Chapter 174: The Contingency
Tonbo Tobitake led the three youngsters inside; the hidden ninjas monitoring the area didn't lift a finger to stop them. Kurama Yakumo was visibly delighted to see them.
"Tianyu, Maki! It's wonderful that you found time to visit me again. And... is this your little brother?"
She looked behind Tonbo. Standing next to Tianyu and Maki was a young boy walking with a strange, staggering gait, dressed exactly like Tonbo Tobitake.
"Hey, hey, hey! I only have two children right now, don't go spreading rumors," Tonbo interjected quickly. "I'm his idol... wait, no... he is my admirer. He's Tianyu and Maki's classmate."
Tonbo made sure to nip that misunderstanding in the bud. While he wanted more children eventually, he wasn't ready just yet; he figured he'd wait a few more years.
"Yes... I am Captain Tonbo's fan. My name is Wataru Itabu. Hello, Big Sister," Wataru stood up straight and greeted her seriously. He felt a faint, terrifying aura emanating from the woman before him.
Yakumo giggled. "Hello, Wataru. I'm Kurama Yakumo. Come in, I'll go prepare some food."
She led the four into the villa's drawing room. Wataru sensed the surroundings and was filled with envy. What a huge house. And it seems she lives here all alone. It's even bigger than Boss Tianyu's house.
He adjusted his bandages, allowing his eyes to peek through. He saw the reality of the room—it was beautiful. Not just big, but the colors and furniture were perfectly arranged. It was the most beautiful house he had ever seen.
It would probably feel great to slash through this place.
"Wataru... you aren't thinking about cutting up Big Sister Yakumo's house, are you?" Maki asked, looking at his gaze with concern. Ever since he got those swordsmanship notes from Tonbo, Wataru seemed to have a constant urge to cut things.
"I will control it," Wataru said, suppressing the impulse. "Senior Tonbo's book says that only a ninja who can completely control themselves can become truly strong."
"Eh? Did I write that in the book? I don't remember," Tonbo remarked. "But it sounds very logical, so I suppose I must have said it."
Tianyu turned to Wataru. "Wataru, let me tell you, Big Sister Yakumo is a master of genjutsu too. She's even better than Dad!"
Maki added, "That's right, way better than Dad."
The two still remembered the first time their father brought them here. With a stroke of her brush, Yakumo had changed the sky and earth. Wind, rain, thunder, and lightning—all at her fingertips. She just lacked a bit of chakra.
"Ahem. You kids chat. I'm going for a walk outside," Tonbo said, feeling that arguing would be pointless and not arguing would be admitting defeat. He stepped out, leaving the three kids to talk.
Sensory: ACTIVATE.
Tonbo stepped out the door, forming a seal to refine his chakra and fully expand his sensory range. He focused primarily on Kurama Compound and Yakumo herself.
After a couple of months of "Contact Evolution," his chakra—which had previously stagnated—had grown significantly. Consequently, his sensory abilities had sharpened. He could feel "Ido," the monster within Yakumo, currently in a state of high activity. It seemed to be thrashing against its cage, desperate to break the seals and seize her body.
The seals placed by Tonbo and Kurenai Yuhi—two genjutsu masters—were holding firm, but the activity level suggested that Yakumo's power was peaking. Tonbo predicted that after this period of high activity, her "existence" would likely reach its limit.
He had no way to stop her eventual fade; he didn't possess Yin-Yang Release like the Sage of Six Paths to create life, nor did he have Orochimaru's high-tech biological research capabilities. All he could do within his power was provide her with warmth and happiness. That was why he brought the children to play with her today.
I need to record her biological data and convince her to leave her memories behind. Also, keep some of her tissue samples. If this world really faces an Otsutsuki invasion and Orochimaru is still around, I might be able to clone her as a countermeasure.
As the saying goes: "Preparedness ensures success; lack of it ensures failure." One must always have a contingency plan.
The group had a wonderful time eating and playing. The three children ate well and enjoyed themselves; Yakumo's cooking was actually quite good. Wataru, the new friend, got to witness what it meant to "command the wind and rain." Yakumo was happy to have a new friend, even a young one.
As the sun began to set, Tonbo led the children out of Kurama Compound.
Shadow Clone.
The "Tonbo" with the kids was the clone. His true self returned to Yakumo's side.
"Senior Tonbo? Why are you back?" Yakumo asked in confusion. Didn't he just leave?
"The one who left was my clone. I have something serious to tell you."
Drip, drop.
"What? I... I'm just an illusory person?"
When Tonbo told her everything, Yakumo thought back to all her memories, and tears began to fall. They hit the floor like heavy raindrops. She didn't doubt Tonbo's words, but if it were true... what was she? Just a character created by a ninjutsu?
How could the world be so unfair? She thought her parents dying was the greatest blow she could suffer, but finding out she didn't even "exist" was worse. She thought that if she worked hard to live, she could do something for her clan and for Konoha...
BOOM!
Sensing her despair, the Ido within her began to go berserk, trying to erode her mind. Tonbo formed a one-handed seal, strengthening the restraint and crushing the monster back down.
"Then... why were you so kind to me, Senior Tonbo?" Yakumo turned a lifeless gaze toward him. For years, Tonbo had visited her regularly, always making her happy.
Tonbo smiled. "Well... until the moment you disappear, you are a person. Because you have thoughts. A famous philosopher once said, 'I think, therefore I am.' Since you have your own thoughts, you are a real person, a real life."
"I think, therefore I am?" A flicker of light returned to Yakumo's dead eyes.
"Exactly. And the reason I came back is that my abilities have grown. I want to record your memories and your physical data. I'll wait for the right time—and if the opportunity arises, I will bring you back into this world."
Tonbo spoke his goal plainly. Yakumo's eyes trembled slightly.
"And after we're done, I will seal your current memory of this conversation. You will go back to being the happy, cheerful Yakumo."
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!