Chapter 142: Transformation
Yu felt momentarily puzzled, wondering if Sasuko had sensed something.
But his expression maintained its gentle smile. "What's wrong? What happened today?"
Sasuko buried her face in his chest, voice muffled. "Just think of it as a younger sister worried about her older brother staying out all night... Let me hold you for a bit, okay?" Her tone was soft and pleading, carrying a hint of acting spoiled.
Yu could clearly feel the soft warmth of the girl in his arms and her elegant fragrance. His hands hovered uncertainly in midair, not knowing where to place them.
Sasuko naturally sensed his discomfort.
She remembered their previous agreement, but tonight she felt inexplicably anxious, as though something was about to happen.
This premonition made her feel she had to do something.
Since those previous intimate gestures weren't allowed, surely a proper, fully-clothed embrace was acceptable?
She quietly tightened her arms, greedily savoring this warmth.
The form-fitting clothing faintly revealed increasingly graceful curves, soft hair gently stirring in the night breeze.
"Yu..." she called softly, her voice carrying slight grievance. "I'm just suddenly very afraid."
She only showed this soft, vulnerable side before Yu, seeking reassurance in this embrace.
Perhaps this behavior was somewhat willful, but she truly couldn't face that inexplicable anxiety alone.
Yu clearly sensed the unease in the girl within his arms.
He sighed lightly and finally extended his hands to gently pull Sasuko into his embrace.
Sasuko immediately found herself enveloped in warmth, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. She could hear both their heartbeats interweaving in the quiet night breeze.
"Tonight I dealt with an organization called Akatsuki." Yu explained in a low voice. "They've been secretly collecting tailed beasts, potentially threatening Konoha's safety."
Sasuko looked up, eyes shining with moving light. She'd assumed Yu had simply resolved this threat out of concern for her, sweetness rising in her heart.
This favoritism belonging exclusively to her—she understood it all too well, yet couldn't help wanting more, more, until she had everything...
"Yu..." she called softly, emotion nearly overflowing from her moist eyes.
Yu felt uncomfortable under such a straightforward gaze, turning his face slightly. "Sasuko, we previously agreed..."
"That kind of agreement is just self-deception. We both know it." Sasuko buried her face in his chest, voice gentle yet firm. "Yu can see through people's hearts, can't you? Then look at mine once more."
She took Yu's hand, gently pressing it against her rapidly beating heart. "You say this is habit, dependence... but this is my truest feeling. Unless I'm no longer myself, unless life ends, this emotion will never change."
Under the dim light, Sasuko's eyes were crystal clear, all pretense stripped away in this moment.
Even without using any ability, Yu could read that genuine emotion from her trembling fingertips and reddening eyes.
Pain flashed through Yu's eyes.
The regret of failing to protect his adoptive parents still haunted him like a shadow. That night's helplessness had tormented him for over a decade. He'd vowed to use any means necessary to protect Sasuko until she truly matured.
Sasuko gazed into Yu's eyes, gently gripping his hand. "Yu, do you know? Your eyes never lie. I can see... you're not without those feelings for me. You just hide them very, very deep."
She leaned closer, hair brushing across Yu's face with the wind. "Last night was my first time staying away from home. I kept thinking about you."
"All these years, you've confined yourself to this courtyard, day after day researching forbidden techniques to resurrect the dead. From youth to adulthood... year after year..." Sasuko's voice flowed gentle as water. "I can imagine how deep the guilt and regret in your heart must be."
"But Yu, that was never your fault. You've already done your best to make amends." She lightly placed her hand over Yu's heart. "At least I'm alive because of you."
Yu remained silent throughout, listening.
When Sasuko looked up, she was shocked to discover—Yu, who'd never shed tears in all these years, now had reddened eyes.
"Yu, you..." Sasuko reached up in panic, trying to wipe away the moisture at his eye corners.
"I clearly possess power to change everything..." Yu's voice was low and hoarse, each word carrying heavy pain. "But that night, I wasn't there."
This was the second time Sasuko had seen Yu show such an expression. That bottomless regret, despair, and self-blame—identical to over a decade ago.
Yu closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened them again, his eyes had recovered their usual calm.
He gently ruffled Sasuko's hair, showing a reassuring smile to her worried face.
"Sorry, Sasuko, I scared you."
"I was rambling just now—don't mind it. I'm just tired."
"It's already late. Time to rest."
Yu gently released his embrace and turned toward his room.
Tonight he truly felt exhausted—not only from Sasuko's fervent emotions but from the complex feelings churning within.
He just wanted a good night's sleep.
Sasuko stood in place, watching his departing figure, sudden sourness welling in her heart.
She finally understood.
All these years, Yu had remained trapped in that bloody night, never escaping. What he showed her had always been carefully disguised calm and gentleness.
So... Yu had never truly been happy.
That's why he had no hobbies, no interests, spending his days confined to this small courtyard.
That's why he possessed power Naruko described as capable of sweeping away everything, yet imprisoned himself in this narrow world.
"Forcing me to keep my distance... are you afraid I'll become like you?" She gazed at that closed door, eyes growing moist.
Those leisurely tea-sipping, book-reading scenes—all probably performed for her benefit.
How could a thirteen-year-old boy possibly live this way day after day? The childhood Yu she remembered had loved taking her everywhere to play, rarely staying quietly in his room.
The one truly trapped in a cage had always been Yu.
That blood-soaked night was an invisible shackle, firmly binding him in past shadows.
All these years, Yu had been punishing himself.
Though it was never his fault...
A glimmer passed through Sasuko's dark eyes. She'd made a decision.
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