Kuro: Is My Hypnosis App Expired?!

In front of the mural, red light streamed down from the dome, casting long shadows of two figures.

Looking at the vacant eyes of Mei Terumi before him, he touched his right eye and said with a bitter smile:

"I originally planned to use this trump card to guard against those two stinky bastards, Obito and Nagato... I never expected that you would be the first to experience it."

He withdrew his hand, his fingertips lingering on his eye socket for a moment, feeling the slight burning sensation in his right eye, and sighed silently in his heart.

Transcription Seal -- Kotoamatsukami.

This was one of my key trump cards before I awakened my Mangekyo.

He sealed Kotoamatsukami's Dōjutsu, which could "change the will of others for a short time," into his Sharingan using the Transcription Seal.

First, set Transcription Seal in one of your eyes, then wait for the cooldown of Kotoamatsukami to finish, then add the seal to the other eye, and then continue to wait for the cooldown of Kotoamatsukami.

By triggering the release conditions on their own, the target's mind is forcibly frozen, creating an opening. This can be used a maximum of two times per battle, and can be replenished promptly after the eye power recovers.

This was the only method I could think of at the time to squeeze the value of this Mangekyō Sharingan to the extreme.

At critical moments, even if you can't change the enemy's mindset, just causing a brief mental breakdown is enough for them to do a lot.

Looking at the vacant eyes of Mei Terumi before him, he argued righteously:

"If I could, I actually wouldn't want to use a hypnosis app. I've been a pure love advocate for both my past and future lives."

"I was forced into this situation, and I absolutely hate it when people try to impose their ideas on others."

He spoke righteously, but all he received in response was Mei Terumi's blank stare, much like the female lead in "Hypnotic Star Guide".

"Well..."

He was speechless for a moment, then sighed resignedly.

"Sigh, well, in the end, I've become the person I hate the most..."

He sighed, then slowly moved forward, getting a little closer to Mei Terumi's face.

Their faces were very close, so close that Kou could smell her fresh, very familiar fragrance.

But he didn't look at that still youthful, aloof face, nor at those delicate, luscious red lips.

Kou simply stared into those emerald green eyes, which were usually calm and composed, occasionally lively, but at this moment seemed like a stagnant pool.

Forget about our previous conversations and thoughts.

His voice was deep, as if he were issuing a command to his subordinates:

"Suppress the urge to stop me from exploring the deeper parts of the ruins."

He believed that Uchiha Kuro was ultimately an outsider, and since the mission's objective had been achieved, it would be better for him to leave temporarily.

Let him explore that potentially dangerous area alone; he might uncover the truth about this ruin and maximize the interests of Mist Village."

"... above."

As Kou finished speaking, Mei Terumi's eyes gradually cleared.

Kou also promptly returned to his original position, looking at her with a nonchalant expression.

Mei Terumi scratched her head, looking somewhat bewildered, her eyes filled with obvious confusion.

Her gaze lingered on Kou's face for a moment, then she asked uncertainly:

"Where were we?"

Listening to Mei Terumi's uncertain words, she responded quite naturally:

"Didn't I just tell you? I want to break this Sealing Jutsu and explore inside."

He answered, feigning excitement:

"I'm sure there's a big one in there!"

Mei Terumi seemed to understand what Koko was saying, but her expression showed no sign of happiness.

She scrutinized Kou with a critical gaze, a look that clearly held a hint of distance.

After a moment, Mei Terumi nodded and replied calmly:

"Okay, I'll wait for you outside the ruins."

As she spoke, she turned away without hesitation, murmuring to herself:

"Letting Uchiha Kuro take this risk is a good thing."

"Perhaps we can also find out why the Mist Anbu disappeared, and even determine the value of this ruin."

Regardless of the outcome, it's a good thing for Mist Village.

Such thoughts involuntarily surfaced in Mei Terumi's mind.

Her "rationality" told her that this was the right choice.

Sending an outsider to scout ahead, to take risks, to gamble with their lives—if they succeed, the Mist Village can obtain more complete intelligence; if they fail, the only loss is a mercenary. It's a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.

From the perspective of Kirigakure Ninja, this line of thinking is undoubtedly correct, but Mei Terumi still feels that something is amiss.

The feeling was indescribable; whenever she tried to think deeply, she would subconsciously want to give up.

Mei Terumi walked towards the exit with her head down, as if deep in thought.

Her steps were slow, each step landing on the stone bricks with a soft, hollow sound.

"Bye~ Have a safe trip!"

Behind me, I heard a casual farewell.

The voice was flippant, tinged with laughter, exactly the same as the voice that had been teasing her all along.

Hearing the voice coming from behind her, Mei Terumi slowed her pace slightly.

"Am I... really this cold-hearted?"

She murmured to herself, a hint of struggle flashing in her emerald green eyes.

"Shouldn't I... stop him at this moment?"

Mei Terumi's pace slowed down more and more.

Her rationality was like a cold, impregnable fortress, constructing line after line of defense in her mind:

"He's a mercenary who got paid."

His life or death is none of my concern.

"I simply assigned you a task; once the task is completed, our relationship ends."

"He's going to his death; that's his choice."

Every reason is correct, and every piece of logic is impeccable.

Her political acumen, her ninja skills—everything about her tells her:

My judgment was absolutely correct!

But her pace slowed down.

"If I were here, would he be disappointed to see me like this?"

The thought arose in her mind, like a stone, firmly pressing down on the scales of her reason.

The image of the young man she regarded as a role model involuntarily surfaced in Mei Terumi's mind.

That gentle man, who always stood by her side, who told her, "Never abandon any companion."

"A ninja should not only pursue missions and benefits, suppress their emotions, and become a cold machine."

Ninjas are human too, Mei Terumi —go do what you believe is right!

Mei Terumi stopped in her tracks.

Her foot landed on the last stone brick at the exit; one more step and she would enter the dark tunnel leading to the surface.

She stood there, her back to the door, silent for a long time.

A heavy Mei Terumi's eyes.

That heaviness didn't come from external pressure, but from within.

She struggled internally, weighing the pros and cons of "reason" versus conscience.

Ultimately... "rationality" prevailed.

She took a deep breath and turned around.

Seeing that Mei Terumi had stopped, he felt a little surprised.

Is something wrong?

He murmured to himself, his expression still one of bewilderment and confusion, his right hand subtly moving towards Inazuma at his waist.

His brain began to work rapidly, analyzing every possibility:

"Is the effect of ' Kotoamatsukami ' not thorough enough? Or is her mental strength stronger than I thought, and she has already sensed that I used Kotoamatsukami on her and is resisting the suggestion?"

He kept pondering, and his mind gradually became serious.

However, he showed no outward signs of anything amiss, still maintaining that feigned, somewhat puzzled expression as he looked at Mei Terumi not far away.

Mei Terumi looked at Kokoro's bewildered expression and hesitated for a moment.

"Try to--"

Her voice was very soft, and her expression was conflicted as she continued:

"Ensure your own safety."

After saying that, she lowered her head and quickly walked out.

Mei Terumi didn't look back; her footsteps echoed in the tunnel, growing farther and farther away, until they were finally swallowed by the darkness...

Knock: ⊙ω⊙

Kouchi stood there, watching Mei Terumi's retreating figure, and scratched his head in confusion.

"What, what's going on?"

He subconsciously touched his right eye socket, feeling the faint fluctuation of pupil power, and said with some doubt:

Could it be that--

"My Transcription Seal Kotoamatsukami... has been sealed for too long, it's expired?!"

Looking in the direction Mei Terumi had left, he pondered for a moment, and finally confirmed:

"... Although I don't understand what happened, it seems nothing went wrong. Kotoamatsukami did work, and the goal was achieved."

Kouch's gaze fell on the dark entrance of the passage, in the darkness where Mei Terumi had disappeared, and a complex emotion flashed in those black eyes.

"Although I'm curious about her unusual reaction, there are clearly more important things to do right now."

He murmured to himself, then looked solemnly at the mural.

His right hand moved from his waist and landed on the rough stone surface of the mural.

The touch was cold and hard, like touching time from a thousand years ago.

"Now--"

"It's time to get down to business."