Yubi had been consciously reaching out to the plot characters of Sunagakure.
However, characters like Grandmother Chiyo or the Kazekage were difficult for him to approach as the descendant of a civilian Ninja.
As for Sasori, he almost never left his home... or was always out on missions.
Therefore, the only character Yubi could get to know was someone like Pakura.
However, as a descendant of a Bloodline Limit, Pakura was also a 'tool' that Sunagakure valued, and her clan played an important role in the Village.
Her father could participate in Sunagakure's decision-making.
Strictly speaking, Pakura was different from Yubi.
She didn't come from a civilian background.
This was true in any great Ninja Village, including Konoha; clans with Bloodline Limits could hold a place in the Village... their weight was incomparable to that of civilian Ninjas.
For example, Konoha's Hyuga, Uchiha, and Kurama clans; although the Kurama clan had gradually declined, they had quite a voice in Konoha in the early years.
Then there were the clans that mastered secret techniques, typically the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi.
The composition of clan powers in Sunagakure wasn't as complex as Konoha's, but the principle was the same. Among the Village's high-ranking officials, whether it was the Third Kazekage or the Fourth's Rasa, both were representatives of Sand Manipulation; Chiyo's family symbolized the Puppeteers... then came the leaders of the Bloodline Limit clans, and finally... the leaders of several civilian Ninjas or civilian clan powers in the Village.
These formed the power groups of Sunagakure.
Pakura's clan was among them.
Even before Pakura entered the Ninja Academy, Yubi had recognized her and deliberately approached her, finding an opportunity to make contact and thus get to know her.
"I heard you successfully completed your mission... Congratulations!"
Pakura walked up to Yubi and said somewhat shyly.
"Have you eaten yet? If not... let's eat together, my treat!" Yubi laughed.
"Okay."
Pakura nodded happily.
Then, the two entered the shop and sat at the counter.
The owner also began to warmly greet the two kids.
During this time, Yubi kept talking and laughing with Pakura, briefly recounting his experience on the mission; though he omitted the more dangerous and bloody parts.
He simply acted as if he felt the experience of his first mission outside the Village was novel.
Pakura listened with great interest.
Still attending the Ninja Academy, she hadn't yet realized the cruelty of being a Ninja... or the danger level of this Ninja World War.
Her clan and the Village protected her well... She hadn't become an official Ninja yet, so she was naturally very curious about everything outside.
In the future, Pakura would become the 'Mist Killer,' making a name for herself in the Ninja World with her Scorch Style.
However, during the Third Great Ninja War, Sunagakure had offended too many powers and was caught in a pincer attack by Iwagakure and Hidden Mist. Because of this, Sunagakure had to give up their front against Hidden Mist to focus on the battlefield with Iwagakure, and Pakura was sacrificed as a result.
Rasa and other high-ranking officials even lied, saying Pakura was killed by Iwagakure to incite the Village's rage against them... Even after her death, she was exploited.
The Pakura of the future would have a steady personality, be extremely cold toward enemies, and be fiercely loyal.
However, right now she was just an innocent and romantic young girl, her personality still retaining a pure side, quite cute.
"I also want to graduate quickly... staying in school is so boring. I already know everything the teachers are teaching." Pakura stuffed a skewer of Radish Oden into her mouth, puffing out her cheeks as she complained.
She also wanted to be like Yubi, fighting on the battlefield outside and serving the Village.
To let those enemies see the prowess of Sunagakure Ninjas.
"Don't be in a hurry... I believe that with your skills, little Pakura, you'll eventually become a Ninja smoothly and start to shine." Yubi, meanwhile, kept eating skewers of Meatballs with gusto, some soup hanging from the corner of his mouth as he comforted her casually.
Seeing Yubi call her little Pakura.
Pakura's cheeks turned red. "Tch, you're not that much older than me... don't act like you're an elder."
"But I am older... to me, you're just a little sister."
Yubi winked playfully.
"Hmph! My father said that measuring a Ninja's success isn't about age... many powerful Ninjas were very young when they became famous. In a few more years, I'll definitely do better than you!"
"Yes, yes, yes..."
Yubi nodded in agreement.
"By the way, I heard... your mission this time was done with that guy."
Suddenly, Pakura's expression changed, and she whispered.
"Sasori?"
Yubi knew who she was referring to.
"I heard he has an eccentric personality... and is very hard to get along with." Pakura was a bit gossipy.
"Hmm..."
Yubi held a wooden skewer, pondered for a moment, and shook it. "That's not true, don't listen to others' nonsense... Sasori is very nice."
Hearing this, Pakura's eyes widened. "Stop lying to me, I've seen him... I always feel like he gives off an aura that says 'keep away,' which makes people very uncomfortable."
After saying that, Pakura realized something. "That's true... for someone like you, there probably aren't any difficult people in your eyes; you have a smiling face for everyone..."
"Isn't that great? Don't you like me like this?"
Yubi flashed a row of bright white teeth.
With his sudden question, Pakura's face turned red at a visible speed.
"You, you, you, you..."
She even started to stutter.
"Don't misunderstand... I'm not confessing to you. I've been through it; I know that little girls like you who just entered the Ninja Academy are at the age when love first awakens. But in my eyes, you're just a sister..." Seeing Pakura's reaction, Yubi's mouth twitched, and he coughed. "What are you thinking about all day? You don't happen to have someone you like at school, do you? Or does someone like you?"
It would have been better if he hadn't said anything; at his words, Pakura's face instantly became like a boiling teapot.
"What nonsense are you talking?!"
Her voice rose several pitches.
She jumped directly off the stool, biting her lip and clenching her small fists.
"Pakura."
Just then, a person suddenly appeared at the shop entrance.
He called out to Pakura, who was with Yubi.
"It's getting late; it's time to go home."
This Sunagakure Ninja urged.
Then, he intentionally gave Yubi a slight nod.
"Hmph!"
Pakura angrily gave Yubi the back of her head and turned to leave.
The person who came to pick up Pakura was her elder.
It wasn't the first time Yubi had seen him.
It seemed like he happened to be passing by and ran into them... but in reality, he came specifically to take Pakura away.
In short, he didn't want Pakura to have too much contact with Yubi.
The reason was simple: Pakura's clan held a high status in Sunagakure, while Yubi was just a civilian Ninja; the two were not in the same social class.
Now that she was young, Pakura's family wouldn't interfere too much with her behavior, but as Pakura grew older, her future freedom would become increasingly restricted.
This kind of behavior also reflected the characteristic of class division that existed within any great Ninja Village.
Previously, when this person took Pakura away, he wouldn't even look Yubi in the eye.
Now, at least he gave a nod.
Presumably, he had heard some rumors.
This change in attitude was quite ironic.
"Such a big temper; it seems I hit the mark."
Yubi shook his head and continued eating.