Naruto: Drop System

Time flew by like a fleeting moment, and just like that, another season passed.

Unbeknownst to many, the year 60 of Konoha had completely ended, and the village had entered the 61st year.

During this year, several significant events occurred in Konoha, all of which shook the entire ninja world.

The Konoha Crush Plan, the death of the Third Hokage, the inauguration of the Fifth Hokage, the renewed alliance with the Hidden Sand Village, and… the reappearance of Wood Release.

In just one year, Konoha, a village that had been weakened to the point of bowing down to the Hidden Cloud and even offering up the corpses of its noble clans to make peace, had been reborn. It returned to a position where it was feared by the other major ninja villages and respected by neighboring nations.

And all of this was because control of Konoha had returned to the Senju Clan.

The name of the Forest Senju resounded once more across the ninja world.

Under Tsunade's leadership, Konoha, now equipped with a Wood Release user, a Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, and one of the legendary Sannin, was on the path to regaining its former glory.

Though the ninja world was in a time of peace, the surface appeared even more tranquil.

After the excitement of the reappearance of Wood Release faded, Yagyu's life returned to normal.

However, the attitude of the villagers and Konoha's ninjas toward him had undergone a complete transformation.

The villagers didn't change much, as few people besides his neighbors even recognized Yagyu.

It was the change in attitude of the civilian and clan ninjas that made Yagyu realize the shift in his status.

Even high-ranking Chunin and Jonin now respectfully addressed him as "Lord Yagyu."

Especially those Jonin who had witnessed Yagyu's Advent of a World of Flowering Trees jutsu, they looked at him with reverence, as if they saw him as the hope for Konoha's return to its peak, treating him as the future Hokage.

Once his life returned to normal, Yagyu entered a period of steady growth.

To accelerate the maturity of his Sage Body, Yagyu absorbed several Gelel Stones every day.

Over the course of a few months, although he still couldn't sense natural energy, he had become very adept at fusing Sage Chakra and entering Sage Mode.

Each Gelel Stone contained enough natural energy to allow Yagyu to maintain Sage Mode for two to three minutes.

In battle, these Gelel Stones acted like one-time curse marks.

Additionally, Yagyu had grown to 173 cm in height over the past few months, five centimeters taller than when he graduated.

This was not only due to his physical constitution but also thanks to the life force contained within the Gelel Stones.

Yagyu's Wood Release chakra had also improved. It was much easier for him to grow a towering tree that took ten people to encircle, and the time and energy required to do so had decreased.

This meant that his Yang Release chakra had become stronger.

Yagyu even experimented by cutting a small wound on his forearm. Without using any medical ninjutsu, it scabbed over and fell off within just a few hours. In less than ten hours, not even a faint scar remained.

His healing ability was far beyond that of an ordinary person.

All of these signs indicated that Yagyu's Sage Body was rapidly developing.

In addition to his steadily increasing strength, Yagyu's role in the village was also gradually shifting from subordinate to leader.

After becoming a Chunin, Yagyu had taken on the role of captain of Team 8, and he was now capable of leading the team on lower-level missions.

Having barely contributed in the Land of Wind and mostly watched Team 8 perform, Kurenai returned to Konoha and confidently handed over the leadership to Yagyu, allowing Team 8 to complete missions on their own.

Unless there was an emergency or a high-rank mission that required a Jonin's supervision, Kurenai no longer accompanied the team.

Over the past few months, Yagyu led Hinata and Shino on numerous missions, though they were mostly C-rank and B-rank.

These missions were fairly standard, and the enemies they encountered were easily defeated by the now-powerful Hinata and Shino, who had successfully hatched the elusive Nano-Smell Bugs.

For once, Yagyu didn't run into any unexpected obstacles, and they completed their missions smoothly.

February 2nd, Year 61 of Konoha, 9 AM.

"Welcome back, Lord Yagyu."

"Lord Yagyu, thank you for your hard work on the mission."

After completing another mission, Yagyu returned to the village gate for registration.

The Chunin guards greeted him warmly and respectfully, as if they were addressing someone as esteemed as Jiraiya or Tsunade.

"You've worked hard too," Yagyu replied with a gentle smile, engaging in some small talk with the gatekeepers before leading Hinata and Shino into the village.

As usual, Yagyu dismissed Team 8, allowing Hinata and Shino to rest, while he headed alone to the Hokage's office to report.

However, as he approached the Hokage building, Yagyu's brows furrowed slightly.

From where he stood, he could see that the roof of the Hokage building was under repair, as if it had been damaged.

Moreover, the damage didn't seem natural—it appeared to be caused by a person.

Yagyu could sense residual chakra in the marks, indicating that this was the result of an attack.

Who would dare to attack the Hokage building?

With that thought, Yagyu quickened his pace and arrived at the Hokage building.

After exchanging smiles and greetings with the ninja he encountered, Yagyu soon reached the Hokage's office and pushed the door open.

"You're back. Just put the mission scroll on the shelf; no need to report to me," Tsunade said, her head buried in paperwork, clearly too busy to listen to his report.

"Sis Tsunade, what's going on with the roof?" Yagyu asked as he placed the mission scroll aside and sat on the couch, pouring himself a glass of water. "It looks like it was struck by lightning, and there's still some chakra residue. Did someone accidentally hit it while practicing Lightning Release?"

"No, that was caused by a genjutsu," Tsunade replied without looking up. "With your impressive history grades, you should know about the Kurama clan, right?"

At this, Yagyu's expression changed slightly, and he immediately understood who was responsible for the damage on the roof.

He quickly formed a hand seal and activated his Kagura Mind's Eye, then asked urgently, "Sis Tsunade, has Kurenai-sensei come to see you?"

"No, why do you ask?"

Finally looking up in confusion at Yagyu's serious expression, Tsunade's demeanor also grew more serious. "Did something happen to Kurenai?"

"Ah… I can't sense her chakra in the village. I have a bad feeling, so I need to find her," Yagyu explained, already standing to leave.

Realizing something, Tsunade quickly shared what she knew: "The damage to the roof was caused by the Kurama clan's heiress losing control of her powers. Kurenai used to be her tutor, so she might have gone to visit her at the Satomi Villa."

"Where's Satomi Villa?" Yagyu asked.

"It's located on Satomi Hill, in the two o'clock direction facing the Hokage Rock," Tsunade replied.

"I got it."

Nodding, Yagyu immediately vanished, leaving behind a fleeting shadow.

Reappearing in a secluded alley, Yagyu quickly used the Mayfly Technique to sink into the ground, speeding toward Satomi Hill.

Kurama Yakumo, like the possessor of the Red Eyes that Yagyu frequently relied on, was a character from the TV anime filler.

However, unlike the Red Eyes user whose name still escaped Yagyu, Kurama Yakumo's name had stayed with him throughout these thirteen years.

There was no way he could forget it—her kekkei genkai was too powerful.

While Uchiha Itachi's Tsukuyomi could make the pain in the illusion world feel real, Kurama Yakumo's kekkei genkai was even more terrifying in some aspects.

In Tsukuyomi, the victim only felt the pain of being burned by fire.

In Kurama Yakumo's illusion world, being burned by fire could cause severe burns in reality, or even death.

Her kekkei genkai not only controlled the five senses, but it also made illusions become reality.

If not for the fact that her kekkei genkai had a weakness tied to her own five senses, it would be an invincible, game-breaking ability.

In the original story, Naruto had helped Kurenai resolve the issue with Kurama Yakumo.

But now, with Yagyu's butterfly effect in play, Kurenai had gone alone.

That was why Yagyu hadn't continued chatting with Tsunade—he was in a hurry to find Kurenai.

In the original, Kurenai had gone to Satomi Villa intending to die, hoping her death would dispel Yakumo's hatred.

Without Naruto's intervention, there was a real chance that Kurenai could die this time.

With nearly a year since graduation, Team 8 had formed strong bonds with Kurenai.

For Yagyu, who had a deep admiration for Kurenai's kind and nurturing nature, her death at Yakumo's hands would be unbearable.

If Yakumo killed Kurenai, Yagyu would not hesitate to kill Yakumo in return.

Thanks to the Mayfly Technique, Yagyu quickly arrived at Satomi Hill.

Blending with the earth and trees, Yagyu used his unique vision and Kagura Mind's Eye to spot a large number of unconscious ninja.

Their faces were filled with terror, and some had severe burns, though there were no signs of actual fire damage in the area.

Clearly, they had fallen victim to Kurama Yakumo's genjutsu, their illusory injuries manifesting in reality.

Through his sensory technique, Yagyu also located Kurenai's chakra.

However, there was another strange chakra near her.

It wasn't human-shaped but diffuse.

Even Yagyu's special vision couldn't penetrate it, as if it existed in a separate dimension.

Emerging from the ground, Yagyu found himself in a hallway.

Before him stood a burning door.

Strangely, the fire covered the door but didn't destroy it or the building.

Yagyu didn't even feel any heat.

But he knew that touching these flames would result in real burns and pain.

And this fire couldn't be extinguished with Water Release.

Because these were illusionary flames, created by Yin Release chakra.

Though Yagyu's Wood Release could absorb these flames, he didn't act immediately. Instead, he pulled out a Gelel Stone from his storage, absorbing its special energy.

In less than a few seconds, Yagyu's pupils turned golden, and red markings appeared at the corners of his eyes.

In Sage Mode, Yagyu's Yin Release chakra was instantly enhanced.

He formed a single-hand seal, extending a tree branch from his body.

Then, with a sprint, Yagyu dashed through the fiery door, entering a bizarre space filled with purple ripples, emanating an eerie aura.

"Yagyu, why are you here?"

Kurenai, who had been prepared to sacrifice herself to dispel Yakumo's hatred, widened her eyes in surprise at the sight of Yagyu.

She clearly hadn't expected him, who had been away on a mission, to appear here.

"I should be asking you that, Sensei," Yagyu replied.

Noticing that only the lower half of Kurenai's body had been erased by the genjutsu, he let out a sigh of relief but was also filled with a rare surge of anger and fear.

Suppressing his emotions, he asked, "What is this place? Why can't I use any jutsu?"

"This is Yakumo's illusion world. Without her consent, you can't use jutsu here," Kurenai explained briefly before her voice became urgent. "Yagyu, you need to leave now! This is between me and Yakumo."

"Sensei, be quiet," Yagyu suddenly snapped.

Normally calm and gentle, his sudden harsh tone, coupled with the pressure of his Sage Mode and newfound height of 173 cm, gave Yagyu an overwhelming presence. His gaze was authoritative, and Kurenai instinctively went silent, unable to defy him.

With Kurenai hushed, Yagyu turned his attention to Yakumo, who stood pale and gloomy.

"Kurama Yakumo, right? What's happening to Sensei and those unconscious people outside—did you do that?"

"Y-Yes!" Yakumo stammered, her gaze faltering under Yagyu's golden eyes. However, recalling the conversation between Kurenai and the Third Hokage, she forced herself to meet his gaze, her voice trembling with defiance. "Kurenai-sensei and the Third Hokage killed my parents and drove the Kurama Clan out of Konoha. I'm going to avenge them!"

"I see…" Yagyu muttered, his golden eyes examining Yakumo carefully before forming a hand seal.

Seeing this, Kurenai quickly shouted, "Stop, Yagyu! Don't make her remember!"

But Yagyu ignored her, swiftly completing his hand seal and whispering, "Demonic Illusion: Nirvana Sight Technique."

Although Yakumo's kekkei genkai was powerful, even more so than Itachi's Tsukuyomi or Kotoamatsukami, it had an obvious weakness.

By blocking the five senses or using stronger Yin Release chakra, the illusion could be broken.

Yakumo, with her frail body, couldn't possibly have stronger Yin Release chakra than Yagyu in Sage Mode.

In an instant, the seals on Yakumo's body and the memories her brain had suppressed for self-protection flooded back.

She recalled the moment when Ido, the dark side of her psyche, killed her parents.

Clatter!

The paintbrush in her hand dropped to the ground as Yakumo collapsed, murmuring, "I-I remember now… It was the other me… Ido killed my father and mother…"

Sensing that Yakumo's emotions were about to collapse, Kurenai hurriedly reassured her, "That's not true, Yakumo! You're not like that monster!"

"No… I'm not mistaken… because that monster lives inside me," Yakumo responded, her eyes vacant as she stared at the sharp paintbrush on the ground.

Picking it up, she pressed it against her chest, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry, Father… Mother… and Kurenai-sensei…"

Seeing Yakumo about to take her own life, Kurenai turned to Yagyu, pleading, "Yagyu, please, stop her from killing herself!"

But Yagyu's eyes glinted as he shook his head. "I don't need to do anything. She won't die."

Just as Yagyu predicted, as Yakumo was about to stab herself, the surrounding purple ripples distorted, and a painted portrait of Yakumo appeared in front of her.

A hand reached out from the portrait, stopping Yakumo from killing herself.

The figure in the portrait then twisted, transforming into a grotesque creature with horns on its head, like a demon stepping out of the painting.

This monster was Yakumo's inner demon—Ido.

"Why would you try to end yourself?" Ido roared in fury as it glared at Yagyu and Kurenai. "The ones who deserve to die are these people who've pressured you and tried to destroy me!"

"Yakumo, let me kill them for you!" Ido shouted as it advanced toward Yagyu and Kurenai.

With half of her body already erased by Yakumo's genjutsu, Kurenai pleaded urgently, "Yagyu, don't worry about me. Get out of here! You can't use jutsu in this place, and genjutsu doesn't work on that thing. If you stay, you'll die."

"Don't worry. This is already over," Yagyu replied with a sudden smile, his golden eyes flashing a brilliant red.

From his perspective, Yakumo and Ido's chakras were of different colors.

Yakumo's was blue, while Ido's was purple.

This meant that they had physically separated into two distinct beings.

Yagyu chuckled softly. "Now that the monster has come out, it'll be much easier to deal with."

Crack!

As if to confirm Yagyu's words, the sound of shattering glass echoed through the space, catching both Kurenai and Yakumo's attention.

The surrounding illusion world, filled with purple ripples, was now covered in countless cracks.

"What… What did you do?" Ido shouted in terror, turning to flee toward Yakumo.

But before it could reach her, a branch shot up from the cracks in the ground, wrapping around Ido's legs and freezing it in place.

Several sharp branches then burst from the cracks, piercing Ido's body like arrows.

"No!!!" Ido screamed in defiance, but its body soon melted into a pool of purple chakra, which was greedily absorbed by the branches that had bound and impaled it.

In no time, the Yin Release chakra illusion space reverted to a simple art studio.

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