T/n: For Every 100 Power Stone 1+ Chapter ( I hope I don't regret it and get burned out!! XD)
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After leaving the Kamui space, it was already deep into the night.
Yuzuru Uchiha returned to the courtyard and noticed that the room where Kushina Uzumaki lived was still lit.
He walked over, saw that the door wasn't closed, and went straight inside.
Inside, Kushina was slumped over the table, fast asleep.
Seeing this, Yuzuru approached, gently picked her up, and laid her on the bed.
But when he pulled the blanket over her, their bodies brushed against each other by accident, and Kushina jolted awake.
Seeing Yuzuru, she froze for a moment, then crossed her arms over her chest. "Y–Yuzuru, what are you doing here? What were you just doing?"
Looking at her defensive posture, Yuzuru replied calmly, "When someone covers you with a blanket while you're sleeping, the proper response is to say thank you, not 'why are you here' or 'what were you doing.' That's just ungrateful."
"Eh?"
"Eh what? Just say thank you."
Feeling his gaze, Kushina stammered, "Th–thank you…"
Seeing that she'd already forgotten to press the issue, Yuzuru smoothly changed the topic. "Kushina, why did you fall asleep at your desk with the door open?"
"I heard someone say you'd come back," she explained, "so I stayed home waiting for you."
"No need to wait for me next time. When I return, I'll always come find you first." Yuzuru reached out and ruffled her hair. "Even if you're asleep, I'll sneak in to see you."
At that, Kushina's face flushed red, and she puffed out her cheeks. "Pervert!"
Yes—this was the feeling he liked.
Yuzuru smiled in satisfaction. "It's late. Go to sleep. Tomorrow, let's eat together."
"Got it. I'll invite Mikoto too."
"Good girl."
"Pfft!"
After chatting for a bit, Yuzuru returned to his own room.
If he remembered correctly, there was still a clan in the Land of Lightning that possessed a special bloodline.
And that clan—had some history with the Uchiha.
——
——
The next day.
Yuzuru didn't wake until noon. Stretching lazily, he stepped out of his room.
Outside, he saw Kushina and Mikoto Uchiha whispering together in the courtyard.
Smiling, Yuzuru walked over and slipped an arm around each of them. "Kushina, Mikoto—good morning."
Mikoto blushed and lowered her head. Kushina gave a token struggle before saying, "It's already noon, you lazy pig."
Yuzuru frowned slightly. "Watch your words, Kushina, or I'll spank you."
Kushina huffed. "I'm not afraid of you! Senior Lihuo has already taken me in as his adopted daughter."
"If you bully me or Mikoto again, I'll tell on you..."
Yuzuru turned curiously toward Mikoto. "Mikoto, is that true?"
"Yes." She smiled and nodded. "So now you're the one who should be careful."
Two sisters, huh…
One black-haired, one red-haired; one gentle, one lively—
How exciting.
Yuzuru didn't reply, but a phrase flashed unbidden through his mind:
'Double the bride price, what does that even mean?'
——
——
After having lunch with Mikoto and Kushina, Yuzuru headed for the Raikage Building.
In the archive vault, he found the records about the Chinoike Clan.
There wasn't much, so it didn't take long for him to understand their situation.
According to the documents, the Blood Pond Clan had lived in the Land of Lightning for generations. They possessed a Kekkei Genkai called the Blood Dragon Eye, which allowed them to use blood as a medium to turn others' bodies into living bombs.
During the Warring States Period, a woman from the Blood Pond Clan married the Land of Lightning's feudal lord. The lord's affection for her aroused the jealousy of his legal wife.
Soon after the marriage, the lord died suddenly.
The wife blamed everything on the woman from the Blood Pond Clan.
The woman was forced to commit suicide, and the entire clan was implicated. Every one of them was imprisoned in the Hell Valley of the Land of Lightning.
And the ones tasked with guarding them—were the Uchiha Clan.
Later, when the Uchiha and Senju Clans founded Konoha together, the duty of guarding the Blood Pond Clan was transferred to Kumogakure.
Even now, the Blood Pond Clan was still forbidden to leave Hell Valley.
"How tragic," Yuzuru muttered.
Because of a jealous wife's hatred, an entire clan had been imprisoned for centuries.
If nothing unexpected happened, they would remain there forever—until the day they vanished from history.
They possessed great power, yet in the eyes of the daimyō and nobles, they were nothing but disposable tools.
What a twisted world of shinobi this was.
Yuzuru's gaze grew cold.
In a world of the extraordinary, those with power should rightfully have everything.
He didn't care what others thought—he had no interest in the daimyō or their decrees.
If they dared oppose his will, he would simply kill them.
——
——
Raikage's Office.
The Third Raikage, Mabuma, and Tōdai were discussing how to use the compensation money from Konoha.
When Yuzuru entered, Mabuma and Tōdai immediately stood. "Lord Yuzuru."
They deeply respected the young man whose strength had made Kumogakure the strongest village in the shinobi world.
Without Yuzuru, the shinobi of the village would never have the peace they enjoyed now.
Yuzuru waved a hand. "No need for formalities. I'm here to discuss something with the Third Raikage."
The Third Raikage looked curious. "Yuzuru, is there something you need from me?"
"In the Hell Valley of the Land of Lightning, the Blood Pond Clan is still imprisoned, correct?"
"They possess the Blood Dragon Eye—a Kekkei Genkai too valuable to waste."
"I want to bring them back to the village."
As soon as Yuzuru finished, the Third Raikage, Tōdai, and Mabuma all froze.
None of them had expected him to make such a request.
Tōdai hesitated before speaking. "Lord Yuzuru, the Blood Pond Clan was imprisoned by order of successive daimyō. If we release them, the daimyō will never approve."
Kumogakure had few Kekkei Genkai of its own, so it had always yearned for shinobi who possessed them.
The Second Raikage had once petitioned the daimyō to release a few gifted members of the Blood Pond Clan—but was firmly refused.
That was why Kumogakure resorted to abducting children with Kekkei Genkai from across the shinobi world, rather than freeing those locked away in Hell Valley.
And now, Yuzuru wanted to bring them out.
It would not be easy…