Chapter 168

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It was night.

In Kyomu's command tent, a pair of eyes shone frightfully bright.

It was Yugito.

Her movements were light, nearly soundless, as she drew a kunai and gestured twice at Kyomu's throat.

Snap.

Just as the kunai was about to fall, Kyomu opened his eyes and quickly grasped Yugito's wrist, pulling her into his embrace and then pushing her back forcefully, dislodging the kunai from her hand.

"Fire Rat!"

Yugito opened her mouth, and a mass of chakra flames resembling a rat shot towards Kyomu.

Clang.

Yoei was unsheathed, its cold light flashing as it split the Fire Rat in two.

With a single palm strike to the bed, Kyomu's body soared into the air and spun, taking Yugito, whose wrist he had seized, spinning with him.

Yet, Yugito's body was extremely flexible, and her explosive strength and reflexes were cat-like.

As Kyomu spun, Yugito powered through her waist, swiftly moving to Kyomu's side, her legs wrapping around his waist, then twisting her body like a spiraling snake, entwining herself on him.

Her already tied braid swung, with a kunai attached stabbing towards the back of Kyomu's head.

Ding.

Yoei's blade moved backward in a sweeping motion, slicing the kunai in mid-air. Following up, Yoei's blade stabbed into the ground, and Kyomu used his right arm to force, flipping backward in the air.

During the flip, his left hand reached back, grabbing Yugito's belt, and with a fierce tug, pulled her off him.

Both landed smoothly, and the Fire Rat, now split in two, fell on Kyomu's bed, shredding it to pieces.

Kyomu was furious inside, his actions even more ruthless.

With a forceful left hand, he pulled the escaping Yugito back, and with a sway backward, aimed to smash her to the ground.

Just before hitting the ground, Yugito slapped the ground with one hand, her body nimbly sliding forward, darting between Kyomu's legs, her hand producing another kunai, stabbing towards his vital points.

"This little devil."

His legs clamped, knees bending inward, trapping Yugito while simultaneously knocking the kunai from her hand. His right hand performed a flourish with Yoei, kneeling down with his knee pressing on Yugito's chest, Yoei's bright blade now gesturing at Yugito's throat.

"Lord Kyomu is still so strong," Yugito said with a smile, "Looks like I can't kill you today..."

"You say, how many times has it been today?" Kyomu released Yugito, "Are not you still going to sleep?"

"Of course not, why wouldn't I sleep?" Yugito's eyes gleamed, "I'll wait for you to fall asleep before I make my move, just thinking about killing you excites me to no end."

Kyomu frowned deeply, troubled. Yugito, though no longer resisting helping him kill enemies, whether they were Cloud Ninja or others, everyone was the same in Yugito's eyes.

But because of Kyomu's previous ruthless methods, not only had he completely crushed Yugito's mental defenses, but her psyche also seemed slightly affected.

Mentally deranged, now equated with Yugito's current state. The name Kyomu was both the antidote and the poison that sunk her deeper.

Similarly, "killing Aragami Kyomu," the only thing Yugito cared about, seemed somewhat deteriorated; she seemed to enjoy the process of hunting Kyomu more than the outcome itself.

"You can't kill me," Kyomu shook his head, "At least not now."

"I know, it's just practice," Yugito chirped, rising to her feet, glancing at the remains of Kyomu's shattered bed, a twisted smile playing at her lips.

"Lord Kyomu's bed is broken, do you want to share one with me?"

"More convenient for you to kill me?"

"Hehe, you're right, Lord Kyomu, but do you dare?"

"It's inappropriate," Kyomu shook his head, "You sleep first, I'll go out..."

"Where you go, I go," Yugito's gaze chilled,

 "If you leave, how can I kill you?"

Kyomu pinched the bridge of his nose without a word, pushed Yugito, who fell onto his bed.

Whoosh.

Kyomu flicked the blanket, covering Yugito completely, and with one hand twisted her hands to her back through the blanket, pinning her down, his legs scissoring hers.

With this setup, Yugito was immobilized; any struggle, and Kyomu would feel it.

Restrained this way, Yugito no longer had the chance for a sneak attack or assassination. She pouted, visibly displeased.

She snuggled into Kyomu's chest, though through the blanket, and felt unexpectedly secure.

Hmm, Kyomu was still alive, and right by her side, making it convenient to kill him, and no worries about others beating her to it.

Closing her eyes, Yugito's breathing steadied, and she soon fell asleep.

The scene shifted to a mental space.

Tailed Beasts, no matter how many tails, are especially sensitive to human negative emotions.

At this moment, Two-Tails was very worried about Yugito's current mental state; he could distinctly feel Yugito's twisted heart.

"Yugito, you..."

"Matatabi, ah, I'm fine, incomparably fine," Yugito said with a pathologically cheerful smile, "Don't worry, I'll soon kill Kyomu."

"I'm not talking about that; I mean, is 'killing Aragami Kyomu' really your true purpose? How do you feel about him?"

"Just to kill him!"

Listening to Yugito's response, Two-Tails Yugito fell silent for a while before asking again, "What if someone else kills him?"

"No! Kyomu can only die by my hand!" Yugito's expression tightened, "No one but me can kill him!"

Two-Tails was even more worried now; his partner seemed really troubled.

If it were easy to kill Kyomu, it might be fine, but if it's an endless struggle, Yugito might turn her extreme hatred into extreme dependence, or even… love.

Two-Tails didn't quite understand human emotions, but as Tailed Beasts, they are dual-natured. One side is the pure goodness bestowed upon them by the Sage of the Six Paths when they were created, which is the Tailed Beasts' pure Yang chakra.

The other side, however, is the side of extreme hatred of the Tailed Beasts.

This stems from absorbing myriad human negative emotions over thousands of years, combined with their innate Yin chakra.

Human negative emotions are vast, and after thousands of years, even if the Tailed Beasts do not understand human emotions, they can easily discern the situation.

"Yugito, you have a problem."

"I don't, I'm fine!" Yugito shook her head, "Think about it, being able to kill Kyomu, that's something…"

"Besides Kyomu, would you care about anyone else? I mean, including yourself."

"My existence is to kill Kyomu!" Yugito spoke bluntly, "No one else matters to me, including myself."

His partner was beyond help.

Two-Tails wanted to advise further, but he understood that the only way to resolve this situation was to kill Kyomu; otherwise, there was no solution.

But that was a vicious cycle.

Headache.

Two-Tails lay down, resting his head on his massive paw, a fleeting look of heartache in his eyes.

"Yugito, I will try to help you out."

"I knew you would help me, Matatabi, thank you," Yugito's lips curled into a sinister smile, "Let's kill Kyomu together, but only I can make the move; you must not interfere."

"I understand."

Seeing this, Yugito nodded in satisfaction, her figure gradually fading from the mental space.

"Find an opportunity to talk with Kyomu," said Two-Tails as Yugito's consciousness left, "I hope for a good outcome."

---

Cloud Ninja have been quiet.

Kyomu did not rush things but instead turned his attention to the promising Leaf lower ninjas under his command.

There aren't many talents, but his passive skill this month gave a boost.

Passive Skill: Natural Leader

Skill Description: During the skill's enhancement period, the cohesion, loyalty, and unity of your subordinates increase twofold. Based on their recognition and loyalty towards you, they inherit and gain one or several of your talents or traits, weakened to 1/10 of it.

Note: Anyone who sees you as their leader can receive this enhancement, regardless of distance or environment.

This enhancement is permanent and will not disappear when the skill duration ends.

Epitaph: A leader not only brings victory but also brings success.

This is the only passive skill over the years that does not enhance Kyomu himself.

But upon reflection, this passive skill also significantly aids Kyomu.

"First, train the troops for a month," Kyomu adjusted his strategy timely, "But more importantly, continue to enhance their loyalty to me."

Thinking of leading an army where each one seemed cast from the same mold as himself felt pretty good.

And surely, the old guys like Hiruzen would feel uneasy seeing this, wouldn't they?

Kyomu chuckled to himself, not expecting that his talents and traits could now be shared with others.

Even if it was just 1/10 of his traits, for the average-talented Leaf lower ninjas, it was a game-changer.

Turning around, Kyomu took Yugito out of the tent.

While patrolling the camp, some familiar faces warmly greeted Kyomu, calling him differently from others.

"Captain!"

Clearly, the brothers from the First Ninja Brigade on the Rock Ninja battlefield had been transferred here.

Just that there had been a little episode during the transfer.

Kyomu arrived at the Cloud Ninja battlefield on the third day and achieved impressive results, making Hiruzen and the other old men realize they had underestimated him.

The First Ninja Brigade was not likely to be assigned to Kyomu again, or else he would really stir up trouble.

Naturally, they would obstruct it.

But the First Ninja Brigade didn't care about Hiruzen; they only knew about the previous orders, not the later ones, and they wouldn't comply.

Disobedience, for the First Ninja Brigade, was nothing new; they just wanted to return under Kyomu's command.

And with this incident, the First Ninja Brigade was completely bound to Kyomu, like loyal retainers.

Unfortunately, Kakashi, Obito, Guy, Rin, Genma, and Ebisu did not follow.

Not that they didn't want to, but Kyomu didn't allow it.

They had grown up now, the least of whom was already leading a 70-person ninja brigade. If they followed, what about the people they led?

Would they follow too?

Though entirely possible, the absence of some people might cause some fluctuations on the Rock and Mist Ninja battlefields.

And while scattered, they are stars; together, they are a fire. Kyomu was not in a hurry now, but after the three wars, he planned to gather these people again.

His brothers also needed a group of followers.

"Vice-Captain Yugito."

After calling Kyomu, the members of the First Ninja Brigade jokingly called out to Yugito following behind.

The pathological smile hung on Yugito's lips; she did not refuse but nodded in acknowledgment.

Instantly, the eyes of the First Ninja Brigade members flashed with gossip.

"Captain, you're sharing a tent with the vice-captain, huh?"

"Stop prying, you think I want to?" Kyomu grimaced, looking worn out.

"Hey, we're not prying." The members chuckled, one of them teasing as he enjoyed the drama, "But captain, keep it down at night."

"Hey, how many times have I told you, it's Yugito trying to kill me, she's trying to kill me!" Kyomu explained wearily, "If I don't fight back, she really will kill me. Do you think I'm having an easy time, or that I enjoy it?"

"We thought..."

"Get lost." Kyomu kicked one of his men, huffily continuing his patrol.

Yugito followed closely behind Kyomu, single-mindedly looking for an opportunity to assassinate him.

Quick, let me carry out the 79th assassination attempt, this time I can do it!

Bang bang bang.

Kyomu defended against Yugito's attacks from behind with one hand, effortlessly matching her in pure taijutsu and technique.

But Yugito was serious, and her taijutsu and technique had improved significantly compared to before.

Still, she was no match for Kyomu.

"Lord Kyomu."

"Hmm, take advantage of the lull in the fighting to study hard; I have high hopes for you," Kyomu encouraged a lower ninja while simultaneously unsheathing Yoei, fighting with Yugito behind him.

Clang clang clang.

Continuing to walk and fight, Kyomu patrolled the camp, while Yugito, sweating from her forehead, couldn't contain her excitement.

She enjoyed the process of hunting Kyomu, even without results.

"Lord Kyomu's days are quite comfortable," a Uchiha ninja remarked with a mocking face, "The little tail behind you is like a wild cat, coming over to scratch you occasionally."

Kyomu subdued Yugito, who was gesturing behind him, and seeing her settle down, he spread his hands.

"This person is dead set on me; I can't help it."

"Lord Kyomu jests, you were too forceful at first, it's no wonder Yugito is like this," the Uchiha ninja shook his head, his lips curling into a smile, "Be nicer to her from now on."

Kyomu glared at him, continuing the patrol with Yugito.

(End of Chapter)