"Since that's the case…"
Teizawa leaned back in his chair, his gaze falling on Yūgao's face hidden behind the mask.
"Take off the mask first. Let me see your sincerity."
Sincerity?
Yūgao froze.
Then she fell silent.
Moonlight spilled in through the window, falling across her body.
Her white Anbu uniform shimmered faintly silver beneath the moonlight.
The fingers gripping her short blade tightened until her knuckles turned white.
The confidence in Teizawa's eyes made her almost believe everything he said was true.
Or rather…
In her heart, she had already accepted it as true.
She wanted Hayate back too badly.
Wanted it so badly she was almost mad. Wanted it badly enough to believe in even the faintest possibility.
She reached out, her fingertips touching the edge of her mask.
Cold.
A stark contrast to the pounding of her heart.
She drew in a deep breath and slowly removed the mask.
A bright, strikingly beautiful face appeared before Teizawa.
Her features were delicate, her contours clean and sharp, carrying a touch of androgynous beauty.
Her skin was fair, nearly translucent beneath the moonlight.
A proud, straight nose, thin red lips, and those deep purple eyes…
At that moment, they were fixed hard on Teizawa.
There was wariness in them. Expectation.
And a trace of resolve, as if she had already accepted death.
Her long purple hair fell from her shoulders, making that face seem even colder and more distant.
Teizawa's gaze slowly swept across her face.
As if he were admiring a painting.
"You're very beautiful."
His voice was soft.
Yūgao did not respond.
The hand holding her mask hung at her side.
Her other hand still gripped the short blade, its tip resting against the floor.
"How do you plan to save Hayate?"
Her voice was still ice-cold.
But beneath that coldness, something was surging.
Teizawa set down his teacup and spoke at a leisurely pace.
"The two methods I mentioned earlier, Impure World Reincarnation and Sunagakure's One's Own Life Reincarnation, both have flaws."
Yūgao frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Impure World Reincarnation only creates a substitute."
"The soul is fixed inside a sacrifice, with no will of its own, controlled entirely by the caster. That isn't a living person. It's a puppet."
Teizawa looked at her. "As for One's Own Life Reincarnation… it requires an intact body. How many years has Hayate Gekkō been dead?"
Yūgao's face went deathly pale in an instant.
Hayate had been dead for years.
His bones had probably already turned to dust.
Even if Lady Chiyo were willing to use One's Own Life Reincarnation, there would be no target for the jutsu.
"You lied to me?"
Her voice trembled, her eyes reddening as her finger joints turned pale.
"I didn't lie to you."
The corner of Teizawa's mouth rose slightly. That confident smile made people want to punch him.
"Naturally, I do have a way to resurrect him. But I can't tell you yet."
He paused. "The two methods I told you about were only meant to make you believe one thing."
"I can resurrect Hayate Gekkō."
"I can let you see a living Hayate Gekkō again…"
He was not lying.
For someone like Hayate, whose bones were likely gone, the best method of resurrection was to first use Impure World Reincarnation to summon back the soul, then use the Rinnegan's Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to grant true life.
That was how Madara Uchiha had been resurrected.
Of course, he could not tell Yūgao any of that.
The Rinnegan, Nagato, the Akatsuki…
Saying any of it would only create unnecessary trouble.
Yūgao stared at him.
Complicated light churned in those purple eyes.
"You're telling the truth?"
Her voice was rough, as if filled with sand.
Teizawa nodded.
"Then why help me?" she asked through clenched teeth. "What do you want?"
"What I want… aren't you already clear on that? You agreed just now."
"Me?"
Yūgao was dazed.
All she had to give was her body, and she could bring one person back to life.
If he could really do it…
Forget her body.
Even if he wanted her life, she would be willing.
She even believed…
Almost anyone would make the same choice she did.
In the shinobi world, the temptation of resurrecting the dead was simply too great.
Teizawa looked at her, the smile on his lips slowly deepening.
"That's why I said I need to see your sincerity first."
He paused. "Otherwise, why would I help you for no reason?"
Yūgao clenched her fingers, her knuckles whitening.
"I can promise you."
Her voice was soft, but steady.
"But only after you save Hayate."
Teizawa raised an eyebrow.
This woman had not lost her head.
She was still rational.
He pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"Fine."
Before Yūgao could breathe in relief, he added another sentence.
"But I need to check the cards first. See your sincerity."
Check the cards?
"What do you mean?"
Yūgao's brows furrowed even more tightly.
Teizawa crooked a finger at her.
"Come here."
Yūgao hesitated for a moment, then walked forward two steps.
Teizawa shook his head.
Then crooked his finger again.
She took another two steps and stopped one pace away from him.
Teizawa reached out and grasped her wrist.
With one light pull, Yūgao, caught off guard, stumbled into his arms.
"You…"
She struggled at once, her hand already reaching for the hilt of her blade.
But Teizawa's voice sounded beside her ear.
Cold and sinister, carrying a faint smile that sent a chill down the spine.
"If you dare struggle…"
His voice was very soft, as soft as a demon's whisper.
"Then forget about Hayate Gekkō's resurrection."
Yūgao's whole body trembled.
Her hand froze on the hilt.
She went rigid, as if struck by a paralysis jutsu, unable to move.
She clenched her teeth, her nails digging deep into her palm.
Blood seeped out from between her fingers.
Teizawa's hand moved at her waist.
Unhurried, as if measuring something.
Yūgao's breathing grew more and more rapid.
Her chest rose and fell violently.
But she did not dare move. Did not dare struggle.
She barely dared breathe too loudly.
"Bastard…"
The word squeezed out between her teeth, carrying anger and humiliation she could not suppress.
"Your hand…"
Teizawa lowered his head and leaned close to her ear.
"Your sincerity is quite considerable."
His voice held a smile.
Yūgao's face flushed scarlet.
The red spread from her cheeks to her ears, then down her neck.
Her body trembled, and tears gathered in her eyes.
But they never fell.
Teizawa still held her close, pressing the intimidation further.
Yūgao closed her eyes, her lashes trembling faintly.
Just as his hand moved lower…
Whoosh.
Yūgao's figure vanished from the room.
Like a wisp of smoke scattered by the wind.
The window was wide open, the curtains billowing into the room.
Teizawa's hand still held its grasping posture.
Suspended in midair.
He looked at the open window, at the silver-white patch of moonlight spilling in, and the corner of his mouth slowly lifted.
"Truly… such great sincerity."
He murmured, withdrawing his hand.
He smiled, then rose and closed the window.
Tonight's harvest was not bad.
(End of Chapter)
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