"Because this forbidden Ninjutsu, in reality, doesn't manifest a genius every few generations; the information spread to the outside world is all false," Kurama Murakumo revealed the truth helplessly.
"Ah?"
A big question mark flashed through Satoru's mind. This could be easily debunked with a simple check. He had indeed looked up information, and the Kurama Family's history did show a genius appearing in every generation.
"I wonder if you've noticed that the information you heard from the outside world only mentions the legend of a genius appearing in the Kurama Family, but not the names of those geniuses?" Kurama Murakumo poured him a cup of tea, then poured one for himself and smiled.
Satoru slowly recalled, a growing sense of horror in his heart. He asked, "This… I pride myself on having an eidetic memory, but I seem to have overlooked this issue, never even thought about it. Could this be related to your predecessor's family?"
It was terrifying. In his recollection, it was exactly as Kurama Murakumo said. Given his thought process and methods, such an issue shouldn't have arisen; such crucial intelligence was overlooked.
He had coveted Kurama Yakumo's ability for a long time, all to achieve the ultimate in Yin Release nature transformation.
Now, he found… he seemed to have fallen for it, the power of Genjutsu…
Seeing Satoru's expression, Kurama Murakumo chuckled, "As expected of Konoha's famous Genjutsu master. You're right. You, including Konoha and even everyone in the entire Ninja World, have fallen victim to a Genjutsu, Genjutsu Reincarnation."
Thump! Thump!
Satoru's heart pounded, feeling like it was about to explode.
A Genjutsu that covered the entire Ninja World—wasn't that the Infinite Tsukuyomi?
Besides the foolish children of the Ōtsutsuki family, was there anyone else whose Genjutsu ability was this strong?
"This… how is this possible? Such a powerful Genjutsu, putting aside whether it's theoretically possible, even if it could be done, there wouldn't be enough Chakra to activate it. Energy is conserved; using any kind of power requires an equivalent price."
Satoru couldn't believe it. Damn it, how did they feel like the Ōtsutsuki themselves? What was the difference between their range and the inextinguishable Ōtsutsuki divine Ninjutsu?
He was deeply shaken, and at the same time, a desire arose in his heart: if he could learn a Genjutsu of this intensity, would he then have the foundation to challenge the Ōtsutsuki?
And why did the Kurama clan head say that this technique brought benefits but also severe side effects, and that after the Ninja Village system was established, this ability was no longer needed?
He even formed hand seals to sense the Chakra within his body, to see if his perception had truly been altered by some Genjutsu, and even activated his countermeasures against Ninjutsu that alter perception, such as Other Heavenly Gods and Ōtsutsuki divine Ninjutsu.
Thump! Thump!
Kurama Murakumo sensed that he was already stunned and didn't disturb his actions, instead slowly sipping his tea.
When he first received this news, he too was similarly shocked, even at one point doubting his existence, wondering if he was created by his ancestors using Ninjutsu.
But he knew that his ancestors' Genjutsu could not be broken. Without their family's information, it couldn't be deciphered even if one knew about it.
Because this was a Genjutsu that connected illusion and reality.
Both fake and real.
Thump!
At Satoru's heart, a phantom pentagonal cube emerged, pulsating with his heartbeat. The Heart Steel, which normally re-released itself only after some time, was now actively controlled by Satoru.
Thump!
A flood of information and memories surged, flowing from his heart to his brain.
Memories flashed by like a revolving lantern.
From the moment this body gained consciousness, to wetting the bed, being mischievous at school, the shock of hearing Kakashi's early graduation, the thought that he could never become strong when Might Guy trained with burning passion…
The Third Shinobi World War began, he graduated early at eleven, transmigrated here, gained a good brain, read various memories, practised various Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, perception…
Fighting, living, pursuing girls, marrying and having children, spying on Hidden Rain Village, researching Ninjutsu, Genjutsu…
All memories up to the present surged into his mind…
"Indeed, I was right. The information about the Kurama Family geniuses' names being overlooked truly happened. At the time, I was still confused, thinking that since the Kurama Family's kekei genkai was hailed as the talent of a genius, it couldn't be nameless, just a vague legend.
"The moment I came into contact with it, I fell for it. And only the memories of Kurama Yakumo that I brought from my previous life, because they were backed up in advance, were preserved…"
Satoru's eyes widened.
Terror, great terror.
How was it done? Did the Kurama Family also possess Ōtsutsuki methods?
This Ninjutsu that altered perception, and a Ninjutsu that was constantly active, was even more powerful than any Other Heavenly Gods, comparable to the inextinguishable Ōtsutsuki divine Ninjutsu.
This was far more impressive than his previous thoughts on Genjutsu that altered enemies' perceptions, such as inserting oneself into history.
Indeed, his idea for the Heart Steel Ninjutsu was not wrong.
Heart Steel, a Genjutsu that backed up one's memories, thoughts, and perceptions, creating a phantom yet real Different Space made of Genjutsu at the heart, and using the Mind Reading Technique to back up one's eptions and memories and thoughts.
Every seven days, it would activate once, reorganising memories and perceptions. This was to counter Ninjutsu that altered perception, such as Other Heavenly Gods, Izanami, and Ōtsutsuki divine Ninjutsu.
For Satoru, who could already use the Mind Reading Technique in reverse, the difficulty wasn't very high, so he had been prepared early on.
Heart Steel was a burden for other Ninja, but for Satoru, who possessed a good brain, reorganising memories was merely reviewing and learning anew, and did not cause a burden.
Unexpectedly, in the end, he still had someone teach him a lesson, and he still fell for it. Terrifying.
"You seem to have realised something?" Kurama Murakumo looked at his body; although it was wrapped in bandages, he could still feel his body tremble slightly for a moment.
Could he sense the anomaly of his ancestors' Genjutsu?
"Phew, Senior is joking. I feel scared by your words. How could anyone cast such a terrifying Genjutsu!" Satoru exhaled a turbid breath and said.
"No, this is real."
"So what exactly happened?" Satoru asked.
Kurama Murakumo put down his tea and sighed, "Actually, the kekei genkai genius that appears in our family every generation is our ancestor, Kurama Yakumo."
"…" Satoru had already endured the shock; no matter what, he wouldn't be shocked again.
Damn it, it was always he who made others feel shocked. But today, he just wanted to discuss Genjutsu knowledge and witness Kurama Yakumo's true Genjutsu, but he was played by someone from over a dozen generations ago.
"Every few generations, Ancestor Yakumo will be born from the Chakra within a family member, becoming a real person truly existing in this world.
"Perhaps one day, you'll find that I have an extra daughter, and her Genjutsu ability is extremely strong, reaching a level of threat to the Village.
"There's no need to be confused, and you won't be confused, as to why I have an extra daughter, because in the outside world, including everyone's perception, she is a truly existing person, a real person.
"She will be recorded in Konoha's secret archives, as an anonymous figure, remembering that my Kurama Clan produced such a genius, and then she suddenly disappeared.
"Only after several generations, when the Kurama Clan's descendants' influence weakens and they find records in the family's secret grounds, will there be a period of weakened influence.
"That's why I can tell you this secret.