Early morning, in a hospital room in Konoha, Yakumo Kurama opened her eyes. She lay quietly on the hospital bed, staring at the white ceiling for a long time before getting up, walking to the window, and pulling open the curtains.
Watching the small birds foraging on the tree branches outside the window, Yakumo smiled faintly. Her heart felt inexplicably lighter. She had experienced so much yesterday; it felt as long as a year.
Opening the window, she greedily inhaled the fresh air. After this brief moment of relaxation, Yakumo Kurama lowered her head and fell into deep thought.
Although her mind had been clouded by hatred before, it didn't mean she was stupid. Sakura Haruno's actions yesterday made her feel that there might be a hidden story behind her parents' incident. Now that she had calmed down and thought about it, it seemed Sakura had come specifically for her.
...No, that's not right. As soon as she thought of this, Yakumo immediately dismissed the idea. Yesterday, she had clearly been the one to discover Sakura Haruno first and cast a genjutsu on her. If, on the premise that Sakura was immune to her genjutsu, she had no need to pretend to be trapped in it.
Thinking of this, Yakumo Kurama became even more confused. Could it... really have been a coincidence? But she knows so much about my situation; it doesn't seem like a coincidence.
What Yakumo Kurama didn't know was that her former self would never have thought this way. Her personality had been unknowingly changed by that demon-masked figure. Her former self would have readily believed what her eyes saw, but now she had become more thoughtful and deliberate.
"What are you thinking about?" A cool, indifferent voice came from behind Yakumo Kurama.
Yakumo turned around and saw Sakura Haruno, who had appeared behind her at some unknown point.
"Your breakfast." Sakura Haruno handed over the lunchbox she was carrying. "I didn't know what you like to eat, so I brought some rice balls." Rice balls were a fairly common food, so it was a safe bet.
"Thank you," Yakumo said, taking the lunchbox.
"No need to thank me," Sakura Haruno said with a wave of her hand. "From now on, I'll be your captain and supervising ninja."
"Supervising ninja?" Yakumo put down the rice balls in her hand and asked doubtfully, "Can you teach me to become a genjutsu master? Although my genjutsu doesn't work on you, dispelling genjutsu and casting genjutsu are different..."
"I indeed don't know genjutsu," Sakura Haruno interrupted. "But the ninja who do know genjutsu didn't manage to train you into a qualified ninja either, did they?"
"That's because of my physical condition," Yakumo Kurama said, her voice a little cold, knowing Sakura was referring to Kurenai-sensei.
"So, you need to change your way of thinking," Sakura Haruno explained. "Your genjutsu ability is so strong, even stronger than the Uchiha clan's genjutsu. Why insist on fighting like an ordinary ninja? You can completely use genjutsu as your foundation, forming your own combat style, without being confined to the ninja's way of fighting."
"My own combat style?" Yakumo Kurama repeated blankly.
"That's right," Sakura Haruno nodded. "We'll talk about this later." With that, she stepped forward and extended a palm towards Yakumo.
"What... what are you doing?" Yakumo, seeing Sakura extend her hand towards her, instinctively felt her hair stand on end. She had clearly seen that kunoichi's Storm Release attack yesterday. If it were her, she definitely wouldn't have been able to block it.
"Don't be nervous. I'm just checking your body," Sakura Haruno explained with an amused look at Yakumo's tense state. "You wouldn't happen to not know what the Fifth Hokage is most famous for, would you?"
"Wh-what?" Yakumo asked in return.
"Eh? You really don't know?" Sakura Haruno said, surprised. "The Fifth Hokage is most famous for her medical ninjutsu. As the Fifth Hokage's disciple, my medical ninjutsu naturally wouldn't be too bad."
As Sakura Haruno finished speaking, Yakumo's tense body instantly relaxed. Then, green chakra emanated from Sakura's palm, enveloping Yakumo Kurama.
After a long while, Sakura Haruno lowered her hand. "Your body is basically fine now, but it is indeed a bit weaker than an average person's."
"As expected..." Yakumo's expression dimmed somewhat. "Then, how do you intend for me to become a ninja?"
"No rush. I'll go handle your discharge procedures first," Sakura Haruno said, getting up and walking towards the door. "Then we'll start today's training."
"Mm," Yakumo nodded. She had agreed to join because Sakura had promised to help her become a ninja. Regardless of Sakura's motives, as long as she could become a ninja, she wouldn't mind.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Tsunade looked at the Sakura Haruno who had just vanished before her eyes and shook her head helplessly.
"It was actually a shadow clone." Tsunade said to Karin, who had accompanied Sakura. "I have no objection to Sakura's arrangements. I will arrange for a genjutsu ninja to guide you a bit. After all... that child's genjutsu is truly formidable. Making some preparations is not excessive."
"Yes, Master," Karin replied.
In the hospital, a segment of memory suddenly flooded into Sakura Haruno's mind. Sakura paused slightly, then continued to lead Yakumo Kurama out of the hospital.
It seems Tsunade-sensei has already agreed to my proposal. Then, during this time, I just need to train Yakumo to develop her combat strength as soon as possible.
Sakura Haruno led Yakumo, walking and stopping along the way, eventually arriving at Training Ground Three. This was where they had once fought Kakashi for the bells, and also where Team Seven had first cooperated.
Walking into the training ground, Sakura Haruno and Yakumo Kurama faced each other. "Now, demonstrate your genjutsu to me."
"Demonstrate to you?" Yakumo said, slightly taken aback. "My genjutsu doesn't work on you."
"As far as I know, your genjutsu manipulates the five senses, creates true illusions, and constructs genjutsu worlds, correct?" Sakura Haruno said, crossing her arms.
"That's right." Yakumo nodded. She no longer wanted to dwell on why Sakura Haruno knew even the types of her genjutsu. Sooner or later, all mysteries would be revealed.
"But what I want you to demonstrate is Genjutsu True Creation," Sakura Haruno continued.
"I can't do it," Yakumo said faintly.
"Can't do it?" Sakura was taken aback, then asked, "Why?"
"Genjutsu True Creation requires an easel," Yakumo said. "And right now, I don't have any tools. Besides... you wouldn't want me to fight enemies while carrying an easel on my back, would you?"
Yakumo looked at Sakura Haruno with a strange expression.
"That's not entirely impossible," Sakura Haruno retorted. "As far as I know, there really are ninja in the village who use painting as a means of combat."
Speaking of painting, Sakura Haruno thought of Sai. Sai was a ninja who fought with paintings. However, she didn't know where he was now. With Danzo dead and Root disbanded, Sai was probably free now.
"..." Yakumo looked somewhat helpless. "But I really can't do it. Without an easel, I can't cast genjutsu."
"You absolutely need an easel to cast it?" Sakura Haruno asked, stroking her chin thoughtfully.
"Yes," Yakumo replied affirmatively.
"Then, how did you discover this ability the first time?" Sakura Haruno tried to analyze this ability.
Among Yakumo's three abilities, Sakura Haruno naturally saw the most development potential in Genjutsu True Creation. If its true usage could be unearthed, this technique would be equivalent to the Uchiha clan's ultimate genjutsu, Izanagi.
Then, this would be an extremely terrifying ability, even more terrifying than Izanagi, because it didn't require sacrificing one's sight.