⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Chapter 216 : Chapter 216: Mastering the Darkness, Complete! [4/4]
Training Ground.
Masahiko and Kurenai Yuhi, who had already finished her battle, were watching Yakumo practice with her newly acquired puppet inside the Training Ground.
Kurama Yakumo used Chakra Threads to control this special puppet.
It looked a bit like—a strangely shaped carriage?
But, after transforming, it could turn into a humanoid shape, and by utilizing puppet skeletons and Chakra, it could jump and accelerate.
Kurama Yakumo sat on top of it, with a stand for her drawing board in front, and she could control the internal mechanics to influence the puppet's movements via Chakra Threads.
Swoosh!
Chakra surged, flames erupted from its rear, a wheel popped out from the bottom, and it shot forward rapidly.
"Incredible!"
A starlight-like glimmer seemed to shine in Yakumo's eyes.
Masahiko said, "This puppet is currently still incomplete."
"This is still incomplete?"
Yakumo was somewhat surprised.
She felt it was already quite complete.
Kurenai Yuhi, who was on the side, spoke up at this moment, "Is it lacking an auxiliary energy source?"
"Yes. If used at full power, it consumes a lot of Chakra, making it impossible for an ordinary person to use. It still requires a technique capable of replenishing or storing Chakra," Masahiko replied.
Kurama Yakumo frowned deeply, clearly unable to think of a good solution.
The next moment, she touched her stomach and suddenly looked at Masahiko.
Masahiko nodded slightly.
Ido, or rather—Ido, which had fused with the Zero-Tails!
If Yakumo could become strong enough to control Ido and fully master that power, she could obtain powerful Dark Chakra by converting emotions.
This Dark Chakra, when leaked out, could serve as a source of energy.
Yakumo pondered for a long time and vaguely had an idea.
Evening.
["naruto: prequel" Episode 26 filming complete!]
[Editing...]
[Output successful!]
[Total appearance time: 7 minutes 36 seconds. Screen time ratio: 36.2%]
[Hint: ...]
Masahiko was somewhat surprised, not by the ratio, but by the timing.
Did Yakumo do something?
He pondered secretly.
Night, 8:00 PM.
On the screen, the familiar scene appeared once again.
Soon, the Ninja Academy sports meet appeared in the shot; not long after it began, it was the speech and sparring session between Masahiko and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Although there was no barrage of Ninjutsu, the clash of high-speed Taijutsu and the back-and-forth duel still drew a large wave of bullet chat.
Among them, the most common complaint was naturally, "The Old Thief has updated the power charts again, damn it!"
"Turn it off, doesn't it waste power?"
"The powerhouse from the Immortal Suit looks totally different in style from everyone else!"
"Old Thief: What's the use of being strong? If you don't cheat, you'll just be an ordinary Jonin for your whole life!"
Arhat Fist wasn't a high-level technique, but the skill involved was truly not weak, and the back-and-forth combat made the audience exclaim how satisfying it was.
Masahiko, however, was busy analyzing it frame by frame, thinking about whether there were any flaws.
From a third-party perspective, he could spot quite a few problems; if Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't been empty-handed but instead held the adamantine staff—he would likely have died already.
Soon, the funny scene with Naruto also played out in the anime.
At the sports meet, match after match progressed...
However.
The perspective was, whether intentionally or not, locked onto Kurama Yakumo.
Masahiko stared at her.
Yakumo's control over Ido might be even stronger than he had anticipated!
The secret behind this—should be visible in what followed.
Masahiko dragged the timeline forward bit by bit. The plot involving "Demon Pill", Xiang, and others hadn't been edited in, and he fast-forwarded through the scene of Kurenai Yuhi's promotion.
Soon—the plot arrived at the time around when he taught Yakumo the Puppet Technique.
The initial scenes were the same as what he had seen, but after they parted ways, Kurama Yakumo didn't go home, but instead—went to the other side of the Village.
She went to Naruto's side and waited on the road Naruto would take to return.
Yakumo stood in front of a shop, waiting for the owner to make snacks for her. Originally, everyone was chatting and laughing...
Soon, Naruto appeared in the distance.
The crowd's attitude and atmosphere immediately changed; everyone looked at Naruto, their eyes turning hostile.
Gradually, deep disgust appeared on their faces.
"Damned demon fox!"
Someone cursed under their breath.
Yakumo turned her head to look at Naruto, who was walking with his head down in the distance, a look of hesitation appearing on her face.
However.
Everyone's discussion and cursing became increasingly intense.
"He lives on our street, making us live in fear every day. I don't know what Hokage-sama is thinking..."
"He should just be kicked out!"
"This is the demon fox, do you dare to provoke him?"
"Sigh! Who can say otherwise?"
At first, everyone was wary of Naruto and kept their voices low, but later, perhaps emboldened by the crowd, their true natures were released, and they became increasingly unscrupulous.
Naruto walked past silently, not stopping in front of the shop.
The camera cut away from Naruto's perspective, showing only Yakumo's worried expression, along with her confused look of wanting to say something but holding back.
He forced a smile, wanting to greet Yakumo from afar, but in the end, seemingly afraid of implicating her, he silently lowered his hand and walked toward his home.
At this moment, the anime's perspective switched, and the scene became completely different.
Kurama Yakumo stood in front of the shop, and dark smoke special effects emanated from each person inside, lingering all around.
Finally, all the smoke gathered onto her, accumulating within the Eight Trigrams Seal.
These villagers were affected, their emotions becoming even more intense.
"#, Yakumo has completely fallen for the Old Thief's tricks!"
"I have to say a few words for the Old Thief here. Masahiko actually hasn't done anything, right? On the contrary, he has been helping Yakumo all along."
"Yeah, being affected by Ido—isn't that Yakumo's own problem?"
"Without the Old Thief, Yakumo wouldn't have been able to become a Ninja long ago, or she would have been completely controlled by Ido and Shinnō, right?"
Although it was routine to blame Masahiko, this time, everyone really couldn't find a reason to.
Yakumo's evolution was completely unexpected.
No one expected that after Ido fused with the Dark Chakra, it would turn into the current situation.
Masahiko stared intently.
The camera didn't specify the exact time, but the time it took for a skewer of snacks to be fried could be calculated.
Given the current crowd, it would take at least five or six minutes!
Five or six minutes—how strong of a Dark emotion could the "Ido" inside Yakumo absorb?
Was that kind of Dark emotion Chakra, or did it require Yakumo's body to refine and synthesize Chakra?
If it were the latter, Kurama Yakumo's physical condition would not only fail to improve but might even deteriorate further.
Afterward, he fast-forwarded further. Yakumo left, and the villagers didn't feel anything unusual, but looking at the close-ups, they were all somewhat exhausted and sleepy.
This was a manifestation of mental and physical exhaustion.
"It seems it absorbed Chakra directly."
Masahiko's expression was grave.
Yakumo's situation was very dangerous; one wrong step and she could easily become a key target for surveillance by Konoha.
Further on, the scene switched, and Orochimaru appeared in the shot.
Judging from the scene—this should be the night after "Demon Pill" left.
In front of Orochimaru was someone Masahiko was familiar with—from the Root Organization, Ji.
"Lord Orochimaru..."
"No need to say anything. My relationship with Danzo is a partnership, not superior and subordinate. He does not have the ability to order me around," Orochimaru said with a raspy laugh.
"If you want to ask me to take action, at least show some sincerity."
"Yes, I will convey your words."
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