Hell Viewing Jutsu

"You hid it very well." Kurenai walked forward, elbowed him, and said, "If it weren't for today's sparring, I wouldn't have known you had such strength."

"I never meant to hide it from you," Kitazawa's gaze falling on her arm. "You just never asked."

"Are you blaming me now?" Kurenai rolled her eyes.

"Wouldn't dare." Kitazawa grabbed her wrist. "Let me apply some medicine."

Kurenai was momentarily stunned. Only then did she notice the faint bruises on her pale arm caused by blocking Kitazawa's Konoha Whirlwind.

"It's just a small injury. It'll heal on its own." Kurenai instinctively tried to pull her hand back but realized she couldn't.

"I caused it, so I'll take responsibility." Kitazawa gently pulled her into the living room.

Kurama Yakumo stood up, ready to greet them, but quickly covered her mouth at the sight—her curious eyes burning with gossip.

Kitazawa released Kurenai and headed upstairs to get the medicine box.

"I got this during a sparring match with Kitazawa," Kurenai said casually to Yakumo.

"I thought..." Yakumo coughed lightly and asked, "Teacher Kurenai, is it serious? Should I call a medical ninja?"

"It's really nothing." Kurenai raised her arm, revealing the bruise.

Kitazawa came down with the medicine box. As a ninja, he always kept one on hand—visiting the Konoha Hospital was costly.

"Teachers, I've finished learning the Art of Truth Technique." Kurama Yakumo said quickly. "I'll go paint on the rooftop now."

Then she disappeared upstairs.

"Monsters like her are seriously discouraging." Kitazawa sighed in envy. He relied on the system. Kurama Yakumo? Pure talent.

"Yeah." Kurenai nodded in agreement.

Even she, known for her genjutsu skills, felt the gap between them. Only the Uchiha clan's Sharingan could rival that talent.

"Your talent's not bad either," Kurenai added.

"Let's drop the subject. Give me your hand." Kitazawa sat beside her and opened the medicine box.

Kurenai unwrapped the white bandage, then moved and placed her arm in front of him.

Kitazawa glanced and froze for a moment. They were very close. Kurenai knelt on the sofa, leaning forward, the black mesh lining at her collar slightly visible.

He frowned, then poured disinfectant onto the bruise.

"Ah! That's cold." Kurenai hissed.

"Cold's better than pain." Kitazawa caught a faint whiff of her fragrance as he applied the medicine.

"Thanks." Kurenai waved her hand. She was feeling better.

Though ninja defense was low, their physique far surpassed ordinary people.

"What do you think of Yakumo's new illusion?" Kurenai now sat cross-legged, facing him.

"The Art of Speech Jutsu builds trust; the Art of Truth one diagnoses mental trauma through that trust." Kitazawa thought for a moment. "The next one should begin the actual treatment."

"You mean the dream therapy you mentioned before?"

"That would be the last resort," Kitazawa clarified. "We need a new genjutsu that can detect negative emotions—combine it with Yakumo's bloodline limit."

"Sounds like a headache..." Kurenai crossed her arms.

"It is." Kitazawa nodded. "If we had help, it would be easier."

"There are too few genjutsu specialists in Konoha."

"Unless we go to the Uchiha clan."

"Forget it. They're a pain to deal with."

"Then we'll have to rely on Hokage-sama." Kitazawa shrugged.

At Sarutobi Hiruzen's level, there's little he doesn't know. People like Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Danzo were the same.

"We'll only ask if there's no other way." Kurenai rubbed her temples.

"Agreed." Kitazawa sat cross-legged like her.

The two sat face-to-face on the sofa, gazing into each other's eyes.

Kurenai propped her chin in one hand, lost in thought. A warm midday breeze drifted through the window. Her gaze fell on Kitazawa, and she suddenly felt dazed.

He had changed—stronger, sharper, and… more attractive. Her heart skipped. She quickly looked away.

"What is it?" Kitazawa noticed.

"Nothing." Kurenai tucked her hair behind her ear. "Got any ideas?"

"I… actually do," Kitazawa said, a spark in his eyes. "You know the Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Jutsu?"

"Of course. It materializes a person's deepest fears."

"What if we tweak it—to make the patient's negative emotions reveal themselves?"

"Genius!" Kurenai's eyes lit up.

"We can remodel the entire Hell Viewing Jutsu around that!"

Creating something from scratch was hard. But modifying an existing illusion? Much easier.

"Then let's begin the research tomorrow!" Kurenai clapped her leg, her fair skin jiggling slightly.

---

A casino in the Land of Fire.

"Stop it, Lady Tsunade!" Shizune pleaded earnestly, "You're going to lose all our meal money today!"

"I'll win it back soon!" Tsunade glared at the slot machine in front of her and shouted, "Spit out the money already!"

The patterns on the slot machine spun rapidly, eventually stopping on two sevens and a toad.

"Damn it!" Tsunade clenched her fists in frustration.

"Damn toad!" Three sevens meant hitting the jackpot—but two sevens? Nothing at all.

"It's over! I'm going to starve again!" Shizune said with a miserable expression.

"Don't worry, I won't starve." Tsunade raised her eyebrows with a confident smile.

"Because the money has arrived!"

"Who would possibly be willing to lend us money?" Shizune asked, full of doubt.

"Is my credit that bad?" Tsunade glared at her.

"..."

Shizune tugged at the corner of her mouth. Don't you already know the answer?

"Come out," Tsunade called out loudly.

In the next second, an Anbu ninja appeared silently in front of her. Without a word, he respectfully handed her a letter with both hands.

Tsunade opened it and began to read.

The contents were straightforward—an explanation of Kurama Yakumo's situation and a request regarding the formation of a psychological medical ninja system.

"Psychological medical ninja?" Tsunade raised her eyebrows, surprised.

Her first reaction was disbelief, but she knew Sarutobi Hiruzen had no reason to lie.

Tsunade fell into deep thought. Although the letter claimed he hoped she would return to the village to lead the establishment of a new system, the true intention behind the words was all too clear.

There was no doubt—he wanted to treat her Hemophobia.

"Trying to trick me back? As if it were that simple," Tsunade snorted coldly, prepared to dismiss the idea altogether.

But just then, her eyes fell on the final line. Konoha Village will fully support her in building a psychological medical ninja system, including unlimited funding.