You Can't Catch Me

Kurama Yakumo?

So it was her. No wonder Sasuke felt a sense of familiarity when he saw her earlier.

Kurama Yakumo hailed from the Kurama clan, a family within Konohagakure that had once supplied the village with many high-ranking jonin and chunin.

The clan specialized in genjutsu and possessed a Kekkei Genkai, which served to enhance their abilities in that field. Their most talented members were in no way inferior to the Uchiha clan when it came to genjutsu.

However, their Kekkei Genkai was notoriously difficult to awaken. Coupled with the devastating toll of successive ninja wars, the Kurama clan had since withered and declined, reduced to one of the many unremarkable minor families in Konohagakure.

"Miss Kurama, hello!"

Sasuke replied politely before pivoting to ask, "But, how did you know I was Uchiha Sasuke?"

Although Sasuke was currently the only surviving Uchiha in Konohagakure, he was wearing casual clothes today and bore no Uchiha crests.

Furthermore, looking at the original timeline, Kurama Yakumo had always focused her attention on Rock Lee, even harboring a hidden admiration for him. She had taken him as her goal, striving to become a genjutsu ninja who specialized in taijutsu just like him.

Why did she seem so certain that he was Uchiha Sasuke now?

Hearing this, Kurama Yakumo seemed to have anticipated the question. She explained in a calm, unhurried manner, "Sasuke-kun, you might not know this, but in terms of age, I should be one year ahead of you, but..."

At this point, a flash of despondency crossed Kurama Yakumo's eyes, and a bitter expression touched the corners of her mouth.

"Although I have always wanted to enter the Ninja Academy and become a student..."

"My physical condition has been poor since I was a child. I get exhausted after just a little training, and my body develops complications. I failed the basic physical fitness test for enrollment two years in a row."

"That is why a genius student like you, who shone so brightly at the Ninja Academy, has always been someone I kept my eyes on."

Kurama Yakumo's tone was very calm, yet Sasuke could still detect the envy and frustration hidden beneath that composure.

"I am sorry."

After hearing her out, Sasuke didn't know how to comfort the young girl, so he remained silent for a moment before uttering those words.

Do not judge another's pain, and do not preach magnanimity; do not judge another's hardships, and do not speak of right and wrong.

"Sasuke-kun, it is I who was rude!" Realizing that her chatter might cause others trouble, Kurama Yakumo apologized softly. She covered her mouth with a giggle and continued, "Actually, I saw you two years ago at the Ninja Academy entrance ceremony. I saw you from afar, and back then, you and your brother..."

At this, Kurama Yakumo's face turned pale. Remembering the recent circumstances of the boy before her, she hurriedly cut herself off and bowed in apology.

"I am sorry, Sasuke-kun. I didn't mean to. I am truly sorry."

Kurama Yakumo had heard about what happened to the Uchiha clan two months ago and felt sympathy for the boy who had survived alone.

She hadn't intended to blurt out so many things hidden in her heart after meeting the boy she had always admired, nearly saying that forbidden topic as well...

"It's fine."

Sasuke shook his head slightly and responded calmly.

It was just an unintentional slip by a young girl; Sasuke, possessing the soul of an adult, wasn't about to take it to heart.

Moreover, Sasuke had noticed that Kurama Yakumo's grasp of social etiquette and interpersonal boundaries was extremely weak, likely due to her having had little contact with the outside world since childhood.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have poured her heart out the moment she met him, failing to understand the taboo of speaking too deeply to a mere acquaintance.

Seeing that Sasuke didn't seem to hold her slip of the tongue against her, Kurama Yakumo quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Regardless, I am very happy to have met you here unexpectedly today, Sasuke-kun."

Kurama Yakumo bowed slightly, a spark of fire seemingly burning in her eyes.

"Even though my body is weak, I will continue to use you as my goal and work hard to become an excellent ninja!"

Kurama Yakumo's parents were the leaders of the Kurama clan, and she had awakened her Kekkei Genkai at birth, leading to high expectations being placed upon her.

She did it to avoid disappointing her parents and to live up to the hopes of her clansmen.

Although every training session placed a heavy burden on her body and caused her great pain, Yakumo had always practiced with immense effort!

Come on!

I will definitely become an excellent ninja!

Just as Kurama Yakumo was secretly cheering herself on, Sasuke's calm voice reached her: "Miss Yakumo, you are yourself. You don't need to use others as a goal, and you certainly don't need to view me as one. You won't be able to catch up to me."

Sasuke finally understood why Kurama Yakumo recognized him and viewed him as a goal instead of Rock Lee, as in the original work. (Note: Kurama Yakumo awakened the dark monster and killed her parents one year before Team 7 graduated, which was the year Rock Lee graduated; she made her official appearance the following year.)

Rock Lee was the first student in the history of the Ninja Academy to graduate and become a ninja purely through taijutsu. (Might Duy and his son didn't count; they knew a little ninjutsu, whereas Rock Lee knew absolutely none.)

Rock Lee's achievements had undoubtedly inspired Kurama Yakumo, who was in despair at the time, like a ray of light shining into the abyss for someone trapped in long-term darkness.

"Uh..."

Kurama Yakumo, whose eyes had just been burning with spirit, rolled them instantly, her eyelid twitching. Although you are a famous genius at the academy, but...

So annoying! [○?｀Д′?○]!

Kurama Yakumo felt a bit angry, but she harbored no resentment or jealousy toward the boy before her; after all, what she had almost said earlier was far more hurtful.

The current Kurama Yakumo remained filled with a longing to become a ninja, and she firmly believed that through her own efforts, she could become an excellent one.

Although her parents were worried about her physical condition, they did not stop her from training.

This situation continued until three years later in the original timeline. When her parents saw that her physical problems were mounting due to her training yet she still refused to give up, they invited Kurenai Yuhi, who was highly skilled in genjutsu, to be her private tutor.

However, after Kurenai Yuhi came into contact with the girl, she also worried about her health and persuaded her to give up the goal of becoming a ninja to live a normal life. At that time, her parents, also worried for her health, agreed with Kurenai's approach.

With her dream of ten years shattered in an instant, resentment, desire, and a monster of vengeance began to fester in Yakumo's heart.

Finally, on a certain night, the monster named Ido broke free from the depths of Yakumo's heart!