One Night (9)

Just as Ueno Kei was left speechless.

Yuhi Kurenai said slowly, "Therefore, finding the weak point is the most feasible way to leave this space. However, finding that weak point is not an easy task. Right now, I must also find Yakumo, so..."

As she reached the end, Yuhi Kurenai's voice became hesitant.

Although Yuhi Kurenai had only said half of what she meant, how could someone as intelligent as Ueno Kei fail to understand the implication?

To put it bluntly, Yuhi Kurenai could not take him to find the weak point of the space, and his own strength was insufficient to break through this space on his own.

Thinking of this, Ueno Kei couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Forget it, didn't I know it would be like this from the start? At least with a Jonin present, my safety should be guaranteed.

Ueno Kei consoled himself, then beamed and said, "I suppose I'm half-involved in this anyway, so I'll just follow you to find Yakumo-san."

Yuhi Kurenai looked at Ueno Kei with a hint of guilt. Truth be told, she did not want a child still studying at the Ninja Academy to be dragged into such an incident, but she truly had no time to help Ueno Kei escape this space right now.

Judging by her previous experience, the time was about right, and she should have the ability to protect this child.

Therefore, keeping Ueno Kei by her side was the safest course of action. With her strength, as long as that thing did not appear or had not fully awakened, she should be able to resolve this matter safely.

Yuhi Kurenai nodded at Ueno Kei, signaled for him to follow, and then took the lead, heading straight toward Kurama Yakumo's location.

As they walked, she explained some precautions regarding this space to Ueno Kei. Although Yuhi Kurenai was somewhat evasive, Ueno Kei still managed to dig out some very useful information.

After all, no matter how vague Yuhi Kurenai was, she had to introduce some of the more hidden aspects to avoid Ueno Kei being attacked or injured for no reason.

This allowed Ueno Kei to learn that another power was lurking within that girl's body—a power that did not belong to her, but rather one belonging to a monster born from her own strength.

Ueno Kei's expression turned solemn.

This explained why those two men in black robes were so fearful of Kurama Yakumo; she could use her own power to manifest the illusory existences within her genjutsu.

That power could definitely be considered above the Jonin level.

Men in black robes? Ueno Kei suddenly paused. Right, those two men.

"Kurenai-sensei, when I entered this space, Kurama Yakumo woke up halfway through. At that time, there were two men in black robes present. They sounded like they were from the Kurama Clan as well. Yakumo called them Uncle and Third Uncle. Their strength should be around the Jonin level, right?"

Ueno Kei spoke in a hurried tone, his last sentence trailing off with hesitation. While they were traveling, Yuhi Kurenai had told Ueno Kei that he didn't need to be so formal and could just call her Kurenai-sensei. Since she had been a team leader before, Ueno Kei had no objections and followed suit, addressing her as Kurenai-sensei.

A contemplative look appeared on Yuhi Kurenai's face as she replied, "They must be the two strongest members of the current Kurama Clan, Kurama Yeqiong and Kurama Yewu. These people are indeed blood relatives of Yakumo. That child, I hope she isn't doing something foolish again."

Yuhi Kurenai's last sentence became barely audible. Even though Ueno Kei was close by, he couldn't hear exactly what she said, but he noticed a flash of pain on her face.

It was as if she were recalling some painful past.

Ueno Kei wisely chose not to ask. For one, he wasn't a nosy person, and for another, he had only just met this Konoha kunoichi; their relationship wasn't close enough to pry into her private affairs.

Right now, Ueno Kei only wanted to survive. Helping this kunoichi complete her mission within his capabilities was fine, provided his own safety was guaranteed. Ueno Kei steadied himself and followed closely behind Yuhi Kurenai.

Although the two had been moving for a while, the scenery around them hadn't changed in the slightest; it remained exactly the same as where they had been before. If not for the fact that there was no hesitation on Yuhi Kurenai's face, Ueno Kei would have suspected that she was leading him in circles.

Before long, a faint light suddenly flashed before the eyes of the walking Ueno Kei and Yuhi Kurenai. Although it was very weak, Ueno Kei caught it quickly.

"We're here!" Yuhi Kurenai stopped, and Ueno Kei hurriedly stopped as well, standing by her side.

Ueno Kei frowned and looked around. Aside from that sudden flash of light, wasn't this exactly the same as where they had been before?

Yuhi Kurenai clearly ignored the confusion on Ueno Kei's face and instead searched the ground with a solemn expression.

Ueno Kei didn't know what was going on, so he could only stand by and watch.

A moment later, a look of joy appeared on Yuhi Kurenai's face. She took a deep breath, bit her finger, and carved the character "Ling" onto the ground.

She began to weave hand signs rapidly. Ueno Kei could clearly sense the powerful chakra aura condensing on Yuhi Kurenai as she performed the signs.

She was worthy of being a Konoha Jonin. Just based on this refined chakra, she definitely possessed the strength of a Jonin; even if she was a woman, she could not be underestimated.

"Release!" As the signs were completed, Yuhi Kurenai's expression tightened, and she gave a soft shout.

"Hum—" The space suddenly trembled slightly, but it stopped after a moment. Yuhi Kurenai's expression changed slightly.

How could it be? The intensity has increased? Yuhi Kurenai felt a sense of deep unease. Has that child's strength increased again?

As a teacher, Yuhi Kurenai naturally hoped for her student to become stronger. However, in this child's case, she did not wish for it, because her increase in strength did not come from her own cultivation.

It was being transmitted from a certain creature.

The stronger Kurama Yakumo became, the stronger that creature became.

Kurama Yakumo possessed such strength just by borrowing its power; Yuhi Kurenai dared not imagine what would happen if that monster acted on its own.

Although it lacked raw power, the threat posed by that monster was, in some respects, no less than that of a Tailed Beast.

Yuhi Kurenai closed her eyes slightly and said, "Kei, wait a moment. I will use my chakra to strike this space. Be prepared. Once the space begins to tremble, a crack will appear. Use all your chakra to strike that gap with everything you have! Do you understand?"

"Yes, Kurenai-sensei, I understand!" Ueno Kei replied in a deep voice.

Immediately, Ueno Kei gripped his Lingyu Blade tightly in his right hand and poured all his chakra into it. The blade began to vibrate slightly.

Yuhi Kurenai pressed her right hand gently onto the "Ling" seal on the ground.

Sensing the flow of chakra within it, at a specific moment and point, she quickly injected her own chakra while simultaneously withdrawing her right hand.

"Wei, Si, Shen, Chen, Zi." Yuhi Kurenai changed her hand seals, and five fire seals appeared on the fingers of her right hand.

"Five Elements Seal Break!" Yuhi Kurenai slammed her hand down onto the ground with great force.

"Boom!"