The Anma Clan had been an integral part of Konoha since its very founding. For generations, they were revered as masters of genjutsu — illusionary techniques so powerful they could bend reality itself. Yet, over time, the clan's glory began to wane. The rarity of individuals who could inherit the Bloodline Limit—the source of their extraordinary genjutsu abilities—led to a slow but steady decline.
In the current era, the clan's hopes rested entirely on a young girl named Kurama Yakumo, the daughter of the clan head and his wife. From the moment her talents were discovered, she was heralded as a prodigy who might restore the clan's former prestige.
Yakumo possessed a rare gift, one that went beyond ordinary genjutsu. She held the power to manifest illusions into reality itself — a terrifying and magnificent ability that marked her as exceptional even among the Anma bloodline.
However, fate had dealt her a cruel hand. Since childhood, Kurama Yakumo had been plagued by a frail body that refused to strengthen despite her spirit's overwhelming power. Her physical weakness barred her from the path of becoming a ninja—a dream she cherished deeply.
Her parents, worried about her health, tried everything to protect her. Even Kurenai Yuhi, a respected jonin and expert in genjutsu, was invited to be Yakumo's teacher. After spending time with the girl, Kurenai gently advised her to abandon the dream of becoming a ninja and to instead seek a normal, peaceful life—one that would not risk further damage to her delicate condition.
Yakumo's parents, though heartbroken, agreed with this counsel. They wanted nothing more than to preserve their daughter's fragile health and spare her from the dangers of shinobi life. But for Yakumo, this imposed limit became a source of growing resentment and bitterness.
Within her heart, a monster of desire and revenge began to stir — a dark alter ego she called Idu.
The pressure and hopelessness weighed so heavily on her spirit that one fateful night, after another failed attempt to convince her parents to let her pursue her dream, the boundary between her true self and Idu shattered completely. In a violent outburst of fury, Idu took control, setting fire to their home. Yakumo's parents perished in the flames, victims of the very desperation that burned inside their daughter.
Now, Kurama Yakumo lay alone in her bed, sobbing quietly. The crushing loneliness of her loss settled deep within her soul. She mourned not only the death of her parents but also the death of her dream—the dream that had been ripped away by the fragility of her body.
At night, hidden beneath her blankets, she wept in silence, unable to share her pain with anyone.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared beside her bed.
"You seem very sad," the figure said softly.
Startled, Kurama threw off her blanket and looked at the newcomer with wide, wary eyes. "Ah! Who are you?!"
Before her stood a girl with long, flowing hair, pale as snow, and an unsettlingly confident smile. Her beauty was undeniable, yet her presence made Kurama's skin crawl.
"Who are you?" Kurama asked nervously, backing away.
The figure smiled knowingly and said, "Look around."
Kurama's gaze shifted to the room's edges, only to realize that everywhere outside her immediate surroundings was shrouded in pitch darkness.
Panic surged through her veins. "What did you do? What do you want?"
The mysterious girl stepped closer, her smile widening. "I know you, Kurama Yakumo."
Kurama's voice trembled. "You know me?"
The figure nodded. "Your genjutsu talent is among the top tier in Konoha, perhaps even the strongest in your clan. But it's a pity—your body won't allow you to become a ninja."
Kurama clenched her fists in frustration. "Damn it! Are you here to mock me too?!"
"No," the girl said, her voice calm but powerful. "I'm here to save you."
"Save me?" Kurama repeated, incredulous.
The girl stepped even closer and whispered into her ear, "I can make you a ninja."
Kurama's eyes widened in disbelief. "Ah! Really?!"
She grasped the girl's arm with desperate hope. "You can make me a ninja? If you can, I'll do anything! Anything at all!"
Her voice trembled with longing, her gaze shining with raw desire.
The girl smiled, her lips curling with a mixture of amusement and calculation. "Anything?"
"Yes," Kurama nodded without hesitation.
"Then," the girl said slowly, "if I ask you to betray Konoha and serve me instead, would you do it?"
Kurama froze, uncertainty flashing across her face.
As a loyal villager of Konoha, the idea of betrayal was difficult to accept.
"Are you lying to me?" she asked cautiously.
The girl's smile didn't waver. "I have no reason to lie to someone who cannot become a ninja on her own."
She reached out and placed her hand over Kurama's chest, channeling a warm and gentle energy into her body. It was Divine Ink spiritual power — a force from the heavens and the earth, carefully refined through cultivation and the Sage Arts of Ryuchi Cave.
This power was unlike the harsh energy Kurama's body usually suffered from. Instead, it soothed and replenished her worn-out vitality.
Kurama's physical weakness stemmed from the paradox of her spirit: it was so powerful that it stunted her bodily growth, making her appear delicate and frail.
Though many had tried, no one had been able to restore her body's strength — until now.
The spiritual power coursing through her filled Kurama with a gentle warmth, making her body feel more alive than ever before.
She sensed that, if this infusion continued, her body could be fully healed.
But before she could say anything, the girl withdrew her hand.
"How does it feel?" she asked.
Kurama remained silent, overwhelmed by the sensation.
Seeing her hesitation, the girl's eyes glinted with understanding.
She knew Kurama was torn between her loyalty and the promise of power.
Just like the Konoha elders who pressured Itachi to believe their path was the only way to prevent war, this moment was a test for Kurama—a crossroads where desire, fear, and loyalty clashed.
The girl smiled gently, yet her words carried a sharp edge.
"What a pity. I thought you and I were alike — both desperate, both yearning for strength. But if you choose to cling to the past, then so be it. Find someone else to make you a ninja. Though such opportunities are rare."
She chuckled darkly. "Later, find a man to marry, have children, and pin your hopes on them. Maybe there's still hope in that."
Kurama's fists tightened at the cruel irony.
"But if he ends up like you, disappointing everyone like you have, then what will you do with that burden? The pressure will crush you."
The girl's figure began to fade, her smile lingering like a haunting promise.
Kurama's bloodshot eyes remained fixed on the floor. Her hands gripped the fabric of her pajamas so tightly her knuckles whitened, as though she wished to tear them apart.
Her entire body trembled with anguish.
She thought of her parents' hopeful eyes — the same eyes that had grown weary and disappointed.
Her own talents, her dreams, all now seemed like cruel jokes.
And around her, whispers of ridicule echoed.
"They said she was talented, but she's just a failure who can't become a ninja."
"The Kurama Clan is finished. They should accept it."
"She's a liar, just like the rest of them."
"Her parents were killed by her genjutsu — is that true?"
"No, they were burned alive. Their clan is full of lies."
The voices grew louder in her mind, until she could bear it no longer.
With a cry, she lunged forward and clutched the fading figure's leg.
"Wait! Don't go! Please don't leave me! I agree! I agree! You can make me do anything!"
The girl smiled, revealing a long, slender tongue which she licked over her lips with satisfaction.
"Do you really agree?" she asked.
Kurama dropped to her knees before her, desperation pouring from her every word.
"Yes, I agree! Please help me! I'll obey you, control me however you want — just make me a ninja!"
Her forehead was pressed to the ground, swollen and red from repeated bows.
Her gaze was fierce and unwavering as she looked up, meeting the girl's eyes with an unbreakable determination.
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