Yamanaka Kei's reflexive action clearly wounded Yugito Nii's tender heart.
Jinchuriki were treated pretty much the same way across all villages.
Even Killer B—who later took on students and held concerts in the village—still constantly faced expressions filled with disgust, fear, panic, and rejection.
The only difference was that Killer B had his "brother" watching over him.
He even had the guts to flip the script—turning his back on the whole village and living in his own world.
But for others...
They were mostly lonely and alone. Even if they were hurt or felt wronged, they could only silently nurse their wounds in a corner.
"I'm sorry…"
Yugito Nii's golden hair, usually radiant like sunlight, dimmed at that moment.
Her head hung low, two small hands tightly clenched together.
She bowed slightly in apology to Yamanaka Kei, her feet shifting almost imperceptibly as she clearly prepared to flee from here quickly.
Yet in the next instant,
A touch from above caused her body to stiffen.
Like a startled kitten, she didn't dare move an inch.
"Cough cough~ Just got back from a mission outside the village—I'm still kinda jumpy, y'know? And honestly, I've got no clue what's going on here. What do ya say we go figure it out together?"
Kei gently ruffled the girl's hair with one hand.
How to put it... Soft, fluffy—the texture was absolutely top-tier!
Saiei, the original owner of this body, was honest and dull. After decades as a ninja, he'd long accepted his mediocrity and ordinariness, living with that hesitant, overly cautious air typical of an average middle-aged man.
Logically speaking, Yamanaka Kei's actions right now didn't fit Saiei's personality.
But he wasn't planning on sticking around long anyway.
Once the mission was done, he'd head straight back to Konoha.
Who cares if it didn't fit the personality? No big deal!
The poor little girl had been hurt by his retreat, looking just like an injured little kitten—it was heartbreaking no matter how you looked at it.
If he didn't comfort her, he knew he'd probably mentally slap himself later while lying awake in bed.
Followed by a quick "Man, I really shouldn't have done that!"
"…Okay!"
The warmth above gradually eased Yugito Nii's stiff posture.
She believed Yamanaka Kei's words without hesitation.
A ninja fresh off a mission must've been through hell and was probably super stressed!
Exactly! Spot-on!
That uncle definitely didn't hate or reject her!
Responding with a gentle pat to Yugito Nii's head, Yamanaka Kei paused briefly to scan her skill listings before pushing forward into the crowd.
...
[Name: Yugito Nii]
[Occupation: Ninja Academy Student]
[Skills: Two-Tails Jinchuriki (Red-Rank), Graceful Agility (Blue-Rank), Resilient (Green-Rank), Solitary (Gray-Rank)]
...
Yugito Nii closely followed behind Yamanaka Kei, tentatively tugging the edge of his clothing.
Seeing that the adult ahead showed no reaction to this gesture,
Her big eyes sparkled even brighter, and the faint baby fat on her round, baby-faced cheeks softened as a small smile unconsciously bloomed.
"...If you keep this up, I'm going to have to kidnap you!"
Kei Yamanaka couldn't help but mentally mock.
Honestly, he had only come here to carry out an assassination mission.
Assassinate certain members of Kumogakure's leadership, create confusion, and thus divert attention away from Konoha.
He had absolutely nothing to do with the Jinchuriki or anything related to them.
Besides, if something happened to the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, Kumogakure would probably go completely insane!
Judging by their tendency to rely more on muscle than brains, their reaction would probably go something like this: "Who took our Jinchuriki? Can't you figure it out?"
"I'll beat every last one of you until someone talks. I wonder how long you can hold out."
"Thinking about it... maybe that's not a bad idea?"
Kei quickly shook his head, trying to shake off those wayward thoughts.
If Tsunade were Hokage now, he wouldn't hesitate—he'd grab her and make straight for Konoha.
But under the current leadership of Danzo and the Third...
Hmph~
He feared that the moment he returned with the Jinchuriki, his clan might offer up another 'Hizashi Hyūga' of this generation, handed over to Kumogakure as a scapegoat.
After all, his identity was just too sensitive.
The strongest member of the Yamanaka Clan, a staunch supporter of the Hokage, and the fiancé of the nine-tails jinchuriki...
As long as the Third and Danzo didn't want internal resentment building up while also risking issues with the nine-tails jinchuriki, his safety wouldn't be a problem.
But if he were just an ordinary Yamanaka clansman...
"Little Ro..." Coughing awkwardly, "little girl～ You're really lucky today!"
Kei glanced back at the little girl tugging tightly at his coat hem.
Yugito Nii saw him looking and immediately lifted her head, flashing a dazzling smile tinged with shyness.
As if she had just grasped the most precious treasure in the world—this little girl was doing her very best to show him her very best side.
...
Kei raised his hand again, gently ruffling her little head, while offering a similarly 'kind-hearted' smile on his face.
Another Jinchuriki...
He sighed inwardly once more, but the thought was left hanging once more.
Positioning, timing, ability...
No matter which factor he considered, none gave him room for indulgence—no act of kindness or bold gesture would change anything.
——————
Midway up the tall stone pillars lining both sides of the street,
Two Kumogakure Anbu stood on the steep rock face, eyes locked firmly on Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki.
"Captain, who exactly is that person the Two-Tails Jinchuriki is following?"
A visibly young Anbu spoke up, uneasy.
"Saiei, Chunin, a real softie, has a kid who just graduated from the Ninja Academy."
The older Anbu narrowed his eyes, watching briefly before returning his gaze to the heart of the attack.
Compared to the Jinchuriki, what was happening over there concerned him far more right now.
If this were merely an assassination, even if it involved high-ranking officials, it shouldn't have caused such commotion.
The entire village was alarmed, yet the alarm hadn't stopped ringing.
Didn't they realize this could trigger unnecessary chaos?
Or worse… someone had a specific goal in mind with this assassination?
"...So you're saying we don't need to worry?"
The younger Anbu still sounded uncertain.
"You wouldn't get it. Parents always feel a useless sort of sympathy and pity when they see other kids the same age as their own."
"Even if they're a Jinchuriki?"
"A Jinchuriki isn't a monstrous criminal who deserves hatred. You're Anbu, not some clueless villager—use your brain!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The senior Anbu squad leader gave his subordinate a light smack on the head.
He knew all too well how the power of the tailed beasts always inspired fear and reverence.
Knowing the truth and treating a Jinchuriki like a normal person were two very different things.
Just like him.
As an Anbu squad leader, he'd participated in both the Eight-Tails' and Two-Tails' sealing ceremonies.
He'd helplessly watched one comrade after another fall to the tailed beasts' power.
Even though he'd told himself countless times that Jinchuriki weren't the beasts themselves—that they were heroes chosen by the village to seal and control these monsters—the hatred, sorrow, and resentment born from losing comrades always surged up the moment he saw a Jinchuriki.
He just couldn't do it!
Faced with the clash between reason and emotion, morality at war with conscience.
Perhaps the only thing he could do was stay away.
Not confront them or harm them.
"Saiei, if you can... make things a little easier for her."
The Anbu squad leader's mask concealed the storm of emotions on his face.
As he mused, he wondered whether he should say a few good words for Saiei during tomorrow's report to Lord Raikage.
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