Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
That night, Arai led Yubi and Sasori into the Land of Rain.
The three raced through the drizzling rain.
They were returning to the Land of Wind.
Arai had been prepared for Konoha to send pursuers after them on this mission.
But the pursuers' strength had clearly exceeded his expectations.
Fortunately, he had been leading the team. Otherwise...
At that thought, Arai glanced at Yubi beside him.
The fatal wounds the Konoha Ninja had inflicted on him had already healed through Medical Ninjutsu... Yubi's proficiency in Medical Ninjutsu truly astonished him.
For an ordinary person, injuries like those would have been difficult to recover from completely in such a short time, even with a medical ninja's treatment.
They would have needed at least some time to recuperate.
But judging by Yubi's movements and stamina, he seemed largely unaffected.
However, that was not what concerned Arai.
After all, Yubi was a publicly recognized genius in the village. No matter how remarkable the abilities he displayed, they would hardly be surprising.
They would only further prove his exceptional talent.
But some things... had nothing to do with talent.
"Yubi... is that ability of yours a Kekkei Genkai?" At last, Arai weighed his tone before asking in a casual, conversational manner.
Kekkei Genkai... were hereditary.
Yubi's parents had only been Chunin in Sunagakure and had never displayed such an ability.
Moreover, there were no records or relevant data on such a Kekkei Genkai... anywhere in the Shinobi World.
At least... this was his first time seeing it.
"Yes... Blood Manipulation."
Yubi scratched his head and answered frankly with a smile.
Beside him, Sasori watched him... recalling Yubi's abnormal state during his final exchange with the Jonin, that madness and excitement.
He had seemed like an entirely different person... from the Yubi before him now.
Arai seemingly had not expected Yubi to answer so readily.
"Your family..."
Arai trailed off.
"It's an ability from my father's bloodline... but our family's Kekkei Genkai is rather unusual. It needs to be 'awakened.' Apart from me, though, it seems only our ancestor possessed this ability... I don't know how I awakened it either. All of a sudden... it was as though I could sense it. The other ancestors on my father's side could only become ordinary ninja because they never awakened it..." Knowing what he wanted to ask, Yubi continued on his own.
Awakening... did fit the characteristics of certain Kekkei Genkai.
"Does your family have a genealogy?"
Arai asked again.
"No... my father told me our family's origins go back a very long time, before the concept of hidden villages even existed. Our heritage was lost long ago, and only fragments of information survived, passed down orally from generation to generation. Without any powerful members who had awakened this Kekkei Genkai, our clan was destined to decline... though I suppose you can't call it a decline. After all... we were never glorious to begin with," Yubi said.
Arai nodded.
He could not judge whether Yubi was telling the truth.
But the appearance of an entirely new Kekkei Genkai in Sunagakure was naturally good news for the village.
Although something about it seemed a little strange, Yubi's background was clean... there was little reason for suspicion.
"Once we return to the village, we'll have to submit our mission report. Lord Kazekage and the others will certainly learn about your Kekkei Genkai," Arai said.
"I understand."
"This matter of yours is no small thing for the village."
There was a pointed meaning behind Arai's words.
"Hehe..."
Yubi smiled innocently, seemingly oblivious to the deeper meaning.
Sasori, however, frowned slightly.
A Kekkei Genkai... meant that a new "family faction" would emerge in the village, while also becoming part of its regular reserve of fighting strength.
To preserve this bloodline, Sunagakure would certainly use all sorts of methods to ensure Yubi produced offspring... the simplest being a marriage alliance with another family.
Naturally, the more descendants, the better.
This was not a question of personal wishes. It was something he would have to do to cooperate with the village.
Sasori understood how Sunagakure's leadership operated.
Looking at Yubi right beside him, who seemed unaware of the "stakes" involved, Sasori said coldly, "So far, you're the only person who's awakened this Kekkei Genkai... does that mean that even if you have children... they won't necessarily possess your ability?"
"That's right."
Yubi nodded slightly.
Sasori appeared to be questioning him, but his words were clearly meant for Arai.
It was a roundabout way of "protecting" him.
Yubi was secretly delighted. This meant... his relationship with Sasori had taken another step forward.
Without a genealogy, and with so much time having passed, there was no way to trace any of it.
Yubi's father had already died in battle, leaving him as the sole remaining descendant.
Sure enough, Arai's expression shifted slightly upon hearing those words.
He also noticed Sasori's "wariness" toward him.
"Don't worry. Once we return to the village, I'll make a point of emphasizing the issue of awakening the bloodline to Lord Kazekage... after all, if this ability were so easy to obtain, your family would have secured a place not just in the village, but throughout the Shinobi World long ago."
Arai could see that Sasori was deeply guarded around him.
But in truth, he did not want Yubi, who was only just beginning to distinguish himself, to be exploited and used up too early because of the village's power and desires either.
He, too, hoped Yubi could grow up "healthily."
Because... in his eyes, Yubi was a good child.
"Haha... my father used to dream about that too."
Yubi smiled.
"I had some dealings with your father as well... but I never heard him mention this Kekkei Genkai..."
Arai was not questioning him. He was simply curious.
"My father believed it was already impossible for his descendants to awaken this Kekkei Genkai, so there wasn't much point mentioning it... since the Shinobi World had no records of it anyway, he might as well pretend it didn't exist. Besides, he was only a Chunin with mediocre abilities... letting others know he carried a Kekkei Genkai would have brought some shame on our ancestors." Yubi smiled.
"That's true... I can understand his thinking."
Arai nodded.
"Blood Manipulation... was it?"
"Yes..."
"Could you explain this ability to me? Of course... if you'd rather not..." Before Arai could finish, Yubi had already begun speaking. "Simply put, it's an ability to control blood, but... it clearly still needs further development through Ninjutsu. Since I'm currently the only one who's awakened it, and our family has no relevant teachings left, I may have to... find my own way forward."
"Don't worry. Lord Kazekage possesses a Kekkei Genkai too... he should be very interested in your ability. Although their fundamental natures are somewhat different, with Lord Kazekage's experience... he should be able to offer you some help and advice."
Arai reassured him.
"Yes."
"Let's go. We should hurry back to the village."
Several days later, in Sunagakure.
The Third Kazekage's office.
The Kazekage watched Arai, who stood before him, finish recounting everything.
A look of delighted disbelief appeared on his face.
He clasped his hands beneath his chin and murmured, "Blood Manipulation..."
"Even with how far the Shinobi World has developed, there are still Kekkei Genkai that have never been discovered?"
After a moment's consideration, the Kazekage said gravely, "Go summon everyone for a meeting!"
"Yes."
A guard in the room immediately turned to carry out the order.
"Lord Kazekage... Yubi is still young, after all..."
Seeing this, Arai spoke hesitantly.
The Kazekage slowly rose and glanced at Arai. "Everything we do is for the village... that goes for me, for you, and for Yubi. This is the duty we've borne since birth!"
"..."
Arai.
"Yubi's Kekkei Genkai is no small matter. We need to deliberate and discuss it carefully from the village's perspective."
"Even if the village needs him to make certain sacrifices... at least it won't be now."
"The time hasn't come yet..."
The Kazekage spoke solemnly.
"You did well on this mission." Having finished, he added a word of praise.
"You may leave."
"Yes."
Hearing this, Arai could only take his leave for now.