Departure

Senju Arashi introduced the Aburame ninja who had just arrived to everyone. "This is Aburame Kei. He's a very experienced ninja."

Aburame Kei gave everyone a slight nod. Qiancao thought, As expected of an Aburame ninja. They really are quiet.

Senju Arashi then said to Aburame Kei, "It's all right. I failed the mission because I wasn't careful. What happened to the brothers who came with me?"

Aburame Kei glanced at everyone, then reported honestly:

"The seven Senju ninja who accompanied the young lady were all injured. Two of them were seriously hurt, and have already been sent back to the Senju Territory for treatment."

Qiancao, listening nearby, felt a stirring of concern. Could Black Zetsu have hidden among those men again and made it to the Senju Territory?

Senju Arashi continued, "What happened at Hayasaka?"

"The Daimyo Imagawa's troops arrived first. They took all the supplies, and the wandering ninja scattered in every direction. Hayasaka's whereabouts are unknown."

Senju Arashi gave a bitter smile. "Looks like my father is going to give me a thorough scolding this time."

Aburame Kei said nothing, but the flicker in his eyes showed that he felt deeply sympathetic toward Senju Arashi.

Senju Arashi shook her head, putting aside her frustration over the failed mission for the moment, and continued, "My three friends here have all been poisoned."

First, she pointed at Shiri. "She was poisoned with the Neurotoxin you gave me."

Then she pointed at Wuming and Qiancao. "These two were poisoned with a new toxin developed by the Uchiha Clan. It has a seven-day incubation period. Please take a look at them."

Aburame Kei gave a slight nod. Without making any obvious movements, he let a tiny, plump, rather cute insect, about the size of a fingernail, crawl out of his sleeve.

The insect flew in front of Shiri, circling around her. Shiri couldn't help reaching out to catch it, but the insect bit her finger.

Shiri felt nothing from the bite. Only after several minutes did the insect let go, then wobble back into Aburame Kei's sleeve.

But Shiri's complexion had already improved considerably. Strength returned to her body, and she was able to stand and move her numb limbs.

Next, Aburame Kei went over to Qiancao. "Pardon me." He lifted Qiancao's eyelid with his hand and carefully examined her pupil.

After examining her for a while, Aburame Kei lifted Qiancao's sleeve to check whether there were any abnormalities on her skin. Then he stood aside and began to think.

Senju Arashi didn't disturb him as he considered the matter. She sat down and grilled another fish.

Aburame Kei took a long time to think before coming back to himself. He took a small box of pills from his backpack and gave one each to Qiancao and Wuming, explaining, "These are Anti-Poison Pills. We in the Aburame Clan take them when we go into the mountains to collect rare insects. They can suppress most known poisons."

Senju Arashi asked from nearby, "Does that mean the poison in their bodies is taken care of?"

Aburame Kei slowly shook his head, making Shiri, who had been watching closely, tense up.

But he then explained to everyone, "In my experience, these two aren't poisoned at all."

"They show no signs of poisoning. Unless the Uchiha's poison-making skills have surpassed those of the Aburame Clan and they've developed a miraculous toxin that leaves no trace."

"A poison that takes effect after a delay would certainly show some kind of sign on the body."

When discussing his area of expertise, Aburame Kei shed his usual taciturn image and became downright talkative.

Senju Arashi listened to his explanation with a serious expression, then said to Wuming and Qiancao in an unusually solemn tone, "Mr. Kei's expertise in poisons is among the best in the Aburame Clan."

"If even he can't detect a poison in your bodies, there's a ninety percent chance that you really aren't poisoned."

"But if there's even a one-in-ten-thousand chance that you are, then..."

Though Senju Arashi didn't finish, Qiancao understood from her expression.

Should I be safe than sorry and return to the Uchiha cage, or trust in science and embrace freedom?

She glanced at Wuming beside her. Wuming was looking at her, her eyes showing absolute trust. No matter what Qiancao chose, she would follow her without hesitation.

So Qiancao made up her mind and said to everyone, "I trust Big Brother Kei's judgment. Uchiha Naoto must have been trying to scare us. How could there be such a miraculous poison?"

Before anyone else could say anything, Aburame Kei's eyes lit up.

The Aburame Clan spent their lives with all kinds of insects, and people had always feared and dreaded them. He hadn't expected this young man to trust him so completely at their first meeting.

Moved, he said to Qiancao, "You can rest easy, my friend. Since you trust the Aburame Clan, we certainly won't let anything happen to you!"

Then Shiri, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up. "Don't worry. I'll go back and test Naoto."

Hearing that, Qiancao hurriedly refused. "Don't, Shiri. Going back like this will already make you stand out. If they notice anything else, Uchiha Naoto won't let you go."

Shiri smiled. The warmth in her smile reminded Qiancao of the first time she had met Shiri in the cell. It was as if Shiri were radiating a motherly glow.

"It's all right. Since I brought you out, I have a responsibility to keep you safe."

"There are still three days before the poison might take effect. I can go back and test things. If there really is a problem, there'll still be time to do something about it."

Qiancao tried again to persuade her not to take the risk, but Shiri had already made up her mind. She opened her heart to everyone:

"My usual work is researching the secrets contained within the Sharingan. I've experimented on both the corpses of clan members and living subjects."

"All the ninjutsu in Wuming's body was implanted by me."

As she spoke, she looked at Wuming beside her. A trace of apology and pity flashed in her eyes, then she continued:

"I've had enough of this life. Even if Lord Naoto punishes me, it'll be what I deserve."

"At least I can help you gain your freedom in the end. That gives me a little comfort."

As Shiri spoke, she walked up to Wuming and stroked her head. She smoothed down a stray lock of hair, then said from the bottom of her heart, "I'm sorry I made you suffer..."

To give Qiancao and Wuming time to process everything, Shiri set off on her way back immediately.

Wuming watched her leave with a complicated expression, but in the end, she said nothing.

After packing up, the group headed in another direction, toward the Aburame Clan's territory.

After traveling for a day, Shiri finally arrived, dusty and weary, at the small room in Naka Shrine where Uchiha Naoto was staying.

She knocked lightly on the door and, as she had in the past, reported her purpose to Naoto inside. "Uchiha Shiri, reporting on the mission."

"Come in." Naoto's voice came from within the room.

Shiri stepped through the door, her expression tense. Uchiha Naoto sat at the back of the room and said coolly to her, "I need an explanation."