A week had passed since Tsubasa had brought Ozora back to the Valley. The fragile peace that had settled over the valley was once again disturbed, now by a heavy cloud of sorrow and tension.
While Tsubasa and his subordinates grieved and focused on Ozora's recovery, elsewhere, a storm of anger and confusion raged at the heart of their enemy's power. Like a dormant volcano about to erupt, unrest and chaos enveloped the Karasuma clan's headquarters.
In the Karasuma clan's main residence, a crucial family meeting was underway.
The elders of the Karasuma clan had gathered in the grand yet cold main hall, their faces somber and strained, as if burdened by a heavy weight.
The atmosphere in the hall felt heavy and suffocating, as if a great storm was about to strike them, shattering all the peace and arrogance they had long upheld. Every glance from the clan elders radiated deep worry and anger.
In the main seat, which resembled a simple yet dignified throne, sat the leader of the Karasuma clan. An old man with an ice-cold face etched with deep wrinkles, each line telling a tale of power and cruelty. His eyes were sharp, piercing and assessing everyone who dared to meet his gaze.
An aura of lethal power and composure emanated strongly from his figure, yet behind that outwardly calm facade lay embers of anger ready to explode at any moment, scorching anyone who dared to disturb his position. His power and long-held dominance seemed challenged by the incident of their important prisoner's disappearance.
The main agenda of this meeting was to discuss the incident of Takagami Ozora's disappearance from the clan's prison.
The news was like a bolt from the blue for the Karasuma clan, a harsh slap to their reputation and security system that they had always been proud of. How could their important prisoner, who was supposed to be under tight surveillance, just vanish without a trace? This question haunted the minds of every clan member present.
A Karasuma member tasked with guarding the prison reported the incident in a trembling voice, his knees weak with chilling fear. He knew very well how furious their clan leader would be upon hearing this bad news. This mistake could be fatal for him, perhaps even costing him his life.
"Forgive this subordinate's negligence, Clan Leader," the guard reported with his head bowed deeply, not daring to look at his clan leader's terrifying face. "But Takagami Ozora has indeed completely disappeared from his cell." Each word that left his lips felt heavy and bitter, like poison flowing in his blood.
Silence instantly enveloped the great hall. Seconds passed in oppressive silence, only the faint sound of the clan elders' breaths could be heard, breaking the suffocating stillness.
Then, the silence shattered by the murmurs and whispers of the shocked and confused clan members. Question after question swirled in their minds, seeking answers to this unbelievable event.
Several Karasuma clan members looked shocked and anxious upon hearing the news. They did not expect that a prisoner they had considered weak and helpless could just vanish from their tight security. Shame and defeat were clearly etched on their faces.
"How could he disappear? Is it possible there was an intruder?" asked a clan elder in an anxious tone, breaking the increasingly suffocating silence. This question represented the confusion and disbelief of everyone present in the hall.
"We found no signs of intruders, and the prison seals are also intact. It seems he was taken away by someone from underground," replied the guard, still with his head bowed, afraid to raise his face and see his clan leader's anger. This answer further deepened the confusion and anxiety of the clan elders.
The Karasuma clan leader frowned deeply, his eyes radiating a cold aura that made the guard's hair stand on end. He did not expect anyone to dare to take such reckless action in his territory, openly challenging his authority and power. This was not just a matter of security, but also a matter of the clan's pride.
"Who dares to do this?" the Karasuma clan leader demanded, his voice a low rumble, each syllable laced with menace and barely contained fury. "Could it be Takagami remnants, still alive and lurking in the shadows?" The question hung heavy in the air, demanding a definitive, satisfactory answer.
Several Karasuma clan members began to speculate about who was behind Ozora's disappearance. Various conspiracy theories arose, ranging from actions by the Karasuma clan's enemies taking advantage of the situation, to the involvement of mysterious outside forces unknown to them. Suspicion and paranoia began to creep into their minds, creating an atmosphere of mutual distrust and disbelief.
However, there were also some Karasuma clan members who felt disgusted and dismissive of this incident. They considered this just a foolish and reckless act by the weak and helpless remnants of the Takagami clan, nothing more than a minor disturbance that was not worth worrying about. Their arrogance and sense of superiority blinded the eyes of their hearts and minds.
"It's probably just a few Takagami rats hiding and trying to save their failed master," said one clan member in a cynical and condescending tone, sneering at the efforts of anyone who dared to defy their clan.
"They could never be a threat to us, the Karasuma clan," another clan member chimed in with an equally arrogant tone. "They are just trash not worth our concern. Just leave them be, they will die on their own anyway." Their arrogance made them blind to the potential threat that might arise from the Takagami clan remnants.
However, among the Karasuma clan members who were dismissive, there were also some clan elders who were more cautious and felt the need to investigate this incident seriously and thoroughly.
They did not want to underestimate even the smallest enemy, because even a small enemy could become a thorn in the flesh if not properly addressed. Wisdom and life experience made them more vigilant and not rash in assessing the situation.
"We must not underestimate them," a clan elder said in a serious tone, cutting off the dismissive clan member. "We must investigate who dared to interfere in our affairs and insult the clan's honor." His tone was firm and full of warning, reminding everyone present not to fall into complacency and arrogance.
"If these are indeed Takagami remnants, we must make sure to eradicate them to their roots," another clan elder chimed in with an equally firm tone. "We must not allow them to continue living and become a thorn in our flesh, disturbing the clan's peace and power." The determination to completely eradicate the Takagami clan remnants rekindled in the great hall.
The Karasuma clan leader raised his hand, stopping the debate that was starting to heat up among his clan members. The atmosphere in the hall returned to deathly silence, all eyes fixed on their clan leader, awaiting further orders that would determine the direction of the Karasuma clan's actions.
"Enough!" The Karasuma clan leader roared in a firm and authoritative voice, echoing throughout the hall, breaking the tension and debate that had briefly occurred. "We must not underestimate any enemy, no matter how small. We must take every threat seriously, no matter how insignificant it seems." His voice was like thunder, asserting his authority and leadership.
"Send an investigation team to find out who is responsible for Takagami Ozora's disappearance," ordered the Karasuma clan leader in a cold and piercing tone, his eyes radiating burning anger.
"And make sure to increase security throughout the clan territory. I do not want such an incident to be repeated, shaming the Karasuma clan in the eyes of the ninja world." This order was a declaration of war against anyone who dared to defy them.
"Yes, Clan Leader!" all Karasuma clan members responded in unison, bowing their heads deeply as a sign of absolute obedience.
The atmosphere in the great hall returned to tension, but this time filled with firm resolve and readiness to carry out their clan leader's orders. Anger and confusion had now turned into a determination to find and punish whoever was responsible for this incident.
---
Meanwhile, far away in the silent Hidden Valley, Tsubasa was immersed in his relentless research. The outside world, including the commotion and fury of the Karasuma clan, seemed to cease to exist for him.
His mind's focus was entirely fixed on one overriding goal: saving Ozora, his beloved brother. Every second that passed felt invaluable, none to be wasted.
He had entrusted his subordinates with Ozora's care at his home, and they carried out their duties diligently and attentively. Ginga, Kyoya, Benkei, Hotaru, Ayame, and Madoka took turns watching over Ozora day and night, ensuring his brother received the best care and compassionate attention.
However, Ozora's mental condition remained deeply concerning and worrying. His brother remained silent, his gaze vacant and empty, as if his soul had long departed his fragile body.
Every time Tsubasa visited Ozora in between his busy research, his heart twisted at the sight of his brother's wretched condition.
Guilt and responsibility weighed heavily on his shoulders. His determination to find a way to save Ozora burned even brighter, becoming an unquenchable fire in his soul.
After studying various aspects from the fragments of memories of people absorbed as part of the 'Giant Brain' and some future memories from the Naruto anime in his previous life, Tsubasa deduced several hypotheses for Ozora's recovery.
The first hypothesis was to use memory seals to suppress or even erase Ozora's memory of the horrific events in the Karasuma prison. This was the simplest and relatively safest solution, but Tsubasa was unsure if it would be effective and not cause long-term side effects.
The second hypothesis was to study the soul transfer technology developed by Orochimaru in the future. This sounded extremely complex, risky, and dangerous, but promised the potential for a more complete and profound recovery. However, Tsubasa realized that this technology was still far beyond his reach at present.
The third hypothesis, also related to Orochimaru, was cloning technology. Tsubasa was uncertain if he could create this technology in a short time, but if he succeeded, he could create a clone body of Ozora and transfer his soul to that clone after sealing the terrifying memories that haunted him. This would allow for a near-perfect recovery of Ozora's body and memories, but was also the most complex and most difficult option to achieve.
Of these three hypotheses, Tsubasa decided to focus on researching the creation of memory seals first. This seemed to be the most feasible and safest solution for the moment.
He could always switch to other hypotheses if memory seals failed to produce the desired results. His main priority was to do something as quickly as possible to alleviate his brother's suffering.
Tsubasa began to carefully formulate his research plan, listing the materials and equipment needed. He utilized the 'Giant Brain' in his body to accelerate the research process and data analysis.
His brain worked at extraordinary speed, processing information and formulating ideas with astonishing efficiency. Every small piece of information he gathered was processed and analyzed in depth, producing an increasingly comprehensive understanding.
Tsubasa spent hours in his silent laboratory, conducting various experiments and simulations, trying and trying relentlessly.
The room was filled with complex research equipment, test tubes, and notes scattered across the table. The aroma of potions and chemicals filled the air, a silent witness to Tsubasa's arduous struggle.
He read the memories of many corpses whose brains he had absorbed, studying ancient fuinjutsu, the intricate anatomy of the human brain, and the mysteries of human psychology.
Knowledge from the past and future mixed in his mind, providing a unique and invaluable perspective. He was like a modern alchemist, trying to concoct a magical formula to heal a wounded soul.
Sometimes, he felt frustrated and despondent when his experiments failed or did not produce the expected results.
Failure after failure tested his mental resilience to the limit, but the image of Ozora's gloomy face and his vacant stare were a constant reminder of why he must not give up, why he must keep fighting.
He kept trying and trying again, driven by a burning determination to save his brother, to restore Ozora's long-lost smile and will to live. Failure was not the end for him, but rather the beginning of valuable learning.
Every failure was considered a valuable lesson, every step back was considered preparation for a larger and more steady step forward.
He was confident that with persistence, patience, and tireless hard work, he would definitely be able to find a solution to this complex problem, saving his brother from the abyss of despair.
Night after night, Tsubasa continued to conduct research diligently and passionately, ignoring the fatigue and drowsiness that afflicted his body. He often even forgot to eat and drink, too focused on his research that had seemingly become an obsession.
His determination to prove that he was capable of saving Ozora, capable of defeating despair, became the fuel that ignited his spirit.
In the deep silence of the night, only the soft hum of laboratory equipment and the sound of book pages occasionally being turned accompanied Tsubasa in his long and arduous research.
The Hidden Valley was lulled into the peace of night, but in Tsubasa's laboratory, his mind and spirit raced at the speed of light, seeking a glimmer of hope in the darkness.
He felt as if he was racing against time, having to quickly find a way to save Ozora before it was too late, before his brother succumbed to despair and lost hope forever.
The fear of losing Ozora, his only remaining family, drove him to work harder and faster, beyond the limits of his ability.
Tsubasa's research determination and spirit burned even brighter, fueled by his love and responsibility to save his brother.
Sacrifice and hard work no longer felt like a heavy burden, but rather as a path that must be taken, the only way to save Ozora and bring back happiness to the now grieving valley.
In the silent hidden valley, Tsubasa's research began, a long and arduous journey that would determine the fate of his family and his Valley. Destiny seemed to be at his fingertips, awaiting his decisions and the results of his research, full of hope and uncertainty.
Meanwhile, the Karasuma clan began their investigation into Ozora's disappearance.
They were completely unaware that their true enemy was far more dangerous and cunning than they imagined. Hatred and arrogance had blinded them to a greater threat, a threat that was coming from the darkness of the Hidden Valley.
The confrontation between the arrogant Karasuma clan and the vengeful Tsubasa was drawing closer, and a devastating clash that would shake the ninja world seemed inevitable. The fate of many would depend on the final outcome of this terrible clash.