Chapter 42
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"So, how did your first experience with Torture go?" Tsubasa asked, her eyes filled with curious interest.
Tatsuya took a seat, sipping some lemonade to calm his nerves before answering. "What kind of response are you looking for?"
"The honest one, of course," Tsubasa replied evenly.
A small silence hung in the air as Tatsuya considered his words. "It was...satisfying, I must admit," he said at last, a hint of unease in his tone.
While the blood and gore had sickened him a bit, even making him retch, he could not deny the dark sense of gratification that had washed over him at the sound of Yami's agonized screams. Though he was no sadist for sure.
Tsubasa rolled her eyes, a knowing smile playing across her lips as she leaned forward. "That's natural, you know. Inflicting pain upon someone you despise is always pleasurable, like an orgasm, is it not? You must have also felt that, right?"
Hearing her words, he almost choked on his lemonade and quickly distanced himself a bit, eyeing her warily. "Are you a sadist, Tsubasa-san? Because that is far from normal, and I can assure you, I took no such pleasure in it and I am sure, I felt no orgasm too. I like girls not torture"
"Hmph!" Tsubasa huffed, folding her arms as mock rage flashed across her features. "Here I was, attempting to console you, and you repay me by calling me a sadist? Is that the thanks I receive for offering my help?"
Tatsuya ignored her deflection of his question, but seeing her continued glare, he relented with a sigh. "Fine, you're not a sadist. Happy now?" Though he suspected a sadistic streak lurked within her for sure, if the stories of her brutal interrogation methods were true.
And of course, he owed her a debt of gratitude, for without her and Suu's assistance, the entire genjutsu torture setup with Yami would have been impossible. It was their efforts that had allowed them to apply a semi-permanent genjutsu on him.
The technique itself was a fusion of two jutsu: the [Genjutsu: Maze of Terror] and the [Mind Transfer Jutsu]. The genjutsu alone was originally a B-rank jutsu that, when successfully cast, trapped its victim within a labyrinthine illusion, escapable only by finding the exit, breaking free through sheer force of will, or having someone else dispel it.
And had it not been for its abysmal success rate and the scarcity of shinobi capable of learning it – Tsubasa being one of the few – it would have been ranked an A-rank technique. Combined with the Mind Transfer Jutsu and Yami's weakened state, they had been able to create the conditions necessary for a semi-permanent application, allowing others to enter his mind by synchronizing their mental energy with his.
The catch, of course, was that they had to keep torturing him, maintaining his mental state in a perpetual state of weakness to prevent him from breaking free of the illusion and Tsubasa had to come after each 10 days and re-apply the genjutsu.
It had also taken them a full week to program this genjutsu into him which proved how complex it was, as it even allowed multiple people to enter this genjutsu at once if they connected their chakra with Yami.
This jutsu was also the reason why he was able to increase the pain sensors of Yami to ten times.
This whole process also made him understand, how hax the mangekyou sharingan were, as with it Itachi could make a better version of whatever they made with just a blink of eye using Tsukuyomi, moreover it would have also time dilation included in it.
As for why they had gone through such an elaborate ruse instead of simply torturing him in reality? Simple – that way, Yami would have died far too quickly from the brutality, robbing Tatsuya of the chance to make him suffer for at least a hundred sessions before allowing the sweet release of death.
"Apology accepted," Tsubasa said with a smile, before her expression grew serious once more as she asked. "How are the girls?"
Tatsuya sighed heavily. "Recovering, more or less. But..." He swallowed a big gulp of his drink. "More than half have been left with severe disabilities or disfigurements. And the Hyūga prisoners who were experimented on..." He met Tsubasa's gaze. "They've lost at least ninty percent of their vision."
"Kami...losing your vision as a Hyūga," Tsubasa whispered, her face ashen. For members of the Hyūga clan, their dōjutsu was paramount to their identity and power. Some would even choose death rather than live sightless.
Tatsuya rubbed his temples wearily. "And a few of them...due to the severe interference and stimulation between the Byakugan and their brain from the experiments...we had to put them down. Their mental faculties were too damaged."
Suddenly, he found himself enveloped in a comforting embrace, Tsubasa's soft curves pressing against him. "Don't stress yourself," she murmured. "You did everything possible to save them. If not for your efforts, they'd have remained trapped in that place indefinitely."
Tatsuya leaned into her warmth for a moment before gently disengaging, managing a small smile. "I know, I know," he sighed. "I'm not stressed, but thanks for the concern."
He was surprised, albeit pleasantly so, by her show of worry for his well-being.
Tsubasa nodded, her gaze shifting to Yami's unconscious form. "So how long do you plan to keep that worm alive?"
"Let's just say he's not going to find peace until ... .umm his lifespan expires?," Tatsuya said. "After all, I'm not the only one who wants to give him a taste of his own medicine."
Tsubasa let out a low, approving chuckle. "Exquisite. But what of the elders who helped him cover it up? Shall I lend a hand in...dealing with them?"
Tatsuya shook his head. "Mother is handling them. From what we've uncovered, they didn't know the full extent of Yami's actions." He added, "And with the information you provided me about their dealings, it won't be much trouble to finish them off."
"I see..." Tsubasa mused, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "Well, in that case, I'll stand down. But you have to tell me the real reason you're stopping me."
Tatsuya hesitated, then shook his head with a sigh. "Well, how can I put this? Mother doesn't really...like you that much." He felt awkward voicing it, especially after all the help she had given him, but he owed her honesty.
Tsubasa arched one perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Is that so? How disappointing to hear." Yet there was no hint of actual disappointment on her face, as if she had already been well aware of this fact.
Feeling his curiosity scratched at her behaviour, He decided to check her status window.
[Name: Tsubasa Hanekawa]
[Age: 28]
[Chakra Capacity: 30]
[Relationship Status: Potential *****]
[Affection Points: 80/100]
Reading her status, he was...dumbfounded, to say the least. Not only were her affection points for him shockingly high – just shy of a few points from his family – but her relationship status was also listed as "Potential *****"? What in the world did those asterisks imply? The system should really clarify such things!
Feeling a bit annoyed, he decided to just ask her directly.
"Ahem...Tsubasa-san," he began, clearing his throat. "What exactly do you think of me?"
Tsubasa raised her brows at his question before chuckling. "My, what's with the sudden query?" She folded her arms, eyeing him with amusement. "Could it be that little Tatsuya has developed a little crush on me?"
Tatsuya refused to be flustered. "I simply wish to understand where I stand with you," he replied evenly. "You've always given me...preferential treatment, even now you helped with just one call from me plus I am the only person whom you showed a…different side of you. There must be a reason, yes?"
He couldn't resist adding with a small smile, "Unless, of course, the great Tsubasa Hanekawa – The Apathetic One – has grown a liking to me as well?"
Tsubasa paused hearing it, her expression serious for a moment, until a loud laugh erupted from her lips.
The air was thick as Tsubasa's laughter subsided into a sly smile. "Haha, I must confess, there is indeed some truth to it," she purred, her eyes dancing with mischief as she leaned back, studying Tatsuya intently. "I have developed a certain...liking for you. Tell me, does that not please you?"
Tatsuya was not flustered by her words and instead replied with a smile. "Of course not, Tsubasa-san. How could I not like the attention of one as someone as yourself?" He allowed his gaze to linger appreciatively over her form for a moment before adding with a playful lilt, "Is it not every young shinobi's dream to receive...preferential treatment from their sensei?"
Tsubasa's smile widened fractionally at his veiled implication, her eyes glittering with approval. "My, my, what a bold student I have," she purred, her tone laden with promise. "One might think you were angling for...private lessons." The way she spoke left no doubt as to the nature of the 'lessons' she had in mind.
Holding her smoldering gaze, Tatsuya pretended to consider it for a moment, chuckling low in his throat. "While I am undoubtedly flattered by such an... offer, I'd hate to make your other pupils jealous."
"You've grown quite daring today," Tsubasa murmured, reaching out to run her fingers through his silky hair in a casual yet intimate caress. "What's the special occasion? You're not usually so...forward."
Tatsuya leaned ever so slightly into her touch, his smile taking on a cryptic edge. "Well, let's just say I was feeling a bit...curious today."
"I see," Tsubasa replied. Then, in one fluid motion, she pulled his head by his hair until their faces were a mere breath apart, so close that Tatsuya could have sworn he felt like she was about to kiss him.
"There is only one reason," she whispered. "I find you...intriguing. There is something special about you that it even calls to my instincts on some level."
Tatsuya remained calm. "Is that so?" Adding further "Is it all instincts? Nothing else" He would be lying, if he said he wasn't a bit disappointed.
Tsubasa shook her head, a sly smile playing at the corners of her lips as her fingers gently grasped his chin, holding his gaze. "Of course not,"
"After all these years, I've also come to notice what a truly exceptional student you are - calm, mature, insanely talented at everything you put your mind to." Her eyes danced with amusement as they roamed over his features. "Not to mention that devilishly good-looking mug of yours. I'm surprised you haven't tried seducing at least a couple of girls with those handsome looks."
"All in all from what I have seen,
and taking everything into account, you are truly a...superior seedling."
There it was again, that odd phrasing again. "Seedling? Of what, exactly?"
But she merely chuckled, pulling back as smile played across her full lips. "Enough questions for today." She rose fluidly to her feet, preparing to take her leave. "I must be going."
Tatsuya scrambled up beside her, unwilling to let the matter drop so easily. "Hey, that's unfair. You can't just say cryptic things like that without elaborating."
Tsubasa's smile didn't falter as she donned her faceless mask. "Let's leave something for the future, shall we?"
"You don't want to know everything today. It would be quite boring that way? Wouldn't it"
As the words left her lips, a familiar ding sounded in his mind as a new mission notification appeared in the corner of Tatsuya's vision.
[New Mission Created: Unveil Tsubasa's Secret]
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[Assigned Mission:]
Tsubasa Hanekawa is a great kunoichi. But she has been harboring a great secret from the world, one that could cause immense upheaval if revealed. This secret is also intrinsically tied to her very existence.
Yet it is also this closely guarded truth that fills her with dread, for she fears it may one day consume her utterly.
Unbeknownst even to herself, her instincts have inexplicably drawn her to you, her hope. It is now your duty to unravel this secret and serve as the guiding light that lights up the darkness surrounding her, lest the thing she hides ultimately consumes her.
[Conditions:]
- Uncover the secret Tsubasa conceals from the world
- Help her overcome whatever existential threat looms over her.
[Rewards:]
+20 Affection Points (Ensuring her complete, unwavering love and obedience)
+20% Increase in Yin & Yang Affinity
(Unknown)
[Note: If certain conditions are met successfully, this may evolve into a chain mission.]
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