"Wake up?" Yakumo asked, her face full of confusion as she looked at Wen Lan.
"You wish!"
Suddenly, her expression twisted into something feral.
A shadowy figure burst out from her body, razor-sharp claws slashing toward Wen Lan's throat.
Wen Lan leaned back slightly.
The claws grazed past his neck.
"Don't!" Yakumo cried out, reaching toward the figure that had emerged.
But the creature spun around and pressed its hand against her face.
Yakumo's eyes instantly went blank.
She collapsed to the ground.
Ido Reveals Itself
Ido turned toward Wen Lan, letting out a chilling laugh.
"I never expected you to find this place."
"But this is where you stop."
"In here, time and space are under my control!
Even the Sharingan will fall to my illusion!"
Wen Lan smirked faintly, one hand resting on the hilt of the Kusanagi sword.
Ido ignored the gesture, growing more excited.
"She worships you more than anyone!
Once I kill you, everything will be over—
and her body will belong to me completely! Hahaha!"
Wen Lan looked at it as if it were an idiot.
"Fool."
"You really think this place is under your control?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Look behind you."
The Trap Reverses
Ido froze.
A sense of unease surged through it.
It turned—
Yakumo's body was gone.
When it spun back around, it saw Wen Lan standing there calmly, no longer gripping his sword.
Instead—
He was holding the unconscious Yakumo in his arms.
"When…?!" Ido shouted in disbelief.
At that instant—
The environment changed.
The dark room vanished.
In its place appeared a vast crimson world.
Crows cried in the distance.
A blood-red moon hung in the sky.
Ido's body was bound tightly to a massive cross.
Tsukuyomi
"This is impossible!" Ido screamed.
"This is my mental domain!"
Wen Lan stepped forward, voice calm and cold.
"Yakumo's illusion talent is impressive.
She could even resist a Mangekyō Sharingan for a time."
"But Tsukuyomi…"
His eyes glowed.
"…forces its own rules."
Another version of Wen Lan appeared beside him— an illusion within the illusion.
That second Wen Lan slowly drew the Kusanagi sword and walked toward Ido.
"In this space," he said,
"time, distance, and the five senses are all under my control."
The blade thrust forward.
Stab.
Ido shrieked in agony.
Its body liquefied, writhing like black sludge, trying to escape the cross.
But after a few violent tremors—
It snapped back into solid form.
No Escape
Wen Lan narrowed his eyes.
He understood immediately.
Ido was trying to return to Yakumo's body.
He let out a cold laugh.
"I was still thinking about how to expel you from her body."
"Since you came out on your own—
there's no way I'm letting you go back."
His voice turned final.
"You came out."
"So now…"
"You disappear."
The End of Ido
"Nooooo—!"
Ido screamed in absolute despair.
The sword flashed.
One clean strike.
Its head fell.
In the next instant, its entire body disintegrated into ash and vanished.
Silence returned.
Back to Reality
When Wen Lan opened his eyes again, Ido was gone.
Yakumo lay unconscious on the floor.
He lifted her gently and carried her outside.
Two medical ninja arrived just then.
Seeing him, they immediately bowed.
"Assistant Hokage-sama."
"Check her condition," he ordered.
"Yes."
They quickly examined her.
After a moment, one looked up.
"She only suffered a mental shock. Nothing serious.
She just needs rest."
"Thank you."
"It's our duty," the medic replied quickly.
Minato Arrives
At that moment, Minato arrived at the scene.
Seeing the charred ruins and collapsed buildings, he frowned.
"What happened?"
"It was the girl," Wen Lan said calmly.
He briefly explained Yakumo's situation.
Minato fell silent, stunned.
Who would have imagined such destruction—
Was caused by a single child?
Anyone else might have assumed an elite enemy ninja had infiltrated the village.
"I'll take her back first," Wen Lan said.
"If anything changes, have ANBU notify me."
"Understood," Minato replied.
"I'll handle things here."
Minato had wanted to explain the Hyuga marriage alliance, not knowing Wen Lan had already spoken with Kushina.
But the disaster site demanded immediate attention.
That conversation would have to wait.
At Wen Lan's Home
After returning home with Yakumo, Pakura (Yekura) didn't ask questions.
The earlier explosion—and the unconscious girl in Wen Lan's arms—made the situation obvious.
She quickly prepared a bed and laid Yakumo down.
The moment the girl touched the mattress—
Her eyes fluttered open.
She looked around in confusion.
"Oh! You're awake," Pakura said, surprised.
"Where… is this?" Yakumo asked weakly.
"This is Wen Lan's residence."
"Wen Lan-sama?!"
Her eyes widened instantly.
"Assistant Hokage-sama?"
"If there isn't a second one," Wen Lan said with a smile as he stepped forward,
"then yes, that's me."
Admiration
"Wen Lan-sama!"
Yakumo immediately sat up and bowed deeply, excitement radiating from her face.
Her pale cheeks flushed bright red.
Her breathing grew quick.
The admiration in her eyes was unmistakable.
"Easy, easy," Wen Lan said gently, raising a hand to calm her.
"Do you remember what just happened?"
"What just happened?"
She frowned, thinking hard.
"…I think I was sleeping.
Then I woke up and saw you."
Wen Lan and Pakura exchanged a glance.
They both understood.
Her mind had activated a self-protection mechanism—
blocking out the traumatic events.
After a brief hesitation, Wen Lan nodded.
"Yakumo, there was a fire at your home.
I brought you here."
"A fire?!"
She panicked instantly.
"What about my parents? My relatives—are they alright?!"
Her breathing sped up.
She began coughing violently.
"Don't panic," Wen Lan said quickly.
He placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, channeling a gentle flow of natural energy into her body to stabilize her breathing.
"Wen Lan-sama, I'm sorry—but I have to go home!" she said anxiously, trying to stand.
The Report
At that moment—
An ANBU appeared in the courtyard.
"Assistant Hokage-sama, are you present?"
Wen Lan immediately understood.
This was Minato's update.
He turned to Yakumo.
"Wait a moment. This report concerns your family."
She nodded nervously and followed him outside.
The ANBU dropped to one knee.
"Assistant Hokage-sama. The Hokage sends word:
No members of the Kurama clan have died, though several are seriously injured.
The clan head and his wife suffered only minor wounds."
Yakumo exhaled sharply.
All the strength left her body at once.
She nearly collapsed.
Wen Lan quickly caught her.
"I understand," he told the ANBU.
The operative bowed and vanished.
Moving Forward
"Well," Wen Lan said softly, steadying Yakumo,
"now that you know everyone is safe…"
"I'll take you to the hospital."
She looked up at him, relief flooding her expression.
"Thank you, Wen Lan-sama."
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