For Yuji, remaining in Sunagakure all this time had never been about comfort or attachment. It was about opportunity.
The village possessed resources he could not obtain elsewhere, and he intended to use them fully while he still could. His growing reputation as a genius, earned through the early advantages provided by the System, had opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed to him.
Because of it, he had received personal guidance from an Elite Jōnin like Arai and gained access to valuable ninjutsu scrolls that ordinary academy graduates would never be allowed to study.
Even with the System's assistance, Yuji did not believe it could replace a proper foundation.
Power granted too easily lacked stability.
This period of study and preparation was, in his mind, a necessary stage of building that foundation.
One afternoon, inside his home, Yuji sat quietly with several scrolls spread out before him. After finishing one, he placed it aside and leaned back, his thoughts turning inward.
Hand seals were not merely gestures. They were a language, one that communicated intent to chakra. Each seal shaped and guided chakra flow in a specific way, and only through repetition could that process become instinctive. Once the connection between hand seals and chakra became second nature, the number of seals required for a technique could be reduced. In some cases, only the initial motion was needed to trigger the rest.
The key was synchronization.
Understanding that relationship brought him closer to true mastery.
During these past weeks, Yuji had immersed himself completely in his studies. It reminded him of preparing for important exams in his previous life, spending long hours reviewing material without rest. Fortunately, the scrolls provided by the village contained mostly fundamental techniques. While he could not yet perform all of them, he could understand their structure and purpose.
The deeper he studied, the more he realized how complex ninjutsu truly was.
It was not a simple power.
It was a system built on precision, knowledge, and control.
Yuji rubbed his temples and exhaled slowly.
At that moment, a voice called to him from outside.
"Yuji."
He turned toward the window and saw a Sunagakure shinobi standing there.
"Sasori has returned."
Yuji's expression brightened immediately.
Finally.
He had been waiting for this.
He had even asked the shinobi stationed at the village gates to notify him as soon as Sasori came back. He knew Sasori's habits well. If he did not act quickly, Sasori would accept another mission and leave again without warning.
Yuji stood and began packing the scrolls.
He had not fully mastered their contents, but he had gained what he needed. His understanding of ninjutsu had deepened significantly, and he now possessed a clearer grasp of its underlying principles.
It was time to move forward.
After returning the scrolls, Yuji made his way to the mission assignment center.
He had prepared thoroughly.
Using the money earned from previous missions, he had purchased new equipment from the village's weapons shop, including specially crafted scalpels designed for combat use. Their creation had required careful forging and customization, but they were now complete.
As Yuji approached the mission hall, he spotted a familiar figure.
Sasori.
He was already there, standing at the exit with a mission scroll in hand.
Yuji raised his hand in greeting.
"Heading out without me again?" he called out with a light laugh.
Sasori turned toward him.
For a moment, Yuji said nothing.
He simply observed.
Sasori had changed.
The difference was subtle, but unmistakable.
When they had last worked together on border missions, Sasori had been distant and cold, but there had still been something youthful in his eyes.
That was gone.
In its place was something darker.
His gaze was heavier now, filled with suppressed anger and something far more dangerous.
Killing intent.
Not directed at Yuji, but present nonetheless.
It lingered around him like a shadow.
Yuji stepped closer.
"What mission did you take?" he asked.
Sasori hesitated briefly before answering.
"Konoha."
Yuji's eyes narrowed slightly.
Sunagakure had already withdrawn from large-scale conflict with Konoha. The war between their villages was effectively over.
But smaller clashes still occurred.
And at a time like this, choosing a mission involving Konoha could not be a coincidence.
Yuji looked directly at him.
"Tell me the details."
"Heading to the Land of Grass," Sasori said in a cold, emotionless tone. "Konoha forces are currently engaged in combat with Iwagakure there. Our intelligence has identified one of Konoha's supply routes. Our objective is to intercept it and eliminate their support unit."
Yuji listened without hesitation and nodded.
"Then I'm coming with you."
Sasori's gaze shifted slightly.
"This mission requires three people."
Yuji smiled faintly. "I know. Let's wait. The third person should arrive soon."
A few minutes later, footsteps approached from behind.
Arai appeared.
The moment he learned that Yuji was leaving the village for a mission, he had immediately followed. Sunagakure could not allow both Yuji and Sasori, two of its most valuable young shinobi, to venture out alone without supervision.
Although large-scale hostilities between Sunagakure and Konoha had ceased, real combat experience remained essential. Training within the safety of the village could never replicate the growth forged through life-and-death battles.
Every powerful shinobi in history had walked that same path.
The Third Kazekage and the village elders understood this well. They had quietly permitted Yuji to continue taking missions, but only under conditions that ensured his safety.
Seeing the two boys together, Arai's eyes flickered with complicated emotion.
Yuji, however, had already expected this outcome.
Sasori's reaction was different.
When he saw Arai, there was no warmth or familiarity in his eyes. Only indifference.
It was obvious he had not accepted the village's decision to cease open warfare with Konoha.
"We'll talk on the way," Arai said, his tone more formal than usual.
Neither Yuji nor Sasori objected.
Without further discussion, the three of them officially formed a squad once more and departed from Sunagakure.
They followed a familiar route, traveling in the direction of Amegakure. From there, they would enter the Land of Grass.
One day later, the group stopped to rest on a barren desert plateau.
As squad captain, Arai began outlining their operational plan.
"The intelligence only gives us an approximate location of Konoha's supply route. We don't have precise information about their numbers or combat strength, and we're unfamiliar with the terrain. Until we gather more details, we must proceed cautiously."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"The frontline between Sunagakure and Iwagakure has already withdrawn. However, Iwagakure still maintains defensive positions along their borders. Entering the Land of Grass through the Land of Earth would be too dangerous."
"Our only viable route is through Amegakure."
"This means the mission will take longer than usual."
He looked at the two of them seriously.
"Amegakure remains unstable. Although we are capable of infiltrating it, the situation inside the country is chaotic. We must remain alert at all times."
"Once inside, we'll obtain travel permits through merchant caravans and disguise ourselves as traders. That will make movement easier. Alternatively, we can pose as black-market dealers. Given the current disorder, inspections are less strict than before."
Yuji listened carefully before speaking.
"Amegakure is still recovering from the war. Their defenses should be weaker than before."
Arai nodded.
"That's true, but instability creates its own dangers."
He continued explaining.
"Amegakure expanded rapidly through warfare, but it never had time to properly stabilize its territory. Although Hanzō unified the country through force, his control isn't absolute."
"Local factions still exist. Some have even turned into rebel groups."
"These internal conflicts have made the entire country unpredictable."
He looked at Yuji and Sasori directly.
"You must be careful."
Yuji smiled calmly.
"I understand."
...
Bonus Chapter @ every 100 stones and 2 reviews.