No matter how slow-acting a poison is, after over a year of consumption, symptoms will gradually begin to show.
Even if the Kazekage was distracted by external circumstances and didn't notice it himself.
But if it dragged on any longer, symptoms would start appearing—even if he wasn't alert, Chiyo and the others would certainly notice.
Therefore, it was time to strike!
Yubi had been observing the Kazekage's condition in secret and knew very well that if he acted while the Kazekage was off guard, the chance of killing him would be quite high.
Moreover, he was also very familiar with the Kazekage's Bloodline Limit.
His intervention was merely to ensure there were no accidents.
After all, his Transmigration to the Hidden Sand Village would cause some butterfly effects.
Even if he didn't act, Sasori couldn't wait any longer—
To put it simply, if the Kazekage were in a normal state, his Iron Sand would have a certain degree of restraint over Blood Release. However, there was a weakness: as long as the density of the Iron Sand didn't increase instantly, then at the speed of Blood Release, an absolutely effective attack could be dealt to the Kazekage.
The poison Sasori crafted would affect the circulation of Chakra within the body—corroding the pathways.
Of course, this kind of damage was extremely subtle and required long-term accumulation to take effect.
This was also part of the reason why the Kazekage couldn't defend against his Blood Release.
The casting speed of his techniques had slowed down—
Throughout the entire conversation with the Kazekage, Yubi was actually very nervous, though he didn't show it.
If they failed—the two of them would have to run for their lives.
It wasn't that they truly feared the Kazekage's strength, but rather they feared attracting others.
To ensure success, he even had Sasori add a toxin he developed himself into the cup of tea handed to the Kazekage.
In short, everything went smoothly without any real danger.
Ding! Since the host killed a plot character, you have gained +000 negative experience points!
Please note—since the plot character killed by the host is the Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village, and the cause and timing of this character's death haven't changed much, the experience reward has been reduced by a certain margin.
As a member of the Hidden Sand Village, until the identity of the killer is exposed, the host will not gain the corresponding hatred points.
Listening to the sounds in his mind while walking back alone, Yubi felt a bit uneasy.
This unease wasn't because of the experience reward gained after killing the Kazekage.
Rather, it was because—the future of the Hidden Sand Village—was about to be placed in his hands.
"From this moment on, it is the true turning point for the Hidden Sand Village—and the arrival of a new era."
What he truly wanted to do—as of now, it was only a starting point!
Sasori also left the Kazekage's residence.
Shortly after he left, an Anbu member came to the window outside the Kazekage's house for a routine patrol.
The person took a glance inside.
—
Seeing Lord Kazekage lying on the bed, seemingly already asleep, and confirming there were no abnormalities, the person flickered away.
That night, besides Yubi and Sasori, no one knew that the Kage of the Hidden Sand Village—was "no longer there."
The next day, Yubi participated in factory construction affairs as usual or busied himself with handling some situations in the hospital.
He was well aware of the panic and suspicion that were about to unfold in the Village.
Yet he intentionally stayed out of it.
After another day, he finally received a "notice" telling him to attend a meeting.
When Yubi arrived at the Kazekage's office, he saw that almost all the higher-ups, led by Chiyo and Ebizo, were gathered.
This also included Sasori and some Anbu members.
Everyone's expression was very solemn.
"What happened?"
—
Yubi stepped through the door, looking as if he had rushed there in a hurry.
He was indeed very busy now—as the head of the Village's Medical Department, he had too much work to do.
And it was quite varied.
"Lord Kazekage is missing."
"Sasori was the one who discovered it—"
Chiyo said with a serious face.
"Ah?"
Yubi feigned a stunned look, "Missing? How is that possible—"
Then, another higher-up explained the situation.
"Yubi, what did you talk about with Lord Kazekage that night?" someone asked.
"Regarding some matters about the pharmaceutical factory, I was a bit undecided, so I went to ask for Lord Kazekage's opinion," Yubi said "truthfully."
He then recounted some of the conversation from his meeting with the Kazekage in detail.
After hearing this, Chiyo and the others didn't suspect anything.
Because Yubi's account was completely consistent with Sasori's.
"Did you notice anything unusual at the time?" Chiyo asked again.
"No."
Yubi shook his head.
"With Lord Kazekage's personality, how could he suddenly go missing—did he leave the Village for some reason?"
A higher-up wondered aloud.
Even if he were handling some classified matter, leaving directly like this without saying a word was not in line with the Third Kazekage's personality.
And—it was also a bit too derelict of duty.
"Could there be some situation we haven't noticed—something related to the Village?"
"But—even if Lord Kazekage left, where would he go? Could it be—he went to see the Daimyo?"
"Lord Kazekage wouldn't be so reckless—besides, going to the Daimyos Estate isn't something shameful, so why leave in such a hurry?"
Inside the room, everyone began to discuss back and forth.
They seemed somewhat panicked.
The Village had suddenly lost its Kage—this was an unprecedented situation.
Fortunately, veterans like Chiyo and Ebizo were present to "stabilize the morale."
In front of all the higher-ups, Chiyo once again questioned the Anbu and the Guard Corps members who were on patrol in the Village before the incident; according to them, they had never seen Lord Kazekage leave the Village, at least not through the main gate.
The Anbu also confirmed that after Yubi left Lord Kazekage's residence, Lord Kazekage went to rest—
It wasn't until the next day, when Sasori didn't see Lord Kazekage come to work, that he went to his house to look for him and couldn't find anyone.
Later, they searched the entire Village but still couldn't find the Kazekage.
Only then was the situation confirmed.
After hearing this, everyone fell silent for a moment.
"Could it be that Lord Kazekage has some private matters to attend to?"
"Although we can't find him for now and have no way to contact him, I assume he'll be back once he's finished with his business—"
Someone said.
"No matter the reason, leaving his post so suddenly and abandoning a pile of Village affairs is too absurd, even for a Kage. He should have at least given an explanation." Chiyo was a bit angry.
In this room, only she and Ebizo had the seniority to criticize the Third Kazekage.
Yubi quietly observed everyone's reaction.
Clearly, at this moment, none of the higher-ups in the Hidden Sand Village were thinking in a negative direction.
After all, as the one hailed as the strongest Kazekage in history, the Third's strength was well known, and it was impossible for anyone to enter the Village silently and strike him.
Looking at the entire Ninja World, they couldn't think of anyone who could achieve such a feat.
As for himself and Sasori, they were even less likely to be suspects—
Firstly, they were absolute insiders, and secondly, in their eyes, the two had no reason to frame the Kazekage.
Of course, most importantly, in the eyes of the higher-ups, let alone either Sasori or Yubi individually, even if the two teamed up, it would be absolutely impossible for them to wipe out the Kazekage.
Because he and Sasori simply didn't possess that kind of "strength."
"How about—we wait a bit longer? I reckon Lord Kazekage will return once he's finished his business."
At this moment, Yubi made the suggestion at just the right time.
"That's all we can do—"
Chiyo nodded.
"I'll handle the Village's affairs for now—"
"Do not let the news of the Third's departure spread, understood?"
This last sentence was said by Chiyo to the Anbu and Guard Corps members.
"Yes."
No one had any objections to this.
After discussing for a while longer and making some arrangements for the affairs following the Kazekage's departure, everyone gradually dispersed.
Looking at his colleagues walking out of the office building together, still curious about why the Kazekage had suddenly become a hands-off manager.
They didn't have the slightest sense of crisis.
Yubi felt that even if he stepped forward now and said directly that he had killed the Third, these people would probably only think he was talking nonsense.
Or—think he was crazy.