Sasuke-kun is truly a warm person.

As Sasuke finished speaking, the atmosphere at the scene turned somewhat subtle. Kurama Yakumo felt a bit awkward, not knowing how to respond.

Then, Sasuke's calm voice continued: "'Heaven has made us talents for a reason'—this phrase means that since Heaven brought me into this world, there must be a purpose for me. Miss Yakumo, everyone's talent is different. There are gains and losses; if Heaven deprived you of physical talent, it will surely compensate you in another aspect."

As he said this, Sasuke glanced casually at the painting in the distance. It depicted a person riding a wooden raft alone across a turbulent, surging sea; the terrifying, dark, and deep ocean was filled with a strong sense of repression and anxiety.

Before the raft, violent winds and waves surged forward as if they would drown and crush the person at any moment. At a single glance, Sasuke seemed to feel a monstrous wave breaking through the frame, sweeping over like a gale and torrential rain.

However, above that seemingly endless sea within the frame, the sky was clear and azure, spotless and vast, with the sun shining high.

Light and darkness, the bright sky and the gloomy ocean, formed a sharp contrast.

As the saying goes, one can know a person by their writing, and know a person by their art.

Calligraphy, painting, sculpture, music—from ancient times to the present, countless art forms exist, each used to express what people have seen and heard, and to express the joys and sorrows in their hearts. This is the reason why these arts have remained enduring and long-standing for countless years.

The gloomy ocean represented the resentment and darkness Kurama Yakumo had developed after years of persistence without achieving her desires; this was the negative side of her heart.

And the high-hanging sun represented that even if she had gained nothing, the current Kurama Yakumo still had to practice hard to achieve her goals, firmly believing that she would succeed; this was the positive side of her heart.

Heaven has made us talents for a reason?

Kurama Yakumo followed Sasuke's gaze, and as if thinking of something, her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Does Sasuke-kun mean that when Heaven closes a door for you, it will surely open a window for you?"

Kurama Yakumo thought of the Kekkei Genkai she had awakened.

Is it because Heaven deprived me of physical talent that it compensated me in the field of genjutsu?

If Sasuke-kun is right, that there are gains and losses, then Sasuke-kun's talent, and what happened to Sasuke-kun...

It's too cruel!

The look in Kurama Yakumo's eyes as she gazed at Sasuke couldn't help but carry a hint of heartache.

Sasuke glanced at her and said indifferently: "Not necessarily. Sometimes, when Heaven closes a door for you, it will also close the window along with it."

"Uh..."

Kurama Yakumo rolled her eyes. She felt that this guy Sasuke could always say the most conversation-killing things in the most indifferent tone.

"However, your situation should be the good side, so don't worry." Sasuke looked at the painting in the distance, seemingly implying something.

"Draw more sunny things in the future. How can a little girl have so many heavy thoughts all day long?"

"Hmph!" Kurama Yakumo puffed out her cheeks and argued: "I'm not little, and besides, I'm clearly older than you!"

"I suppose so."

Sasuke nodded without any intention of arguing, picked up a small stone tablet from the side, and continued carving.

Seeing this, Kurama Yakumo didn't disturb him and stayed quietly by his side.

A few minutes later, Sasuke examined the completed small stone tablet for a moment and said: "Miss Yakumo, your painting is good. How about giving me one? Of course, I won't take it for nothing; how about this stone tablet as an exchange?"

"Ah?" Kurama Yakumo was stunned. After pondering for a moment, she agreed: "Sure. Actually, I am also very interested in Sasuke-kun's sculptures."

After the two exchanged their artworks, Sasuke saw that it was getting late and took his leave.

"Sasuke-kun, will you come to the back mountain again in the future?"

As they parted, Kurama Yakumo hesitated for a while before asking softly.

"Unless something unexpected happens, I should be coming here often!"

Sasuke pointed to the surrounding stones and said calmly.

"Mm!"

Kurama Yakumo gave a soft hum, feeling a sense of relief in her heart.

"Then see you next time, Sasuke-kun."

"See you next time!"

After Sasuke had been gone for a while, Kurama Yakumo finally picked up the stone tablet in her hand to look at it.

"When Heaven is about to place a great burden on a person, it must first frustrate their spirit, exhaust their muscles and bones, starve their body and skin, and empty their person..."

Kurama Yakumo read softly. After reading for just a moment, she lost herself. The few words on it expressed a supreme philosophy; she had never seen such profound sentences before.

The words on it were in classical Chinese. Although she was born into a ninja clan, as the daughter of the main family, her cultural education had never been neglected, so she could naturally understand it. Moreover, Sasuke had specifically translated it using the script of this world. (There is classical Chinese in Naruto; the Sage of Six Paths spoke it when he appeared, and Naruto even complained about it.)

Frustrate their spirit, exhaust their muscles and bones...

Is Sasuke-kun encouraging me?

As she read, brilliance flashed in Kurama Yakumo's eyes. What was written there matched her current situation so well, and was even so similar to Sasuke's situation.

Even after encountering such terrifying and cruel things.

You still don't forget to show kindness to a stranger you just met?

Sasuke-kun, you really are a warm person...

"Compared to you, what do my current difficulties even count for?"

Kurama Yakumo murmured. It was as if the cloudy, overcast weather had turned into a sunny day, and the trace of resentment in her heart vanished completely.

She revealed a smile and picked up her brush once again to paint.

In the painting was a delicate-looking youth, set against a backdrop of lush green grass and the slowly rising morning sun in the distance.

The warm morning light shone upon the youth's face, faintly outlining the corners of his lips.

It was as if he were wearing a smile that pierced through the gloom and warmed the heart.

Although Sasuke had never smiled during the time he spent talking to her, Kurama Yakumo had painted him exactly like that.

Sasuke walked alone along the mountain path returning to Konohagakure, casually scanning the surrounding scenery while lost in his own thoughts.

Kurama Yakumo, this young girl possesses truly formidable talent.

Just now, Sasuke had observed that Kurama Yakumo's paintings could no longer be described as merely vivid or lifelike; they possessed their own soul, charm, and a vitality that felt tangible.

Such works usually only appear in the hands of great masters of art and are passed down for thousands of years.

However, Sasuke knew well that Kurama Yakumo's artistic skill was far from reaching the level of a master; it was simply that her extraordinary talent had imbued the paintings with a soul.

In the original timeline, Kurama Yakumo possessed the abilities of Genjutsu: True Reality, Illusionary Labyrinth, and the sealing of the five senses.

When her talent went out of control, she instantly killed her two parents, who were both jounin-level, and her uncle—a jounin of the Kurama clan—was powerless against her genjutsu, only managing to escape with his life by sealing his own five senses.

Even Kurenai Yuhi, a master of genjutsu, would have died at the hands of Kurama Yakumo if Uzumaki Naruto hadn't suddenly burst in.

The Kekkei Genkai of the Kurama clan is strong, but it is definitely not that strong—not strong enough to allow a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl who has never undergone formal ninja training to reach the level of instantly killing jounin.

Previously, Sasuke had read an introduction to the Kurama clan's Kekkei Genkai in the books at the shrine, which only mentioned the sealing of the five senses, with no mention of the abilities of Genjutsu: True Reality or Illusionary Labyrinth.

Yin Release creates existence from the formless, turning the illusory into reality.

From this, one can see just how powerful the spiritual talent of Kurama Yakumo, who possesses the ability to turn the false into the true, must be!

It could be said that Kurama Yakumo's talent seems to be the final cry of a clan that is currently heading toward decline and extinction.