Yuki Yoru

"According to the intelligence in Suikazan Fuguki's mind, Yuki Yoru is fourteen this year. He is the captain of Kirigakure ANBU's First Squad, possessing extraordinary talent. He is a rising star of Kirigakure and is hailed as the 'Blade of the Bloody Mist' of Kirigakure ANBU."

Yamanaka Miki sorted through the information in his mind, looked over the intelligence recorded in his hand, organized his words, and spoke.

"Yuki Yoru was born into the Yuki Clan. His father was Yuki Kuro, a member of the Yuki Clan, but his mother was merely a commoner of Kirigakure."

"Because he fell in love with a commoner, Yuki Kuro faced considerable persecution within the Yuki Clan. Later, during a mission, Yuki Kuro died in an accident."

"That same year, Yuki Yoru was born. Perhaps due to the purity of his bloodline, Yuki Yoru did not inherit his father's Hyoton. He only possessed a Water Chakra nature—not even a Wind nature."

"Under such circumstances, Yuki Yoru and his mother were directly expelled from the Yuki Clan."

Yamanaka Miki paused slightly, and Jiraiya's brow furrowed deeply.

He had originally thought that Yuki Yoru was a genius of the Yuki Clan, but now it seemed that he could not even be considered a member of the Yuki Clan.

But upon thinking it over, this was not unusual among Kekkei Genkai Clans.

Maintaining the purity of one's bloodline was the most basic priority of a Kekkei Genkai Clan. With Yuki Kuro dead, expelling Yuki Yoru and his mother might have been cold-blooded, but it was entirely in keeping with how a Kekkei Genkai Clan operated.

Such things existed even in Konohagakure, let alone Kirigakure, which was known as the Village Hidden in the Bloody Mist.

"After being expelled from the Yuki Clan, his mother raised him alone."

"However, she was only an ordinary Kirigakure genin and was not particularly strong. During a mission, she was accidentally injured and urgently needed treatment. Five-year-old Yuki Yoru begged the Yuki Clan for help, only to be rejected. Although he eventually received assistance from Kirigakure elder Genji, it was already too late."

"After burying his mother, Yuki Yoru caught the eye of Kirigakure elder Genji and was given the chance to study at the Kirigakure Ninja Academy."

"After entering the academy, Yuki Yoru displayed unparalleled talent. In just one year, he completed all of the Kirigakure Ninja Academy's coursework. After killing every other student in his class, he successfully graduated. He was then taken in as a disciple by Kirigakure elder Genji and directly assigned to the ANBU."

"He served under Kushimaru Kuriarare, who was in charge of assassinations."

Jiraiya's brow furrowed deeply.

He had lost his mother at five. Though he had become the disciple of a Kirigakure elder, could an elder truly make up for what Yuki Yoru had needed at that age?

Coupled with the oppressive environment of the Village Hidden in the Bloody Mist and its cruel system where one could be forced to slaughter every peer...

An orphan without parents, rejected by his own clan, who had watched his mother die, growing up in such an environment...

And Genji...

Jiraiya had heard of this man. Not only was he one of Kirigakure's higher-ups, but Karatachi Yagura, the most renowned genius in Kirigakure at present, was also his disciple!

"After entering the ANBU, the talent Yuki Yoru displayed became even more apparent."

"In just three years, Yuki Yoru became the captain of a Kirigakure ANBU squad and Kushimaru Kuriarare's most capable assistant."

"The missions he carried out had a one-hundred-percent success rate. He had never failed, earning him the title 'Blade of the Bloody Mist.'"

"The secret technique he mastered is extremely unusual, completely different from mainstream ninjutsu. Furthermore, his Body Flicker Technique, swordsmanship, and other combat skills are exceptionally outstanding. Even in Kirigakure, few can rival him. He is an 'all-around genius,' a 'Kirigakure star of tomorrow comparable to Karatachi Yagura.'"

The more Jiraiya heard, the more silent he became. This was a monster Kirigakure had forcibly created!

Still, one question lingered in Jiraiya's mind.

"Are you sure Yuki Yoru possesses only a single Water nature?"

"According to Suikazan Fuguki's memories, that is indeed the case." Yamanaka Miki said gravely, "In his memories, Yuki Yoru never awakened Hyoton. Therefore, no matter how great a talent he displayed, the Yuki Clan never sought him out. Nor had he ever used Hyoton himself."

As the Kekkei Genkai of the Yuki Clan, Hyoton required the fusion of at least Water and Wind natures to be born. Since Yuki Yoru possessed only a Water nature, he lacked the talent for Hyoton and had been expelled by the Yuki Clan.

But the question was, if Yuki Yoru did not possess the talent for Hyoton, then what had Fugaku and he seen that day?

"A detection error?"

"Or did he awaken it later?"

Jiraiya frowned tightly. He knew that Chakra natures could also be acquired through later training. Normal Jonin all mastered two or more Chakra natures.

But could those acquired natures really be used to activate a Kekkei Genkai?

Jiraiya did not know. Still, with this intelligence, he had gained a general understanding of Yuki Yoru.

Yet the more he understood, the more wary he became!

"No. Yuki Yoru will inevitably join the main battlefield next. With his strength, he can fully make up for the losses of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Add Karatachi Yagura and Kirigakure's army..."

"We must request reinforcements!"

And they had to be strong enough!

"Someone."

Jiraiya spoke in a low voice, and a Konohagakure ANBU immediately appeared behind him.

"Lord Jiraiya."

"I want you to deliver this intelligence on Yuki Yoru, along with the current frontline battle report, to my teacher as quickly as possible. Tell him to dispatch sufficiently powerful reinforcements in the shortest possible time."

"As for the required combat strength..."

Jiraiya's gaze narrowed as he recalled Yoru's terrifying Body Flicker, comparable to the Flying Thunder God. "If possible, I hope my teacher can send Minato here."

"Remember, hurry!"

After speaking, Jiraiya emphasized it once more.

"Yes, Lord Jiraiya!"

The ANBU ninja gave a slight nod, his expression beneath the mask turning incomparably grave. After taking the intelligence report, he vanished from the spot without the slightest hesitation, using the Body Flicker Technique.

"What a troublesome brat..."

Whenever he thought of that incredibly young, even somewhat immature-looking fellow whose combat strength was in no way inferior to his own, Jiraiya felt a massive headache coming on.

It couldn't be helped—the pressure was simply too great!

Having escaped from his grasp several times, Yuki Yoru had left Jiraiya with far too deep an impression and far too much pressure. If this guy truly ended up causing Konohagakure to lose to Kirigakure, Jiraiya feared his conviction as a shinobi would shatter.