On the other side, Kurenai Yuhi, who had walked out of the Hokage’s Office with Anko Mitarashi, didn’t look for Hanyu Bai, nor did she go home.
Instead, she headed toward the Satomi Hill Villa on the mountain behind Konoha.
After all, strictly speaking, Yakumo Kurama was Kurenai Yuhi’s first actual apprentice.
When she taught Hanyu Bai Genjutsu, Kurenai passed it down in her capacity as an elder sister.
Satomi Hill Villa was serene as usual.
Seeing Yakumo Kurama, Kurenai felt both regretful and heartbroken—in terms of Genjutsu talent, Yakumo was the only person Kurenai had ever seen who could rival Hanyu Bai.
Combined with the Kurama clan’s Kekkei Genkai that controlled the five senses, if Yakumo were healthy, Kurenai believed she could even surpass her late father and become the most famous female Genjutsu master in the Shinobi World!
But in this world, the word “if” was an extravagant wish…
Yakumo was frail, and both Kurenai and Yakumo’s parents feared excessive training would worsen her fragile body, repeatedly advising Yakumo to abandon her dream of becoming a shinobi.
Furthermore, Kurenai had known long ago that a monster resided in Yakumo’s heart.
Fearing that witnessing the cruelty of the ninja world would cause the monster to devour Yakumo’s sanity, she wanted even less for Yakumo to become a shinobi—yet Kurenai never realized that the monster was born precisely because Yakumo’s parents refused to let her become a ninja!
Although Yakumo displayed resistance every time, in Kurenai and the parents’ eyes, it was because Yakumo didn’t want to disappoint her clan’s expectations, forcing herself so harshly.
Even Hanyu Bai had thought the same way at first!
But in reality, regardless of the clan, becoming a shinobi was Yakumo’s own personal dream!
Seeing her Genjutsu master again after half a year, Yakumo was naturally delighted, even actively asking why Hanyu Bai hadn’t come.
Master and disciple conversed happily at first, but when Kurenai mentioned abandoning the path of a shinobi once more, the atmosphere plunged into dark gloom…
In an unseen place, a man-eating beast seemed to quietly awaken!
The chakra Hanyu Bai used to seal Idou broke apart at this very moment!
Yet under the influence of Yakumo’s subconsciously activated Kekkei Genkai, Kurenai remained completely oblivious, continuing her earnest, painstaking persuasion with emotion and logic, until Yakumo’s parents joined in the lecture.
But none of them noticed that on the easel in front of Yakumo, her self-portrait slowly came alive.
Within a few breaths, the sky darkened as waves of sinister Yin nature chakra leaked out from the painting, warping the surroundings into a realm of chaotic Genjutsu spaces that stitched together into an independent mini-world!
At this point, Kurenai finally realized something was wrong.
Biting her tongue hard, the metallic taste of blood and sharp pain allowed her to break free from Yakumo’s Kekkei Genkai.
Taking in the scene before her, shock and intense regret flooded her heart!
Kurenai should have noticed earlier, but she had never imagined Yakumo would use her Kekkei Genkai on her!
Due to her carelessness, the monster in Yakumo’s heart had broken its seal!
Kurenai looked toward Yakumo immediately, only to see an arm reach out from the self-portrait on the easel, grabbing Yakumo tight as a low, horrifying voice echoed throughout this real Genjutsu realm: “Leave it to me.
I will solve everything for you!”
“Who are you!?” Yakumo screamed in terror, struggling frantically to break free from the portrait’s grip, but how much strength could her frail body possess?
What’s more, the entity inside the self-portrait was Yakumo’s own inner demon!
“I am you!” Idou’s voice rang out again, laced with seductive deceit: “I was born in the deep crevices of your heart.
My name is Idou, and I am the other you.
I know you’re troubled right now, and I can help you solve all your problems.
Trust me and hand everything over to me—you can hand it all over!”
“Yakumo!
Don’t listen to it!” Kurenai shouted loudly.
Kurenai wanted to awaken Yakumo, but the monster had already escaped its cage!
Under Idou’s seductive manipulation, Yakumo’s eyes gradually lost their spark.
Idou began taking control, stepping out from the canvas starting with its arms.
Idou wore the exact same clothes as Yakumo, but its true form was a hideous, grotesque monster with crimson glints in its eyes.
The entire Satomi Hill Villa was instantly engulfed in flames, and Yakumo’s parents were snatched up by giant hands manifested out of thin air!
Immediately after, Idou turned its gaze toward Kurenai, pulling a repulsive grin as it struck viciously, sharp stone spikes shooting toward Kurenai—no hand seals were required, as it could manifest whatever it desired within this Genjutsu space!
However, Kurenai was no useless eye-candy.
With a swift Body Flicker, she easily dodged Idou’s attack, surging her internal chakra to try breaking through this Genjutsu realm.
Within this Genjutsu space, Kurenai couldn’t even cast any ninjutsu other than the basic Academy Jutsu and Body Flicker!
Yet soon, Kurenai’s expression turned grim…
This was a Genjutsu domain that only a Kage-level Genjutsu master could construct, where Yin nature chakra reached a level capable of creating physical form out of nothing, reminding Kurenai of her late father—except the Genjutsu before her was far more ominous and evil!
“Trying to run!?
Die right here!” Sensing Kurenai’s intent, Idou roared in rage, hurling frantically relentless attacks at her!
But at the end of the day, Idou was merely a monster born from Yakumo’s heart, possessing zero tactical knowledge on how to fight properly.
Carrying a full Kage-level repertoire of Genjutsu and Yin Release chakra, it knew nothing beyond wild, mindless bombardment.
Though Kurenai struggled slightly, she could still manage.
Idou realized this as well.
As a monster born from hatred and desire, Idou lacked all rationality.
Seeing its attacks stymied, its crimson eyes glared viciously at Yakumo’s parents.
Grinning repulsively once more, its ugly claws lunged straight for their necks!
“Don’t!” Kurenai instantly understood Idou’s intention, screaming in shock and fury.
If Idou killed Yakumo’s parents, Yakumo would be pushed past the point of no return!
But why would Idou care about Kurenai’s thoughts?
Kurenai tried to leap to their rescue, but even more attacks pressed down on her, leaving her utterly unable to break free!
Watching Idou’s claws draw closer and closer to Yakumo’s parents’ necks, despair and agony flashed deep in Kurenai’s eyes.
She held the confidence to escape unharmed herself, yet was forced to watch her only student step onto the path of self-destruction!
Swoosh—
Yet at this critical hair’s-breadth moment, a blue blade aura wrapped in Water Release chakra sliced through the air, severing both of Idou’s claws like cutting vegetables.
The momentum slashed a tear straight through the Genjutsu domain, allowing outside sunlight to pour in, leaving both Kurenai and Idou completely stunned.
In the next instant, Kurenai was scooped into a firm, solid embrace.
A familiar scent flooded her nose, and Kurenai called out almost instinctively: “Shiro-chan!?”
Kurenai looked up to see a young man who bore an 80-90% resemblance to Hanyu Bai, featuring sword-like eyebrows, eyes bright as stars, and a chiseled, masculine, handsome side profile.
The young man held a red-hilted Zanpakuto, its blade glowing with the intertwined radiance of water-blue and earth-yellow chakra.
Hearing Kurenai’s voice, the young man didn’t look back at her, swinging his blade once more.
This time, a blade aura wrapped in Earth Release chakra flew out as his other hand holding Kurenai grabbed one of her hands, executing a rapid, dazzling sequence of movements that used Kurenai’s hand to complete hand seals!
“Earth Release: Mud Wall Jutsu!”
The young man’s clear, magnetic voice rang out as a thick earth wall erected before him and Kurenai, blocking all of Idou’s incoming attacks flawlessly!
This Genjutsu space could not restrict the young man at all, allowing him to cast any ninjutsu at will—the sole reason being the sheer gap in strength!