"No need!"
Kimura Takuya rubbed his chin. Then he thought of another way and turned to Kurenai Yuhi. "The hardest part right now is getting into Yakumo's genjutsu world, and her genjutsu seems to affect the soul. We just need to find someone skilled with souls who can take us straight into Yakumo's soul-bound illusion."
"Someone skilled with souls? The Yamanaka Clan!"
"Exactly. The Yamanaka Clan's secret soul technique, the Mind Body Switch Technique, should be able to take us into Yakumo's illusion. If we kill that monster inside, we can save Yakumo's parents."
Kimura Takuya and Kurenai Yuhi exchanged a glance. They both thought it could work, so they headed to the Yamanaka Clan's grounds together.
The Ino-Shika-Cho clans had joined Konoha when the village was founded, making them venerable old clans.
They were all clans with secret techniques and belonged to the Hokage faction. For generations, they had been an important force in keeping the kekkei genkai clans in check.
The Ino-Shika-Cho of this generation would later be led by the Third Hokage's son, Asuma Sarutobi. That showed just how highly regarded these three clans were within the Hokage faction!
Naturally, their clan compounds were in prime locations, and all three were right next to one another. By all accounts, they were in the heart of the city.
Kimura Takuya and Kurenai Yuhi finally reached the Yamanaka Clan's grounds and headed straight for the clan head's residence.
That was Yamanaka Ino's home, but they were told that her father had taken her out to practice their secret technique.
With no other choice, the two went to the practice grounds. To avoid being mistaken for people trying to spy on the clan's techniques, Kimura Takuya called out before approaching. "Senior Yamanaka, we have an urgent matter concerning the village's safety!"
Before long, a father and daughter emerged from the Yamanaka Clan's private grounds. Both had blond hair and blue eyes, and both wore their hair in high ponytails.
Ino was cute and charming, while her father had a dignified air with a hint of dashing spirit.
"Elite Jonin Kurenai Yuhi? What brings you here?"
"Ah, Takuya, did you come to see me? Dad, this is Takuya! Your future son-in-law is here, so stop looking so serious!"
Ino opened with a devastating blow, breaking her father's heart.
She even forced her old man to greet Kimura Takuya with a smile.
But as Inoichi Yamanaka's eyes narrowed, they filled with inexplicable hostility.
So you're the brat who's got my Ino so lovesick she can't eat or sleep?
I'll have a good look at what's so great about you.
That was the classic father-in-law meeting his future son-in-law: the more he looked, the more he wanted to beat him up.
Sensing the tension, Kimura Takuya immediately bowed. "Senior Yamanaka, please save Konoha!"
"What? Has something happened to Konoha?"
Inoichi Yamanaka jumped in alarm and hurriedly looked toward the village. But Konoha was safe and sound in the distance, as peaceful as ever.
Ino, however, looked thrilled.
No way, no way!
Could Takuya be about to ask Dad for my hand?
If Dad refuses, will Takuya destroy Konoha for my sake?
Is that why he said, "Please save Konoha"?
If Kimura Takuya knew what this lovestruck teenage girl was thinking, he'd have called Ino the Ninja World's greatest imagination.
How could she even come up with that?
Kimura Takuya paid no attention to what the girl was thinking.
He explained the whole situation to Inoichi Yamanaka.
He emphasized Yakumo's talent and how powerful the monster was.
He made it clear that no one but the Yamanaka Clan could save Yakumo now.
Kurenai Yuhi also brought up how important Yakumo Kurama was to Konoha.
And so, thanks to Kimura Takuya's embellishments, the Yamanaka Clan became the village's last hope.
Even Inoichi Yamanaka, usually so levelheaded, started to feel a little carried away.
"No problem. Leave it to the Yamanaka Clan. But to keep the village safe, we should move Yakumo Kurama out of the village first. We'll also bring in the Sealing Team to work with us. That way, we'll be prepared for anything!"
"Senior Yamanaka, you've thought of everything. I imagine you know some people in the Sealing Team?"
Inoichi Yamanaka smiled and nodded, his voice brimming with pride. "That's right. The Sealing Team has quite a few talented members of the Yamanaka Clan."
"Subarashii! The Yamanaka Clan is truly full of talent. No wonder you're one of Konoha's most venerable clans. You're amazing—and your daughter Ino is so talented and adorable, too."
"Hahaha, you're too kind."
Kimura Takuya seized the moment and showered him with compliments.
Inoichi Yamanaka managed to keep his composure, but he couldn't hide his pride and burst into laughter.
Ino, who had been feeling a little disappointed, nearly swooned from the praise.
She was so dizzy that all she could think about was Takuya saying she was talented, Takuya saying she was adorable, and so on.
She could barely think straight. If she hadn't been holding on to her father's clothes, she might have fainted from happiness.
Kimura Takuya watched Ino and felt speechless.
What was that lovesick airhead imagining now?
Kimura Takuya wiped away a bead of cold sweat and continued speaking to Inoichi Yamanaka. "Then I'll leave it to you, Senior Yamanaka. Shall we go together now?"
"Let's go!"
First, they all went to get the Sealing Team.
Then they headed to the Kurama Clan's grounds and brought Yakumo Kurama and her parents to a villa far from the village.
This was Satomi Hill Villa, where the Third Hokage had watched over and protected Yakumo after she went berserk in the original anime.
It was also where Naruto and Kurenai Yuhi had helped Yakumo kill the monster in the original anime.
Now they were back here again. What a curious twist of fate.
After settling Yakumo's family of three, the five members of the Sealing Team arranged the sealing formula at the site.
Kurenai Yuhi, Kimura Takuya, and a Yamanaka Clan member skilled in soul-sealing techniques—Yamanaka Muku—used a secret technique, with help from the other Yamanaka Clan members, to link their souls to Yakumo's illusion.
The moment the connection was made, the three of them were pulled inside.
Inoichi Yamanaka and the others who had helped them nearly got pulled in as well.
Fortunately, Kimura Takuya had anticipated this and warned them to sever the connection as soon as they linked the group to the illusion.
That kept things from going wrong, and the three entered safely.
The people outside severed the connection safely and were now protecting everyone's bodies.
"So it really is a genjutsu that affects the soul. Good thing the Yamanaka Clan helped us. Otherwise, we'd be stuck watching from the sidelines. I don't have a silver tongue."
Kimura Takuya muttered under his breath, but Yamanaka Muku, who specialized in soul-sealing techniques, heard him.
"Haha, when it comes to matters of the soul, the Yamanaka Clan is the right choice. Let's seal that monster now, and we'll still make it back in time for lunch!"
Before you continue