"My dream..."
Houka fell into thought. After coming to the world of Naruto and working his way forward step by step, he had achieved some success. But it was nowhere near enough.
The Third Ninja World War in a few years, the Nine-Tails' attack on the village, the Uchiha Clan Massacre, the Fourth Ninja World War, and finally the ultimate BOSS, Kaguya Otsutsuki—Houka was still a long way from being ready for any of it.
"My dream is to fly up into the sky and stand shoulder to shoulder with the moon—cough, I mean, with the moon!"
Houka shouted with great enthusiasm!
"What?" Yuhi Shinku's eye twitched. It was clear that Houka was sincere and wasn't lying. But what kind of dream was that?
To fly up into the sky and stand shoulder to shoulder with the moon?!
Yuhi Shinku was utterly dumbfounded. This bizarre dream had completely shattered his worldview.
"Houka, that's a really strange dream," Obito said bluntly. "Why do you want to fly up into the sky and stand shoulder to shoulder with the moon?"
Houka glanced at him and sneered inwardly. Foolish humans, how could you possibly understand the thoughts of a great prophet? You'd better go home and get some sleep.
"Yeah, Houka, what's on the moon?" Kurenai asked curiously.
Houka said, "You wouldn't understand, even if I told you."
With Yuhi Shinku there, Houka didn't just make something up.
Once they'd chatted for a while, Houka brought up his request to Yuhi Shinku.
"You want to study Genjutsu with me?" Yuhi Shinku looked a little surprised. After all, the Uchiha Clan was one of Konoha's most outstanding Genjutsu families...
But then he remembered that Houka was someone the Third Hokage valued. Houka's way of thinking probably didn't mesh with that of the other Uchiha, so it made sense that he'd asked to study Genjutsu with him.
However!
"As far as I know, you're currently training in Taijutsu under Might Duy. If you study Genjutsu with me as well, I'm worried you won't have enough energy for both."
Houka explained, "Uncle Shinku, Taijutsu training uses up physical strength, while studying Genjutsu uses up brainpower. They won't interfere with each other!"
"Dad, I want to study Genjutsu too," Kurenai suddenly pleaded.
Asuma almost asked to learn Genjutsu too, but just barely managed to keep his mouth shut at the crucial moment.
Yuhi Shinku considered it briefly, but still shook his head.
"Is it not possible?" Houka asked, deeply disappointed. He was reluctant to give up, after all, this was tied to the evolution of his Sharingan.
"Sorry. As a Jonin, I have a heavy workload," Yuhi Shinku explained.
Might Duy was a Genin, and most of the D-Rank missions he received were odd jobs within Konoha that he could complete without leaving the village. But Yuhi Shinku, a Jonin and a Genjutsu expert, took on A-Rank and S-Rank missions. Once he went on a mission, he could be away for ten days or half a month, or even a year or more. How could he find the time to teach Houka Genjutsu?
"However, I can recommend a ninja who's very skilled in Genjutsu!" Yuhi Shinku said with a smile.
"Who?" Houka wasn't all that interested. As far as Genjutsu went, besides the Uchiha Clan, Konoha probably didn't have... Oh, wait. Could it be?
"The head of the Kurama Clan, Kurama Murakumo!"
Just as he'd thought!
Houka's heart thumped wildly.
The Kurama Clan was an ancient Genjutsu clan in Konoha, once able to rival the Uchiha Clan. But their Kekkei Genkai was difficult to awaken, and the clan gradually declined. Even so, every few generations, someone still appeared who could inherit the Kurama Clan's powerful Kekkei Genkai. The thought of that terrifying ability to control the five senses was enough to send a chill down anyone's spine.
"Kurama Murakumo is a friend of mine. I think he'll be willing to teach you," Yuhi Shinku said.
"Really? Thank you so much!" Houka said excitedly.
"As for you..." Yuhi Shinku patted his daughter's head and smiled. "You're still too young. I can teach you Genjutsu after you graduate from the Academy."
"Oh." Kurenai stuck her tongue out at Houka.
Asuma was green with jealousy.
Toward evening, Obito, Rin, and Asuma left. Houka and Kurenai followed Yuhi Shinku to the Kurama Clan.
"The Kurama Clan was once on a par with the Uchiha Clan as one of Konoha's prestigious families, thanks to their outstanding Genjutsu. But their Kekkei Genkai was difficult to awaken, and they lacked talent in Ninjutsu and Taijutsu, so they gradually declined and became less active. Still, Houka, never underestimate them," Yuhi Shinku said.
"I understand, Uncle Shinku!" Houka nodded vigorously.
The Kurama Clan's Genjutsu specialized in controlling the five senses, making it ideal for helping Houka awaken his Sharingan!
"Dad, how much farther is it?" Kurenai asked as she walked through the snow, her shoes covered in snow and already soaked.
"Come on, Kurenai. I'll carry you," Yuhi Shinku said with a smile, picking her up.
"Thanks, Dad." Kurenai nestled in his arms and stuck her tongue out at Houka below.
Houka couldn't help reaching out to pinch her cheek.
Kurenai made a face to scare him.
Before long, they reached a large residence in a secluded part of Konoha.
After knocking and entering, Houka met his future Genjutsu teacher, Kurama Murakumo.
He was a man in his twenties, with a somewhat long face and an anxious look. He seemed more like he was in his thirties or forties, and his voice had a slightly ominous edge. Overall, Houka got a very bad impression of him.
"Clan head Kurama, I'll be counting on you," Yuhi Shinku said with a smile.
"So this is the brat?" Kurama Murakumo glanced at Houka and sneered. "An Uchiha coming to the Kurama Clan to study Genjutsu. What a joke. But since you asked, I have no reason to refuse. I'll make this clear, though: I absolutely will not teach this brat the Kurama Clan's core Genjutsu!"
Yuhi Shinku looked a little troubled. "Of course. I'm only asking you to introduce him to the basics. Don't read too much into it, Clan Head Kurama."
"Hmph!" Kurama Murakumo snorted.
"Then it's settled." Yuhi Shinku picked up his daughter, who was hiding behind him, and hurried away from the Kurama Clan.
Houka stood there, feeling awkward.
Kurama Murakumo and Houka looked at each other, each finding the other unpleasant, then turned away at the same time.
"What terrible manners. No wonder he was raised by the Uchiha Clan!" Kurama Murakumo didn't treat the child with any consideration, badmouthing Houka right to his face, without worrying that Houka might hold a grudge when he grew up.
Houka endured it.
"Come with me, brat." Kurama Murakumo headed toward the backyard. "If you want to learn Genjutsu, you first need to understand what it is. And the most direct way to understand Genjutsu is to..."
Kurama Murakumo's head suddenly spun a hundred and eighty degrees. Blood streamed from his eyes, his tongue lolled out, long and dripping with saliva, as he glared viciously at Houka.
"To experience it for yourself!"
Houka was indeed startled by the sudden sight. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the hallway beneath his feet twist and change, turning into a pool of blood that reeked of a heavy, pungent stench.
Beside the pool, several withered old trees stretched out their dry, ugly branches, thrusting them wildly toward the sky.
Houka looked up and saw that the moon was blood-red too.
"So realistic!"
Houka was shocked. The sights, the smells, and every other sensation were so real that they were hard to believe!
My five senses are being controlled?
Houka pinched his cheek hard, but didn't feel the slightest pain.
"Brat, take your time and experience it. Heh heh heh..."
Houka was at a loss. He'd come to study Genjutsu, not to challenge the place!
Had Kurama Murakumo been shut up at home so long that he'd finally gone crazy?
Before you continue