Naruto planned to complete Yakumo Kurama's treatment within a month. A month was the limit—if it dragged on any longer, others might notice abnormalities in her condition. Besides, a month was more than enough time for Naruto to cultivate their bond.
For the sake of ensuring Umbrella would gain another powerful general in the future, Naruto was giving it his all.
During this period, he also intended to untangle Yakumo's emotional knots and help her suppress Ido.
At the same time, Naruto handed the complete Mighty Fist to Shisui, instructing him to distribute it among the members of the Umbrella Organization.
Meanwhile, Tsunade was studying the Martial Arts System manual in her hands. As a high-ranking member of Umbrella, she had received a personal copy without needing to spend points. To raise the organization's overall combat strength, every member had access to it—though most would only see it through tablets.
Tsunade's copy was handwritten.
As she flipped through the pages, her heart was filled with shock.
The leader of Umbrella had not only created an entirely new cultivation system but had also developed techniques perfectly suited to it.
A heaven-sent genius.
Her thoughts drifted to her grandfather. The First Hokage—hailed as the God of Shinobi—was the strongest person she had ever known. Yet, for some reason, Tsunade had the vague feeling that perhaps this person, the leader of Umbrella, might achieve something even beyond her grandfather's accomplishments.
Perhaps something greater still.
But thinking of Umbrella's philosophy—rebirth through destruction—left her unsettled.
"Ding~"
A notification flashed across the tablet in her hand. Tsunade tapped it open curiously.
"What? Developing new Martial Arts techniques can earn points? Including rewards like money and items?"
Her lips curved. "Looks good. It's been a while since I've had a proper challenge."
Remembering her monstrous strength taijutsu, Tsunade seriously considered transitioning to the Martial Arts System. It seemed to hold more promise for her future.
The system followed the path of physical refinement. With enough progress, the body would evolve. Unlike chakra, which drained one's vitality over time, training the Martial Arts System to higher stages unlocked hidden potential.
And it could extend her lifespan.
Though Tsunade currently looked like a woman in her prime, her remaining years were limited. But if she reached the Organ Refinement stage in the Martial Arts System, her lifespan could stretch to over two centuries.
Nine out of ten people in this world wanted to live longer. The other one probably wasn't in their right mind.
...
Konoha Village
"Yakumo, are you ready?"
Naruto looked at Yakumo Kurama.
She nodded firmly, as though she had resolved herself.
"Next, I'll enter your mental world. Don't resist. If you do, it could end in failure—or even damage your spirit."
Naruto's tone was solemn. He placed his hand on Yakumo's head.
In the next instant, his powerful mental energy surged forth, and the world around him shifted.
A dim, eerie space stretched before him.
"So this is the consciousness where Ido dwells," Naruto murmured.
Looking up, he raised his voice:
"Yakumo, this is where Ido lives. Think of it clearly in your heart, and she will appear. You are the dominant one here!"
"Okay, Naruto-kun."
Yakumo followed his words, silently chanting in her heart.
Her expression twisted. The air around them distorted—and then, before Naruto's eyes, a figure emerged.
A monster.
"You're Ido?" Naruto frowned.
"Ido, you must realize—you are born of Yakumo's consciousness. You are one and the same. Only by accepting each other can you wield true power."
Ido stood in a white robe, hair disheveled, body swaying as it let out a chilling laugh.
"Hehehe… Why should she dominate this body? She's timid and weak. If I take control, I can slaughter everyone who dares look down on her!"
Her voice reverberated from all directions.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. So she really did want to seize Yakumo's body.
Ungrateful thing.
"I've had enough. Just looking at you makes me sick. And now you want to come out and frighten people?"
"Are you forcing me… to subdue you with virtue?"
"Die."
Suppressing his disgust at Ido's ghostlike form, Naruto raised his hand and delivered a thunderous backhand slap.
Naruto's overwhelming mental energy was like a dimensionality-reduction strike against an intangible being like Ido. She was blasted away instantly.
Before Ido could recover, Naruto surged forward. His spiritual power condensed into the shape of a massive spiked club, and he brought it down with brutal force.
A shrill scream echoed through the darkness. Minutes later, Ido reappeared before him, her figure battered and swollen.
"B–Big brother… I was wrong! Please, do whatever you want!"
Ido trembled with fear. This human was terrifying. She had believed he could never touch her, yet his spiritual energy had directly struck her essence.
"Change your appearance—now. Or I'll beat you into nothing," Naruto barked.
Ido obeyed immediately, her grotesque form melting away until she looked identical to Yakumo Kurama.
After all, Ido and Yakumo were one and the same. The monstrous visage she had worn earlier was nothing more than a projection of her resentment, a mask meant to frighten Naruto. But instead of instilling fear, it had earned her a merciless beating.
Worse, she had realized that every strike Naruto landed had been unraveling her very existence.
In truth, Naruto possessed enough mental energy to erase Ido completely. But he knew that if Ido were destroyed, Yakumo's kekkei genkai would be crippled—half of her power would vanish with her. That was something Naruto could never allow.
He exhaled, recalling the words of an elder from his homeland. "As the old saying goes, subduing with virtue is a traditional virtue…"
While Naruto was suppressing Ido, Yakumo regained control of herself. She hadn't expected Ido to risk everything in her attempt to seize her body.
But thanks to Naruto's guidance, Yakumo no longer viewed Ido as something to be rejected. Unlike the Nine-Tails, Ido was fragile and incomplete—an obedient Ido was a tolerable Ido.
Yakumo's consciousness manifested in the mental world. She saw Ido cowering and couldn't help but feel awe at Naruto's strength.
"Yakumo," Naruto instructed, "come here. Sign a contract with her."
He adapted the Caged Bird Seal, modifying it into a technique that could bind and regulate spiritual energy. Under his direction, Yakumo pressed the seal into place.
As the curse mark took hold, Ido realized her fate was sealed. She would never be able to rebel again. Something shifted within her, the sharp edges of her hostility beginning to dull.
In truth, Ido was nothing more than a fragment of Yakumo's mind—a defense mechanism born from her fear and resentment.
A construct of Yin Release.
Compared to Black Zetsu, she was pitifully weak. Black Zetsu wielded Yin–Yang Release and possessed a physical body, while Ido was only a wisp of consciousness shaped by Yakumo's pain.
...
TN:
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