Downstairs.
Yakumo's mother sat in her chair, motionless, her expression frozen in thought. Kurenai had already explained the purpose of their visit in detail while brewing tea, but the question Masahiko posed had stumped her completely.
What is Kurama Yakumo's wish?
She didn't know.
Because they had never asked. Nor had they ever considered Yakumo's own opinions or thoughts on the matter. Ironically, the first person to consider this wasn't family, but a Taijutsu instructor with no blood relation to her whatsoever.
"Mrs. Kurama, may we speak?"
"Ah?" Yakumo's mother looked up, startled. seeing that calm, handsome face, she snapped back to reality and nodded gently. "Of course! We've truly troubled you today."
"It was no trouble at all."
Yagyu Masahiko took a seat opposite her. "I had a casual chat with Yakumo upstairs, but I was hoping to discuss a few things with you as well..."
"Please, go ahead."
With her permission, Masahiko asked several questions regarding their daily treatment of Yakumo and the measures the clan had taken. After listening for a while, he leaned forward, his expression grave.
"I won't hide it from you, ma'am. Yakumo's condition is quite severe. If this continues, she is at high risk of developing a serious mental illness."
"Huh?" Yakumo's mother's eyes went wide with shock and confusion. "Mental illness? What... what does that mean?"
She had never heard of such a term.
Lowering his voice, Masahiko combined his observations of Yakumo with modern psychological concepts, explaining the nature of mental health in terms a layman could grasp.
As a mother, Mrs. Kurama naturally didn't want any harm to befall her daughter. She looked at him, flustered and helpless. "Then... what should we do?"
"Do nothing. Treat her as you would an ordinary person with a slightly weaker constitution. Do not burden her with excessive hope or pressure, but also do not smother her with excessive care."
"But, her body..." Mrs. Kurama hesitated.
"Compared to her physical health, her mental state requires far more urgent attention," Masahiko said with unwavering confidence. "Furthermore, a person's mood and spirit can influence their physical health to a significant degree..."
He spoke with eloquence and absolute assurance. After all, these were medical facts verified countless times in his previous life on Blue Star.
"I had no idea you were so learned in the field of medicine!"
Mrs. Kurama looked at him with burning admiration. The young teacher before her seemed to possess a boundless depth of knowledge; he was truly no ordinary man. Her trust in him solidified instantly.
"I understand what you mean. Do you have any further suggestions on how we should proceed?"
"Let her return to the Academy," Masahiko advised. "Of course, the goal isn't academic study, but to let her integrate into a normal social group—to become a 'normal person.' But the key lies with her family and the clan. You must see her as a daughter, not as the inheritor of a Kekkei Genkai."
"I understand." Mrs. Kurama nodded, though she bit her lip, looking torn. "But... she does possess the Kekkei Genkai. What if the clan elders still..."
"In that case, perhaps you might consider changing your residence," Masahiko suggested with sincere concern. "A change of environment could do wonders for Yakumo."
Mrs. Kurama looked surprised at first, then hesitant. But slowly, a look of realization dawned on her face, replaced finally by determination.
She stood up and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your counsel. I fully understand what needs to be done!"
Evening.
"Thank you!"
Outside the estate, Kurenai Yuhi bowed deeply to Masahiko.
Masahiko quickly stepped aside to avoid the formal gesture. "There's no need for that. I genuinely like the kid."
Kurenai hesitated for a moment before speaking. "In that case... could you take her under your wing? I wouldn't feel at ease if she were placed in another instructor's class."
"Of course." Masahiko nodded effortlessly. "Teaching one student or a group makes little difference to me."
Kurenai moved to bow again, but Masahiko stopped her with a raised hand.
"By the way," Kurenai asked, her curiosity getting the better of her, "is 'mental illness' really a thing?"
Yakumo's problem had plagued her for a long time. Even the Third Hokage had been helpless to solve it. Yet, Masahiko had stepped in and identified the root cause with terrifying speed. His insight was so sharp it actually startled her.
Masahiko nodded. "It exists. In cases like Yakumo's—where a child is crushed under the weight of family expectations from a young age, yet lacks the physical capacity to meet them—the psychological pressure builds until it fractures the mind..."
"You know so much!" Kurenai's ruby eyes shimmered with admiration.
She had never imagined that the unassuming Yagyu Masahiko possessed such a multifaceted brilliance.
"My talent as a ninja is poor," Masahiko said with a self-deprecating smile. "So, I like to ponder over other subjects to make up for it."
Kurenai shook her head gently, her expression turning serious. "Talent is important, yes. But the most important thing is accumulated effort and persistence."
She took a slow step forward, her thoughts drifting to an old friend.
"Do you know of Might Guy?"
"Of course. He is an idol to many civilian ninja," Masahiko laughed.
This wasn't a lie. The Might Guy of today was no longer the eccentric weirdo people used to mock. Everyone knew him as one of the village's elite Jonin. Many civilian ninja aimed to be like him, unfortunately... very few could actually endure the hellish training required.
As a Tokubetsu Jonin specializing in Genjutsu, Kurenai was well aware of the reality.
"His father was once called the 'Eternal Genin,' yet through years of unrelenting practice, he forged a Taijutsu style of immense power..." She paused, realizing she might be preaching. She chuckled softly. "But Masahiko-kun isn't the type to be discouraged. I'm speaking out of turn."
Kurenai offered a small bow. "I need to report the arrangements for Yakumo to Hokage-sama. Masahiko-kun, let's talk again another day."
"Alright." Masahiko nodded.
He watched Kurenai leave, but instead of heading straight home, he took a detour into the forest.
Deep within the woods, Masahiko picked up a sturdy branch and began practicing the Dance of the Crescent Moon.
Clone Technique... Body Flicker... Assassination.
After running through the forms several times, Masahiko slipped into a blind spot and quietly created a Shadow Clone, concealing it in the underbrush.
A few moments later, the Shadow Clone spotted a figure crouching in the shadows—a ninja wearing a black cloak and a porcelain cat-face mask, observing him.
However, the moment the clone saw the watcher, the watcher seemed to sense the clone.
In the blink of an eye, the ANBU operative used the Body Flicker Technique to vanish.
"ANBU?"
Masahiko frowned.
Danzo's men?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, a swarm of insects buzzed out from the bushes, latching onto his Shadow Clone.
Then—
Poof!
The Shadow Clone was devoured instantly, its chakra drained until it dispersed.
Masahiko paused, then let out a sigh. He understood the message. Dropping the branch, he began to run in the direction the insects had flown.
Sometime later.
Masahiko untied the black cloth blindfolding his eyes and opened them.
A familiar dark chamber. The same dim lighting. The same tapping of a cane.
He stood up and bowed respectfully. "Danzo-sama!"
"Sit."
Danzo Shimura stood leaning on his cane, his expression indifferent.
"Yes!"
Masahiko sat down with a faint smile. "My Lord, have I passed your test?"
"Oh?" Danzo raised his remaining eye, fixing a sharp gaze on the young teacher. "You think the old man targeting you was merely a test?"
Masahiko's smile didn't waver. "You are burdened with the safety of the village, Danzo-sama. I am but a humble Taijutsu instructor... If you didn't have a use for me, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to enter this chamber twice."
Danzo chuckled, a low, rasping sound. "Why don't you tell me, then? What is it that this old man requires you to do?"
Masahiko's expression shifted. The warm teacher vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating intellect. His eyes turned indifferent.
"First, the Demon Fox," he said calmly.
"Secondly..."
He closed his eyes, feigning a posture of deep contemplation and recall. A few seconds later, his eyes snapped open, sharp and knowing.
"Uchiha Sasuke?"
Danzo's fingers moved, tapping rhythmically against the head of his cane.
"It seems," Danzo murmured, "you are even more useful than I anticipated."
At that exact moment...
Masahiko saw the familiar subtitles float across his vision.
[Naruto: The Prequel — Episode 4 Filming Complete!]