The Kurama Clan's Lifeblood: A Genjutsu That Controls the Five Senses

Up close, Uchiha Yuan thought Kurama Shion bore a striking resemblance to Uzuki Yugao of Konoha's ANBU, with her black hair tied in a single ponytail.

The difference was that Kurama Shion excelled at genjutsu, and it was precisely because of that talent that she had been selected as a special jōnin at such a young age.

Truthfully, Uchiha Yuan was somewhat surprised that Kurama Shion was going to be his genjutsu instructor.

After all, the Kurama Clan and the Uchiha Clan had long been at odds over which was Konoha's strongest genjutsu clan.

Uchiha Yuan figured that his teacher, Orochimaru, must have put a great deal of thought into arranging this.

But then again, the Kurama Clan's Kekkai Genkai Genjutsu was no weaker than the Sharingan.

When developed to its peak, the Kurama Clan's genjutsu could perfectly control the five senses and could even manifest injuries suffered within an illusion onto the victim's body.

It could be said to possess the potential to rival the genjutsu of a top-tier Mangekyō Sharingan.

It was said that when the First Hokage went out to capture tailed beasts, he had invited the then-head of the Kurama Clan to accompany him.

Ever since then, rumors had circulated through Konoha Hidden Village that the Kurama Clan's genjutsu was enough to intimidate tailed beasts.

Naturally, Uchiha Yuan, who had not even awakened his Sharingan, had no intention of looking down on Kurama Shion.

What puzzled him was that the Kurama Clan's genjutsu was a Kekkei Genkai and required a unique bloodline to wield.

Bloodlines were fundamentally impossible to teach, unless he used his ability to fuse genes into himself to acquire the Kurama Clan's bloodline and then develop its Genjutsu Bloodline.

The troublesome part was that ever since devouring the genes of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Uchiha Yuan could feel that his body's tolerance had seemingly reached its limit.

For the time being, he simply could not fuse any more genes from other species.

That made Uchiha Yuan especially curious. Just how was Kurama Shion planning to teach him genjutsu?

If it was merely ordinary genjutsu, could it really shake a tailed beast as promised?

"Yuan-kun, your expression makes it look like you don't trust me at all."

Kurama Shion scrunched her nose in mock anger. Her serene smile seemed to grow ever larger within his vision.

Uchiha Yuan caught the fragrant scent of a young girl's body, silver-bell laughter echoed beside his ears, and Kurama Shion before him became gentle and dignified. It was as though this substitute teacher had always been the woman of his dreams.

In his daze, Uchiha Yuan felt himself holding a pair of soft, delicate hands. His whole body turned weightless, and at her gentle call, he opened his mouth. A peeled grape slipped in, sweet, cool, and cloying against his lips and teeth.

Uchiha Yuan knew perfectly well that such an alluring scene could never exist inside a mountain cave on an island.

He understood that Kurama Shion's genjutsu had silently taken control of him.

As a member of the Orochimaru Squad, Uchiha Yuan had naturally learned how to dispel genjutsu long ago.

Yet whether he tried to refine more violent Chakra to disrupt the flow of Chakra controlled by Kurama Shion, or bit through his tongue to create pain and break free from the genjutsu, the scene before his eyes did not change in the slightest.

Kurama Shion looked like the most delectable beauty in Konoha Hidden Village. Merely having her gaze at him so gently filled Uchiha Yuan with happiness that overflowed from his chest.

His reason steadily dwindled. In reality, Uchiha Yuan was gasping in terror, unable to breathe.

Yet within the illusion, he was immersed in sweetness and could not feel the slightest pain.

The Kurama Clan's Kekkei Genkai! A genjutsu that controls the five senses!

Uchiha Yuan instantly understood. Every bit of feedback from whatever he did was merely Chakra controlled by Kurama Shion affecting his own body.

In the real world, he was likely just standing there blankly, doing absolutely nothing!

Just as the last remnants of Uchiha Yuan's reason were about to sink into that tender paradise, a crisp snap of fingers exploded beside his ear.

The strange, seductive sensation vanished. Uchiha Yuan raised his head while panting heavily, meeting Kurama Shion's eyes as the purple hue within them faded.

"How was it, Yuan-kun? Did I make your heart flutter, even a little?"

Kurama Shion smiled sweetly, but to Uchiha Yuan, she looked utterly terrifying.

She had silently and effortlessly controlled his five senses. If Kurama Shion had wanted to, he probably would not even have known how he died.

"That expression of yours is pretty good, Yuan-kun!"

Kurama Shion teasingly brushed a finger over her red lips.

Only after she mentioned it did Uchiha Yuan notice that the delicious taste of grapes still lingered in his mouth.

Everything had been breathtakingly beautiful, yet every step had concealed deadly danger.

Uchiha Yuan's thoughts raced.

Clearly, Kurama Shion's Genjutsu Bloodline had already been developed to a certain extent.

The lingering taste of grapes in his mouth was proof.

If her bloodline genjutsu could manifest injuries, there was no reason it could not manifest sweet and sour flavors.

And a genjutsu that controlled the five senses would erase any sense of incongruity through sensory control whenever he noticed something was wrong, even when he attempted to dispel the illusion.

If not for his powerful soul, which had allowed him to continually sense that strange seductive feeling, Uchiha Yuan might have drowned in the illusion without ever realizing it.

Once he understood, stomach acid surged up his throat. Uchiha Yuan could only maintain his calm by taking deep breaths, his eyes filled with horror.

Kurama Shion lifted her pale chin.

"Well? My bloodline genjutsu isn't inferior to the Sharingan at all, is it?"

Uchiha Yuan nodded. This substitute teacher was as she had always been.

Without the strength or presence of Orochimaru, she could only establish her authority on the spot and intimidate the Orochimaru Squad.

Uchiha Yuan had thought he was used to it by now, but after experiencing it again, lingering fear still gripped his heart.

"Teacher Shion! I have never underestimated your genjutsu, but I have a question. How are you going to teach such a powerful bloodline genjutsu to me? After all, I don't share any blood relation with you."

"Heh! Smooth talker."

Kurama Shion spat lightly, then put on a stern expression.

"Who said I was going to teach you bloodline genjutsu? This is genjutsu created through the fusion of Chakra nature transformations. Even if you wanted to learn it, you don't have the talent for it!"

"This..."

Uchiha Yuan felt irritated. What exactly is this woman up to? Wasn't she supposed to be my instructor?

"However, I can teach you a set of combination genjutsu that controls the five senses."

"Don't underestimate it, Yuan-kun. I practiced this combination genjutsu from childhood, and only then did I have the chance to awaken the Kurama Clan's unique Genjutsu Bloodline."

"With your powerful soul and the Spiritualisation Technique, you can easily shake a tailed beast by using this combination genjutsu."

"What? You don't believe me? Those were Orochimaru-sensei's own words!"

Uchiha Yuan swiftly analyzed the information he had obtained.

Orochimaru had once said that his soul was as powerful as a tailed beast's. And when he used the Spiritualisation Technique, the most active Chakra in his soul state was Yin Release Chakra.

Under such conditions, the genjutsu he cast would definitely not be weak.

Moreover, according to Kurama Shion, what she intended to teach him was not bloodline genjutsu, but the comparatively simpler combination genjutsu that controlled the five senses.

While being ravaged by Kurama Shion's genjutsu, Uchiha Yuan had already analyzed that his five senses had been controlled by five different kinds of Yin Release Chakra.

Those five kinds of Yin Release Chakra that controlled the five senses were likely the foundation of the combination genjutsu.

This combination genjutsu naturally could not compare to the Kurama Clan's bloodline genjutsu, which could manifest injuries. But provided all the conditions were met, fighting a tailed beast was not mere fantasy.

"Teacher Shion, teach me!"

With his thoughts sorted out, Uchiha Yuan had no reason to refuse.

By now, other than acting according to Orochimaru's arrangements, he had long since lost any path of retreat.

"Of course, Yuan-kun."

Kurama Shion agreed just as readily.

Then, she began explaining the intricacies of this combination genjutsu to Uchiha Yuan.

Its core principle was naturally to create Yin Release Chakra capable of controlling the victim's five senses.

After Kurama Shion taught him the Hand Seals and casting techniques, and explained the genjutsu's range and the corresponding ways to dispel it,

Uchiha Yuan closed his eyes and once more found that sensation of rapidly learning ninjutsu after fusing the statue's genes.

"Oh, right, Yuan-kun. There is something I should add. This combination genjutsu is called Phantom Lotus Kill. It is the crystallization of the Kurama Clan's efforts, so don't let it go to waste."

The satisfaction of learning flashed through him. Uchiha Yuan opened his eyes with a pleased expression.

"Of course. I won't disappoint Teacher Shion's painstaking instruction."

"Heh! Smooth talker."

Uchiha Yuan laughed brightly. In the time it took to draw a breath, he had already perfectly mastered the combination genjutsu, Phantom Lotus Kill.