"This is… Transparency Release?"
That night, after burying the bodies of the rogue ninja, Uchiha Kage walked alone to the lake, quietly watching the moon and his reflection on the water's surface.
Then, after activating Transparency Release, his reflection in the lake quietly disappeared, even the shadow under his feet was gone.
"Perfect invisibility, except attacking reveals you."
More accurately, sudden bursts of Chakra and rapid body movements disrupt the Transparency Release.
"This technique will definitely be useful for escaping."
Still, hopefully, I won't encounter a battle where I *need* to escape…
"Hm?"
Just as Uchiha Kage was about to return to camp, faint blue lights suddenly floated up from the place where he had buried the rogue ninja.
What's this now?
Will-o'-the-wisps?
Curious, Uchiha Kage walked over.
"No, not will-o'-the-wisps… This is… souls?"
Pale blue, transparent figures flickered across the ground, and Uchiha Kage could vaguely make out their forms, resembling the rogue ninja he had buried earlier.
"I can actually see people's souls?"
And there was more.
Uchiha Kage subconsciously reached out a hand towards the spirits before him, and a strange, invisible suction emanated from his palm.
In just a moment, all the spirits flickering over the graveyard had been absorbed.
"Wait, where did I absorb these souls *to*?"
If this is the ability gained from merging with the Fragment of the God of Death, then doesn't that mean…
Uchiha Kage hurriedly patted his stomach. Did I absorb them into my stomach?
But it doesn't feel like it.
However, just as Uchiha Kage was frantically searching for the several soul bodies he had just absorbed, a strange dizziness suddenly assaulted his mind.
Then, when he opened his eyes again, he was already in the scenery of the 'Dream Space'.
"I can come in here anytime?"
This was the first time Uchiha Kage had come here without falling asleep.
However, unlike before, when he appeared directly on the streets of Konoha in the Dream Space, this time Uchiha Kage could clearly see the great walls of Konoha Village in the distance.
This seems to be outside 'Konoha' Village?
"So, those souls were all absorbed here…"
At the same time, Uchiha Kage also saw the souls of those rogue ninja wandering in the sky outside the village.
[1. Devour]
[2. Revive]
Moreover, when he looked at these wandering soul bodies, options and prompts appeared in Uchiha Kage's mind.
[Devouring spirits can increase mental strength]
[Consuming Chakra and Bond Points can revive spirits]
"So, this is the ability I gained from the God of Death…"
But is this revival guaranteed?
Also, I didn't expect these Bond Points to have such a use besides entering other people's dreams. It seems I need to work harder to deepen my 'bonds' with the Female Ninja from now on.
After consuming Chakra and Bond Points, Uchiha Kage randomly selected a rogue ninja who looked somewhat pleasing to the eye and chose to revive him.
"It, it's you!? D-don't kill me again…"
The revived rogue ninja stood trembling before Uchiha Kage.
"So, they still retain their memories and personalities from when they were alive. Their strength seems to be about the same as before, but…"
Although they're revived, can't I bring them back to the real world?
Opening his eyes again, Uchiha Kage, looking at the empty graveyard and the lake in the distance, was certain that he could not bring the revived person from the 'Dream Space' back to reality.
That's right, if it were that easy to revive the dead, then this ability would be too heaven-defying.
Having understood the limitations, Uchiha Kage returned to the 'Dream Space' to experiment on the revived rogue ninja.
"It seems, I can decide his life and death with a single thought. I can also erase his consciousness at any time, or even inject a new consciousness to make him a puppet that I can manipulate at will. And the range they can move in is also…"
As Uchiha Kage became more and more familiar with the 'Dream Space', he casually drew a circle in a forest outside 'Konoha Village' and used Chakra to create a small village.
He soon discovered that after throwing the revived rogue ninja into it, the other party had no way to escape from the circle he had drawn.
Unless he personally took the person out.
Moreover, the other party doesn't seem to feel hungry either.
As expected…
This 'Dream Space' has many overlaps and similarities with what he now realized was his previous Pupillary Power Space from his Mangekyo Sharingan.
However, compared to the previous Pupillary Power Space, this inexplicably appearing 'Dream Space' is much better in terms of operability and other abilities.
Uchiha Kage experimentally revived several other rogue ninja and placed them in this unnamed village that he had casually created in the space.
The later revived people were the same; they couldn't escape from the village either.
But to be safe, Uchiha Kage erased all their old consciousness and injected new ones.
"It's like… a paradise created by a creator, with new citizens that can be manipulated at will…"
Seeing these rogue ninja, their consciousness erased, being manipulated by him at will, chopping wood, drawing water, strolling, chatting… like his toys in this small village…
Uchiha Kage couldn't help but think of the NPC Tsunade in the 'Hokage Building' and the NPC Hinata in the 'Hyuga Estate'.
Could it be…
No, leaving Tsunade aside for the moment, that NPC Hinata is much older than the Hinata in reality. It's impossible for them to be the same person.
"Better not to let your imagination run wild."
Shaking his head, Uchiha Kage chose to devour the last soul body that he had deliberately left behind.
There wasn't much of a special reaction, but Uchiha Kage did feel his brain become clearer.
"Mental strength is indeed a special attribute, but now, my Bond Points are almost used up. It's time to go…"
Four Action Points per day. Uchiha Kage almost always exchanged them for four Bond Points.
For him now, he felt uncomfortable if he didn't do something every night.
With a thought, Uchiha Kage's body passed through the village, through large swaths of forest, over the great walls of Konoha Village, and back to the familiar streets of Konoha.
[Instance world is updating…]
Just like the previous days, the Instance hadn't opened yet.
Uchiha Kage could only go to Hinata, Tsunade, and Kaguya to experience their soft and broad hearts, and then deeply and superficially feel the temperature and humidity within their bodies.
"Wait, how did another building appear?"
Just as Uchiha Kage was, as always, first finishing his sparring with Hinata and heading towards the Hokage Building, a unique apartment cabin suddenly appeared before him.
It even had a nameplate with the character 'Yuhi' on it.
"Could it be…"
Consuming an Action Point, Uchiha Kage curiously pushed open the door of the apartment cabin.
Then, as expected, he saw a certain very familiar Female Ninja wearing a loose sundress, welcoming him home like a wife.
"I can finally get revenge for being patted on the head before."
Uchiha Kage fiercely patted… ahem, fiercely went inside to hug the Female Ninja in front of him.
----
"Kurenai?"
Asuma saw that the Female Ninja in front of him seemed to be a little distracted, and couldn't help but call out her name again.
"Ah, Asuma, is there something you need?"
Yuhi Kurenai was indeed a little absent-minded today.
It was all because she had a very strange dream last night.
In the dream, that hateful Disciple actually dared to do that to her…
Or could it be…
No, was she actually fantasizing in her dream about her Disciple doing that kind of thing to her?
Could it be that she's been too lonely lately, so she's having these shameless fantasies?
Not to mention, when she woke up in the morning, she found that the Bed Sheet was soaked through…
Even now, in broad daylight…
Whenever she thinks of words like "butterfly" and "spring," she can't help but feel her face burning.
Not only did she dream of being pushed around by her Disciple's tongue, but in the dream, he vividly described her body and that excessive reaction…
"You're asking me what I need? I've been talking to you this whole time…"
Asuma didn't understand why the Yuhi Kurenai in front of him still had the same expression as when they first met today.
She was spacing out too much, wasn't she?
Did something weigh on her mind?
"As expected, she still has some hidden injuries from the battle with Uchiha Itachi and that Rogue Ninja from Kirigakure?"
Thinking of this, Asuma grabbed Yuhi Kurenai's arm with a worried expression.
"No, I… I'm fine, I mean, I'm very well."
Definitely not sick!
Definitely not…
Yuhi Kurenai quickly pulled her arm back from Asuma's grasp.
The reason she had that dream was probably because she happened to see that hateful guy tearing off his shirt that day, revealing his well-proportioned and muscular upper body, so she started fantasizing…
Every time Yuhi Kurenai recalled the scene of Uchiha Kage fighting Uchiha Itachi that day, she was deeply impressed by the scene of him tearing off his shirt.
"Could it really be like Anko said, that I should find a boyfriend?"
Although Anko is always so careless, sometimes what she says seems to make some sense.
She was probably just overthinking things because she was too lonely.
Under normal circumstances, how could she possibly have those kinds of…
thoughts about her Disciple?
"Kurenai… what are you saying?"
Asuma heard Yuhi Kurenai muttering to herself.
Boyfriend?
Kurenai shouldn't have a boyfriend yet, right?
"It's nothing, I, I probably haven't been resting well lately."
Yuhi Kurenai quickly gulped down a glass of Water to cover up her absent-mindedness from beginning to end.
"Don't stay in the store, let's go for a walk on the street!"
Thinking that it had been so long since Asuma had asked her out, Yuhi Kurenai felt a little sorry for him.
So, she took the initiative to invite him.
Boyfriend, huh…
Maybe Asuma would be a good match?
But…
Yuhi Kurenai quickly shook her head again. She was in no condition to find a boyfriend right now. Better to forget it.
"Okay!"
Whew…
The old Kurenai seemed to finally be back.
Seeing Yuhi Kurenai finally taking the initiative, the stone in Asuma's heart finally fell to the ground.
But unfortunately, Yuhi Kurenai, walking with him on the streets of Konoha, soon reverted to her previous absent-minded state.
She even accidentally bumped into a passerby on the street.
Causing him to be unable to find a good opportunity to give her the flowers he had been hiding behind his back.
"That person… is so strange."
After accidentally bumping into the person's shoulder, Yuhi Kurenai finally came back to her senses. After apologizing, she noticed the other person's appearance.
"His entire face is wrapped in bandages. Has Konoha ever had someone like that before?"
"He does seem a little suspicious, but…"
There was no other way. Even if it was awkward, Asuma had to take out the flowers from behind his back.
"He's wearing a forehead protector, so he should be a Konoha Ninja, but to be safe, let's go ask Hokage-sama first."
Yuhi Kurenai sensed something was wrong with that bandaged man.
"O-okay."
Watching Yuhi Kurenai, who had already taken the lead in heading to the Hokage Building, Asuma could only sigh helplessly with the flowers in his hands, and then quickly followed.
----
"Why hasn't Kakashi-senpai come to meet us yet?"
Several days had passed, and Uzuki Yugao and Uchiha Kage's group on the island of Whirlpool Country still hadn't been able to wait for Kakashi's figure.
"What did the previous message say?"
Gekko Hayate also sensed that something was unusual.
Didn't Kakashi-senpai take on a C-rank mission in the Land of Waves? Why would it take so much time?
"Kakashi-senpai said that he encountered Momochi Zabuza in the Land of Waves and might need to spend a little more time. He told us to continue to stand by in Whirlpool Country."
"Momochi Zabuza? The Demon from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
Gekko Hayate was shocked.
"So what do we do now?"
As expected, Kakashi still encountered Zabuza in the Land of Waves?
Although Uchiha Kage had expected it, he was also getting a little impatient.
"I don't know. Kakashi-senpai is fully responsible for this mission to gather intelligence in Kirigakure…"
Uzuki Yugao also felt a little troubled.
"Why don't you let me go to the Land of Waves to take a look? Maybe I can still help a little."
Thinking that the bodies of Zabuza and Haku might also produce spirits, and that he might even be able to collect some Ninja Fragments, Uchiha Kage quickly got the idea of going to the Land of Waves.
"Then you can go support them, and Yugao-san and I will stay here?"
"I…"
That wouldn't work even more.
Wait, if this guy goes to the Land of Waves, doesn't that mean Yugao and I will be alone here?
Crap, why did I have to refute him earlier!
Thinking of this, Gekko Hayate regretted it immensely.
"Alright, no need to argue. Let's go to the Land of Waves together."
Uzuki Yugao took the latest order from Sarutobi Hiruzen from the carrier pigeon that had flown over.
"Hokage-sama said that there has been a change in the mission to gather intelligence in Kirigakure. He told us to return to the Village as soon as possible with Kakashi-senpai and his team."
"A change in the mission?"
Uchiha Kage was quite surprised by this news.
Did something happen in Kirigakure, or did something happen in Konoha again?
Uchiha Kage inexplicably had a bad premonition.
"That's great… I mean, let's go to the Land of Waves together to find Kakashi-senpai."
It was good that they didn't have to go to Kirigakure. Gekko Hayate even breathed a slight sigh of relief.
The pressure of an S-rank mission was still a little too much for him.
"No, you stay here to guard the property and wait for Hokage-sama to send someone to take over. Yugao-san and I are enough to go to the Land of Waves."
*** Entering Translator's Territory (Handle with Care! 😉) ***
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