Year 40 of the Hidden Leaf.
The Second Shinobi World War was drawing to a close.
Within the borders of the Land of Wind, several figures sprinted rapidly across a vast stretch of barren desert.
"Listen carefully, the three of you. Even though this is just a routine border patrol mission, you must not let your guard down."
"Although the Land of Rain has quieted down lately, Hanzo of the Salamander still hasn't given up his ambitions of expansion… Amegakure may have reached a ceasefire with Konoha, but friction with us remains."
The brown-haired young man leading the team spoke coldly to the juniors behind him.
"Yes, sir."
There were five people in the squad.
But Yubi knew very well that the warning wasn't directed at the red-haired boy beside him.
Sunagakure's genius. A future member of the Akatsuki. Sasori of the Red Sand.
And the one who would later ignite the fuse of the Third Shinobi World War.
Yubi glanced at Sasori. The boy noticed and returned the glance.
"Besides Amegakure, the Land of Water has also been restless during this war… constantly probing for chances to infiltrate our territory. Those pests are even more troublesome than Konoha's enemies."
"This is your first official mission for the village. Focus on gaining experience. If you encounter real danger… retreat immediately."
The team leader spoke again.
Aside from Yubi and Sasori, the other two genin looked serious, though a hint of excitement shone in their eyes.
After all, as shinobi of the village, stepping onto the battlefield and testing their worth had always been something they'd dreamed about at the Academy.
Rasa.
Gaara's future father, wielder of the Magnet Release kekkei genkai.
Yubi watched the young man leading them toward their mission site and silently recited his name. At this point in time, Rasa was already a jonin and one of Sunagakure's top combat forces.
"Yubi… you're a medical ninja. If a battle breaks out, there's no need to rush to the front line. Your duty is to treat your comrades. You still remember the rules taught at the Academy, right?" Rasa asked while running, glancing at the short-haired boy with freckles.
"First: A medical ninja must never stop treatment until a teammate is dead.
Second: A medical ninja must never stand on the front lines of battle.
Third: A medical ninja must never die before any other member of the squad."
Yubi answered calmly.
Rasa nodded. "On the battlefield, the importance of medical ninja speaks for itself. You are the key to a squad's combat strength and survival."
"I've heard from Lady Chiyo that you have excellent talent as a medical ninja."
Yubi smiled faintly without any sign of pride.
"With Sasori accompanying you, I believe this mission will be no problem."
Rasa cast a meaningful glance at the expressionless boy.
It was clear he had great confidence in this kohai of his.
Though not yet ten years old, Sasori had already displayed unparalleled talent within the village, completing many missions and gaining considerable combat experience.
An hour later, the five of them crossed the desert and arrived at a canyon lined with steep cliffs and barren rock pillars.
As soon as they reached their destination, a Sunagakure chunin with a cloth band around his head appeared to receive them.
"Lord Rasa."
The chunin greeted him respectfully.
"I've brought them. These brats are yours now."
Without further pleasantries, Rasa gestured at Yubi's group and left after a few brief instructions. As one of the village's top combat forces, he had far too much to handle to personally look after a group of youngsters.
"Follow me."
After Rasa left, the chunin paused briefly when his gaze landed on Sasori, then led the four of them leaping along the canyon cliffs. After half an hour, they finally stopped at a hidden cave beneath a rock ledge.
Because of the canyon terrain, strong winds frequently swept through, carrying sand and making the environment extremely harsh.
Five or six Sunagakure ninja were resting inside the cave. They barely reacted to Yubi's group—except when they saw Sasori. Their expressions shifted slightly.
Yubi noticed everything.
It couldn't be helped. In Sunagakure, Sasori shone far too brightly… and he was Lady Chiyo's grandson.
Unlike Konoha—where monsters and prodigies were everywhere and where the so-called "Golden Generation," represented by Minato Namikaze, was beginning to rise—Sunagakure didn't produce talents as frequently.
After briefly introducing themselves, Yubi and the others found a place to sit. The atmosphere was tense and oppressive. The other two genin barely dared to breathe.
Sasori, however, skipped introductions entirely. Sitting near the cave entrance, he pulled out a scroll, released puppet components, and began repairing and tinkering with them.
"Don't be too nervous," said the chunin named Nomura. "Our patrol zone is still some distance from the border. Strictly speaking, this is the second line of defense. It's less dangerous than the front line. We mainly guard against enemy infiltration squads slipping past the first line. If anything happens, the front-line patrol will send intel in time. Even if we encounter enemies, their numbers won't be large."
These were things every village ninja had to experience. The Academy was very different from the real battlefield.
Sasori was clearly already accustomed to this atmosphere. Yubi was calm as well. Only the two fresh Academy graduates seemed uneasy.
Not dangerous? Impossible.
Yubi's thoughts stirred.
The Second Shinobi World War wasn't truly over yet. Even after its official end, the aftermath and small-scale conflicts between villages would never fully cease. A brief period of peace would come—but only for a short time.
Because the Third Shinobi World War would soon erupt.
Thinking of this, Yubi noticed an injured ninja lying in the cave's deepest corner.
The man, a chunin, looked pale and weak. His arm was wrapped in bandages that were still seeping blood. The wound had clearly been treated hastily—but it was infected.
"Senpai, may I take a look?"
Under everyone's gaze, Yubi approached with his medical kit.
"I'm a medical ninja."
The man hesitated, then nodded.
Yubi removed the blood-soaked bandages. The flesh around the wound was rotting, with pus seeping out.
"A kunai wound… fairly deep. Judging from the angle, it was a close-range attack from behind. They were aiming for your carotid artery."
As he spoke, a small silver scalpel spun into his fingers.
His casual remark stunned the injured chunin. He was absolutely correct.
"This will hurt. Please bear with it."
A flash of silver flickered across the man's arm. Yubi's movements were swift and precise, slicing away the necrotic flesh so quickly his hands left afterimages.
By the time the chunin had even begun to frown in pain, the wound had already been treated, medicated, and rebandaged in one smooth motion.
"Impressive."
The other chunin couldn't help praising him. Even without medical ninjutsu, his mastery of treating external injuries was remarkable.
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have successfully treated an injured person. Medical EXP +5. Continue working hard—more experience can be exchanged for medical skills and items.]
The familiar system notification sounded in Yubi's mind. He was already used to it.
At the cave entrance, Sasori glanced at Yubi's back, eyes flickering thoughtfully.
They were the same age—born on the same day, and classmates. Sasori usually paid little attention to people his age. But Yubi was an exception.
Because Lady Chiyo occasionally mentioned him.
And that left a lasting impression on Sasori.