Chapter 88: The Birth of a Yandere

Upon arriving at the port, Yami and his party rested for a day, prepared enough supplies, and boarded the ship that Asama had booked in advance.

The greatest danger at sea wasn't from humans, but from nature itself.

The technological development of this world was absurd. There was advanced surveillance, live broadcast equipment, audio and video recorders, yet ships were still made of wood. This contradiction always made Yami silently complain.

But besides him, no one else seemed concerned.

After boarding the ship, Izumi turned into a curious little chatterbox again.

Not only was she fascinated by the ship, but she was also filled with wonder at the boundless ocean.

"It's blue... it's really beautiful."

"Yeah, I haven't seen the sea in a long time."

Yugao stood beside her. The sea breeze lifted her purple hair slightly, and a gentle smile appeared on her face. It was a beautiful sight.

Click—

Yami took out his camera and captured the moment.

"I want one too! Take mine!" Izumi, seeing Yami snapping pictures, immediately struck various energetic poses and made him take over a dozen shots.

But after seeing the results, the girls' faces dropped.

Koyuki Kazahana also came over curiously to see Yami's photography... but when she saw it—

Pfft!

"S-Sorry," Koyuki said with difficulty, "I didn't mean to laugh... I couldn't help it."

The backgrounds were sharp as blades, while the subjects were all blurred like melting butter.

If not for the differences in height, clothing, and hairstyle, Koyuki wouldn't have known who was who in the photos. Everyone was a blurry mess, while the sea was perfectly in focus.

"Sigh. You all don't understand the beauty of abstract art."

Yami sighed deeply. For a moment, he felt he shared the same artistic pain as Deidara.

These people just didn't appreciate true art.

"Let me do it." Koyuki took the camera. "I'm really into film and have studied cinematography techniques."

"Okay." Izumi nodded eagerly and pulled Koyuki aside to take pictures.

After drifting for a week, they finally neared their destination.

The weather grew colder and colder, and the group changed into thick winter clothing.

Yami teased Izumi about gaining weight, causing her to fume and not talk to him for ten hours.

In the end, she was coaxed with head pats.

Koyuki looked at the two of them with envy.

She had noble status in the Land of Snow, but that status also meant loneliness. She had no friends her age.

That's why she got along so well with Izumi.

Even though Izumi kept calling her "princess," it was out of admiration and closeness. She treated her like a normal friend.

"Watch out! Iceberg ahead!"

Just as Koyuki was zoning out, a sailor's alarmed shout came from outside.

Yami rushed out to the bow and saw a massive iceberg floating several hundred meters ahead.

It must've drifted in with the currents.

The helmsman hadn't seen it in time, and it was now too late to turn the ship.

Seeing the impending collision, Asama Santaifu quickly turned to Yami. "Yami Jōnin, can you handle it?"

"Leave it to me."

Yami nodded and quickly formed hand seals.

Koyuki nervously and eagerly watched him. The trip had been smooth so far, and this was the first time she'd seen Yami take action.

Water Style: Water Dragon Explosion!

A dragon's roar burst from the sea. Countless jets of water surged into the air, forming a massive water dragon that roared as it lunged toward the iceberg.

Boom!

Before everyone's stunned eyes, the iceberg shattered into countless shards of ice with a loud crack.

Yami clasped his hands again and infused chakra.

Water Style: Wave-Riding Strike!

A powerful surge of water swept out from in front of the ship. Giant waves rolled forward, pushing away all the broken ice and clearing a wide, safe path.

"Wonderful, we're saved… As expected of a Konoha jōnin…"

Asama wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The nearby sailors kept bowing to thank the ninja.

Koyuki stared at Yami, who remained calm as if he had done something trivial.

So this was ninjutsu...

The rest of the voyage went smoothly without any further incidents. Two days later, the ship arrived at a port in the Land of Snow.

"Welcome to the Land of Snow." Upon landing, Koyuki gave a gentle smile.

"No wonder it's called the Land of Snow... Konoha never has snow this thick."

Izumi looked around at the endless snow and ice, stretching to the horizon.

Though it was awe-inspiring, after a while, it felt bleak and desolate.

"Is it like this all year?" Yugao pulled her winter coat tighter and asked softly.

It was currently June, the height of summer in the Land of Fire.

"Yes, it's always like this." Asama sighed.

Though the Land of Snow had become a popular tourist spot for people wanting to experience summer skiing, for those who lived here year-round, the harsh climate was a burden.

Each year, they had to import large quantities of food and daily necessities from the mainland.

"If only the Land of Snow had spring..." Koyuki murmured, "It would definitely be more beautiful than Konoha's spring."

Yami glanced at her but said nothing.

They didn't linger at the port and took a train to Kazahana City, the capital.

Yes, a train.

The Land of Snow already had something that even the Five Great Nations lacked. However, it was coal-powered, heavily polluting, and the ride quality wasn't great.

It took just half a day to reach the City.

Heading directly to the central palace, they encountered a middle-aged man along the way.

Asama respectfully bowed. "Lord Dotō."

Koyuki also bowed politely. "Uncle Dotō."

"Asama, you finally returned with Koyuki." The man had a stern face. He nodded slightly to Asama and his niece, then turned to glance at Yami's group, frowning.

"Was my brother's funding not enough? Why are your guards just children?"

"Lord Dotō, it's not like that," Asama quickly explained. "Yami Jōnin is extremely powerful. He's a top ninja recommended by the Third Hokage, and his team is just as skilled."

"Is that so?"

Dotō gave a slight nod and left without another word.

Once inside the palace, Santaifu led the group to meet the daimyo — Kazahana Sōsetsu.

"Father!"

Koyuki ran happily to a middle-aged man who resembled Dotō.

Sōsetsu smiled. "Koyuki, did you enjoy your trip?"

"Yes! It was so much fun. I want to go again after my birthday."

"No problem. It's summer there, the scenery's beautiful."

"I wish we could see spring and summer in the Land of Snow too."

Kazahana Hayate's eyes sparkled. "Maybe... the Land of Snow will have spring one day."

"Really?"

"Yes. If that's what Koyuki wants, we'll make it happen."

"Yes! I believe in you, Father!"

After the heartwarming exchange, Hayate turned to Yami and the others. Once Asama introduced them, he thanked them politely and arranged accommodations.

"That daimyo must be a great father."

On the way to their rooms, Izumi whispered, "The way he looked at Koyuki is just like how my mother looks at me."

Yami nodded. "He is a good father."

But not necessarily a good ruler.

In a dim secret room.

"Have you found out anything about the Konoha jōnin?" Dotō's face darkened even more than during their earlier meeting.

A snow shinobi with a purple ponytail and combat gear shook his head. "We're too far from the Land of Fire. Gathering intel takes time."

"The operation is in five days. That's too late."

"But the crest on that little girl's clothing is the Uchiha clan symbol."

"Uchiha?" Dotō's frown deepened.

Everyone in the shinobi world knew the name Uchiha. He feared Sōsetsu had seen through him.

The escort mission was just a cover, and these Konoha shinobi had come to deal with him.

"Lord Dotō, I think you're overthinking it."

The ponytail ninja remained unconcerned.

"Rōga, why do you say that?" Dotō asked.

Nadare Rōga chuckled. "If Konoha had really colluded with Hayate, they wouldn't send kids. They'd send their famed elite jōnin."

"Even if she's Uchiha, she's still a child. Instead, I suggest focusing on Yami. He's young but a jōnin. Don't underestimate him."

"Then stick to the original plan," Dotō decided. "If Konoha shinobi interfere, deal with them. Just drive them off, don't kill them. We can't afford to provoke the Land of Fire right now."

Looking at the chakra armor on his body, Nadare Rōga smiled confidently.

With the chakra armor, Snow Ninja Village could still handle a mere jōnin.

This armor was the result of years of research. It enhanced chakra and projected a chakra shield around the body, neutralizing most ninjutsu.

Relying on it, Rōga was full of confidence.

After the two finished discussing, Nadare left.

Staring toward the palace, Dotō clenched his fists.

"Brother, only I can make the Land of Snow strong — strong enough to rival the Five Great Nations."

---

"Yami, are you really going to do this?"

In the courtyard, Yugao looked at Yami in shock after hearing his Sharingan awakening plan for Izumi.

"This is the only thing I can try right now."

Yami stroked his chin. "Izumi's already old enough that awakening her Sharingan won't harm her body. But I can't put her in real danger... so I'll try something else."

"Alright then. But be sure to explain afterward. If not, I'm afraid she'll be so mad she won't talk to you anymore."

Yugao tilted her head awkwardly, her cheeks warming.

That night, after building snowmen with Koyuki all afternoon, Izumi happily returned to the residence.

Dinner had already been delivered.

"Let's go to the hot springs," Yugao said stiffly after receiving a signal from Yami.

"Okay!" Izumi's eyes lit up. There were two small hot spring pools behind the house.

"Let's go." Yami put down his chopsticks. The three changed into bathing clothes and headed to the backyard. A curtain divided the men's and women's baths.

But when they arrived, Yugao suddenly let go of Izumi's hand.

"Yugao?" Izumi looked up in confusion.

Yugao gave her a slight push. "You're bathing alone. I need to help Yami and scrub his back."

"Huh?" Izumi's eyes widened. "But... but Yami's a boy."

"So what?"

Yugao casually tied up her hair. "I've always helped Yami bathe and massaged him to ease fatigue. It's my job."

"Oh, and tonight you'll sleep alone. It wasn't convenient before, but now I'm also responsible for his bedside care."

The light in Izumi's eyes dimmed.

Just then, Yami, already soaking, poked his head out.

"Yugao, why are you taking so long? Hurry up."

"I'm coming."

Yugao walked over. Seeing Izumi still standing there stunned, she sighed and kissed Yami's forehead.

Yami kissed her cheek right back.

Boom!

Izumi's mind exploded.

"Why... why…"

"I was here first…"

A strange power surged into her eyes. In an instant, her world turned blood red.

Two tomoe spun wildly in her pupils.

"Success!" Yugao whispered, afraid to interrupt the awakening.

Gulp—

Yami swallowed.

"This... this is more than just a success..."

Izumi's terrifying expression, the dead light in her eyes, and the two spinning tomoe—

To awaken directly to Two Tomoe Sharingan, how overwhelming must those emotions be…

He had guessed this plan might work, but not to this extent.

Could it be that bull-headed provocation is the ultimate eye-opening technique?

[Host and Uchiha Izumi's Yandere bond has reached the third stage. You have obtained the special talent: Uchiha Bloodline (Ultimate)]

Yandere???

It's over…

Now it was Yami's turn to lose the light in his eyes.

(To be continued.)