Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Under the cover of night and steady rain, Arai led Yuji and Sasori as they infiltrated Amegakure once more. The three moved swiftly and silently through the darkness, retracing their path toward the Land of Wind.
For this mission, Konoha had deployed pursuers, and Arai had been mentally prepared for retaliation. However, the strength of those sent after them had far exceeded his expectations. If he had not personally led the team, the outcome might have been disastrous.
Thinking about it, Arai glanced at Yuji beside him.
The wounds Yuji had suffered, injuries that should have been fatal, had already been treated and fully closed using medical ninjutsu. Even Arai, an experienced Elite Jonin, found this astonishing.
For ordinary ninja, even with medical treatment, such injuries would require a long recovery period. Yet Yuji's movements were smooth, his breathing steady, and his stamina showed no obvious decline.
However, what concerned Arai most was not Yuji's medical skill.
After all, Yuji was already recognized as a genius within the village. Extraordinary ability was expected.
But some things…
Were beyond talent alone.
"Yuji," Arai said after a moment, choosing his words carefully, "that ability you used… is it a Kekkei Genkai?"
Kekkei Genkai were hereditary bloodline abilities.
Yuji's parents had only been Chunin of Sunagakure, and neither had ever demonstrated such power. Moreover, Arai had never encountered any records of an ability like Yuji's anywhere in the ninja world.
"Yes," Yuji answered calmly, scratching his head with a faint smile. "Blood Manipulation."
Sasori, walking nearby, turned his eyes toward Yuji. He could not forget the scene on the battlefield, the moment Yuji had stood up after nearly dying, smiling with that unsettling excitement. That version of Yuji had felt completely different from the one standing here now.
Arai had not expected such a direct answer.
"Your family…" he began, hesitating.
Yuji understood immediately.
"It comes from my father's lineage," Yuji said. "But in our family, this Kekkei Genkai is unusual. It requires awakening. As far as I know, only a distant ancestor ever possessed it. I don't know how I awakened it myself. It just… happened. Everyone else in my family lived as ordinary ninja."
Arai listened carefully.
Awakening was indeed a known characteristic of certain Kekkei Genkai.
"Does your family have a genealogy?" Arai asked.
Yuji shook his head.
"No. My father said our origins go back to a time before ninja villages existed. The bloodline records were lost long ago. Only fragments of stories were passed down verbally. Since no one awakened the ability for generations, the clan gradually declined."
Arai nodded slowly.
He could not confirm whether Yuji's words were true.
But regardless of the origin, the appearance of a new Kekkei Genkai in Sunagakure was undeniably valuable.
Yuji's background had been thoroughly investigated before. There was nothing suspicious.
"When we return," Arai said, "this mission report will go directly to the Kazekage. Your Kekkei Genkai will not remain secret."
"I understand," Yuji replied calmly.
"This is no small matter for the village."
Yuji smiled, pretending not to notice the deeper implication.
Beside them, Sasori frowned slightly.
He understood perfectly.
A Kekkei Genkai was more than just power. It represented the foundation of a clan's future strength. The village would do everything possible to preserve and reproduce that bloodline.
Marriage arrangements, Political alliances, Children.
More descendants meant greater security for the bloodline.
It would not be a matter of Yuji's personal choice. It would be the will of the village.
Sasori glanced at Yuji and spoke coldly, though his words were directed toward Arai.
"This Kekkei Genkai of yours… since only you have awakened it, does that mean even your future descendants may not inherit it?"
Yuji nodded.
"That's right."
Sasori fell silent.
His question had not been casual.
A reminder.
If the ability could not be reliably inherited, its strategic value would be limited.
It was his way of protecting Yuji.
Yuji understood this and suppressed a quiet smile.
Their bond had deepened.
There was no family tree, and the origins of Yuji's bloodline lay so far in the past that it was impossible to verify anything. His father had already died on the battlefield, leaving Yuji as the sole surviving descendant.
After hearing this, Arai's expression shifted slightly. He also noticed the unmistakable vigilance in Sasori's gaze.
"Don't worry," Arai said gently. "When we return to the Village, I will emphasize the issue of bloodline awakening in my report to Kazekage-sama. After all, if this ability were easy to inherit, your family would have long ago secured a place not only in Sunagakure, but across the entire ninja world."
Sasori's wariness was obvious, but in truth, Arai himself did not wish to see Yuji exploited prematurely. In his eyes, Yuji was still just a child with extraordinary promise, and he hoped that promise would be allowed to grow naturally, not be consumed by the Village's ambitions.
Yuji gave a faint smile. "My father used to fantasize about that too."
"I knew your father," Arai said thoughtfully. "He never once mentioned anything about a Kekkei Genkai."
There was no accusation in his voice, only curiosity.
"My father believed it was impossible for anyone to awaken it," Yuji replied calmly. "There was no record of it anywhere, so he treated it as something that didn't exist. He was only a Chunin, and not particularly strong. If people knew he carried such a bloodline but never awakened it, it would only bring shame to his ancestors."
Arai nodded slowly. "I can understand that."
He paused, then asked, "Blood Manipulation… is that what you called it?"
"Yes."
"Would you mind explaining it?"
Before Arai could finish, Yuji answered without hesitation.
"In simple terms, it allows me to control blood. But it's still incomplete. I need ninjutsu to develop it further. Since I'm the only one who has awakened it, and there's no inheritance or guidance, I'll have to figure everything out myself."
Arai listened carefully and then said reassuringly, "Kazekage-sama also possesses a Kekkei Genkai. While his ability is different, his experience may still help you understand your own power better."
Yuji nodded. "I understand."
Arai looked ahead into the rain. "Let's move. We should return to the Village as soon as possible."
—
Several days later, Sunagakure.
Inside the office of the Third Kazekage.
The Kazekage sat behind his desk, his hands folded beneath his chin, listening in silence as Arai finished his report.
A faint look of astonishment appeared in his eyes.
"Blood Manipulation…" he murmured.
He leaned back slightly, his gaze distant.
"After all these years, a new Kekkei Genkai has emerged… one that has never been recorded."
He fell into deep thought before finally speaking again.
"Summon the council. Immediately."
"Yes, Kazekage-sama."
The guard present bowed and left at once.
Arai hesitated, then spoke carefully. "Kazekage-sama… Yuji is still young."
The Kazekage rose slowly to his feet and looked at him.
"All of us exist for the sake of the Village," he said calmly. "You, me… and Yuji. From the moment we are born, that is the duty we carry."
Arai fell silent.
"His Kekkei Genkai is a matter of great importance," the Kazekage continued. "It must be evaluated properly, from the Village's perspective."
He paused, then added,
"If sacrifices are required, they will not be demanded now."
His eyes hardened slightly.
"Not yet."
The Kazekage's expression softened just a fraction as he spoke again.
"You performed well on this mission, Arai."
Arai bowed his head.
"You may leave."
"Yes, Kazekage-sama."
...
STONES >^_^^_^<
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