Ch.236 Can You Help Me?

Seeing the masked figure in the red cloud cloak easily invade the illusion she had created, 'Ido,' who shared Kurama Yakumo's senses and memories, immediately tensed. "You… you're a member of the Akatsuki? Why are you here?"

There was no doubt about it.

The one who had suddenly intruded into 'Ido's' illusion was none other than Uchiha Shinji, who had sensed something strange about Kurama Yakumo earlier that afternoon.

As he examined the illusion 'Ido' had crafted, Shinji slowly approached Yakumo's parents.

Kurama Sōun stepped in front of his wife, Kurama Rei, and stared at Shinji warily. "Are you 'A' from Akatsuki? Why have you infiltrated the Kurama Clan?"

Shinji's eyes narrowed.

With two soft thuds, Kurama Yakumo's parents collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Shinji turned his head back to 'Ido,' gazing at her calmly.

"Sharingan."

'Ido' stepped back, alarmed.

Through the holes in Shinji's mask, she glimpsed the glowing red Sharingan beneath—its eerie brilliance sending a shiver down her spine.

"What should I do with you?"

Shinji's tone was indifferent, as if he were merely contemplating options.

"Stay back!" 'Ido' shouted immediately.

As a monster born from Yakumo's subconscious, 'Ido' relied entirely on Yakumo for information.

Since Yakumo was just an academy student with little interest in the world beyond becoming a shinobi, she knew very little about Akatsuki. She had no idea what 'A' truly represented.

But 'Ido' understood this—although Kurama Sōun lacked exceptional talent, as the current head of the Kurama Clan and a jonin proficient in genjutsu, he wasn't weak. The fact that Shinji could easily subdue him with genjutsu spoke volumes about his strength.

Shinji observed 'Ido' with his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, muttering to himself, "Hmm… very high-quality Yin Release chakra."

Seeing Shinji examine her like some artifact, 'Ido' erupted in anger and unleashed her genjutsu on him.

In an instant—

Flames roared into existence, engulfing Shinji.

Glancing at the burning inferno around him, Shinji furrowed his brow slightly.

He had already seen through the flames as mere illusions, but strangely, he could still feel the heat rising around him.

After checking his spiritual body, he mused, "I haven't fallen under her genjutsu… my five senses are being misled. This is impressive genjutsu. No wonder the Kurama Clan was once considered on par with the Uchiha Clan."

The Sharingan naturally held resistance to genjutsu. Moreover, Shinji possessed the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, so 'Ido's' illusion should have been ineffective.

Yet, despite this, her genjutsu affected him.

Rather than attacking his spirit directly, 'Ido' had bypassed it and manipulated his five senses. Though there were no actual flames, his body reacted as if it were burning, triggering genuine physical responses.

Having roughly assessed 'Ido's' genjutsu, Shinji wasted no time and activated his own Sharingan illusion.

Immediately, the space around them warped, distorting everything.

'Ido' frantically scanned her surroundings, but to her horror, even her own body began to twist and contort.

In a flash—

The Kurama estate vanished.

They were now in an empty void, illuminated only by a massive red moon hanging ominously above.

As 'Ido' looked closer, her pupils shrank in shock.

The moon overhead… was shaped like a giant Sharingan.

"I've fallen under his genjutsu!?"

At that moment, Shinji appeared before her.

"Such high-quality Yin Release chakra… I'm almost reluctant to destroy it."

Hearing Shinji's words, 'Ido' trembled uncontrollably.

The moment his genjutsu activated, she realized she was powerless to resist. Their brief clash had already ended in her utter defeat.

Shinji continued to analyze 'Ido's' chakra closely.

There was no doubt—her chakra was malevolent, the type that instinctively unsettled others.

However, this aligned with the characteristics of high-quality Yin Release chakra.

Yin Release represented spiritual energy and was fueled by emotions. The more extreme the emotions, the stronger the Yin Release chakra became. As a result, shinobi who enhanced their chakra through emotional force often exuded a dark, sinister aura.

After some thought, Shinji glanced at the unconscious Yakumo nearby and activated his dojutsu to awaken her.

Kurama Yakumo rubbed her eyes. "Where… is this place?"

Shinji said nothing, standing silently as 'Ido' nervously stood beside him.

Gradually regaining her senses, Yakumo gasped at the sight of Shinji in his red cloud cloak. Her eyes widened further when she noticed 'Ido,' whose form resembled a demonic specter with a twisted, mask-like face.

"Ahhhh!" Yakumo screamed.

Shinji chuckled. "Would you like me to introduce you?"

Yakumo stumbled back a few steps. "Where is this? Why am I here?"

Shinji gestured toward 'Ido.' "This is an illusion she created. I'm just borrowing it temporarily. As for why you're here… don't you remember?"

Yakumo paused, gradually recalling her earlier argument with her parents and how 'Ido' had taken control of her body.

Shinji added, "Don't worry, your parents are fine."

Yakumo already knew about 'Ido's' existence and understood the dangers that came with releasing her. With uncertainty in her eyes, she asked Shinji, "Did you stop her? Why help me? Aren't you an Akatsuki member wanted by the village?"

"I was just passing by and saw something interesting."

Shinji deliberately eyed Yakumo up and down. "Such talent… wasted."

Yakumo's expression darkened.

Beside her, 'Ido' seethed with silent rage, but dared not speak out. As Yakumo's subconscious manifestation, she despised others looking down on Yakumo just as much as Yakumo herself did.

"Give up… at least you'll survive."

With that, Shinji turned to leave.

However, desperate to grasp any chance, Yakumo called out, "Wait! Can you… can you help me? I'm not asking for much… I just want to become an ordinary shinobi!"

"An ordinary shinobi?" Shinji chuckled. "If I help you, you won't just become ordinary—you'll have to be the best."