Yuji met with the Village's high-ranking officials under the leadership of the Third Kazekage.
Originally, he had planned to accept another mission with Sasori and leave immediately, but Arai had urgently summoned him. According to Arai, the Village had already held a meeting regarding Yuji's Kekkei Genkai and discussed it thoroughly.
Yuji's presence now was simply to demonstrate Blood Manipulation in front of them so they could personally observe and evaluate its strength.
The Third Kazekage watched the droplets of blood suspended above Yuji's palm and spoke slowly. "So, with your current strength, your control over blood is still limited. The most obvious limitation is its range."
"Yes," Yuji replied calmly. "When attacking from a distance, if I want to maintain sufficient power and destructive force, the farther the range, the less blood I can control effectively."
The blood droplets rotated in precise arcs above his hand, moving as if alive.
Chiyo observed closely and added, "You must have awakened it instinctively during a life-and-death crisis."
Yuji scratched his head with an awkward smile. "I'm not completely sure myself."
The Kazekage nodded slightly and continued his analysis. "Based on what you've said, the future development of your Kekkei Genkai lies primarily in form transformation and possibly additional effects.
All of this depends on Chakra and can be enhanced through the principles of ninjutsu. In essence, you must integrate ninjutsu fundamentals into your bloodline ability."
He paused before adding, "As for range and power, they will naturally increase as your Chakra grows stronger. Even without complex changes, sheer Chakra volume alone can greatly amplify its effectiveness."
As a Kekkei Genkai user himself, the Third Kazekage spoke with authority and experience.
One of the other officials then said bluntly, "Going on missions endlessly is not the most efficient way for you to grow. Missions improve combat experience and broaden your understanding, but right now, the fastest way to increase your strength is to focus on developing Blood Manipulation. If you can elevate it further, that will be far more valuable than wasting time outside."
The Kazekage spoke again, his tone calmer. "A solid foundation is important. However, when you are in the Village, you may train with me personally. I will help you refine this ability as much as possible."
"Yes, Kazekage-sama," Yuji replied obediently.
After that, the officials continued questioning him, focusing primarily on the origin of his bloodline and confirming whether this Kekkei Genkai could be inherited reliably.
Yuji shook his head. "I don't believe it can be awakened simply through life-and-death situations. My father fought in many battles and survived numerous near-death experiences, yet he never awakened it. I may simply be an exception."
He clearly noticed the flicker of disappointment in their eyes.
Ebizo hesitated before speaking. "Not necessarily. Your Kekkei Genkai has never been seen before. We simply don't understand it yet. As you grow stronger, we may discover the key."
It was obvious they had not completely abandoned their hopes.
Yuji laughed lightly. "Then I'll work hard."
Outwardly, he appeared motivated and sincere. Inwardly, however, he was disappointed.
He had revealed his Kekkei Genkai deliberately. A bloodline ability gave him strategic value in the eyes of the Village, far more immediate and tangible than his medical reforms or his personal talent, which required time to prove their worth.
A new Kekkei Genkai meant the potential birth of a powerful bloodline family, something that could directly strengthen Sunagakure.
But more importantly, Yuji wanted to observe the will of the Village's leadership.
He wanted to see who deserved to stand in the future he envisioned, and who could be discarded.
Revealing his ability was simply another step in his plan.
After some time, the meeting ended, and Yuji left the Kazekage's office.
Outside, Sasori stood waiting with his arms crossed.
"They actually let you leave," Sasori said quietly.
His tense posture relaxed slightly when he saw Yuji unharmed.
He had expected the Village to detain Yuji for study.
Yuji replied with a grin. "They were just curious."
Sasori snorted and glanced toward the office building. "The reason he's still allowing you to take missions is simple. He believes combat will temper you faster. And after losing this war, the Village needs symbols of hope. If Sunagakure's geniuses become known, it will restore morale, and recover some of its lost reputation."
He did not need to say the Kazekage's name.
Yuji smiled playfully. "You're a genius too. Doesn't that mean you're in the same situation?"
Sasori frowned.
"Don't pretend," he said coldly. "You understand perfectly. This last mission proved how dangerous it is for us outside the Village. Any reasonable leader would keep you here. But he still sends you out."
His eyes hardened.
"To some people… their reputation matters more than your life."
"They want you to surpass your Konoha contemporaries. This mission has given certain people hope. You're already being used."
"A village that needs its children to restore its pride… has no reason to exist."
"Shh."
Yuji raised a finger to his lips, signaling Sasori to lower his voice. If anyone overheard those words, the consequences would be serious.
"Aren't you thinking the same thing?" Sasori asked.
For once, his tone carried a trace of sarcasm.
Yuji's harmless and cheerful persona was nothing more than a disguise. Sasori had already begun to glimpse the truth beneath it.
He still remembered the moment Yuji had faced assassination at the hands of the Konoha jonin. The madness in his eyes. The exhilaration.
This was not the expression of someone who feared death. This was the expression of someone who embraced it.
Yuji was a madman.
A madman who enjoyed killing.
He simply hid it well.
And during their missions together, Yuji's occasional insights and observations had been unnervingly sharp, sometimes even beyond Sasori's own thinking.
How could someone like that be foolish?
"Just playing along with them," Yuji whispered softly.
He glanced around cautiously, a faint smile tugging at his lips, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Sasori fell silent for a moment before letting out a quiet grunt.
It was almost reluctant.
But there was the faintest hint of a smile.
It vanished quickly, replaced by his usual cold indifference.
"You talk about the Village like you don't belong to it," Sasori said.
Yuji casually clasped his hands behind his head and began walking, gently pulling Sasori along beside him.
"I know some of the Village's decisions have disappointed you," Yuji said lightly. "But the problem isn't the Village itself. It's the people."
He sounded casual.
But he was watching Sasori closely. The resentment inside Sasori was growing.
Yuji could see it.
The Third Kazekage's decision to continue sending him on missions had only deepened Sasori's disillusionment.
If this continued, Sasori wouldn't just lose faith in the leadership. He would lose faith in Sunagakure itself.
Yuji knew where that path led. He knew what Sasori would eventually become.
This was his chance.
"What do you mean?" Sasori asked.
Yuji's smile widened slightly.
"Isn't it obvious?" he said. "If the problem is certain people… then removing those people solves the problem."
He paused briefly.
"Of course… not now."
He said it as if it were a joke.
As if it meant nothing.
But those words were far more dangerous than anything Sasori had said earlier.
Sasori stopped walking.
He stared at Yuji's profile.
Yuji turned his head.
"What's wrong?" he asked lightly. "Do I have something on my face?"
Sasori's eyes narrowed.
"Are you saying… kill them?"
Yuji blinked innocently.
"I never said that," he replied sweetly. "Don't put words in my mouth."
Sasori stared at him for several seconds.
Then he resumed walking.
His eyes flickered faintly.
"A good method," he said quietly.
Yuji's smile deepened.
It was settled.
"When did you start thinking like this?" Sasori asked.
"Not long ago," Yuji replied.
Sasori glanced at him.
"The first time I saw you," Sasori said, "I knew there was something wrong with you."
"My intuition was right."
Yuji laughed softly.
"It's not just me," he said. "You're the same."
Sasori snorted.
"Don't get too close to me," he said coldly. "We're not that familiar."
Yuji grinned.
"You were worried about me just now."
The two boys continued walking side by side beneath the gray sky.
Their voices gradually faded into the distance.
No one knew that on this quiet day, two children of Sunagakure had already begun planning the future.
A future where they would reshape the Village itself.
...
STONES >^_^^_^<
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