Chapter 58: My Alias Exposed?
Senju Tobirama!!!
The name screamed through Stelle's mind, a silent, internal shriek of pure panic.
Do you even hear the words coming out of your mouth? How did you reach such a terrifyingly accurate conclusion? You're just too damn brilliant!
Of course she knew. How could she not? Both Sōjin and the other persona he alluded to were her, Stelle, brought to life through a combination of Shadow Clones and her system's SSS-rank Energy Cards. But why—why—would Senju Tobirama ask such a pointed, bizarre question now of all times?
Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic, unsteady rhythm. His words were laced with a hidden meaning that sent a chill through her very soul.
"Tobirama-sensei, why are you asking me such a strange question?" she managed, her voice tight. "If you have something to say, let's wait until we're back in Konoha."
She tried to channel her chakra, to do something, but his hand shot out, stopping her once more.
"Your expression right now," he rasped, his voice a low, knowing whisper. "It's exactly the same as when we captured the Nine-Tails. The same as when you faced Uchiha Setsuna's assassination attempt. That look of calmly facing death, as if nothing in the world truly matters to you."
His gaze sharpened, pinning her in place. "So, after using this ninjutsu, you're going to... You're planning to..."
Stelle's heart beat even faster, threatening to burst from her chest.
So, what does he know? What exactly does he know? Going to what? Planning to what? Spit it out! The panic was a rising tide, threatening to drown her. If she could have empathized with Black Zetsu for a single moment, she would have realized her current frantic thoughts mirrored his perfectly from the day she'd first called out its name.
"Stelle," Tobirama's voice was softer now, almost gentle. "What do you think the future will be like?"
The abrupt shift in topic was jarring. She fumbled for an answer, scratching the back of her head as she recited the predetermined outcome she always kept in mind. "It'll be completely peaceful, I guess. No more wars, no one wanting to fight. Everyone will just... live well, and look forward to the future together."
"That kind of future... sounds wonderful..." He trailed off, a violent cough wracking his frame, spattering his lips with fresh blood. "Don't... no need to use that life-for-life ninjutsu on me again. I saw the research manuscripts at your home. The ones on life-force exchange."
Stelle's eyes widened in shock. My home? What was Senju Tobirama doing at my home when I wasn't there? He even used a sealing jutsu to open my private scrolls!
He was investigating her. Secretly, methodically, he had been digging into her life.
But for what purpose?
A brief application of her healing technique restored a sliver of Tobirama's energy—just enough to keep him anchored to the living world. His gaze fixed on her, yet it seemed to pierce right through her, looking toward some distant, unseen point.
"I'm glad I could see you before I die..." he murmured, a faint, weary smile touching his lips. "But this time... I want to be the one who goes first."
Stelle felt her brain short-circuit. The words were a jumble of static and nonsense.
[System, I suspect my alias has been exposed, but I have no proof.]
[Host, I think so too,] the system replied coolly. [You've been complaining lately about the intensity of Senju Tobirama's emotional fluctuations. You might have overlooked a key detail: you only collect mood values when his emotions are directed at you. Therefore, all his recent spikes were caused by you. It's highly probable he has discovered something.]
A gasp escaped Stelle's lips. A frigid wave washed down her spine, and a cold sweat broke out across her skin.
Her cover was blown?
Tobirama's voice, now a fading whisper, drew her back. "Death is just a moment... but the ones left behind are the ones who suffer the most..."
He looked at her, his eyes filled with a deep, sorrowful understanding. "Now, I'm going to be the one who goes first... I'm sorry. Perhaps this time, it will be your turn to suffer."
"Go. Do what you want to do. I believe that whatever you're planning... you have your reasons." His voice was barely audible now. "Stelle... take care."
His final words dissolved into the wind, and with them, the last of his breath faded into nothingness.
Stelle stood there, frozen.
She was utterly stunned by the sheer weight of information packed into his final words. Senju Tobirama had discovered something. Yes, it must have been during those days she was unconscious in the hospital. He must have uncovered something unbelievable.
Why else would he drop such a bombshell on her in his final moments?
And his emotional state when she'd appeared just now... it had been so strange. It fluctuated wildly, at times steady as an old dog at a mere ten points, then exploding to fifty thousand in an instant. It was as if he thought her presence here was a matter of course, yet was simultaneously shocked to see her.
This was the exact reason she had created her third alias. It was why she'd started hanging out with Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others at the academy while deliberately keeping her distance from Tobirama's circle. To avoid this very situation.
Well, that had backfired spectacularly. Continuing to farm acquaintances for emotional points had finally bitten her back. This was a stark reminder: it was always best to keep a safe distance from genuinely smart people.
Senju Tobirama's calm and steadiness were on a different level from the others. While Uchiha Izuna was the brains of his clan, his inherent gentleness made him subconsciously overlook many inconsistencies. But Tobirama was completely different. No matter what he was thinking, what suspicions were brewing in his mind, he could maintain a flawless facade, acting as if nothing was amiss.
Looking back, Tobirama's emotions had been wildly erratic around the time of the Nine-Tails' capture. Had he already sensed something was wrong back then? Even as his suspicions grew, he had remained perfectly composed, pretending nothing was wrong.
His performance had made her completely oblivious. She had failed to notice the problem, attributing his mood swings to the grief from his brother's death and the immense pressure of his new responsibilities. After all, those events were tangentially related to her, which had conveniently masked the real possibility that her cover was being compromised.
The result was months of blissful ignorance, during which she had likely failed every single one of his silent tests, revealing countless flaws she wasn't even aware of.
She began to rack her brain, replaying the past few months, searching for any possible slip-up. After a long, agonizing period of reflection, she came up with nothing. She had changed everything about her new persona—behavior, habits, preferences, abilities—it was all different from her previous identities. Even her personality was a complete opposite.
She was genuinely stumped. What clue could have possibly led him to the truth?
But it couldn't have been just a guess. Senju Tobirama, the mad scientist, was a man of rigorous logic. He would take anything ambiguous or uncertain to his grave without telling a soul. For him to have said those things, he must have been absolutely certain.
Stelle's mind spun, but she still couldn't figure it out.
And couldn't he have just explained things clearly before he left? This was driving her insane!
She panted, her back drenched in cold sweat. Faced with this scene, she felt utterly helpless for the first time, her usual composure shattered. She had always been the one planning to log off, to make a grand exit, but now Senju Tobirama had beaten her to it.
She had been prepared to spend a fortune, to cash in her saved-up mood values to exchange for his lifespan and revive him in one go. But he had flipped the table, refusing to play the game.
Not only had he checked out, but he'd dropped a parting bomb on her way out.
This time, I'll leave first.
What in the world was that supposed to mean?
She had truly let her guard down. Carelessly, she'd been stabbed right in the heart again. Why was he, more than anyone, so hateful? Why was he always the one who wanted to twist the knife?
She wasn't sad. She wasn't upset. Not at all.
He wanted to hurt her? No way.
She was just an emotionless, mood-collecting machine.
She repeated it in her mind. Three times.
Just you wait. When the time comes to revive everyone, she would make sure to die one more time right in front of him.
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