Uchiha Yūsuke's eyes were filled with venom, but beneath the hatred was raw fear. Every time Natsume Yō's gaze slid over him, his whole body trembled.
"So you're Natsume Yō. You already know why I'm here. Two choices—lift the curse, or die."Kangaku's tone was cold, merciless. "If the caster dies, the jutsu should die with him, right? And… I doubt you want this girl harmed either."
One of his guards flickered into position behind Yō, matching his strength exactly. The man in front—Uchiha Kangaku—radiated the weight of a full jōnin.
"Oh? If that's how you see it… then maybe Yūsuke's death isn't too far away."Yō's voice was calm, but his words dripped with threat. "You think I wouldn't take someone with me? I've set this curse so that if I die, it detonates. When that happens, you'll be the one killing your own son."
The lie rolled off his tongue without the faintest twitch. He didn't dare raise his head, though—he wasn't about to risk falling into a Sharingan illusion.
"So what then? Do you really think this means I can't touch you?"Kangaku's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Don't forget—threats go both ways. This girl's young… it would be such a shame if something happened to her."
At his gesture, the second guard slashed a line across Wada Chiba's arm. Pain jolted her awake, her body trembling violently.
"Well done," Yō muttered, fist clenching as his face twisted in 'anger.' "As expected of the Uchiha's vice clan head. Ruthless as they say. Looks like I'll have no choice but to give in."
Kangaku smirked at his apparent capitulation. "Humph. Of course you can't win against me."
"But the thing is…" Yō's head snapped up, teeth flashing in a wolfish grin. "I hate being threatened.""—Die."
"Pft!"Blood burst from Yūsuke's mouth. He collapsed to the ground, body writhing as he convulsed violently.
In that instant, Yō's figure flickered. He ripped Chiba free from the guard's grip before the man could react. By the time the guard blinked, it was too late.
"Well? Surprised? Didn't see that one coming, huh?"Yō's tone was mocking, but his eyes were cold. "Don't move. Unless you want me to make him bleed again. You only have one son, and I don't think you want him broken."
"Oh, and I forgot to mention—this curse has no range limit. No matter where he is, I can reach him. You understand what that means, right?"His stare bored into Kangaku, icy and mad all at once. "If you don't believe me, then go ahead. Test me. Let's see who's willing to go further."
For a moment, Kangaku actually forgot he had the three-tomoe Sharingan. He could've tried to trap Yō in genjutsu, force him to undo the curse. But the boy's ruthless gamble had already seeded fear into his heart. One wrong step, and his son would be finished.
One mistake led to another. Kangaku found himself frozen.
"Think carefully. Just because I'm ten years old doesn't mean I'm an easy mark." Yō yawned, shifting Chiba in his arms as if tired. "If there's nothing else, get lost. I'm exhausted."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and carried Chiba inside, as if dismissing them like annoying guests.
Kangaku stood there, uncertain if Yō was bluffing or simply insane. Either way, he didn't dare make a move.