Two days later, Kato Dan braved the constant rain of the Land of Rain and arrived at the Iwagakure front.
Not long ago, Danzō had suddenly claimed that his old injuries had flared up and insisted on returning to the village early. This move had left both Sakumo and Hiruzen caught completely off guard.
In the end, after much deliberation, the Third Hokage could only choose Dan—who possessed the Spirit Transformation Technique—along with a small team dedicated to intelligence work, to take over Danzō's responsibilities.
During this period, Dan had been carrying out reconnaissance missions on the Sunagakure front. But because of Hoshiyomi's presence, his fate had shifted.
Since he had never entered a romantic relationship with Tsunade, he had never received her "Necklace of Death." As a result, he remained alive and well to this day.
At the previous jōnin meeting, Dan had already expressed goodwill toward Hoshiyomi. So when he heard that Hoshiyomi had a matter that required his help, coupled with his own curiosity about Hoshiyomi's disciple with dual personalities, he did not refuse. Without hesitation, he rushed through the downpour to the Iwagakure front.
The situation had already been explained in detail through letters, and since there were members of the Yamanaka clan stationed on this front, they were able to begin practicing the Dream-Weaving Technique immediately.
The essence of the Dream-Weaving Technique lay in the subtle coordination of three secret techniques. There was nothing especially complicated about it, nor would it cause any harm to their spirits.
After testing several times on a subordinate and confirming its feasibility, Hoshiyomi called Kuugetsu. With her consent, the Dream-Weaving Technique began.
...
Inside the command tent, Hoshiyomi, Shinku, a Yamanaka clansman, Dan, and Kuyo sat together in a circle.
Hoshiyomi looked around at everyone and finally fixed his gazeon Kuugetsu. Seeing her determined eyes, he nodded and said:
"Let's begin."
After everyone nodded, Dan was the first to form seals. Using the Spirit Transformation Technique, his faint blue soul floated up. He mouthed "Don't be afraid" to Kuugetsu, then entered her body.
Seeing that Dan had successfully entered Kuugetsu's mindscape.the Yamanaka clansman did not dare delay. He placed his hands on both Dan and Shinku's heads,, activating the Mind Perception Transmission Technique.
All the links were now established. The last step remained between Hoshiyomi and Shinku. Shinku gave Hoshiyomi a nod before raising his hand to unleash his self-created genjutsu: Genjutsu – Dream-Eater Tapir.
Hoshiyomi did not resist. Instead, he allowed himself to sink into the illusion alongside Shinku.
He felt his vision blur, and in the next instant, he had entered a completely different world. Even though he had experienced this sensation several times before, it still felt wonderfully surreal each time.
Within the Dream-Weaving Technique, Hoshiyomi and Shinku's experience was somewhat like sitting in a theater watching a film. But the difference was, they could directly converse with the film's "protagonist"—Dan.
At this moment, the Dream-Weaving Technique officially began to take effect.
...
When Dan arrived in Kuugetsu's mindscape, everyone watching was stunned. None of them had expected a person's mindscape to be this… rich.
Dan had used the Spirit Transformation Technique countless times to infiltrate the mindscape of others. Most people's mindscape were nothing more than endless, pitch-black wastelands where only the soul itself clashed with him.
But Kuugetsu's mindscapes was completely different. If Naruto's mindscapes could be described as a sewer containing a giant cage, then Kuugetsu's was a beautifully decorated duplex home.
This situation genuinely caught Dan off guard. At that moment, Kuugetsu was already waiting for him at the front door. When she saw him arrive, she timidly greeted him before leading him into the exquisitely decorated house.
Along the way, Kuugetsu gave a rough explanation of her condition. She was aware of her inner personality's existence. Whenever her other self took control of the body, she would appear here.
However, it was her first time standing at the door to wait for someone like Dan to enter.
Although she had usage rights to this home, most of the time she still behaved like a guest. As she explained, only when her inner personality controlled the body would she temporarily stay here.
Once the inner personality returned to the body, she would be "sent out" again.
The first floor was entirely Kuugetsu's territory, as could be seen from the décor—mostly pink and sky-blue, full of girlish charm.
Even her clothes were different from her usual battle attire. Instead, she wore a pink yukata patterned with cherry blossoms, perfectly suiting her youthful, delicate image.
At the base of the staircase stood an iron door, cutting off the link between the first and second floors. According to Kuugetsu, the second floor belonged to her inner personality, and she was forbidden from entering.
At this point, Dan had no choice but to seek Hoshiyomi's guidance. He could not risk provoking an inner personality whose temperament was unknown. For someone capable of constructing such an elaborate spiritual house, the strength of that personality's spirit was beyond terrifying.
If this "other self" proved hostile, even Dan's life could be in danger.
Fortunately, Hoshiyomi had encountered the inner personality before. Though only a few times, he understood that this other Kuugetsu existed to protect her.
In other words, the inner personality was unlikely to harm Dan. In fact, she might even be more eager than Kuugetsu herself to bring about their integration.
Thinking this, Hoshiyomi instructed Shinku to relay a message to Dan: he should directly request entry.
The message passed from Shinku, through the Yamanaka clansman, and then to Dan. With Hoshiyomi's assurance, Dan no longer hesitated. Facing the staircase, he called out:
"Would you mind if I came up to take a look?"
After a pause, a cool and aloof voice drifted down. Though cold, it carried an unmistakable trace of hesitation:
"Come up. As for Kuugetsu… wait. Hoshiyomi Gekkō, what exactly are you planning?"
After some thought, Hoshiyomi had Dan reply:
"Let us go up first. If we judge that Kuugetsu can handle it, we'll bring her up later."
The inner personality accepted this response.
"Then you come up first. Kuugetsu can wait."
As soon as the words fell, the iron door before Dan creaked open.
He glanced back at Kuugetsu, offering her a smile to reassure her on Hoshiyomi's behalf, before resolutely stepping onto the stairs to the second floor.
Just from the room's arrangement alone, one could see the stark difference in character between the two personalities. The first floor, decorated in pink and sky-blue, radiated innocent girlishness. The second floor, however, was dominated by deep red and black.
At a single glance, the atmosphere revealed the inner personality's strength and pride.
Unlike the compact coziness of the first floor, the second was strikingly spacious. Other than a bed and a small floor cushion, there was little else.
At last, Hoshiyomi saw the inner personality's true form. Her features were identical to Kuugetsu's, but her aura was utterly different.
She turned her head, calmly appraising Dan, before finally speaking:
"At last, this day has come. Allow me to introduce myself—I am the Inner Kuugetsu."