Naruto: I Have Cursed Spirits!

Kenjaku had the ability to forcibly seize another's body, inherit their techniques and memories, and achieve soul transfer and immortality.

Right now, Kenjaku wasparasitizing Akasuna's body, and as a result, has inherited Akasuna's puppet manipulation techniques.

Shiratori ordered Kenjaku, "Demonstrate Akasuna's puppet manipulation technique."

He was about to begin copying.

Yuta's Copy range was within three meters, so he moved closer.

Kenjaku raised an eyebrow.

"As you command."

With a flick of his fingers, several chakra threads shot out from his fingertips, attaching to the puppets collapsed on the ground. The puppets immediately came back to life, standing up from the ground as if reanimated.

Shiratori glanced at Kenjaku.

That guy's tone was so weird!

Kenjaku skillfully controlled the puppets, demonstrating various attack maneuvers mid-air.

Cursed energy surged within Shiratori as he watched Kenjaku's every move with intense focus.

"That's enough."

As his voice fell, the chakra threads from Kenjaku's fingertips were severed.

The puppets collapsed to the ground once again.

Kenjaku took out Akasuna's sealing scroll from his waist and sealed the puppets inside it.

After sealing was complete, he returned the scroll to his ninja tool pouch and looked at Shiratori with a bright smile.

"I know what you want. I'll help you get it."

Kenjaku gazed at him with a meaningful look.

"Oh? Then tell me, what is it I want?"

Kenjaku smiled.

"I'll find a strong vessel. After mastering its abilities, I'll allow you to replicate them."

It was clearly just an ordinary expression, but on Kenjaku's face, it exuded an inexplicable air of malice.

Shiratori stared at Kenjaku and asked the system in his mind, A cursed spirit can't escape my control, right?

Kenjaku felt too unpredictable to him.

[Cursed spirit termination linked to host mortality. Control parameters: Absolute.]

"This body has a decent status. I'll gather all the intel you want," Kenjaku said cheerfully.

"..."

Shiratori waved at Kenjaku tiredly.

Just go! Just go already!

He couldn't waste any more time on Kenjaku. Otherwise, Chiba and the others might really succumb to the poison.

Kenjaku bowed gracefully to him, then quickly vanished into the forest.

A crow flew after him, hovering over his head.

Kenjaku looked up, and the smile on his lips deepened.

Back where he had stood, Shiratori headed toward Chiba and the others. Seeing their purplish lips, he knelt down and placed two fingers under their noses.

Still breathing, but barely.

He rolled up his sleeves and began the rescue effort.

---

Chiba walked through a darkness where he couldn't even see his hand in front of his face.

He turned his head in confusion, there was nothing to be seen, so he kept moving forward aimlessly.

Why was he here?

Was he already dead?

Suddenly, a glowing white orb of light appeared in the distance.

He realized that might be the reason he was here. He quickened his pace toward it.

As he approached, his steps slowed in disbelief at the figure ahead.

"Ryou..."

That boy bathed in faint white light was his younger brother, who had died in the war.

In an instant, his eyes welled up with tears.

He hurriedly wiped them away, afraid he would miss the chance to reunite with his brother.

"Are you here to take me with you?"

He choked back his sobs as he moved closer to his brother.

Ryou laughed and mischievously made a face at him. "Of course not! I'm not here to take you! I came to remind you not to wander off!"

"What?"

He stared at him blankly.

Ryou scratched the back of his head. The mischief in his eyes was replaced by a faint smile. His voice softened, and he fidgeted a bit shyly. "Don't come looking for me. I really don't want to see you on the other side. It's not your time yet..."

Chiba noticed his arms beginning to glow, his body becoming more and more transparent.

"Ryou!"

His brother suddenly seemed so far away.

"You need to go back!" Ryou's shout echoed in his ears.

---

Chiba's eyes snapped open.

A harsh white light beamed directly into his eyes. Even though it stung and brought tears, he didn't blink.

He could hear the thumping of his heart, loud and clear in his ears. He knew, he was alive again.

He slowly turned his head and saw a familiar figure in his line of sight.

It was Shiratori.

He had saved him once again.

[Gratitude detected: Chiba +3000 points]

[Energy transferred to Smallpox Deity]

[Development progress: 59.1%]Shiratori had pulled him back from the edge of death.

[Affection detected: Chiba +5000 points]

[Energy transferred to Rika]

[Development progress: 63.5%]

Hearing the system notification, Shiratori knew Chiba had woken up. Now he just had to wait for Sakikawa and Kuroi to wake up and harvest their emotional values too.

He quickly put on an excited expression and ran toward Chiba. He helped prop him up and leaned him against a tree trunk.

"Chiba-nisan, you're finally awake!"

Shiratori looked at him with apparent delight.

[Rage detected: Chiba +5000 points]

[Energy transferred to Jogo]

[Development progress: 30%]

"..."

What the... why are you mad again, bro?

"Shiratori!" Chiba stared darkly at him, his tone stern. "Why are you here?"

Shiratori froze. He slowly lowered his head, shoulders sagging.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous this place is? Do you know you could've died? If you died, what would the village's ninjas do? What would Hanzō-sama and the others do? How could you be so reckless?! ..."

Chiba's brows were tightly furrowed. His nostrils flared as waves of intense emotion surged in his chest.

[Gratitude detected: Kuroi +3000 points]

[Energy transferred to Smallpox Deity]

[Development progress: 59.4%]

[Gratitude detected: Sakikawa +3000 points]

[Energy transferred to Smallpox Deity]

[Development progress: 59.7%]

Everyone's here!

Let the performance begin!

Chiba's scolding abruptly stopped.

All the reprimands got stuck in his throat.

Tears streamed down the face of the child before him, whose head was hanging low.

He was crying.

Chiba felt like someone had twisted his heart with all their might. His eyes burned with an intense sting.

"I knew it was dangerous, that's why I didn't want you guys to face it alone."

Shiratori's voice wavered, barely above a whisper.

"I knew I might die, but more than that, I was scared I wouldn't be able to save you."

"I just... I just wanted all of us to live. I don't want to lose anyone."