This C-rank mission had been accepted independently by Yubi's three-man team.
It had nothing to do with Sasori.
Sasori had accepted this mission himself and happened to be assigned to the same group as them.
With the current exceptional circumstances and the shortage of manpower, the village was also focusing on nurturing newcomers.
No one had expected Amegakure to suddenly launch this war against the Land of Wind.
"You two should return to the village with us."
The Third Kazekage's guard spoke from beside him.
Both Sasori and Yubi were the village's hopes for the future... it would be unfortunate if they died out here before they could grow.
"My mission isn't finished yet."
Yubi spoke.
"Exceptional circumstances call for exceptional measures... the village will assess your performance based on the mission records, and your achievements in this battle will also be added to your records for future promotion." The guard smiled and addressed Yubi specifically. "It will help with your future Chunin examination, too."
That was right. Eight-year-old Sasori was already a Chunin.
Yubi was still a Genin.
Yubi had graduated from the Ninja Academy just over six months ago, while Sasori had graduated earlier.
So far, he had completed five D-rank missions and, counting this one, two C-rank missions.
Sasori, meanwhile, had already completed quite a few C-rank and B-rank missions independently and had even participated in an A-rank mission.
By comparison, Yubi's mission experience looked rather sparse.
Sasori had kept growing, and since what had happened to his parents, he rarely returned to the village... as soon as he finished one mission, he immediately accepted another. Regardless of the difficulty, he never stayed idle.
That was also why Sasori had been able to team up with Yubi this time.
"I don't need it."
Sasori spoke flatly.
His words sounded a little like he was mocking Yubi.
"Yubi, this is your first time carrying out this kind of mission, isn't it?"
The Third Kazekage asked.
"Yes."
Yubi nodded.
"Arai... you'll personally lead the two of them." The Third Kazekage looked at his guard.
"Huh?"
The Kazekage's guard froze for a moment, but quickly answered, "Yes!"
Sasori naturally needed no guidance. Young as he was, he was highly independent, and the Third Kazekage knew his strength and capabilities well.
This arrangement was primarily meant to nurture Yubi.
"Yubi... who taught you medical ninjutsu?"
Then the Third Kazekage asked the question with seeming casualness.
"When I was interning at the hospital, I saw people using it and asked a senior a few questions... although the senior didn't teach me much, I tried it out and practiced on my own in private," Yubi said.
"You studied and practiced it yourself?"
The Third Kazekage sought confirmation.
"You could say that..."
Yubi nodded.
At those words, both the Kazekage and his guard fell silent.
The precision of chakra control required for medical ninjutsu was difficult to imagine... never mind a Genin fresh out of the Ninja Academy; even a seasoned Chunin would struggle to reach the same level without extensive practice.
What was more, Yubi had not even had a ninjutsu scroll. He had merely watched others perform it and received a few brief explanations.
That aptitude...
Sasori also glanced at Yubi's profile without saying anything.
But instinctively... he caught the scent of a lie from Yubi.
He was Granny Chiyo's grandson, after all. Likewise, because of his interest in creating human puppets, many of his puppet-making techniques and skills came from his understanding of medical ninjutsu, including knowledge of the human body's structure and chakra, among other things.
He knew very well that something like the Mystical Palm Technique was one thing, but with a ninjutsu like the Chakra Scalpel, keeping chakra sharp and precise, concentrating it in the hands for long periods without letting it drift outward... was not something one could figure out simply by watching.
At the very least, someone had to provide guidance while experience accumulated gradually over time.
Such a claim would also be difficult to sell to the other two people present.
But... a so-called "genius" was precisely someone who could defy conventional understanding. Yubi's answer effectively attributed everything to his talent as a medical ninja.
He could do what ordinary people could not.
That left the Third Kazekage and his guard Arai unsure how to question him further.
Sasori did not choose to expose Yubi's lie, either... outsiders probably still did not know that Yubi knew another A-rank ninjutsu, the Chakra Scalpel.
This boy's performance at the Ninja Academy was fairly ordinary, but he did show an aptitude for medicine early on... if he learned it during his hospital internship... Arai's eyes flickered as he stared at Yubi, the shock in his heart refusing to settle for a while.
Whether it was true or false, there was certainly no problem with Yubi's allegiance or background.
Yubi's parents had also been ninja, and they had died in this Shinobi World War several years ago.
He was now an orphan.
Moreover, Arai also knew Yubi's instructor.
For this meeting with Yubi, the Third Kazekage had even made a point of looking into the boy's information.
"The younger generation is truly formidable... it seems you have extraordinary insight into and understanding of medical ninjutsu." The Third Kazekage passed over the matter lightly. "The village doesn't have many medical ninjutsu scrolls... but if you're interested, you may borrow them."
"Really? Thank you, Lord Kazekage!"
Yubi put on a grateful expression.
With the system, never mind Sunagakure's limited ninjutsu resources-even Konoha's S-rank medical ninjutsu was his for the taking... he only needed to redeem it to comprehend it, with no practice required at all.
So... he had no interest whatsoever in the Third Kazekage's promise.
But he had to see the act through. If he appeared completely indifferent, it would inevitably arouse suspicion.
Then, without any further pleasantries, Arai led Yubi and Sasori away.
This audience with the Third Kazekage had mainly been for him to offer the two of them verbal commendations and a small reward.
This Third Kazekage's way of doing things is much like Rasa's in later years, swift and decisive... although he seems to have assigned his guard to protect Sasori and me, his attitude and words make it clear that, to the village, even the most talented juniors... are nothing more than tools. There's no warmth to speak of.
On the way back to the canyon with Arai, Yubi went over every detail of his exchange with the Third Kazekage, thinking to himself.
It was hard to say that Rasa had not been influenced by the Third Kazekage...
After all, for the village's sake, Rasa could even turn his own son, Gaara, into a war machine.
Perhaps this was also one of the factors behind Sasori's future assassination of the Third Kazekage.
This village had no warmth that could make people stay... at least for now.
In the eyes of its leadership, everyone was a tool.
Including Pakura, who would be discarded in the future.
This won't do... the leadership's thinking has already gone down the wrong path.
Yubi narrowed his eyes slightly.
Although Konoha also had a rotten apple like Danzo, on the whole, it still had at least a tiny bit of human warmth.
Becoming a "genius" in other people's eyes was only the first step of his plan.
To change Sunagakure, the first thing he needed to do was draw the leadership's attention... because only then would he have the leverage to take a seat at the table and change everything in the future.
Keeping a low profile, or rather, quietly building up his strength... from Yubi's observations, that would not work in the current era.
Fortunately, this time I've officially entered the Third Kazekage's sights and drawn the leadership's attention... so next... I need to keep making my presence felt and increase my standing within the village.
The thought arose in Yubi's mind, giving him a goal.