Chapter 57: I Always Respect Others' Choices
Kurama Yakumo's small face was pale, her mind a complete mess.
Lingering negative emotions continued to intermingle, but forced by the authority of the man before her, they finally, gradually dissipated.
And deep within her heart, unseen by anyone, the ugly monster also closed its spiteful eyes.
"Ido... what exactly is that..."
This was the first time Yakumo had seen the monster hidden deep within her heart.
Very powerful, but also very evil, very ugly.
"Just a mad dog raised by you, now attempting to break free from its cage."
Menma withdrew the hand resting on her head, saying with amusement in his tone: "If you are willing to entrust your life to me, I can teach you the means to tame and control this mad dog."
His words showed absolutely no regard for the so-called Ido.
Essentially, Yakumo's own strength was still too weak, while the Power of Yin Release she awakened was too strong, lacking a vessel capable of bearing such power.
At such a time, Yakumo's sensitive heart was stimulated, and the imagined monster Ido thus appeared.
If Menma were to resolve it, it would also be very simple.
His soul body had undergone special nurturing methods; its strength and resilience were sufficient to cross world barriers. Dealing with the currently still weak Ido was completely trivial – just crush it directly with spiritual power, that is, soul power.
"However, Ido and Yakumo are currently one entity. If I eliminate Ido, it might very likely injure Yakumo's brain, damaging her potential."
Looking at the stunned Yakumo, Menma narrowed his eyes.
Someone without utility value isn't worth him expending so much thought and energy.
"You... Sir..."
Yakumo came back to her senses, hesitating: "Can you help me become a ninja?"
She was the genius inherited the Kekkei Genkai, appearing only once every few generations in the Kurama clan; the hope for improving her family's status within the clan; the hope for the clan's resurgence.
Since birth, she had carried the high hopes of her parents and the clan. Clansmen and parents constantly spoke of their expectations for her.
Yakumo had always striven hard, shouldering everyone's expectations, viewing it as her lifelong goal.
But her body was simply too weak. Kurenai's words were practically a death sentence for her.
At this moment bordering on despair, Menma's appearance was like a beam of light shining into her dark and twisted world.
"Your phrasing is inaccurate."
Menma shook his head, correcting: "It should be said that besides me in all of Konoha, no one else can make you a ninja. Not even that old man, the Third Hokage."
Yakumo's Kekkei Genkai was even more outrageous than the Sharingan, even more extreme.
At her young age now, she could already make Special Jōnin specializing in genjutsu unable to guard against her, potentially failing if not careful.
If she further developed her Kekkei Genkai, transforming illusion into reality, she would be even harder to deal with.
As the saying goes, desperate times call for drastic measures. Yakumo's current body needed nurturing with the Power of Yang Release.
And Menma's "Book of the Crimson Moon" could easily achieve this.
"Seems you're still hesitating."
Seeing Yakumo's hesitant expression, Menma said no more, turning his back to her.
The amusement in his tone turned cold: "If you can only stand there praying for someone to save you like a plant waiting for timely rain from heaven, then I have no interest in such a person."
Menma understood Kurama Yakumo's thoughts.
His identity was unclear, his words showed no respect for the Third Hokage; anyone would suspect he had ulterior motives.
Moreover, Yūhi Kurenai would be coming here tomorrow to teach her...
"Still holding onto wishful thinking? I always respect others' choices."
Although Menma's tone held no amusement, he felt somewhat pleased.
Adding flowers to brocade is hardly comparable to sending charcoal in snowy weather. When Kurama Yakumo completely despairs, that will be the best opportunity for him to step in.
"Wait... wait! I..."
Watching wide-eyed as the masked man gradually vanished before her, Kurama Yakumo frantically tried to stop him.
But Menma didn't stop. His figure completely disappeared from the mental space, leaving only a final meaningful sentence.
"You are too naive. To obtain power, one must pay a price. It's just that price... I wonder if you can bear it."
...
Meanwhile, in Konoha Village's Memorial Stone cemetery.
Kakashi placed the bouquet he held before a tombstone, complex emotions in his eyes.
"Sorry, it's been a long time since I came to see you all. Teacher Minato's child has grown up now, as gentle and reliable as teacher was..."
He spoke a few words to the tombstone as usual, then turned and left.
Just after he left, the space before the tombstone suddenly distorted. Uchiha Obito, wearing a black robe with red clouds and a tiger-striped mask, slowly appeared.
"Namikaze Minato's child...?"
Looking at the name on the tombstone, looking at the bouquet before it, Obito's eyes grew increasingly cold.
Ninja world's fastest, Yellow Flash... utterly laughable.
Always late, no matter the occasion. Couldn't even protect his own student.
"Oh my my~"
A pitcher plant head suddenly popped out from underground, looking around before saying flippantly: "So many years have passed, Konoha still hasn't changed much..."
The silly tone instantly broke the gloomy atmosphere of the cemetery.
"Shut your mouth!"
Uchiha Obito spoke coldly: "Have the Uchiha clan spores been spread?"
"Ya ya, so fierce. Of course, I did it already..."
White Zetsu first complained, then asked with some confusion: "But ah, are you really betting so much on that guy Uchiha Itachi? I think Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Shisui are more suitable. They awakened their eyes earlier than Itachi."
Those two look much more naive than Uchiha Itachi, easier to control too, right?
Obito sneered: "What I need is an Uchiha clan member possessing emotions far richer than ordinary people, whose thinking is more rational and extreme. Uchiha Itachi is the most suitable candidate."
He had already decided to completely destroy the Uchiha clan.
And Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Izumi, although they awakened their eyes earlier, their personalities clearly wouldn't commit such an extreme act.
White Zetsu scratched his head: "I don't understand you humans' emotions, just like I don't understand the feeling of humans taking a dump."
"Keep an eye on Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Shisui too. Have you placed spores on them?"
White Zetsu chuckled upon hearing this: "A White Zetsu has already gone."
Just as Obito lightly nodded, about to leave, White Zetsu beside him suddenly froze mid-submerge.
"Huh?"
White Zetsu looked puzzled: "Madara, the other White Zetsu... has lost contact for some reason."
"...Lost contact?"
Obito's expression instantly turned ugly and grim: "Was it discovered by Konoha's Hyūga clan?"
"Not sure. Probably didn't have time to send back any information."
"Hmph, useless trash!"
(End of Chapter)
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