi puppet was almost back together. The blueprints he had designed were strewn all over the place. As were the designs for his other puppets. A few of them would have been built already if he hadn't of focused on building Kinja. The massive snake was a powerful puppet. Something she had never seen before. Though even that wasn't as powerful as his Shinigami.

Shinigami was a human sized puppet. It wielded a powerful scythe. It was made of a different material than his others. The steel body was near indestructible. Using its superior speed and cutting power she had seen it cut through dozens of targets in seconds before she could locate where he was. At least without her sensory abilities. Something he hadn't gotten unfortunately.

Picking Eien up the mother took him to his room. Setting him on his own bed she smiled as she ruffled his hair, "I hope you find the world my baby boy." Kissing him on the forehead Kyatsu left with a happy smile on her face.

Gaara's eye watched as the other red headed boy was tucked into his bed. There was a confusion in his heart. Mother wanted his blood. Yet inside his chest he felt a weirdness. A curiousness that he couldn't quite quell. His father didn't trust the boy. Which made it much worse for Gaara. He wanted to trust the boy just because of that.

Apparently this boy was the son of Suna's most famous missing nin. Sasori of the Red Sand. Kankaro talked to Temari about how he shouldn't be allowed to be a shinobi because he was the son of a traitor and a killer. That he was going to be just like him. That made Gaara more curious about him. There was no way that puppets could make this kid a killer like him.

No, he'd watch. Gaara would watch and wait to see if he would become something worth killing. Maybe he'd be able to destroy him. Though something inside him was nagging at him. Against mother's voice. Something was telling him to try and talk to the boy. Maybe he'd talk to his father. Try and see if could know this boy better.

Meanwhile Sasori looked up as a raven landed next to him. Reaching up he took the letter to see it was from his sleeper agent Yura. Apparently, his son was now going to be a shinobi of the sand. Happiness filled his chest. His son would learn the power of his art. He'd become his legacy.

"Soon we will meet." Thinking of his son filled him with excitement, "Then you will join me. Or become one of my most powerful puppets."

Hello anyone that may read this. I am not sure how far I'll go with this fic. I love puppet users, so I figured I'd make my oc a puppet user. This will be an oc/Gaara fic. There will also be some changes between cannon and here. Mostly that Gaara will start to resemble more of who he was after fighting Naruto sooner. Things will change from there. Thanks for Reading if you have!