The sudden twist threw Kurenai Yuhi's focus completely off balance.
Before she could react, the pink-clad clone's kunai pierced through the space where she thought her opponent stood.
Yet, there was no sensation, no impact, as if the kunai had passed through empty air.
Raizen's figure distorted and vanished from her line of sight.
"You… when did you release the genjutsu?" Kurenai's voice trembled slightly, a mix of bitterness and disbelief running through her.
Her kunai was now resting at her neck, held by Raizen, yet she could hardly believe it.
In a single pass, she had already lost, and she didn't even understand how or why.
How could Raizen, right under her nose, be more than just an illusion and manage to position himself behind her?
"You lost." Raizen removed the kunai calmly.
"You have achieved the term: 'Pride of Genjutsu (White)'."
Term: Pride of Genjutsu (White)
Requirement: Defeat Kurenai Yuhi during her Ninja School period, proving that the Uchiha clan's genjutsu reigns supreme.
Progress: Completed
Effect: Genjutsu abilities increase by 5%
Note: Can be further upgraded
Raizen blinked, stunned. So even defeating someone could drop a term?
Why hadn't anything dropped from Obito? Was it because his stats were too low? Or was it purely random?
Raizen stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Kurenai, still processing the outcome, turned her gaze toward him. Her crystal-clear eyes were wide with disbelief.
She had lost so quickly… and without noticing how.
Her sense of pride as a member of the Yuhi clan, and as a daughter of her father, weighed heavily on her.
"It's… my loss," Kurenai admitted reluctantly, biting her lip. "When… when did I fall into your genjutsu?"
Raizen pointed subtly to his eyes.
His left pupil, usually black, now shimmered with a crimson hue, a single tomoe rotating slowly.
Kurenai's face flushed a deep red instantly.
She had made a basic but critical mistake: never meet the gaze of an Uchiha's Sharingan.
"But… your eyes didn't even turn red just now!" she stammered.
Raizen smirked faintly.
"Do you think your reaction was too fast, or that my eyes turned on and off even faster?"
He explained, almost casually, that the Sharingan could activate and deactivate at will, with no prelude or aftereffect.
Genjutsu released through the Sharingan relied on visual transmission, and any ninja with basic knowledge would know to avoid looking directly at an Uchiha during such techniques.
The power of the Sharingan essentially converted the user's ocular chakra into a special electromagnetic wave, allowing the genjutsu to take hold in the opponent's mind.
Raizen compared this to advanced chakra applications, like Tsunade's "Chakra Conversion to Electrons" for creating electric fields....a subtle nod to how chakra could be manipulated in various ways.
Kurenai, did you know that light and electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed?" Raizen continued, unbothered by whether she would understand.
Even Ninja School included lessons on basic physics and math, as seen in the written exams of the Chunin Exam.
"When I focused on you, I activated my Sharingan and applied 'Hypnosis'. You were just attacking empty air while I casually walked behind you."
Kurenai's eyes widened in shock. She had completely underestimated him.
From now on, it wouldn't just be a matter of avoiding eye contact; anyone facing an Uchiha's Sharingan had to instantly avert their gaze.
From the nearby bushes came the sound of panting footsteps. It was Asuma Sarutobi, exhausted from running.
Ah, Kurenai is just practicing genjutsu with Raizen.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
Raizen had already activated his Sharingan. Comparing genjutsu against an Uchiha is practically impossible, he thought.
Kurenai's hands clenched in silent frustration.
Was it wrong to believe that non-Uchiha could master genjutsu?
Asuma's words stung.
"Kurenai, you shouldn't try to face an Uchiha in genjutsu. It's political. It's dangerous. Keep your distance…"
Kurenai's eyes narrowed.
Did Asuma mean to say that her abilities, her training, were meaningless against an Uchiha? That her father's lifelong dedication to genjutsu wasn't worth anything?
Her tone turned icy. "Asuma, what do you mean by that?"
Asuma panicked, realizing his words were misinterpreted. He tried to clarify, but before he could explain, Raizen spoke:
"Kurenai Yuhi's genjutsu is exceptional. Even among your classmates, very few match her. If we purely discuss genjutsu, even Kakashi wouldn't surpass her."
He continued, praising her skill and her courage to challenge authority.
"I admire your determination to challenge the status quo.
Even under the shadow of the Uchiha's reputation, you have the right to assert yourself. Your ninja way will lead you to greatness."
Raizen's words both scolded Asuma for underestimating her and encouraged Kurenai, cementing her belief in herself.
In the future, Kurenai would execute 14 S-rank missions, 138 A-rank missions, and countless others.
Though she faced legends like Itachi and Kisame, her performance remained impressive, often holding her own against advanced genjutsu.
Eventually, she retired from frontline ninja work after having children, passing the torch but leaving her legacy intact.
Kurenai blinked, surprised. She hadn't expected this Lightning Country boy to speak with such insight and sincerity.
"Raizen…" she murmured, moved.
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