Yamanaka Shinno's instinctive reaction had undoubtedly hurt Nii Yugito's young heart.
The experiences of Jinchūriki across the villages weren't all that different from one another.
Even Killer Bee, who would later take on apprentices and hold concerts in the village, was never free from the shadow of those fearful, disgusted, and rejecting gazes.
The difference was that Killer Bee had a 'brother' who took care of him.
He also had the courage to isolate himself from the entire village in retaliation, living in a world of his own.
But for the others…
Most were completely alone. Even when hurt, even when feeling wronged, they could only lick their wounds in solitude.
"I'm sorry..."
The golden hair that should have been as radiant as the sun seemed to have lost its light at that moment.
Her small head drooped, and her tiny hands clenched together tightly.
Bowing slightly, she apologized to Yamanaka Shinno. Her feet shuffled subtly, clearly ready to turn and flee as quickly as possible.
But in the next moment—
A warm touch landed on the top of her head, making her body freeze in place.
Like a startled kitten, she dared not move a muscle.
"Ahem— I just got back from a mission outside the village. A little on edge, you get it, right? Mm... I don't really know what's been going on in the village. How about we check it out together?"
Yamanaka Shinno ruffled the girl's head.
How should he put it?
Soft, fluffy—an absolutely top-tier sensation!
The original owner of this body, Seisai, was an honest, dull man. After decades as a shinobi, he had fully recognized his own mediocrity and insignificance. His daily life was marked by the cautious hesitation of a middle-aged man stuck in routine.
By all accounts, Shinno's actions at this moment didn't align with Seisai's character.
But he wasn't planning on staying long.
Once this mission was over, he'd return to Konoha without delay.
So, who cared if it was out of character?
His retreating action had clearly hurt the little girl—she looked just like an abandoned kitten, small and pitiful.
If he didn't console her, he'd probably lie in bed tonight cursing himself.
Maybe even mutter a heartfelt 'I'm such a bastard!' for good measure.
"...Mm!"
The warmth pressing against her head slowly melted away Nii Yugito's stiffness.
Without hesitation, she chose to believe Yamanaka Shinno's words.
A shinobi returning from a mission must have just endured a brutal battle—his nerves must be incredibly tense!
Yes! That had to be it!
This man didn't hate or reject her at all!
Shinno lightly patted the top of Yugito's head in response.
His gaze lingered momentarily on her traits before he turned toward the crowd, preparing to squeeze through.
...
Name: Nii Yugito
Occupation: Academy Student
Traits: Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails (Red), Agile and Flexible (Blue), Strong-Willed (Green), Lonely (Gray).
...
Nii Yugito followed closely behind Yamanaka Shinno.
Tentatively, she reached out and grabbed a corner of his robe.
Seeing that the man in front of her didn't react in any way, her large eyes grew even brighter, and a shy yet delighted smile spread across her slightly chubby cheeks.
"...If you keep this up, I might just have to kidnap you."
Shinno sighed internally.
Honestly, he was only here to carry out an assassination mission.
His job was to eliminate certain high-ranking members of Kumogakure, sow confusion, and divert their attention away from Konoha.
A Jinchūriki? That had nothing to do with him.
If anything happened to the Two-Tails' host, Kumogakure would undoubtedly go berserk!
Given their muscle-over-brains approach to problem-solving, if they couldn't figure out who took their Jinchūriki, they'd probably just attack everyone until they got an answer.
"Wait… would that actually work?"
Shinno quickly shook his head, driving the ridiculous thought from his mind.
If Tsunade were Hokage right now, he wouldn't even hesitate—he'd snatch the girl up and bring her back.
But under the leadership of the Third Hokage and Danzo…
Heh.
If he captured the Jinchūriki and brought her back to Konoha, his clan might just find themselves with their own 'Hyuga Hizashi' situation—sacrificed as a scapegoat to appease Kumogakure.
After all, his status was clear.
The strongest of the Yamanaka Clan, an unwavering supporter of the Hokage faction, and… the fiancé of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
As long as the Third Hokage and Danzo wanted to maintain stability in the village and avoid any issues with Konoha's own Jinchūriki, his safety was guaranteed.
But if he were just another ordinary Yamanaka clan member…
"Ahem, little girl~ You're lucky this time."
Shinno glanced down at the small girl clutching his robe tightly.
Noticing his gaze, Yugito immediately looked up and flashed a bright, slightly shy smile.
It was as if she had just found the most precious treasure, and she was doing her best to show him her best side.
"..."
Shinno ruffled her head again, this time with a small, seemingly kind smile.
Jinchūriki, huh…
He sighed inwardly, but said nothing more.
Circumstances, politics, capabilities—
No matter how he looked at it, there was no way for him to intervene, no way for him to act out of some misplaced sense of kindness.
...
Halfway up the towering rock formations flanking the street—
Two Kumogakure ANBU stood on the steep cliffs, their eyes locked onto Nii Yugito.
"Captain, who's that guy she's following?"
A noticeably younger ANBU asked, his voice tinged with unease.
"Seisai. Chūnin. An honest man. Has a kid who just graduated from the Academy."
The older ANBU narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the aftermath of the earlier attack instead.
Compared to the Jinchūriki, he was more concerned about what had actually happened there.
If this were just a simple assassination, even if the targets were high-ranking officials, it shouldn't have caused such an uproar.
The entire village had been alerted, and yet the alarms hadn't stopped ringing.
Didn't they realize this might cause unnecessary unrest?
Or was someone using this assassination attempt to achieve something else?
"...So, should we not be worried?"
The younger ANBU still seemed uneasy.
"You don't get it. People with children tend to feel a useless kind of sympathy when they see other kids the same age as their own."
"Even if that kid is a Jinchūriki?"
"Jinchūriki aren't some kind of irredeemable monsters. You're ANBU, not an ignorant villager. Use your head."
"Hai! Captain!"
The older ANBU captain smacked his subordinate on the head.
He knew all too well—
The power of the Tailed Beasts inspired both awe and fear.
Recognizing the truth and treating Jinchūriki like normal people were two very different things.
Just like him—
He had participated in the sealing of the Eight-Tails and the Two-Tails.
He had watched comrades fall, one after another, under the might of a Tailed Beast.
No matter how many times he told himself that Jinchūriki weren't the beasts themselves, that they were heroes chosen to contain them…
The moment he saw one, all the resentment, grief, and bitterness resurfaced.
He just… couldn't do it.
Caught between reason and emotion, morality and conscience—
All he could do was keep his distance.
Not help, but also not harm.
"Seisai... If you can, help her live a little easier."
Behind his ANBU mask, his expression was unreadable.
Perhaps he should put in a good word for Seisai when reporting to the Raikage tomorrow.
After all, their kids were teammates...
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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