"No! I have to tell everyone about this! We can't let this continue!"
Thinking of how little Naruto was usually treated, Kurenai Yūhi suddenly struggled out of Namikaze Kirito's arms and hurriedly turned to run back but Kirito caught her wrist in time.
"You're already an adult," Kirito said helplessly, shaking his head. "Why are you still acting like a kid?"
"If you speak up now, no one will believe you. Worse, you'll only get yourself into trouble," he continued calmly. "Otherwise, why do you think Kakashi stayed silent all these years? Do you really think he's just timid?"
"Then… what are we supposed to do?"
Kurenai's personality had always been gentle. She wasn't suited for this kind of dirty reality, and for the moment, she truly had no answer.
"Leave this to me," Kirito said quietly. "I'll settle it—piece by piece—in the future."
Those words made Kurenai's expression turn complicated.
"Kirito… you're not planning to betray the village, are you?"
"Hahaha—what are you even thinking?"
Kirito reached out and lightly flicked her nose, laughing openly.
"Konoha owes my family. I'll take back what's owed with my own hands. But becoming a traitor?"
He shook his head. "That would be boring."
"That's… good."
Kurenai finally relaxed, clutching her chest as her emotions settled. With the rise and fall of her breathing, her figure swayed naturally—still far from Tsunade's overwhelming presence, but absolutely not something to underestimate.
"Kurenai, there's something I want to ask you."
"Hm? What is it?" Kurenai asked, puzzled.
"There's a clan in the village—the Kurama Clan. Do you know where they live?"
At the mention of that name, Kurenai's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The Kurama Clan? I've been tutoring the clan head's child recently. Why do you ask?"
The Kurama Clan was an ancient family in Konoha. Their members specialized in genjutsu, but because very few inherited their true bloodline ability, the clan gradually declined.
This generation's clan head had only one daughter—Yakumo Kurama—who was born with the clan's bloodline limit. She was once seen as the clan's last hope.
Yakumo worked desperately hard to live up to those expectations.
Every few generations, the Kurama Clan produced a prodigy whose genjutsu surpassed common sense.
But Yakumo's body had been weak since childhood—much like Gekkō Hayate. After only brief training, she would collapse from exhaustion.
Eventually, her parents withdrew her from the Ninja Academy, brought her home, and invited Kurenai Yūhi to personally tutor her.
That alone spoke volumes about Kurenai's genjutsu ability.
After spending time with the girl, Kurenai advised her to abandon the path of a ninja and live a normal life instead. She was genuinely worried that continued training would destroy Yakumo's body.
Her parents agreed. They couldn't bear to watch their daughter suffer any longer.
But resentment quietly took root in Yakumo's heart.
That resentment gave birth to a monstrous desire—Ido, born from hatred and obsession.
One day, after once again begging her parents to let her become a ninja and being refused, Yakumo's suppressed second self completely broke free. The clan estate was consumed by flames, and her parents perished within.
To protect itself, Yakumo's mind erased that memory.
Instead, she came to believe that the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had ordered her parents' assassination and that she herself was the next target.
Because of the terrifying nature of her power, Yakumo was isolated by Konoha at Satomigaoka Villa.
Kurenai, as her instructor, continued to visit her but each time, Yakumo grew colder.
"I heard the Kurama Clan possesses the strongest genjutsu in Konoha," Kirito said calmly. "I'm curious. I want to see it for myself."
Kurenai nodded. That bloodline genjutsu truly was exceptional—so powerful that even the Sharingan might not necessarily surpass it.
"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed," she said softly. "The clan head and his wife passed away years ago. Only their daughter remains. I'm her teacher."
"How did they die?" Kirito asked.
Kurenai hesitated, her expression complicated.
"It was… that child. A few years ago, her bloodline went out of control, and then—"
She didn't continue, but Kirito already knew the rest.
By this point in the timeline, Yakumo Kurama should already be confined to the villa, visited only by Kurenai.
Her heart was filled with hatred for Konoha.
A genjutsu capable of manipulating the five senses.
Kirito's heartbeat quickened.
Kyōka Suigetsu.
In the world of the Shinigami, Aizen's ability also dominated the five senses—turning ants into dragons, illusions so real every scale felt tangible.
Human perception relied entirely on those senses.
And once they were controlled—
—it was nothing short of a nightmare.
That was why Kirito wanted to see her.
"I might have a way to solve her problem," he said. "Take me to her."
"Really? Kirito!"
Kurenai's eyes widened in shock and hope.
Yakumo had always been a wound in her heart. She believed her own guidance had driven her student into darkness.
Hearing Kirito say he had a solution, she didn't hesitate.
"Then let's go."
"I'll lead the way."
Satomigaoka Villa.
This was where the Third Hokage had ordered Yakumo Kurama's isolation.
At the time, Namikaze Minato had not yet become Hokage and knew nothing of the decision.
Danzō Shimura had sent Root agents several times to capture Yakumo—every single one of them died under mysterious circumstances.
After that, no one dared approach.
Aside from Kurenai.
Konoha shinobi patrolled the surrounding area—not to stop intruders, but to contain what was inside.
If a genjutsu user consumed by hatred escaped, it would be a catastrophe.
Kurenai and Kirito entered the villa grounds unchallenged. The guards didn't question her, nor did they follow. The deaths had left too deep a scar.
Inside the hall, a girl of twelve or thirteen sat quietly, drawing.
She didn't even look up at their arrival.
"Yakumo," Kurenai said gently. "I'm here."
Her eyes were full of pity as she stepped closer, reaching out to stroke her student's hair.
"Kurenai-sensei… you finally came."
The girl turned slightly, revealing her drawing.
"Look," Yakumo said softly. "Isn't it beautiful?"
The painting depicted Kurenai Yūhi exactly as she was now...
...except in the image, she was surrounded by grotesque demons, their shadows crawling at her feet.
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