Continue?
Yuji's tone made it sound as if this deep penetration into enemy territory was just a game.
This isn't playing house... Arai glanced at Sasori again.
Thinking of the scene where Sasori had just killed an Amegakure Ninja inside the Land of Rain.
His expression subtly changed.
He felt moved.
These were just two children not yet ten years old. Sasori's cold-bloodedness and arrogance when facing enemies, and Yuji's composure after surviving a close call, as if he enjoyed the thrill of dancing between life and death... Without exception, both of these little brats were extraordinary.
Was this display of personality, so radically different from others, also part of the aura of a genius?
Originally, Arai was not planning to agree.
Because this kind of mission was too dangerous... He had only intended to lead the two of them on one run. If the number of times increased, Amegakure would surely become increasingly wary. Even if they changed routes and attacked bases in other areas, the news would eventually spread.
Once Amegakure was prepared and had a battle plan, even he wouldn't be able to protect Yuji and Sasori.
However, Arai suddenly understood... his thoughts and considerations were precisely because he was 'ordinary.'
Although he had already become an Elite Jōnin, compared to the future of Yuji and Sasori... his achievements seemed insignificant.
"Alright."
Arai was silent for a moment, then nodded.
As soon as he spoke, the other Sunagakure Ninja flinched.
Again?
That Yuji kid is reckless... but why is Lord Arai going crazy too?
As a core fighting force of the Village, Arai couldn't possibly be unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
"This time doesn't count... I'll beat you again!"
Sasori stared at Yuji, saying every word distinctly.
Although he had killed many people, he understood that Arai's recent evaluation of their mission performance was very fair.
This time, he wanted to execute the mission perfectly and achieve victory, using Yuji's method.
He wanted to leave Yuji speechless.
"You can, but neither of you is allowed to do anything reckless, especially you, Sasori... You must follow my instructions completely," Arai said, raising a finger.
Sasori didn't make a sound.
But he had clearly acquiesced.
"Let's go!"
Then, after greeting the few Sunagakure Ninja, Arai immediately set off, taking Yuji and Sasori to other areas along the border line.
The skirmish with Amegakure this time was likely considered by the enemy to be merely a harassment from Sunagakure.
Such small conflicts happened frequently between the two sides and wouldn't be taken too seriously.
However, the Amegakure bases along this route would definitely strengthen their defenses and deployments, making it impossible to sneak in again.
Therefore, they had to go to other locations and find different routes.
Since the entire border region was quite vast... Arai, as the protector of the two brats, didn't feel too much pressure regarding the next few surprise attacks, provided the news hadn't fully spread yet.
Watching the trio leave, the Sunagakure Ninja exchanged bewildered glances.
Although none of them knew Yuji personally, they understood that this little fellow, like Sasori, was a genius of the Village... The brilliance of such people could not be concealed; they had won at the starting line from birth, referring not to their background, but to their talent and ability.
Eight years old... When they were eight, they also started executing some missions, but they were all minor tasks.
Not like this.
Moreover, this was the time of the Ninja World War... The tense standoff between nations and the inherent dangers of the environment were incomparable to their own youth.
It seemed that the'soil' of this great war was the best nourishment for the Village to cultivate geniuses like Yuji and Sasori... On the road, Yuji summoned his system interface.
After the days spent fighting Amegakure Ninja in the rear positions within the territory, based on the patients he had treated and the enemies he had killed, his two types of experience points were now: Positive Experience (521) and Negative Experience (203).
The Positive Experience included the 200 points gained from treating Sasori, a plot character.
It should be noted that the experience points he initially accumulated had been mostly spent on exchanging for the two Ninjutsu: Mystical Palm Technique and Chakra Scalpel.
The main source for these current hundreds of points was still the great battle that occurred between Sunagakure and Amegakure.
The gains from following Arai in training and performing daily missions over the past two months were not substantial.
This was why, when the great war broke out, he viewed it as a rare opportunity.
It was clear from the speed and amount of experience accumulation that, compared to killing for Negative Experience, the increase in Positive Experience was fastest for a Medical Ninja... Likewise, saving people yielded more Positive Experience than killing people yielded Negative Experience.
It couldn't be helped... After all, this system was centered around the Medical Ninja; as a doctor, saving people was definitely the primary mission.
Killing... was not the direction he should strive for.
However, whether it was Positive Experience or Negative Experience, the abilities he could exchange for all revolved around the word 'doctor.'
In other words, Positive Experience could be exchanged for abilities and items related to saving people, while Negative Experience could be exchanged for medically related methods that carried negative effects... but these abilities must still be doctor-related.
For example, toxins, abilities that inflict diseases... hallucinatory abilities related to psychological disorders, or abilities that could remove or affect internal organs.
His Negative Experience could allow Yuji to evolve toward offense and destruction, turning him into a black market doctor with 'no moral bottom line.'
With that thought, Yuji moved his mind and began browsing the abilities available for Negative Experience exchange.
The stronger the ability or item, the more expensive the required experience points.
Taking Mystical Palm Technique and Chakra Scalpel, both A-rank Ninjutsu, as examples, the experience price for one A-rank Ninjutsu was roughly around 150 points.
Therefore, with his 203 Negative Experience points, he could exchange for a skill slightly better than an A-rank Ninjutsu.
The reason Yuji pushed Arai to continue the mission was precisely to acquire more Negative Experience.
Either type of experience point was useful to him anyway.
"Given the mission content and the current situation, the ability should ideally be assassination-oriented. Not only would this enrich my combat methods, but it would also help me gain Negative Experience later on. Of course, the most crucial thing is that it must suit my fighting style and template... otherwise, even the best ability is a waste if it doesn't fit me and can't be utilized to its maximum effect."
Yuji mused internally.
After a long while, he mentally scrolled through the system interface and finally found a skill that was quite suitable for him.
Attachment Line: Allows the user to attach silk threads to a fixed target and control throwing knives for effective shooting.
Death Waltz: The user can manipulate the silk threads with their fingers to perform hard-to-detect assassination techniques, or use the threads to bind throwing knives for remote control.
(This ability originates from the character Belphegor in Reborn!.)
"The system including this ability must mean it considers throwing knives and this knife-controlling technique compatible with the doctor profession, right..." Yuji wondered silently.
It was conceivable that the original character's throwing knives were similar to the scalpel he currently used.
However, this ability was undeniably focused on killing enemies.
Yuji chose this ability because, through the system's description, he immediately saw that this combination skill was essentially very similar to Chakra Threads, except it controlled small knives instead of puppets.
More crucially, driven by this ability, he could effectively control scalpels in mid-air to kill enemies.
Enemies wouldn't see him, but they would be hit by the scalpel.
It was practically a simplified version of the Sword Control Technique found in novels.
It was tailor-made for sneak attacks and assassination.
"However, as a Medical Ninja, the speed of acquiring Negative Experience is slower... and the price has also increased slightly."
Yuji grumbled.
Of course, this situation depended on which kind of 'doctor' he wanted to become: an angel or a devil.
After exchange, this ability would also be assimilated into Ninjutsu, but it wouldn't reach S-rank; it would remain at the level of A-rank Ninjutsu.
Yet, the price was 200 points.
It was more expensive than both Mystical Palm Technique and Chakra Scalpel.
System: Congratulations to the Host for acquiring the combination skill Attachment Line and Death Waltz. This ability has been assimilated into Ninjutsu!
After thinking it over, Yuji still made the exchange.
What he cared about more was that this ability required almost no 'energy' to drive, meaning that even after assimilation, prolonged use wouldn't consume too much of his Chakra.
It was more like a technique for using Ninja tools.
Previously, his scalpel relied more on Taijutsu for close-quarters engagement and use.
His scores in the Ninja Academy exams for throwing projectiles and using Ninja tools had only just passed the passing mark.
Even though he had trained since childhood, Yuji had always focused on physical conditioning for Taijutsu and Chakra reserves; as for other areas... he wasn't the type to excel in every subject.
After all, no matter how hard he tried... it was impossible to be perfect. Aiming to be a Medical Ninja, he could only prioritize doing well in one specific area within a limited time.
Engaging enemies directly in combat... strictly speaking, was not the role of a Medical Ninja.
Soon, he reached into his waist pouch and found a bundle of piano wire.
Yuji glanced at Sasori. Both of them controlled threads with their fingers, but one was physical wire, and the other was Chakra Threads.
Although he didn't plan to become a Puppeteer, he was from Sunagakure after all, so knowing a similar Ninjutsu... shouldn't be a problem, right?
He could call it his Self-Created Ninjutsu.
"I'll just use you as an excuse."
Yuji smiled slightly, staring at Sasori.
Sasori noticed his gaze and looked back coldly.
Seeing Yuji smile at him, he remained unmoved.
Clearly, Sasori was currently still immersed in the belief that he and Yuji were rivals.