Yubi met with the village leaders, headed by the Third Kazekage.
He had originally planned to take another mission with Sasori and leave immediately.
But Arai had brought him over in a hurry.
According to Arai, the village had held a meeting about his Kekkei Genkai and apparently discussed it at length.
So all he had come to do now was demonstrate Blood Manipulation in front of everyone, letting them observe it up close and assess how "strong" this ability was.
"In other words... at your current strength, your control over this blood is still quite limited, most noticeably in terms of distance and range," the Third Kazekage confirmed, watching the few drops of blood floating above Yubi's palm.
"That's right... for long-range attacks, if I want to maintain their power and destructive force, the farther they travel, the less blood I can control." Yubi nodded.
The drops of blood above his hand spun through the air along set paths.
"Your awakening... was probably triggered instinctively in a life-or-death crisis," Chiyo added.
"Well... I'm not too sure about that myself."
Yubi scratched his head.
"Based on what you've told us, developing your Kekkei Genkai would mainly involve changes in form and any additional effects it might have. All of that would be based on chakra, with the effects of ninjutsu added to it. In other words, incorporating the essence of nature transformation into your ability."
"As for other aspects... such as range and power, as long as you have enough chakra, it would be just like any other ninjutsu. Even using it without any variations would produce effects far beyond what others could achieve."
The Third Kazekage possessed a Kekkei Genkai himself, after all, and understood this area quite well.
"Growing is one thing, but you can't spend all your time out on missions. Field experience can only improve your practical combat experience and understanding of different kinds of combat, along with broadening your ability to analyze ninjutsu. Right now, though, the most direct way to improve your strength is through this Blood Manipulation of yours. If you can bring it to a more impressive level... that would be far better than 'wasting time' out there," one of the leaders said.
"There's nothing wrong with building a foundation first... but once you return to the village again, if I have the time, train with me for a while. I'll do what I can to help you hone this ability."
The Kazekage spoke up.
"Yes."
Yubi nodded.
Afterward, they asked him more questions about Blood Manipulation.
They mainly asked about the origins of his bloodline.
And... they wanted to hear Yubi personally confirm that although this Kekkei Genkai was hereditary, not everyone could awaken it.
"If you mean awakening it through life-or-death battles... I don't think that would work. I might just be an exception. After all, when my father was alive, he fought in plenty of battles and narrowly escaped death many times. If it really were that easy to awaken, I wouldn't still be completely in the dark."
Yubi spoke.
Hearing this, he clearly noticed a hint of regret in the eyes of the Third Kazekage and the others.
"Not necessarily... this ability of yours has never appeared before. We simply don't understand your Kekkei Genkai. Perhaps as you grow, you'll find the key to the problem." Ebizo hesitated.
Clearly, these people... still weren't quite ready to give up.
"Hahaha... then I'll be sure to work hard."
Yubi made a show of cheering himself on.
It was as though he were reassuring the Third Kazekage and the others.
Inside, however, he was very disappointed.
He had revealed his ability because a "Kekkei Genkai" could lend a certain "importance" to his standing, carrying strategic significance for Sunagakure.
If a "Kekkei Genkai" clan could emerge in the village... the improvement to Sunagakure's fighting strength would be particularly tangible.
Unlike his earlier hospital reforms or his own talent... which would take a long time to prove their worth.
Those still carried some uncertainty.
Especially now, when Sunagakure had been badly weakened and its future development was worrying.
Besides... Yubi also wanted to use this opportunity to get a firsthand sense of the village leaders' intentions.
To see which of them... were still worth bringing aboard the ship of a new era.
And which of them... could be abandoned.
Revealing his ability this time was also part of the plan, paving the way for himself.
Some time later, Yubi left the office building.
He had explained everything very clearly.
"They actually let you leave..."
Outside the building, Sasori stood with his arms crossed over his chest.
Seeing Yubi walk out through the entrance looking relaxed, his tense expression eased a little.
Sasori had thought that once Yubi was taken away, the higher-ups would never let him continue going on missions with him.
They might even spend the coming days giving Yubi a thorough "study."
"It's not as complicated as you think... everyone was just curious about my Kekkei Genkai," Yubi said with a smile.
"Hmph."
At that, Sasori cast a cold glance toward the roof. "The only reason he's still willing to let you risk your life on missions is because he knows... it's a way to hone you and make you grow up faster. Also... the village suffered heavy losses in this Shinobi World War, and its results weren't encouraging either. If you can make a name for yourself as Sunagakure's 'genius,' that would also be a way to raise the village's morale. If that reputation spreads... it could restore some of the face Sunagakure lost, especially against Konoha."
The "he" in his words... was undoubtedly the Third Kazekage.
"Aren't you here too...? If that's what they're thinking, doesn't that put you in the same position as me?" Yubi blinked playfully.
"Don't pretend in front of me... it's not that you don't understand. You just don't want to say it." Watching Yubi's breezy manner, Sasori frowned. "This mission already proved that as long as we operate outside the village, there will be danger... even death. Any normal leader would never allow someone like you to leave again... even after everything you've done, your importance still isn't worth as much as their pride in certain people's eyes..."
"They want you to try to overpower Konoha's shinobi of our generation... this mission gave certain people hope. You're already being used."
"A village that needs its younger generation to restore its standing... has no reason to exist."
"Shh."
Yubi gestured for Sasori to lower his voice.
If anyone else heard that, there would be trouble.
"Isn't that what you think too?"
For once, Sasori gave Yubi a mocking look.
The "nice guy" was only Yubi's camouflage.
Sasori had gotten a glimpse of Yubi's true nature.
From time to time, the aura and expression Yubi had shown when facing the Konoha Jonin's lethal ambush would flash through his mind, as though he had been an entirely different person.
This guy... was a madman who enjoyed the thrill of fighting to the death.
He simply hid it well.
Besides, some of the views Yubi occasionally voiced during their border mission... had been clear and distinctive.
There were aspects even Sasori had never considered.
How could a Yubi like that... possibly be stupid?
"I was just playing with them..."
Yubi craned his head to look around, then lifted the corners of his mouth, his smiling eyes curving as he spoke softly.
"..."
Sasori fell silent for a moment, then snorted.
He was a little prickly... but he smiled too.
He quickly returned to his expressionless look, though.
"You keep saying 'the village' like you're not from Sunagakure yourself... I know some of the village's decisions really bother you, but the problem lies with the people, not the village..." Yubi pulled Sasori along and quickly walked away. The two small figures walked side by side, Yubi strolling along with his hands behind his head.
He sounded as though he were making an offhand complaint.
From Sasori's words, he could tell that the negative feelings pent up inside him were growing stronger.
The Third Kazekage allowing Yubi to continue taking missions outside this time had only made Sasori see these people's true colors more clearly.
If this continued, as time passed, Sasori would have no affection left not only for the village leaders, but for Sunagakure itself.
No wonder... he would leave so decisively in the future.
Yubi felt... it was time to share some of his thoughts with Sasori.
This was also an "opportunity" to keep Sasori tied to him.
He couldn't put it off too long... lest Sasori lose all hope in the village.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Isn't it simple...? Since the problem lies with the people, wouldn't getting rid of the problematic people... solve it? Of course, right now... that's definitely beyond us."
In an utterly conversational tone, Yubi voiced something outrageously rebellious.
These words... were far more dangerous than the stance Sasori had just expressed.
Hearing this, Sasori abruptly stopped.
He looked at Yubi's smiling profile.
"What's wrong?"
Yubi raised an eyebrow. "Is there something on my face?"
"You mean... kill them?"
"I never said that. Don't go making false accusations..." Yubi smiled.
"..."
Sasori started walking again, seemingly thinking. A little later... his eyes flickered. "Not a bad approach."
Sasori's response secretly delighted Yubi.
That settled it...
"When did you get that idea?"
"Not too long ago, I guess..."
"When we first assembled to head to the border, I knew from my first look at you that there was 'something wrong' with you... my instincts were right after all."
Sasori spoke flatly.
"I'm not the only one with something wrong with him... you are too, aren't you? I just said what you were thinking. That's called being on the same wavelength."
"Don't act so familiar with me. I don't think we're that close yet."
"You say one thing and mean another... you were clearly worried about me just now."
"You really are unusually thick-skinned... no wonder you get along so well with everyone in the village."
"I'll take that as a compliment..."
The two walked farther and farther away, their voices fading with the growing distance.
No one knew... that on this day, two children from Sunagakure had already decided on a plan to purge the village's power structure in the course of an utterly casual conversation.