"What? You're serious? No, how is that possible? You have to understand, this is a problem even the Third Hokage couldn't solve..."
When Narak said he could deal with the evil consciousness inside Yakumo, Kurenai was delighted at first, but she immediately found it unbelievable.
After all, Ido inside Yakumo was a creature that had left even the Third Hokage helpless. Narak was only ten years old. Although he had passed the Jonin examination a few days ago and defeated the veteran Jonin Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy during the test, becoming one of Konoha's elite Jonin, could he really be stronger than the Third Hokage?
The Third Hokage was known as Konoha's strongest Hokage, the "Ninjutsu Doctor." He was proficient in every ninjutsu in the shinobi world. If even he had no solution, what could Narak, a mere Jonin, possibly accomplish?
"It's undeniable that that old man, the Third Hokage, is very strong. But, Miss Kurenai, there's a saying: expertise is specialized. The matters he can't solve just happen to fall within my area of expertise. If I didn't have enough confidence in myself, I wouldn't have come to you today!"
Seeing the confidence on Narak's face, Kurenai couldn't help hesitating.
Kurenai had been Yakumo's teacher since Yakumo was very young. Back then, Kurenai herself had only been a teenager. The two of them had been extremely close, both teacher and student as well as sisters. Naturally, if there really was a way to help Yakumo, she would be happy.
But they had tried for so many years, only to end in failure every time. She didn't want hope to arise at last, only for it to turn into disappointment in the end.
Kurenai Yuhi bit her lower lip tightly, her face filled with hesitation.
Narak sat quietly to the side, taking a sip of tea from time to time. He didn't urge her and simply waited in silence for Kurenai Yuhi to make her decision.
In the end, Kurenai Yuhi seemed to make up her mind. She raised her head resolutely and looked at Narak.
"All right. I agree to go with you and give it a try. However, I don't have the final say in this matter. I have to report it to the Third Hokage. The final decision still rests with him!"
"Then it's settled, Miss Kurenai. I'll wait for your news at home. Farewell!"
Narak set down his teacup, stood up, and bid Kurenai Yuhi goodbye.
"All right. I'll give you an answer by tomorrow morning at the latest."
Kurenai also stood up and saw Narak out. Before he left, she spoke to him.
After walking outside, Narak curved his lips into a smile.
"Looks like there shouldn't be any problems. That old man, the Third Hokage, has always wanted to probe the limits of my strength. This time, I took the initiative to offer to help Hyuga Yakumo. It's something even he has been unable to solve, so of course he'll want to know how I plan to deal with it. He'll only agree, not oppose me!"
Narak slipped both hands into his coat pockets and looked up at the night sky. "It's getting late. I'll go back and sleep. I'll be busy tomorrow."
With that, he headed toward the Hyuga Clan.
Meanwhile, after seeing Narak off, Kurenai Yuhi left immediately and headed for the Hokage's office.
Although it was already night, Kurenai knew that the Third Hokage still hadn't left work. He would still be in his office handling official business. She had learned this from years of experience.
It had to be said that although the Third Hokage had made many mistakes in his old age, he was still diligent and devoted when it came to the village.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
Kurenai Yuhi knocked on the door of the Hokage's office.
"Come in!"
The Third Hokage's aged voice came from inside. It was slightly weary, but its authority remained undiminished.
"Oh, it's Kurenai. What brings you here so late?"
When he saw that the visitor was Kurenai Yuhi, the Third Hokage softened his tone slightly and asked her kindly.
It was only natural. The Third Hokage knew perfectly well that his son Asuma had always been lusting after her, while Kurenai Yuhi seemed to have some feelings for his son as well. The two had grown up together, so barring any accidents, she would become his future daughter-in-law.
If he frightened Kurenai Yuhi away because of something he did and caused the two of them not to get together, his own son would resent him to death.
"Lord Third Hokage, I've come to report something concerning Hyuga Yakumo," Kurenai said directly.
"Hmm? Hyuga Yakumo? What happened to her? Did the Ido inside her break through its seal?"
Hearing that it concerned Hyuga Yakumo, the Third Hokage asked with a serious expression.
An Ido might not be capable of causing much trouble in the Third Hokage's eyes. The only reason he had sealed it instead of destroying it all these years was to protect Hyuga Yakumo's life. But if it escaped and caused trouble in the village, it would still be a bad thing.
After all, while Ido posed no threat to the Third Hokage, it was extremely dangerous to everyone else.
"No, it didn't. I visited Yakumo two days ago, and Ido has remained quietly inside her without showing any signs of movement."
Hearing that Ido hadn't broken through the seal, the Third Hokage relaxed.
"I didn't come here only because of Yakumo. This also concerns Hyuga Narak."
Kurenai Yuhi then reported everything about Narak coming to her, without leaving out a single detail.
"Hmm... That boy says he has a way to deal with Ido without harming Yakumo's main body?"
After listening to Kurenai's report, the Third Hokage took a deep drag from his pipe to ease the fatigue caused by working overtime. He then slowly exhaled a cloud of secondhand smoke and asked Kurenai.
"That's right. That's what Hyuga Narak himself said. He said that expertise is specialized, and the matter that had left Lord Third Hokage helpless happened to be within his area of expertise!" Kurenai Yuhi reported truthfully.
"Good for him. All these years, he's always needed a push before he would take a single step. This is the first time he's taken the initiative to ask to do something. How rare."
"Besides, this is a problem that even I, an old man, have been unable to solve. Yet he's actually so confident that he can deal with it. Heh heh, could the sun have risen in the west today?"
Kurenai Yuhi smiled and teased him, "I've heard a little about Hyuga Narak's temperament over the years. He never takes the initiative to ask for anything. To be honest, I was quite curious at first too. But then I thought about it. Maybe it's because the two of them met during the day, and Narak developed feelings for that girl. It's possible he fell for Yakumo!"
"Now that you mention it, that really is possible. After all, that little girl Yakumo isn't bad-looking, and the two of them are about the same age. People that age are just beginning to understand love. Maybe they simply took a liking to each other. Hahaha!"
"All right. In that case, I agree. Tomorrow, you and Narak will go to Satomi Hill Villa and see exactly how he plans to destroy Ido. But be careful. If anything unexpected happens, seal it immediately!"
"When you get back, give me a detailed account. I'd like to know how many more trump cards that boy is still hiding."
Sure enough, just as Narak had predicted, the Third Hokage desperately wanted to know what other trump cards Narak had hidden that gave him the confidence to deal with the Ido that had given even the Third Hokage a headache. Thus, he would definitely agree to Narak's proposal.
But if he knew what the Third Hokage and Kurenai Yuhi had imagined, he would certainly roll his eyes at them several times.
Before you continue