The air inside the safehouse hung as heavy as lead.
Kurenai Yuhi leaned against the corner wall, her breathing weak but steady. Samui was using medical ninjutsu to examine the strange "Surveillance Mark" over her heart. Hyuga Xiao sat cross-legged opposite them, fine cold sweat beading on his brow—forcing the Tenseigan to suppress the two deadly poisons had nearly drained the chakra he had only just recovered.
"The mark hasn't spread." Samui withdrew her hand, her brows tightly furrowed. "But it's like a living thing. It's slowly absorbing the natural energy around it."
Xiao opened his eyes, his azure Tenseigan glimmering in the dim light. "Can you determine its source?"
"I need to use a secret art of the Moon Branch House to investigate." Samui took three black stone shards carved with intricate runes from her ninja tool pouch. They were among the few relics she had brought when fleeing the moon. "But it's risky—if the third force within Hong is hostile, the investigation may trigger a counterattack."
"Do it." Xiao's voice was decisive. "We don't have time to hesitate."
The twelve-hour suppression limit hung over their heads like a blade. Danzo's pursuers could find this place at any time, while the Curse Mark and poison parasite within Hong were merely dormant. If they erupted again, even the gods would be unable to save her.
Samui said no more. She arranged the three stone shards in a triangle around Hong's chest, then formed hand seals Xiao had never seen before. The movements were slow and ancient, each gesture drawing the chakra in the air into visible ripples.
"Tsukuyomi: Origin Tracing."
The stone shards lit up with an eerie blue glow at once. Threads of light pierced toward Hong's heart. Her body jolted violently, pale violet meridian patterns appearing across her