Watching Kurama Yakumo pant for breath, Tsunade couldn't help but frown.
With just a cursory glance, she could tell that Yakumo's physical condition was even worse than she had expected.
At an age that should have been full of youth and vitality, she was already gasping for air after running only a few steps…
Her skin was so pale it lacked even a hint of color, and her body was so thin it looked almost skeletal. All of it made one thing painfully clear to Tsunade—the girl's body had been severely overdrawn.
As Tsunade mulled this over in silence, Kurama Murakumo had already pulled Yakumo back to her feet.
Seizing the moment, Murakumo said, "Yakumo, it was Kurenai who asked Lord Yuzuru and Lady Tsunade to come take a look at your condition."
Hearing this, Yakumo cast a grateful glance at Kurenai and said softly, "Thank you, Kurenai-sensei."
Kurenai smiled and shook her head. "You don't need to be so formal with me."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Uchiha Yuzuru raised an eyebrow at Tsunade. "Alright, your turn."
The moment Yuzuru spoke, everyone immediately fell silent.
Tsunade stepped forward and took Yakumo's wrist. She first used chakra to sense the condition inside Yakumo's body, then carefully palpated different areas of her physique.
Only after a long while did Tsunade straighten up again.
Murakumo immediately asked, "Lady Tsunade, how is it? Yakumo's body…"
Meeting the expectant look in his eyes, Tsunade paused before slowly speaking. "I've already examined her. Yakumo's body has developed severe internal problems. If no intervention is made… she likely has only three to five years left to live."
As soon as Tsunade finished speaking, panic instantly surfaced on the faces of Murakumo, Uroko, and Kurenai.
Yakumo's expression also fell at once.
Still, they all managed to restrain themselves and didn't rush to speak.
Sure enough, Tsunade continued, "If I take action, I can ensure Yakumo's body remains stable. However…"
"She'll be destined to live as an ordinary person from now on. She must never extract chakra from her body again."
Hearing this, Murakumo and Uroko exchanged glances before letting out silent sighs.
Yakumo was the only member of the Kurama clan in recent years to awaken the clan's Kekkei Genkai, and she had displayed extraordinary talent from a very young age.
Every member of the clan had placed immense hope in her, viewing her as the key to the Kurama clan's revival.
After all, during the Warring States period, the Kurama clan's genjutsu had been second to none.
They could silently ensnare entire groups in illusions—and even manifest everything that occurred within those illusions into reality.
But now…
Even the greatest medical ninja in the world had declared that Yakumo could no longer extract chakra. That meant there truly was no hope left.
Forcing a smile onto his face, Murakumo said with feigned ease, "Thank you very much, Lady Tsunade. Preserving Yakumo's life is already more than enough."
Before he could finish speaking, Yakumo had already turned around and run back to her room.
The very next second, dark clouds suddenly gathered overhead, and the ground began to churn violently.
Boom!
A thunderclap rang out, startling everyone.
Not far away, a large tree was struck by lightning, instantly scorched and engulfed in raging flames.
Uroko exclaimed in alarm, "It was fine just a moment ago—how did the weather change so suddenly?"
"Five Senses Control…" Murakumo's face turned grim as he forced the words out. "Lord Yuzuru, Lady Tsunade—we've been dragged into Yakumo's genjutsu!"
At the same time, the ground began collapsing inward from the outskirts, revealing a bottomless abyss.
A wave of scorching heat followed, as bubbling streams of molten lava spread upward from the depths of the chasm.
Kurenai formed seals with both hands, disrupting the flow of chakra within her body. "Genjutsu Release!"
But the scene before them didn't change in the slightest.
Murakumo said in a low voice, "A genjutsu activated through our clan's Kekkei Genkai can't be broken by ordinary means."
"The only option now is to find Yakumo!"
Tsunade glanced at Yuzuru and frowned. "Yuzuru, this isn't really my area of expertise…"
Yuzuru didn't mind at all. He simply replied calmly, "Leave it to me."
No matter how powerful the Kurama clan's Kekkei Genkai was, Yakumo's strength was still far from enough to pose any threat to him.
In truth, the only reason he had been pulled into the genjutsu at all was because he knew that under years of suppression, Yakumo's inner demons had grown and transformed into a monster known as "Ido."
Since he had already decided to treat Yakumo, he might as well eliminate that monster along with it.
As he pushed the door open and headed toward the villa, Murakumo hurriedly warned him, "Lord Yuzuru, our clan's Kekkei Genkai has the ability to turn illusions into reality."
"That means any damage sustained in the genjutsu world will also be reflected in the real world. You must be careful!"
No sooner had Murakumo finished speaking than another bolt of lightning illuminated the sky and struck straight toward him.
Yuzuru was faster.
A massive skeletal arm swung upward, instantly dispersing the descending lightning.
"Th-thank you, Lord Yuzuru…"
Murakumo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, barely managing to steady himself.
If he had been struck by that lightning, he would have died without a doubt.
Yuzuru said nothing more and simply stepped into the villa.
Inside, it was pitch-black. Every curtain was drawn shut, sealing the interior completely.
Scattered across the floor were drawing boards, paints, brushes…
Some paintings were finished, others incomplete.
Yet every single one shared the same trait—
The colors and composition were deeply oppressive, sending chills down one's spine.
Suddenly, Uroko let out a startled cry.
Following his gaze, everyone saw that a massive painting depicted Murakumo and Uroko struggling in agony within a sea of flames.
Then they noticed another painting nearby.
Half of Kurenai's body had been erased, her upper torso pierced through by a sharp weapon…
"How could this be…"
Murakumo murmured in disbelief.
Could it be… that Yakumo had always wanted to kill them?
As the others stood frozen in shock, Yuzuru had already stepped onto the second floor.
Soon, he arrived outside a room.
Gently pushing the door open, he saw Yakumo sitting upright with her back to the entrance, quietly painting.
Between the two of them stretched a brilliant river of stars.
Yuzuru paid it no mind. With a single glance, he rose into the air and flew toward Yakumo.
In an instant, countless bolts of lightning, slicing winds, raging flames, and massive boulders surged toward him. The entire room resembled the end of the world.
The corner of Yuzuru's mouth curved slightly as he said softly, "To wield the power of Yin Release to this extent… you really are quite talented."