Departure

Senju Arashi introduced the arriving Aburame ninja to the group: "This is Aburame Kei. He is a very seasoned ninja."

Aburame Kei gave a slight nod to the group. Qiancao thought to himself that he was indeed an Aburame ninja, just as taciturn as expected.

Senju Arashi continued, speaking to Aburame Kei: "It's alright, the mission failed because I was careless. What happened to the brothers who came with me?"

Aburame Kei glanced at the group and reported truthfully:

"The seven Senju ninjas who accompanied you were all injured. Two of them were severely wounded and have already been sent back to the Senju territory for treatment."

Qiancao, listening from the side, felt a stir in his heart: Could Black Zetsu have hidden among those people and reached the Senju territory?

Senju Arashi then asked: "What about Hayasaka?"

"Daimyo Imagawa's army arrived a step ahead. All the supplies were taken, the rogue ninjas scattered and fled, and Hayasaka's whereabouts are unknown."

Senju Arashi gave a wry smile: "It seems I am going to be severely scolded by my father this time."

Aburame Kei said nothing, but from his flickering eyes, one could see he felt quite sympathetic toward Senju Arashi.

Senju Arashi shook her head, putting aside the frustration of the failed mission for the moment, and continued to Aburame Kei: "These three friends of mine have all been poisoned."

First, she pointed to Shiri: "This one was poisoned by the neurotoxin you gave me."

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

Aburame Kei nodded slightly. Without any visible movement, a fingernail-sized insect crawled out of his sleeve; it was chubby and rather cute.

The insect flew to Shiri and circled in front of her. Shiri couldn't help but reach out to catch it, but the insect bit her on the finger.

Shiri felt nothing from the bite. It wasn't until several minutes later that the insect released its grip and flew shakily back into Aburame Kei's sleeve.

Shiri's complexion had already improved significantly. Her strength had returned, and she was able to stand up and move her numb limbs.

Next, Aburame Kei came to Qiancao's side and said: "Excuse me." He then used his hand to lift Qiancao's eyelid, carefully observing his pupils.

After observing for a while, Aburame Kei pulled back Qiancao's sleeve to check his skin for any abnormalities. Afterward, he stood to the side and began to ponder.

Senju Arashi did not disturb his thinking; she sat down and grilled another fish.

Aburame Kei took a long time to snap out of his thoughts. He took a small box of pills from his pack, gave one to Qiancao and one to Wuming, and explained:

"These are Anti-Poison Pills that our Aburame Clan takes when we go deep into the mountains to collect rare insects. They can suppress most known poisons."

Senju Arashi asked from the side: "Does that mean the toxins in their bodies are resolved?"

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

However, he then explained to the group: "Based on my experience, these two are not poisoned at all."

"They show no signs of poisoning, unless the Uchiha's toxin-making technology has surpassed our Aburame Clan to develop a miraculous poison without any symptoms."

"A delayed-action poison like this would definitely manifest some kind of sign on the body."

When talking about professional knowledge, Aburame Kei shed his reserved image and became quite eloquent.

Senju Arashi listened to his explanation with a serious expression. She rarely spoke in such a formal tone as she addressed Wuming and Qiancao: "Mr. Kei's attainments regarding toxins are top-tier within the Aburame Clan."

"If even he cannot detect the toxins in your bodies, it means there is a ninety percent chance that you are truly not poisoned."

"But if there is still a one-in-ten-thousand chance, then you..."

Although Senju Arashi did not finish her sentence, Qiancao understood her expression.

Was it to play it safe and return to the Uchiha cage, or to trust science and embrace freedom?

He looked at Wuming beside him. She was staring at him, her eyes revealing absolute trust. No matter what he chose, she would follow him without hesitation.

Qiancao no longer hesitated and said to the group: "I trust Brother Kei's judgment. Uchiha Naoto must be trying to scare us; there is no such thing as such a miraculous poison."

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

The Aburame Clan had lived with various insects for years and had always been objects of fear and dread for others. He had not expected this young man to trust him so completely upon their first meeting.

Excitedly, he said to Qiancao: "Rest assured, my friend. Since you trust my Aburame Clan, then my clan will certainly not let anything happen to you!"

At this moment, Shiri, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up: "Don't worry, I will go back and probe Lord Naoto."

Hearing her say this, Qiancao hurriedly refused: "Don't, Sister Shiri. You are already very conspicuous by returning directly like this. If any clues are discovered, Uchiha Naoto will not let you off."

Shiri smiled. The warm smile on her face reminded Qiancao of the first time he met her in the cell; her whole being seemed to radiate maternal brilliance:

"It's fine. Since I brought you out, I must be responsible for your safety."

"There are still three days left before the potential poison takes effect. I will rush back to probe him. If there really is a problem, there is still time for a remedy."

Qiancao tried to persuade her not to take the risk, but Shiri had already made up her mind and revealed her inner thoughts to the group:

"My daily work is to study the secrets hidden within the Sharingan. I have conducted experiments on both the corpses of clansmen and living subjects."

"All the ninjutsu on Wuming's body were implanted by me."

As she spoke, she looked at Wuming beside her, a flash of apology and pity in her eyes. She continued:

"I have had enough of these days. Even if Lord Naoto punishes me, it is the retribution I deserve."

"At the very least, being able to help you gain freedom in the end can be considered a small comfort."

As she spoke, Shiri walked up to Wuming, touched her head, and helped smooth out a stray lock of hair, saying from the bottom of her heart:

"I'm sorry for making you suffer..."

To give Qiancao and Wuming time to react, Hiri immediately set off on the return journey.

Watching her retreating figure, Wuming's expression was complex, but in the end, she said nothing.

The group tidied up and headed in another direction: toward the territory of the Aburame Clan.

After a day of traveling, Hiri finally arrived, dusty and weary, at Naka Shrine, standing before the small room where Uchiha Naoto resided.

Gently knocking on the door, Hiri reported her purpose to Naoto inside, just as she had done in the past: "Uchiha Hiri, here to report on the mission status."

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

With a tense expression, Hiri stepped through the doorway. Uchiha Naoto sat upright in the depths of the room and spoke indifferently to her as she entered:

"I require an explanation."