An Unexpected Conversation

Enma and Sarutobi Hiruzen cast a surprised glance at the black pillar of light and the hazy barrier as they spoke.

Nara Shikaku bowed slightly and said, "Lord Enma!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand. "Enma, there's no time for explanations! Ruyi Jingu Bang!"

"Heh, you really are impatient." Enma didn't say anything else, instead forming a seal with his hands. With a "poof," his massive simian body suddenly transformed into a gigantic adamantine iron staff.

Sarutobi Hiruzen caught the Ruyi Jingu Bang that Enma had become and swung it a few times.

He channeled his chakra throughout his entire body, his presence surging.

"Let's go, Enma!" Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his foot lightly and leaped into the air, slamming down toward the barrier! Although he was known as the Shinobi Hero and was proficient in all kinds of ninjutsu, he was simply not as skilled in genjutsu as the true masters of the craft.

Faced with this barrier, the Third Hokage chose to break it with brute force.

Even if there were something special about the barrier, Sarutobi Hiruzen believed that with his strength, breaking it was not impossible; he simply hadn't acted until now.

He had merely been cautious, but the situation was urgent.

He could no longer afford to worry about such trifles.

"Boom!" The Adamantine Ruyi Staff smashed heavily against the barrier, causing it to shake violently. With a "crack," a slight fissure appeared on its surface.

"Hah!" Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a soft shout, increasing his chakra output. With another "boom," the barrier shattered instantly.

"Whoosh." Sarutobi Hiruzen landed on the ground, his eyes flashing with a thoughtful look as he stared at the black vortex that appeared where the barrier had been.

He waved his hand toward Nara Shikaku.

The two stepped into the vortex, their figures gradually merging into it until they vanished from sight.

"Hm? Where is this place?" Ueno Kei let out a low groan, his eyes looking dazed and unfocused.

Suddenly, his mind cleared, and he woke up instantly.

With an expression of disbelief, he hurriedly patted his body all over. No wounds! No traces of blood.

Aside from feeling a bit weak all over, there wasn't a single injury.

"What is going on? Didn't I already..." Ueno Kei felt his brain struggling to keep up.

He clearly remembered being pierced through his vital points by Ido's tentacles just moments ago. He had distinctly felt his life force slowly fading away.

The sensation of his body growing cold, his blood gradually ceasing to flow, and his limbs stiffening was not something that could be dismissed as a mere illusion.

Ueno Kei had no doubt that he was about to meet the King of Hell—or rather, in this world, should it be the Shinigami?

Ueno Kei couldn't fathom it. He stood up like a machine and pinched his cheek hard.

"Ouch, that hurts..." Ueno Kei was bewildered. Could all of that have been a genjutsu? If so, where was he now?

Ueno Kei looked around in confusion at the vast, white, infinite expanse. Gradually, his unfocused eyes began to regain their clarity.

A look of worry appeared on his face. He tried walking a few steps.

He moved his body, but nothing felt out of the ordinary. The Lingyu Blade, his chakra—everything seemed perfectly normal.

The brilliant stars in the sky looked incredibly strange to him, but he had no heart to ponder them now. He only wanted to figure out where he was.

What exactly had happened before?

"Hehe." Just as Ueno Kei was frowning in thought, a pleasant, light laugh suddenly rang out by his ear.

"Who's there!" Ueno Kei became alert instantly and spun around. In that moment, his vision captured a young girl with bare feet, wearing a pink dress, covering her mouth with her hand and laughing softly.

Ueno Kei's expression changed instantly, revealing a look of suspicion and uncertainty.

Because this girl was none other than Kurama Yakumo, his mortal enemy whom he had stabbed and who had nearly killed him in return!

However, the strange thing was that Ueno Kei felt no sense of encountering an enemy or a foe. Even his subconscious urge to reach for the Lingyu Blade on his back vanished the moment he saw the smiling girl.

Ueno Kei couldn't describe the feeling; he simply felt that the girl before him held no malice, appearing just like an innocent ten-year-old girl.

Cute, kind, and pure, he thought to himself.

"Hey! What's wrong? Are you surprised to see me, trainee ninja?" Kurama Yakumo floated toward him as if greeting an old acquaintance, waving her hand in front of his face.

She spoke playfully.

Ueno Kei was startled, his muscles tensing up, only relaxing when he felt that the girl truly held no malice.

He let out a soft sigh. Hearing her question, he felt a mix of amusement and frustration. Good grief, we were practically at each other's throats trying to kill one another, and yet your tone makes it sound like we're old friends who haven't seen each other in years.

Ueno Kei thought helplessly, but he couldn't leave the question unanswered. Even though the girl seemed perfectly normal now, who could guarantee that the monster inside her wouldn't burst out at any moment?

The madness and cruelty of Ido were still fresh in his mind.

Thinking of that vicious Ido, Ueno Kei couldn't help but shudder again as he faced the smiling girl.

Ueno Kei pursed his lips and said dryly, "W-well, it is, um, a bit surprising."

"Giggle!" Kurama Yakumo burst into loud laughter as if she had heard something incredibly funny. She clutched her stomach with both hands, as if she were laughing until she couldn't breathe.

Ueno Kei looked at the girl laughing so heartlessly, his face darkening. Was he really that funny?

"I... I can't... ouch, you... cough, cough, you're actually quite interesting." The girl gasped, struggling to catch her breath.

Kurama Yakumo took a deep breath and patted her chest to steady her emotions before continuing, "I had thought that the cold-blooded intern ninja who was trying to kill me earlier was some kind of icy person. Turns out..."

The young girl wore a mischievous expression, her hands clasped behind her back as she leaned forward slightly, staring fixedly at Ueno Kei's face as if she had discovered some interesting toy.

Under the gaze of the girl's eyes, which were as bright as the stars, Ueno Kei's expression gradually grew unnatural. Furthermore, as he looked at her, his gaze wandered unconsciously.

He caught a glimpse of the spring scenery inadvertently revealed through the neckline of the girl's dress, and he was startled, hurriedly turning his head away.

He gave a light cough and said, "Ahem, you know I'm the guy who nearly took your life, so how could you still..." Ueno Kei stopped mid-sentence, unable to continue.

But how could the girl not understand his words? She wrinkled her delicate nose.