Ch.235 Is This Difficult?

"Stupid Shinji, dumb Shinji."

Shion muttered under her breath while performing basic physical training in the practice field.

Uchiha Shinji stood silently on the sidelines, supervising her training.

Due to the sudden implementation of the three-man team assessment system at the shinobi academy, the pressure on students had doubled. No one wanted to be the weak link in their team, so everyone felt the weight of competition more than ever.

The most direct result was that all the academy students began additional training—even Shion, primarily a shrine maiden and a part-time shinobi, felt the pressure.

Born into a prestigious clan, Kurama Yakumo was even more determined not to be seen as riding on Kimimaro's coattails.

The Kurama Clan's situation was also unique.

Once prominent in the Hidden Leaf, the Kurama Clan was once able to rival the Uchiha Clan in the field of genjutsu.

However, unlike the ever-thriving Uchiha, the Kurama Clan declined rapidly after their peak due to a lack of talent.

By the time Yakumo's father's generation arrived, the once-renowned clan found it difficult to even produce a single jonin.

Kurama Yakumo was born into this situation, carrying the hopes of the entire Kurama Clan.

However, fate played a cruel joke on her.

Yakumo was born with the most extraordinary genjutsu talent the clan had seen in decades, yet she was frail and sickly from birth, unable to sustain the rigorous path of a shinobi.

In many ways, she was like Sasuke, burdened with the task of revitalizing her clan.

But as she grew older, her frailty worsened, threatening her very health.

In fact, before asking Shion to plead with Shinji to join his special training, Yakumo's parents had already urged her multiple times to drop out of the academy. But she refused, and the family reached a stalemate.

Brushing these thoughts aside, Shinji recalled his earlier encounter with Yakumo.

The reason his expression had suddenly changed when he saw her was simple—he had seen the monster hidden within Yakumo's heart.

Uchiha Shinji knew that Kurama Yakumo harbored a monster called 'Ido' inside her.

This creature was similar to the relationship between Shion and Moryo—a being born from immense pressure or negative emotions that unconsciously manifested within Yakumo.

Essentially, it was a physical manifestation of her darker side.

Due to Yakumo's terrifying ability to distort reality through genjutsu, this monster, 'Ido,' also possessed the power to manipulate reality.

These were events that had transpired in the original timeline—nothing surprising.

What puzzled Shinji was why he could see 'Ido' at first glance.

Logically, 'Ido' should have existed within Yakumo's mental realm. Even with his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, Shinji shouldn't have been able to perceive it without entering her inner world.

"This isn't the ability of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan…"

Eliminating the possibility that it was his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan or Fugaku's Mangekyo, the only remaining explanation was the newly awakened pair of Hogan he had acquired.

"Could it be the power of these Hogan?" Shinji paused, continuing his analysis. "Do they allow me to see into the mental world? Or do they possess the ability to detect malicious spiritual beings?"

From one perspective, 'Ido' could be classified as a spiritual entity.

Shinji wasn't sure yet, but he was certain of one thing—these Hogan possessed a unique perceptive power that neither the Sharingan nor the Byakugan had.

At Night.

At the Kurama Clan estate.

"Yakumo, give it up! Your body can't handle this!"

Kurama Yakumo's father, Kurama Sōun, said helplessly.

Yakumo clutched her head. "No, if I try hard enough, I can become a shinobi! I won't disappoint you!"

Her mother, Kurama Rei, added softly, "Yakumo, being a shinobi isn't your only option in life. There are other paths we can choose!"

Yakumo cried loudly, "Why won't you acknowledge me? I've worked so hard!"

Kurama Sōun sighed, "Lady Tsunade has reviewed your medical report."

Yakumo's eyes lit up with hope. "What did she say? With Lady Tsunade's skills, she can heal me, right?"

Sōun and Rei shook their heads in unison. "Lady Tsunade said your frailty is congenital. Even with proper care, it will take a long time to recover. She advised against continuing at the academy."

With her last hope shattered, Yakumo's expression grew vacant.

Before her parents could continue comforting her, dark chakra began to pour out of Yakumo's mouth like a physical substance.

What terrified them even more was the evil nature of the chakra—simply standing near it made their spiritual bodies feel as if pierced by needles.

"This is bad… Yakumo has awakened that power! Rei, run!"

As the current head of the Kurama Clan and its only jonin, Kurama Sōun immediately recognized the chakra as 'Ido.'

Throughout the Kurama Clan's history, several members had awakened their own 'Ido,' and without exception, each of them grew into formidable figures.

However, those predecessors had successfully subdued their 'Ido,' making it their ally. Yakumo's 'Ido,' on the other hand, had spiraled out of control.

Sōun knew he couldn't stop 'Ido' alone, so he urged his wife to flee—better to save one than lose both.

Yakumo's 'Ido' had no intention of letting them escape. With wild laughter, it unleashed a genjutsu, dragging both Sōun and Rei into an illusion.

Just as 'Ido' prepared to ignite the illusion, intending to burn them alive, a figure clad in an Akatsuki cloak and wearing a mask descended from the sky, landing in front of 'Ido.'

"Who are you?!" 'Ido' hesitated briefly before exclaiming in shock. "No… how did you enter my illusion?!"

The figure chuckled softly, "Is this difficult?"