At that moment, the sculpture before Sasuke's eyes became increasingly distinct, its features sharpening until only the eyes remained unfinished.
As the saying goes, "Drawing the dragon's eyes brings it to life." The dragon's body is its form, but its eyes are its spirit.
Only by completing the eyes can one truly imbue it with vitality. This principle applies equally to sculpture.
Yet Sasuke paused, his short blade hovering before the stone eyes. After a long silence, he abruptly sheathed the blade, a crimson glint flashing in his eyes as his vision snapped back to clarity.
Kurama Yakumo possessed an extraordinary talent—a Bloodline Limit that could seal the five senses.
Her mastery far surpassed that of other Kurama Clan members who had awakened this ability. The difference between them was akin to the gulf between an ordinary Sharingan and a Mangekyō Sharingan.
However, Kurama Yakumo had yet to fully mature. While her talent reached Mangekyō-level potential, her power remained latent, still awaiting complete awakening.
Sasuke's own spiritual energy was equally formidable.
While Kurama Yakumo's five senses seal could temporarily restrain his normal state, the moment he activated his Sharingan, his immense, pure Yin Release chakra would instantly shatter the seal she had placed upon him.
'Huff!'
Sasuke exhaled softly, flicking away the stone fragments to fully reveal the sculpture.
He had carved an ordinary-looking young man, every detail of his face—each line and feature—sculpted with flawless precision. Yet the figure lacked eyes, leaving the sculpture devoid of spirit and vitality.
"Sasuke-kun, aren't you going to finish this piece?" Kurama Yakumo, having already completed her sketch, approached him with a curious expression.
Sasuke shook his head. "Let's leave it at that. I'm not confident I can imbue it with the spirit it needs right now."
Yakumo studied the sculpture intently for a moment before softly asking, "Is this man someone important to you, Sasuke-kun?"
At her words, Sasuke chuckled wryly. "In a way, yes. Or perhaps a special existence."
'Is it that Uchiha clansman Sasuke-kun mentioned before?'
Yakumo nodded vaguely, her understanding incomplete. She could never have guessed that Sasuke had sculpted not an Uchiha, nor anyone from this world—but his own past life self!
Sasuke gazed at the sculpture for a moment, then turned to Yakumo with a smile. "Yakumo, your physical and mental health have been improving remarkably. It seems yoga is truly beneficial for you."
Yoga is a profoundly relaxing form of exercise, devoid of strenuous movements. Instead, it focuses on body postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), and mindful meditation (dhyana) to cultivate physical flexibility, coordination, and endurance.
By improving physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, yoga aims to harmonize the body, mind, and spirit.
This practice is particularly well-suited for Kurama Yakumo, whose physical condition had been compromised.
Kurama Yakumo smiled faintly and whispered her gratitude, "I owe this all to Sasuke-kun for teaching me this invaluable technique."
Yoga has indeed proven to be remarkably beneficial for Kurama Yakumo. After more than two years of practice, she can clearly sense her body growing stronger and healthier.
Even her control over Genjutsu has become increasingly refined, much to the delight of both her and her parents.
Had Sasuke not warned her that yoga was a long-term practice—that while her health had improved, it hadn't undergone a fundamental transformation—she would have rushed to become a ninja immediately.
He had advised her to wait until puberty, when her body began to develop fully, before pursuing that path.
Though her impatience burns fiercely, Kurama Yakumo has endured so much over the years that she can certainly wait a few more.
Sasuke never told her where he had learned yoga, and Kurama Yakumo never asked.
She simply sensed a resemblance between the technique and the practices of Buddhist monks.
In her heart, she suspected Sasuke had acquired it from his clan.
After all, the Uchiha were one of the oldest and most prestigious clans in the ninja world, possessing countless ancient texts.
"You're too kind. You've helped me immensely these past two years," Sasuke said.
Besides using her Bloodline Limit to block Sasuke's vision and simulate the experience of blindness during his training, Kurama Yakumo had also utilized her Genjutsu labyrinth to assist his Genjutsu cultivation.
Though they were friends, Sasuke firmly believed in reciprocity. In return for her help with yoga, he shared his knowledge of ninja training and the Uchiha's Genjutsu techniques with her.
He treated Naruto similarly, viewing him not only as a sparring partner and training dummy but also as an investment.
Judging by the information Naruto had shared the previous night, that investment seemed poised to yield dividends soon.
"Enough with the formalities. Let's begin, Yakumo."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Kurama Yakumo's face as she asked, "Are you sure about this, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke nodded calmly. "I'm counting on you."
Her voice was utterly calm, yet carried an unwavering resolve.
Seeing Sasuke's determination, Kurama Yakumo sighed inwardly and reluctantly agreed, "Very well."
The moment the words left her lips, Yakumo formed a hand seal and murmured, "Genjutsu—Inner World Illusion!"
"Is this Sasuke-kun's inner world?"
They stood in a desolate wilderness shrouded in darkness, surrounded by withered, blighted vegetation and rows of decaying, lifeless trees.
It was as if some monstrous entity had completely drained the life force from this land.
High above, a colossal, blood-red moon hung in the sky, bathing the earth in its crimson light.
Yakumo was no stranger to blood moons; she had read in books that they were merely natural astronomical phenomena.
Yet this particular blood moon startled her. An ominous aura radiated from its crimson surface.
The shadows cast by the blood moon across the parched earth writhed and twisted, vaguely coalescing into the shape of a ten-tailed monster.
The instant Yakumo glimpsed this monstrous form, a torrent of twisted, savage, maddening, and destructive negative emotions crashed into her mind like a raging tidal wave.
"What kind of monster is that?!"
Kurama Yakumo's eyes widened in terror as she cried out, her voice trembling with fear.
"Don't panic," Sasuke said calmly, appearing beside her as if from nowhere, his presence immediately soothing her.
'Huff, huff, huff,' Yakumo gasped heavily, then asked in disbelief, "Sasuke-kun, is this your Inner World Illusion?"
"This terrifying—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Yakumo swallowed the rest of her words, sighing inwardly.
'As I thought, Sasuke-kun isn't as composed as he appears. How could anyone remain calm after experiencing something like that?'
'It's precisely because Sasuke-kun has endured such extreme pain and immense pressure that this utterly terrifying monster has been born from his inner world, right?'
"It's not exactly my Inner World Illusion," Sasuke said, shaking his head slightly. "It would be more accurate to describe it as a fragment buried deep within my genes."
"However," Sasuke continued, his tone shifting, "its emergence is undeniably linked to my deliberate actions. I can't deny my involvement."
"Yakumo!" Sasuke turned to her, his expression grave. "I need you to use your unique Bloodline Limit to make it real!"
"What?!"
(Bonus 5 chapters if we reach 1k power stones this week √√)
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