With that thought, Kakashi slipped his hands into his pockets, the lazy air around him drawing in slightly.
He turned his head and looked at Kurenai Yuhi, whose face was filled with pain, then at Tsunade, whose brows were tightly knit, and spoke calmly.
"Don't look so down, Kurenai.
Seals only treat the symptoms, not the root of the problem. The harder you suppress it, the more terrifying the backlash will be.
What happened at the Hokage Building today was a warning—her power is already on the verge of running out of control."
"Kakashi, you mean…"
Tsunade raised her head, staring at him with sharp, burning eyes.
"Leave it to me."
Kakashi spread his hands.
"Since this kid is such a hot potato, why don't I go meet her myself?"
The moment those words fell, Kurenai snapped her head up, shock filling her eyes.
"Kakashi! Yakumo's Genjutsu is no joke. Even for you, with the Sharingan, if you're pulled into her Genjutsu world without preparation, your life will be in danger! And her body—"
"Easy, easy."
Kakashi waved his hand, cutting off her worry.
"I hate trouble more than anyone. If I'm willing to take this on, it means I've got my own way of dealing with it."
Hearing his confident tone, Tsunade stared at him for a long moment. Slowly, the tension in her brow eased.
For some reason, even though this silver-haired man usually never looked serious, at critical moments like this, he always carried a calm presence that made people instinctively want to trust him.
"Fine."
Tsunade slammed her palm on the desk, making the final call.
"Kakashi, since you've volunteered, Kurama Yakumo is entirely in your hands.
If you can guide her back onto the right path, that's best. But if she truly loses control—"
Tsunade's gaze turned cold.
"As Hokage, I will never allow a hidden danger that could threaten Konoha to exist."
"Understood."
Kakashi replied lazily, sliding his hands back into his pockets.
Just as he turned to leave—
"Wait, Hokage-sama!"
Kurenai stepped forward, her eyes filled with unwavering resolve.
"Please let me go as well!"
Tsunade frowned. "Kurenai, if you go—"
"I know it's dangerous!"
Kurenai bit her lower lip, interrupting her, her voice heavy with guilt and determination.
"I was Yakumo's former personal instructor. I was the one who sealed her power with my own hands. I can't escape responsibility for pushing her into the desperate situation she's in today.
"The one who tied the knot must untie it. I can't leave everything to Kakashi alone.
So… even if I can only help a little, please allow me to go with him!"
Looking into Kurenai's eyes—slightly red from self-blame—Tsunade fell silent.
She understood these Konoha shinobi all too well. Bonds like this, and a sense of responsibility like that, couldn't be forcibly suppressed.
"…Very well."
Tsunade sighed and finally nodded.
"I approve.
But listen carefully, Kurenai. This mission is led entirely by Kakashi. As support, you are absolutely not to interfere with his judgment at critical moments because of your personal feelings. Do you understand?"
"Yes! Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
Kurenai nodded heavily, as if a great weight had been lifted from her chest.
"Well then, let's go together."
"It just so happens I've never been to a place called 'Satomi Hill.' I could use a guide."
"I'm counting on you, Kakashi."
Kurenai cast him a grateful look.
"Let's go."
Kakashi pushed open the door to the Hokage's Office.
"To meet this Genjutsu prodigy."
---
Outside Konoha Village.
In the forest leading to Satomi Hill.
Two figures leapt swiftly through the treetops.
The wind howled past her ears. Watching Kakashi's relaxed back beside her, Kurenai hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.
"Kakashi…"
"Hm?"
He didn't turn his head, answering with a simple sound.
"About Yakumo…"
Kurenai took a deep breath, pain flickering in her eyes.
"The reason I sealed her power back then was because of… a monster."
She bit her lip, recalling a scene from years ago that still sent chills down her spine, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
"A monster?"
"Yes. A 'mental demon' hidden deep within her heart."
Kurenai closed her eyes, as if seeing that grotesque face again.
"Yakumo carried the heavy expectation of reviving the Kurama Clan, but her body was so weak that she couldn't even handle basic physical training.
Under that overwhelming desire and crushing despair, a second personality was born in her subconscious—extremely malicious, filled with destructive urges. It calls itself 'Ido.'"
Her voice was thick with fear and bitterness.
"That mental demon possesses Genjutsu just as terrifying as Yakumo's, but it has no morality or reason.
If allowed to grow, it would eventually devour Yakumo completely, turning her into a being that knows only destruction. Even the accidental fire that killed her parents back then…"
Kurenai stopped there, but Kakashi had already grasped the unspoken, cruel truth.
"I see."
He nodded.
"A split personality combined with Genjutsu that can manifest in reality. That really is a ticking bomb. So you chose to seal all of her power?"
"I had no choice."
Kurenai shook her head, her eyes reddening.
"That child wanted to become a shinobi more than anyone else.
But when I told her she could never be a ninja… and sealed her power myself…"
Her voice broke.
"The look in her eyes was filled with despair and hatred.
I was the one who crushed her dream and, in the name of protection, locked her inside that cage called Satomi Hill."
After her confession, the forest fell silent.
Only the sound of leaves rustling underfoot echoed through the trees.
A moment later—
"Well…"
Kakashi suddenly stopped, landing steadily on a thick branch, and turned to look at the guilt-stricken Kurenai.
"From an instructor's standpoint, when faced with a danger beyond your ability to handle, sealing it was the most rational and safest choice.
You did it to protect her and the Village. There's no need to blame yourself."
He stretched lazily, gazing toward the faint outline of buildings deep within the forest.
"And besides…"
The corner of his mouth curved into a relaxed smile.
"That physical condition that left everyone helpless isn't an incurable illness anymore.
Don't forget—who's sitting in the Hokage's office right now."
He casually used Tsunade as a shield.
"As long as I drag that troublesome mental demon out and eliminate it, Lady Tsunade will naturally have a way to help condition Yakumo's body. That's her professional field."
"But that mental demon's Genjutsu…"
Kurenai bit her lip, still uneasy.
"It's a power that can distort reality itself. One mistake, and you'll be erased inside the mental world."
"Genjutsu?"
Kakashi let out a soft, indifferent chuckle.
He raised his hand, lightly touching the edge of the forehead protector covering his left eye.
The exposed eye curved slightly, radiating absolute confidence.
"Kurenai, as Konoha's Genjutsu specialist, you should understand this better than anyone."
"Playing Genjutsu in front of my Sharingan…"
"…is extremely dangerous."
Kurenai froze for a moment.
A breeze swept by, stirring Kakashi's silver hair.
Looking at his calm, assured profile, the tension in her heart finally eased.
That's right.
The man before her wasn't just any jonin, but Konoha's famed Copy Ninja—the one who had copied over a thousand jutsu with a single Sharingan and shaken the entire shinobi world.
If it was him… maybe he really could pull Yakumo out of that abyss of despair.
"I understand."
Kurenai took a deep breath, her gaze firm once more.
"If things truly become irreversible, I'll use my life to create an opening for you."
"Hey, hey, don't talk about 'using your life' like that."
Kakashi sighed helplessly, his figure blurring as he dashed forward again.
"It's not like we're walking to our deaths."
"Let's go."
"Let's see just how impressive the Genjutsu of this Kurama Clan genius really is."