Kurama Yakumo?
So it was her. No wonder Sasuke had felt a vague sense of familiarity when he first saw her earlier.
Kurama Yakumo belonged to the Kurama Clan, a once-prominent family in Konoha Ninja Village that had produced numerous high-ranking Jonin and Chunin ninja.
The clan specialized in Genjutsu and possessed a Kekkei Genkai that amplified their Genjutsu abilities. The most talented members rivaled even the Uchiha Clan in Genjutsu mastery.
However, their Kekkei Genkai was notoriously difficult to awaken.
Coupled with the devastating Shinobi World Wars, the Kurama Clan had dwindled into one of Konoha's inconspicuous minor families.
"Miss Kurama, hello!" Sasuke replied politely before asking, "But how did you know I was Uchiha Sasuke?"
Although Sasuke was currently the sole Uchiha descendant in Konoha, he was wearing casual clothes with no Uchiha crest.
Moreover, in the original timeline, Kurama Yakumo had always been focused on Rock Lee, even harboring a secret admiration for him and aspiring to become a Genjutsu ninja specializing in Taijutsu like him.
Why was she now so certain he was Uchiha Sasuke?
Hearing this, Kurama Yakumo seemed to have anticipated the question. She calmly explained, "Sasuke-kun, you may not know this, but chronologically, I should be your senior. It's just..."
As she spoke, a shadow of sorrow flickered across her eyes, and a bitter smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"I've always wanted to attend the Ninja Academy and become a student there," she continued. "But since childhood, my physical condition has been poor. Even brief training sessions leave me utterly exhausted and trigger health problems. For two consecutive years, I failed the basic physical fitness test during enrollment."
"That's why a prodigy like you, Sasuke-kun—a brilliant student shining so brightly at the Ninja Academy—has always been someone I've admired."
Though her tone remained calm, Sasuke could sense the envy and resentment hidden beneath her composed demeanor.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, unsure how to comfort the girl. After a moment of silence, he finally offered those words.
'Those who have not tasted bitterness should not advise others to be generous; those who have not known hardship should not judge the rights and wrongs of others.'
"Sasuke-kun, my apologies for overstepping," Kurama Yakumo said softly, realizing her chatter might be bothering him.
She covered her mouth with a giggle and continued, "Actually, I saw you two years ago, at the Ninja Academy entrance ceremony. I only caught a glimpse of you from afar, but even then, you and your brother..."
Her face paled as she remembered the recent tragedy surrounding Sasuke. She immediately cut herself off, bowing deeply in apology.
"Sasuke-kun, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to—I'm truly sorry."
Kurama Yakumo had heard about the Uchiha Clan's massacre two months prior and felt genuine sympathy for Sasuke, the sole survivor.
Today, upon finally meeting the boy she had long admired, she had unconsciously blurted out many unspoken thoughts, nearly revealing even the most sensitive topic.
"It's fine," Sasuke replied calmly, shaking his head slightly.
'It was just a harmless slip of the tongue from a young girl,' he thought. 'As someone with the soul of an adult, I shouldn't take her mistakes so seriously.'
Besides, Sasuke had noticed that Kurama Yakumo's understanding of social etiquette and interpersonal taboos was remarkably weak, likely due to her limited exposure to the outside world since childhood.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have poured out her heart to Sasuke the moment they met, completely disregarding the wisdom of not revealing too much too soon.
Seeing that Sasuke genuinely didn't seem to mind her slip of the tongue, Kurama Yakumo silently breathed a sigh of relief.
"Regardless, I'm incredibly happy to have unexpectedly met you here today, Sasuke-kun."
Kurama Yakumo gave a slight bow, her eyes seeming to burn with determination.
"Even though my body is frail, I'll always strive to follow in your footsteps and become an excellent ninja!"
Kurama Yakumo's parents were the leaders of the Kurama Clan.
From the moment she was born, she awakened her Bloodline Limit, becoming the object of high expectations.
To avoid disappointing her parents and to fulfill the hopes of her clan, she pushed herself relentlessly in her training, despite the immense physical strain and pain it caused her body.
'Keep going!'
'I'll definitely become an excellent ninja!'
Just as Kurama Yakumo was secretly steeling her resolve, Sasuke's calm voice cut through her thoughts: "Miss Yakumo, you are you. You don't need to set others as your goal, let alone use me as one. You'll never catch up to me."
Sasuke finally understood why Kurama Yakumo, who didn't know him, had chosen him as her target instead of Rock Lee, as in the original story. (Note: Kurama Yakumo awakened her dark monster, killing her parents, the year before Seventh Class graduated—the same year Rock Lee graduated. She officially debuted the following year.)
Rock Lee was the first student in Konoha's Ninja Academy history to graduate and become a ninja purely through Taijutsu. (Might Duy and his son didn't count; they knew some ninjutsu, while Rock Lee knew absolutely none.)
Rock Lee's story undoubtedly inspired Kurama Yakumo, who had almost given up hope. It was like a ray of light piercing through the depths of her long, dark abyss.
"Ugh..."
The fire that had seemed to ignite in Kurama Yakumo's eyes flickered out.
Her eyes rolled back, and a faint twitch tugged at the corner of her mouth. 'Even though you're the academy's renowned prodigy...'
'So frustrating!' [○`Д○]!
Though Kurama Yakumo felt a surge of irritation, she harbored no resentment or envy toward the young man before her.
After all, the words she had almost spoken would have been even more hurtful.
Even now, Kurama Yakumo's heart still burned with the desire to become a ninja, and she remained unshakably convinced that with her own efforts, she could become an excellent ninja.
Although her parents worried about her fragile health, they had never tried to stop her training.
This situation persisted for three years in the original timeline.
When Kurama Yakumo's parents saw her physical condition worsening due to her relentless training, they still refused to give up and sought out Yuhi Kurenai, Konoha's foremost Genjutsu expert, to become her private tutor.
However, after interacting with the girl, Yuhi Kurenai also grew concerned about her health and urged her to abandon her dream of becoming a ninja and live a normal life.
Yakumo's parents, equally worried about her well-being, supported Kurenai's suggestion.
Having her decade-long dream shattered in an instant, Yakumo's heart festered with resentment, giving birth to a monstrous desire for revenge.
Finally, one fateful night, the monster known as Ido broke free from the depths of Yakumo's soul!