Narak helped Yakumo to her feet and brought her before Ido!
Poor Ido had been pinned to the wall by Narak's Kido and could not move. No matter how much home-field advantage it had, it could not break free at all!
"Yakumo, I can kill Ido, but this is your inner demon and your tribulation. In the end, you have to overcome it yourself!"
"Only by killing your inner demon can you truly let go. Otherwise, this will never be complete!"
Yakumo looked at the monster before her, seemingly afraid. She could not help shrinking farther into Narak's arms!
Narak patted Yakumo and placed the Zanpakuto in her hands.
Although Yakumo took the Zanpakuto, both hands gripping the blade trembled nonstop!
Narak embraced her from behind and placed both hands over Yakumo's small ones. Together, they gripped the hilt of the Zanpakuto!
Those firm, powerful hands seemed to give Yakumo immense courage. At last, her trembling stopped!
"So, are you ready?"
Narak asked softly beside Yakumo's ear.
"Mm!"
Yakumo bit her lower lip and answered firmly.
Seeing that Yakumo had made up her mind, Narak said no more.
With his large hands wrapped around her small ones, Narak held the Zanpakuto level. The blade pointed backward, while the hilt faced Ido.
"No! Don't kill me! Don't listen to them—they're lying to you!"
"Stop! I am one with you! I can give up devouring you, as long as you let me live!"
"Did you hear me, you bastard? Stop right now!"
"Ah, damn you! I'll kill you all..."
Facing the Zanpakuto before it, Ido felt the threat of death.
It went from begging for mercy at first to issuing threats later.
But none of this could stop Narak and Yakumo. The Zanpakuto moved forward slowly but steadily.
At last, the bottom of the hilt was only an inch from Ido's forehead.
"Enough! You're so annoying. I'll send you where you belong!"
"Oh, no. You're merely a derivative of the main personality. After you die, you can only turn to ashes and scatter. You can't even go to the world where souls reside!"
"So, farewell. Farewell forever!"
"Soul Burial!"
Following Narak's low roar, a gentle light began to shine from the hilt of the Zanpakuto.
But when that light fell on Ido's face, it only made it feel more terrified. Even its roar rose involuntarily by half a pitch!
At last, the hilt touched Ido's forehead. Ido, which had still been roaring and struggling, suddenly stopped moving.
Narak withdrew the Zanpakuto. A character reading "soul" appeared where the hilt had touched Ido's forehead. Then Ido's body gradually began to glow. Once the light spread throughout its body, it slowly turned into particles of light and dispersed.
A moment later, Ido had vanished completely before the three of them. After its disappearance, the once dim and lifeless world of consciousness gradually brightened, like the dawn after daybreak!
"Narak-kun, you..."
Only now did Yakumo realize that Narak's embrace from behind had been rather intimate. She immediately became bashful.
"Ahem... Sorry. The situation was a little special."
Narak awkwardly explained.
Good grief. In both my past and present lives, aside from my little sister, this was the first time I'd ever held a girl like that. I had felt nothing while focusing on Ido just now.
Now that I'd come to my senses, I realized that although Yakumo was still young, people in the Hokage world matured frighteningly early. At eleven or twelve, Yakumo already had all the right curves... Damn, I almost embarrassed myself!
"N-no, it's fine. I know you were only trying to help me, Narak-kun!"
Yakumo lowered her head and blushed as she explained on Narak's behalf.
"Ido... It's gone just like that? It was destroyed that easily?"
Kurenai Yuhi, standing nearby, wore a look of disbelief. Third Hokage had previously tried everything to destroy Ido without harming Yakumo, but had ultimately only been able to seal it away.
Yet with Narak, from beginning to end, it had taken only a kick, a seal, and one strike with the hilt for the monster that had tormented Third Hokage and Kurenai Yuhi to vanish so effortlessly!
"It's nothing special, really. My power just happens to counter beings like Ido!"
"Besides, even if I hadn't acted, as long as Yakumo firmly believed in destroying Ido, it could still have been erased!"
"After all, Ido exists because of Yakumo's accumulated negative emotions. As long as Yakumo resolves the knot in her heart and finds the courage to face the darkness within, Ido naturally ceases to be a problem!"
Seeing Kurenai Yuhi's confusion, Narak explained it to her.
"I see." Kurenai Yuhi immediately understood.
"That's settled, then. We should leave. See you outside!"
Narak waved to the two of them and transformed into a streak of light that vanished from Yakumo's world of consciousness.
Outside, Narak's spirit returned to his body. He stood up and stretched.
The next moment, Yakumo and Kurenai Yuhi opened their eyes as well.
Seeing Kurenai Yuhi sitting before her, Yakumo rose and threw herself into her arms.
Kurenai Yuhi: "All right, you silly girl. It's all over now. From today onward, just live well."
Yakumo: "Mm, I understand now, Teacher Kurenai!"
Kurenai Yuhi: "Even if you can't become a ninja, it's fine. Your teacher will always be your teacher. I'll protect you from now on. No one will dare bully you!"
"Actually, Yakumo still has a chance to become a ninja!"
Seeing Kurenai Yuhi comforting Yakumo, Narak could not help speaking up.
"What?" *2
Yakumo and Kurenai Yuhi spoke at the same time.
"Yakumo can't become a ninja mainly because her physical constitution is too weak. I can heal her body. Wouldn't that solve the problem?"
"Narak-kun... Are you serious? Can I really become a ninja?"
Yakumo looked at Narak with excitement.
"Mm. I can heal you, but it will take some time. Your body is simply too weak. It might not withstand everything at once, so we'll have to take it slowly."
"I suggest that you stay with the Hyuga Clan for the time being. That will also make it more convenient for me to treat you."
Hearing that she would be staying at Narak's home, Yakumo became embarrassed. "Is that really all right? Won't I be troubling Narak-kun too much?"
"It's fine. I'll agree to this on Yakumo's behalf!"
"After all, Yakumo's parents have passed away. Although she still has other relatives, she barely keeps in touch with them. She has lived alone all these years."
"Besides, you said earlier that Satomi Hill Manor was too gloomy and unsuitable for long-term living. Going to your home is perfect. She can receive treatment there, and she'll also have someone to keep her company!"
Seeing Yakumo still hesitating, Kurenai Yuhi could no longer hold back and agreed for her.
"Silly girl, if you like him, just go for it! Haven't you heard that hesitation leads to defeat? Once you go to the Hyuga Clan, if enough time passes, won't you two naturally develop feelings for each other? This is all your teacher can do for you. The rest is up to you!"
Before you continue