Yachihoko

Shiri watched the two of them getting along so well and felt deeply relieved. "You two have such a good relationship," she said.

Wuming, who had been frozen in place, was so provoked by her words that she sprang up like a cat with its fur standing on end. "W-Who says we get along?!"

Unexpectedly, Qiancao pointed first to himself, then to Wuming, and said to Shiri, "Fr-friends." Hearing that, Wuming flew into another fit of exasperation.

Shiri found it amusing and asked Qiancao, "I thought you couldn't speak? Who taught you the word 'friends'?"

Qiancao didn't understand what Shiri meant and could only stand to the side, grinning foolishly. Wuming hurried to deny it. "I didn't teach him!"

Shiri smiled. Though it would be difficult for the two of them to escape the Uchiha Clan's control, and they might ultimately still face a tragic fate, being able to help them for a little while was enough to ease her conscience somewhat.

Unsure whether anyone was watching nearby, Shiri couldn't say too much. She could only proceed with her official business. "From today on, Wuming, you'll be living with Qiancao."

Wuming showed no reaction to this. She merely felt sorry for Qiancao in her heart. He, too, would lose his freedom, just like her.

After the miserable experiences of the past few years, she already saw herself as a weapon. She didn't particularly mind the inconvenience of a man and a woman living together.

Shiri's heart ached when she saw Wuming's numb expression, but she could only continue. "Qiancao witnessed his parents being killed by members of the clan, and he was seriously injured himself. His heart even stopped for a time."

"Perhaps that's why he recovered. The adults in the clan are interested in his condition and want to study him. To prevent anything from going wrong, we'll have to rely on you."

"You need to place the mark of 'Yachihoko' on him and share your chakra with him whenever necessary. That way, if anything happens to his body, you can transfer chakra to him immediately and help him through the danger."

Wuming fell silent. Yachihoko was a mysterious ability innate to her Mangekyō Sharingan, and the source of her tragic life.

After her parents had died in the war, Wuming awakened her Mangekyō Sharingan. Yachihoko awakened along with it.

Yachihoko allowed Wuming to place marks on others. As long as someone bore a mark she had left, she could draw their chakra regardless of distance or condition, and even control their minds.

Because this power was so overwhelming and sinister, the Uchiha Clan members treated her like a monster and deliberately kept their distance.

After learning of Wuming's ability, Uchiha Naoto recognized its potential: a chakra transmitter that could theoretically provide an infinite supply. If it could use all kinds of ninjutsu, what a powerful weapon it would be.

So Naoto ordered the clan members to imprison her by force and implant all kinds of ninjutsu in her body. Shiri was in charge of the experiment.

To spur the growth of Wuming's ocular powers, Naoto also turned a blind eye to the clan members bullying her.

And to mold her into an emotionless weapon, they even stripped her of her original name. From then on, she lived as "Wuming."

The series of cruel abuses made the negative emotions in her heart grow day by day, and her ocular powers grew ever stronger.

Her powerful ocular abilities allowed Wuming to make better use of the chakra she drew from others. Though still young, she became a formidable weapon on the battlefield.

Her terrifying performance only made the Uchiha Clan members fear her more, and they began to keep even greater distance from her.

Looking into Qiancao's eyes as he smiled at her, Wuming thought, Did you end up by my side because of these cursed eyes, too?

Seeing that Wuming had already begun to sympathize with Qiancao and didn't object to living with him, Shiri wished them both well and quietly gathered up the dishes Qiancao had finished eating before leaving.

After Shiri left, Wuming quickly finished her meal. Qiancao, however, looked pained as he tugged at her sleeve.

Seeing his expression, Wuming hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Qiancao pointed to his stomach. Wuming thought he had an injury there, too, and rolled up his sleeve, preparing to continue using Medical Ninjutsu on him.

When Qiancao realized she had misunderstood, he didn't have time to worry about anything else. He gritted his teeth and mimed urinating to show her, "I need to use the bathroom."

Wuming seemed to understand. She pointed to a large bucket in the corner of the cell, telling him to go take care of it there.

Qiancao hurried over. He was just about to pull down his pants and relieve himself when he realized Wuming was still staring at him, making no attempt to look away.

Afterward, Qiancao looked embarrassed. Apart from his mother when he was little, no woman had ever watched him use the toilet.

Just as Wuming was about to investigate why Qiancao's lower half was different from hers, another Uchiha Clan member walked in through the cell's entrance.

He looked to be around thirty. The armor he wore was clearly quite valuable, and his standing in the clan was probably higher than Ryuji's, since Ryuji wore only simple armor.

When the man entered, Wuming stared at him expressionlessly. This was the first time Qiancao had seen her look so stern.

The man glanced at Qiancao in the cell, then smiled at Wuming. "You should be grateful to Lord Naoto! He was afraid you'd get lonely, so he even found you a playmate!"

Wuming remained cold and expressionless. The man seemed used to her attitude and said nothing more. He simply took out a key and unlocked the cell door.

When Wuming saw the door open, she walked out. Qiancao followed as if nothing were amiss, intending to leave behind her.

Unexpectedly, the man was suddenly in front of Qiancao and shoved him hard in the shoulder.

Qiancao had been prepared for the man to attack him, but the man was still too fast. In an anime, he would have been nothing but a blur.

Qiancao's eyes could follow his movements, but his untrained body couldn't dodge. The man struck him on the shoulder, sending his whole body flying backward. He nearly crashed into the wall.

Though surprised that the little fool had managed to make some attempt to dodge, the man still laughed out loud.

"Hey! I didn't know this little traitor had some tricks! Thank Lord Naoto! He's spared your life for now! Otherwise, I'd rip your eyes out myself!"

The fall aggravated Qiancao's old wounds. For a moment, his body couldn't get enough blood, and he lay on the ground, dizzy and seeing stars.

A surge of anger suddenly welled up in Wuming's heart, which should have been numb. Her body moved on its own, and she punched the man.

The man instantly activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and laughed as he blocked Wuming's attack. "The seal on you hasn't even been undone. You're just giving me a massage. Save your strength for the Senju Clan!"

Wuming missed with her punch and went to kick him. But as soon as she raised her left leg, the man kicked it back down.

With ninety percent of her chakra and her Sharingan sealed, Wuming was no match for the man before her. His kick sent her stumbling.

But the anger in her heart drove her to keep attacking him.

Like a cat playing with a mouse, the man calmly fended off each of Wuming's attacks. A trace of irritation even crept into his heart. It would have been better if Wuming weren't sealed—then he could really enjoy beating her.

"Just one day, and you're already cozying up to a Uchiha traitor. You really are a worthless weapon!"

What he failed to notice was that Qiancao had silently activated his Sharingan. The three tomoe in his eyes slowly spun as he stared at the man.