Downstairs, Yakumo Kurama's mother sat on a chair, motionless, her expression unchanged. While brewing tea earlier, Kurenai Yuhi had already explained everything in detail. That question had stumped her as well. What was Yakumo Kurama's wish? She didn't know. Because they had never asked, nor had they ever considered Yakumo's own thoughts or feelings. And yet, the first person Yakumo had thought of was a taijutsu teacher with no ties to her at all.
"Madam, may we talk?"
"Ah?" Yakumo's mother looked up. The moment she saw his face, she snapped out of her daze and nodded gently. "Of course. Thank you for your trouble today."
"It's nothing." Shin sat down. "I had a casual talk with Yakumo, but I'd also like to speak with you."
"Please, go ahead."
With her permission, Shin asked about how they usually treated Yakumo, their attitudes, and daily measures. After chatting for a while, he said, "To be honest, Yakumo's condition is rather serious. If this continues long-term, it could lead to mental illness."
"Ah?" Yakumo's mother widened her eyes in shock, her face full of disbelief. "Mental illness? What do you mean?"
She had never heard of such a thing. Lowering his voice, Shin briefly explained the concept of mental illness, relating it to Yakumo's situation. As a mother, she naturally didn't want anything to happen to her daughter. Panic filled her voice. "Then… what should we do?"
"Do nothing. Treat her like an ordinary person with a weaker body. Don't place too much hope or pressure on her, and don't give her excessive care either," Shin replied.
"But her body…" she hesitated.
"Compared to her body, her mental state needs urgent attention right now. Besides, a person's mood and mental condition can also affect the body to a certain extent."
He spoke fluently, full of confidence, because these were facts proven by medical science in his previous life.
"I didn't expect you to have knowledge of medicine as well!" Yakumo's mother's eyes shone brightly. The young teacher before her seemed extraordinarily learned, clearly no ordinary person. Her trust in him deepened.
"I understand what you mean, but what exactly should we do? Could you offer more advice?"
"Let her return to school. Of course, the purpose isn't studying, but helping her integrate into a normal group and become a normal person." Shin paused briefly before adding, "But the key is still the family and clan. You must treat her as an ordinary person, not as a bearer of a bloodline limit."
"I understand." Yakumo's mother nodded, biting her lip, visibly conflicted.
"But she does possess a bloodline limit. What if the clan still insists…"
"Then perhaps you should consider changing residences and giving Yakumo a different environment."
Shin offered his suggestion sincerely. At first, she was surprised and hesitant, but soon her expression shifted to realization and understanding, and finally, determination. She stood up and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your advice. I completely understand!"
…
Evening.
"Thank you!" Kurenai Yuhi bowed deeply.
Shin quickly stepped aside. "No need. I quite like that child, Yakumo."
Kurenai hesitated for a moment before saying, "Then… could you take care of her? I'm not very at ease sending her to another class."
"Of course." Shin nodded. "Teaching one or teaching many—there's not much difference."
As Kurenai spoke, she was about to bow again, but Shin stopped her.
"By the way, does something like mental illness really exist?"
Yakumo's issue had troubled her for a long time. Even the Third Hokage had no solution, yet Shin had resolved it so quickly. Moreover, he had keenly identified the root of the problem, which had shocked even her.
Shin nodded. "It does. In Yakumo's case, since childhood she's been burdened with high expectations from her family and clan, yet her own condition makes her unable to bear them. The psychological pressure keeps building…"
"You know so much!" Kurenai's eyes sparkled.
She had never imagined that the unremarkable Yanagi Shin possessed so many talents.
"My talent isn't great, so I like to explore other areas," Shin said with a helpless smile.
Kurenai gently shook her head and spoke with utmost seriousness. "Talent is important, but what matters most is consistent effort and perseverance over time."
She walked forward slowly, her thoughts drifting. "Do you know Might Guy?"
"Of course. He's an idol for many commoners," Shin replied with a smile.
That wasn't a lie. The current Might Guy was no longer the strange man people once despised. Everyone knew he was powerful, one of the village's elite jonin. Many civilian ninjas took him as their goal, though very few could truly achieve it.
As a genjutsu-specialist tokubetsu jonin, Kurenai naturally understood this well.
"His father was once called the Eternal Genin, yet through constant effort, he cultivated extremely powerful taijutsu…"
She suddenly paused, then smiled lightly. "Shin-kun isn't someone who gets discouraged. It seems I've spoken unnecessarily."
Kurenai bowed slightly.
"I still need to report Yakumo's arrangements to the Hokage. Shin-kun, I'll come to discuss things with you another day."
"Alright." Shin nodded gently.
After watching Kurenai leave, he didn't head home immediately. Instead, he turned and walked into the forest. Once inside, he picked up a branch and began practicing the Dance of the Crescent Moon. Clone technique… Body Flicker, assassination. After several attempts, Shin quietly created an additional shadow clone in a blind spot, hiding it.
Before long, the clone spotted a figure in a black robe with a cat mask crouched in the shadows, observing him. But the moment he noticed the figure, the other party seemed to sense him as well. In the blink of an eye, the ANBU ninja vanished with a Body Flicker.
"ANBU?" Shin frowned. Danzo's people?
As he pondered, a swarm of insects flew out from the bushes and landed on his shadow clone.
Then—
Bang!
The shadow clone was completely devoured.
Shin was briefly stunned, then let out a soft sigh, understanding their intent. He tossed aside the branch and ran in the direction the insects had flown.
…
Some time later, Shin removed the black cloth and opened his eyes.
A familiar dark room, familiar lighting, a familiar cane.
He stood up and bowed respectfully. "Lord Danzo!"
"Sit." Danzo leaned on his cane, his expression indifferent.
"Yes!" Shin smiled as he sat down. "Lord Danzo, have I passed your test?"
"Oh? You think I was testing you?" Danzo raised his single visible eye.
Shin smiled. "You handle countless affairs daily, while I'm merely a taijutsu teacher. If there were no purpose, I wouldn't have had the chance to enter this dark room twice."
Danzo chuckled softly. "Then tell me, what do you think I need you to do?"
"First, the demon fox." Shin's expression turned cold, his gaze indifferent. "Second…" He closed his eyes, pretending to think carefully. After a few seconds, he opened them again. "Uchiha Sasuke?"
Danzo's fingers tapped his cane soundlessly.
"It seems you're more useful than I expected."
At that moment, Shin saw the familiar subtitles.
[Naruto: Part One — Episode Four Filming Completed!]