Arai's training went far beyond simple sparring.
Combat was only one part of it.
Their patrol duties required them to inspect merchant caravans passing through the canyon. Even during wartime, trade never stopped entirely. Supplies, information, black-market goods, everything still flowed between nations in one form or another.
While Yuji carried out inspections, Arai would suddenly vanish.
Sometimes he would reappear disguised under a Transformation Jutsu, posing as a panicked merchant, a wounded civilian, or even an enemy shinobi launching a surprise attack.
Other times, he would set traps in advance along narrow valley paths, forcing Yuji to react under pressure.
Every scenario was different.
Ninja battles were unpredictable. Styles varied wildly. Arai's goal was simple: force Yuji to adapt.
The results were visible.
Yuji returned to base every day looking battered. Bruises, torn sleeves, dust-caked hair, sometimes he was so exhausted that Arai had to carry him back.
Sasori saw all of it.
He also knew that even after training ended, Yuji practiced alone in the shadows of the canyon.
Relentless.
Almost obsessive.
Under this kind of diversified pressure, Yuji's growth became impossible to ignore.
In taijutsu alone, he could now exchange several moves with Arai and hold out briefly before being subdued. He was no longer overwhelmed in an instant.
Even for an Elite Jonin like Arai, the speed of improvement was astonishing.
In his eyes, Yuji was like a sponge dropped into water, absorbing everything, squeezing it dry, and returning for more.
Often, Arai didn't need to repeat instructions. A single hint was enough. Yuji's comprehension bordered on unsettling.
Two months passed in a blink.
During that time, they encountered scattered enemies, mostly Amegakure shinobi.
Though Amegakure had suffered a heavy defeat earlier, no formal peace had been established. Skirmishes continued along the border.
Eventually, Arai decided the time had come.
Instead of waiting defensively, he would take Yuji and Sasori across the border and strike back at an Amegakure outpost.
If Amegakure could harass the Land of Wind, then Sunagakure could return the favor.
Late one night...
Swish. Swish. Swish.
Three figures moved swiftly through the darkness. One tall, two small.
They headed straight toward the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain.
"This is an independent mission," Arai said quietly as they advanced. "I'll record everything and submit it upon our return. During the operation, I will not intervene."
His voice hardened.
"Your task is simple. Within the allotted time, eliminate as many Amegakure shinobi as possible. Then withdraw cleanly."
Penetrating enemy territory was dangerous.
But Arai was confident. Even if things went wrong, he could extract the two boys safely.
He also had another purpose.
Healthy competition.
In Arai's judgment, Yuji already possessed the ability of a chūnin. Once they returned, he could recommend him for the promotion exam.
And sparring only with Arai had limits.
Every ninja fought differently.
Real experience came from facing unpredictable enemies.
"You've both fought Amegakure before," Arai continued. "But don't be careless. The opponents you met previously weren't elite."
His tone lowered further.
"Amegakure may not be counted among the Five Great Villages, but it has been extremely active in this war. Their leader is Hanzō, the so-called 'Demi-God.' Those who've survived under him, especially those guarding the border, are hardened veterans."
He glanced toward Yuji.
"Once inside the Land of Rain, your first priority is concealment. Track their positions quietly. If you expose yourselves too early… the danger multiplies."
"Understood," Yuji replied calmly.
He knew the reminder was meant for him.
Sasori required no such cautioning.
The terrain shifted gradually beneath their feet.
The endless sand gave way to firmer soil. Sparse green vegetation began to appear. In the distance, shadowy mountain ridges cut across the horizon.
They had reached one of the border routes between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain.
As they approached, two Sunagakure sentries emerged from concealment, blocking their path.
They relaxed upon recognizing Arai.
"It's Lord Arai," one of them said, bowing slightly.
Arai nodded.
"How is the situation?"
"It's been very quiet on Amegakure's side lately," one of the Sunagakure shinobi replied. "There have been a few minor movements, but we detected them all in advance."
"Mhm."
"And these two…?"
The pair of border guards glanced at Yuji and Sasori.
"I'm taking them on a mission," Arai said casually.
The guards exchanged looks.
They recognized Sasori immediately, the village's young puppeteer prodigy.
But the other boy?
Their gazes lingered on Yuji with open curiosity. He didn't look especially intimidating. No sharp killing intent. No overwhelming presence.
Just another kid.
After a few more brief words, Arai led the two past the picket line and continued toward the border.
As the three figures faded into the night, one of the guards muttered, "Do you know him?"
His companion shook his head. "Never seen him before."
Even with Lord Arai accompanying them, slipping across the border was no small matter. They themselves wouldn't dare attempt such a thing lightly.
Sasori's talent was widely acknowledged.
But that other brat… no matter how they looked at him, he didn't seem like much.
"He's unfamiliar," the second guard said. "And the border defenses are much tighter than the rear. We were spotted the moment we showed ourselves."
...
Yuji ran swiftly behind Arai, glancing back once.
The guards weren't wrong.
The border security here was far stricter than anything in the rear canyon.
"Stay sharp. Keep up," Arai warned in a low voice.
As they drew closer to the actual border, even under the cover of night, Arai's expression became completely serious.
The next moment, his speed increased sharply.
His path was deliberate.
He avoided obvious routes, slipping through blind spots between patrol lines. It was clear he had studied Amegakure's deployment carefully.
The sand gradually gave way to firmer soil. Sparse trees began to appear.
Ahead lay a dense forest stretching endlessly into darkness.
Without hesitation, the three leapt into the woods, bounding from trunk to trunk in near silence.
Moments after they vanished. several figures slipped out from the shadows below.
"I heard something," an Amegakure shinobi muttered, narrowing his eyes.
He crouched, scanning the ground for footprints, broken twigs, any trace of intrusion.
"Nothing unusual," another confirmed after a sweep.
They lingered a moment longer before disappearing again.
...
Several hundred meters away, hidden along the shaded sides of thick tree trunks, Arai, Sasori, and Yuji crouched in silence.
Arai didn't speak.
Now that they were inside enemy territory, even the faintest sound could expose them.
He simply raised his hand and gave a subtle signal.
Then he vanished.
The rest was up to them.
This mission was clearly meant to test the two of them.
Sasori had no intention of cooperating.
Arai had made it clear, this was about results.
Whoever eliminated more enemies within the time limit would come out ahead.
That meant acting separately.
Sasori glanced at Yuji.
His face remained expressionless, but there was unmistakable provocation in his eyes.
Without a word, he dashed off in one direction and disappeared into the forest.