Chapter 226: Treating Yakumo Kurama
Sakura recounted the scene in detail. Ino's brows gradually relaxed, and she let out a sigh of relief. So that's it, she thought, it was just genjutsu.
Hinata knew absolutely nothing about genjutsu, and Sakura's own genjutsu skills were still at the level of the D-rank Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique. Although Ino hadn't focused much on practicing genjutsu, her high Yin Release level and the experience she'd gained from Tayuya meant she had made considerable progress in both genjutsu theory and practical application.
She offered her analysis: "From what you described, this genjutsu-type Kekkei Genkai that interferes with reality seems to require certain conditions. If she wants to draw lightning, she first has to gather dark clouds around her. If she wants to draw a flood, she has to first destroy nearby dams within her painting. Her chakra is limited; she can't just conjure a lightning bolt out of thin air. This ability has its limits; there's nothing truly terrifying about it."
Chakra was versatile, but ninjas who used chakra were not omnipotent. You couldn't just poke out a Rinnegan and put it in your own eye socket and expect to use Chibaku Tensei. Even someone as talented as Obito, with Uchiha blood, only dared to use one Rinnegan. The more powerful an ability, the higher the restrictions or requirements for using it.
The concept of using a small force to move a great weight might exist as a principle, but for ninjas using chakra, to move a great weight, they themselves needed to possess a considerable amount of strength. If the power within one's bloodline wasn't strong enough, or their own chakra reserves weren't vast, then naturally they couldn't significantly interfere with the real world. The Law of Conservation of Energy also existed in the ninja world.
Ino asked curiously, "What's the name of this long-haired woman you're talking about?"
Sakura shook her head. "I don't know."
Ino's jaw dropped.
For someone whose genjutsu sounded so formidable, Ino's immediate response was to report it! The blow she had received from Itachi Uchiha was just too significant. If I can't provoke them, can't I at least avoid them? she thought. Let the village send someone to handle it. Hundreds of ninjas simultaneously unleashing Fire Style and Water Style would overwhelm any genjutsu, no matter how god-defying!
The day after Ino reported it, Sakura arrived at the Hokage Residence and, together with Kurenai Yuhi, received an A-rank mission. The client was the village itself, the executors were the two of them, and the duration was long-term.
Jiraiya addressed the pair, "Sakura doesn't know yet, but Kurenai should be clear. This female ninja's name is Yakumo Kurama. She was once a ninja of the Kurama clan in the village."
He sighed inwardly. This is another mess Old Man Third left for me. The Third Hokage and Kurenai had secretly discussed a plan to eliminate the dark personality within Yakumo Kurama. You two should have explained things more clearly when you talked! But no! They only said half of it, leaving the specifics of the operation entirely up to the executors to figure out. And then, Yakumo Kurama, who was eavesdropping outside the door, completely misunderstood, thinking the Third Hokage and Kurenai were planning to kill her.
You should have explained afterward, but you didn't explain either! In the end, the misunderstanding grew larger and larger, culminating in the situation today.
Jiraiya looked at Sakura. "Yakumo Kurama usually never speaks to strangers. The fact that she encountered you consistently for two days and allowed you to stop her means it's likely the result of the struggle between the good and evil intentions in her heart. She can still be saved. Your mission is simple: try your best to become her friend, strengthen the good intentions within her heart, and pull her back into the light. Kurenai was once Yakumo's teacher, so I'm having Kurenai assist you."
"Additionally, uh, Kakashi and Ino both said you have a lot of talent for genjutsu. Kurenai can teach you some genjutsu knowledge. Yakumo's genjutsu, even if not a Kekkei Genkai, is very powerful, and you can try to learn from it when you get a chance."
Jiraiya, when he wasn't peeking, sat in his office looking quite serious and rather handsome for an old man. He handled the mission assignment in a businesslike manner, making it clear that Sakura would be the main executor, with Kurenai as support.
In previous A-rank missions, Sakura had essentially just clung tightly to Naruto and Sasuke's powerful backs, needing only to scream, hold her head, and call out Naruto's name. Now, shouldering a heavy responsibility alone, she suddenly felt a lot of pressure. However, as a ninja, she possessed at least this much ability to handle stress. She nodded heavily, accepting the mission.
Kurenai, like Ino, had also been significantly affected by Itachi Uchiha's genjutsu. During the Morning Mist Homecoming event, Itachi used the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, which was much better than being instantly defeated as in the original timeline, but her confidence had still taken a serious hit. The energetic, bustling vigor she'd shown during previous missions was no longer visible.
Kurenai felt very guilty about how Yakumo Kurama had turned out. After leaving the Hokage's office, she spoke to Sakura about some past events. She bore considerable responsibility for this mess. Yakumo Kurama harbored strong hostility towards her, so she could only provide assistance now. Figuring out how to resolve Yakumo Kurama's psychological issues would require Sakura to find her own methods.
Sakura brought up the problems she encountered while studying genjutsu and asked Kurenai for help. Kurenai answered all her questions thoroughly, explaining everything in detail. While studying genjutsu was a bonus, completing the mission was the key objective.
Sakura was a typical academy-style learner – good at summarizing and studying. In her view, Yakumo Kurama's psychological illness was still a illness. Since it was a illness, it required medical means to treat it. With the Fifth Hokage's permission and Kurenai's approval, she went to the Konoha Hospital and found the Hospital Director. After briefly explaining her mission, she received special approval to freely access and read all the medical records the Konoha Hospital had accumulated over the years.
She sat in the spot where Ino and Kabuto had sat half a year ago, poring over medical records piled up like mountains, attempting to find a method to solve this type of psychological illness. Sakura had definitely never read "Li Weigong's Dialogues," nor did a ninja need to study military strategy. However, while flipping through the records, she noticed many fine, small characters written between the lines. These were the insights and experiences Kabuto and Ino had left behind while idly chatting.
Kabuto's medical skills were superb, and Ino had a rather unconventional perspective and a knack for creative ideas. After their thoughts collided and they combined their insights with numerous medical records, some remarkable ideas always emerged. Kabuto himself was psychologically troubled, with his reason suppressing his madness. Ino, being a standard ninja who frequently engaged in bloody battles with enemies, believed her own psychological state also had problems. When they had free time, the two of them had discussed many methods for treating mental patients.
Sakura recognized Ino's handwriting. Seeing her friend's writing in this environment, the feeling of following in someone else's footsteps felt quite peculiar. She had never known Ino had worked at the Konoha Hospital. Seeing these densely written characters now, she felt deeply moved. Her friend, who appeared so cheerful, had actually put in so much diligent effort and sweat behind the scenes...
Sakura read diligently, occasionally making notes. She didn't recognize Kabuto's handwriting, but through the descriptions between the lines, she found Kabuto's name. Remembering that excellent senior who had supposedly "died" during the Chunin Exams, a sigh of lament filled her heart.
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