"So, Ran," Ruka drawled as she watched Pakura flail around in place, clearly trapped in an illusion, "turns out you like watching beautiful women dance for you. Starting young, huh? Already into questionable tastes?"
She rolled her eyes hard.
"Stiff movements, awkward rhythm. Other than a nice back and long legs, there's really nothing impressive here. If I were the one dancing, it'd look far better than this."
Ran, utterly shameless, nodded as if considering a serious artistic critique.
Ruka was speechless.
Like many others, those who didn't know her assumed she was a cold, aloof battlefield rose. Only fellow clan members understood—she was warm beneath the surface, fiercely protective of her own.
Ran, on the other hand, was the exact opposite.
Strangers thought he was cheerful, gentle, easygoing—an unusually sunny Uchiha.
But now that Ruka had spent real time with him, she was starting to see it clearly.
A little black-bellied. Definitely mischievous. And… maybe a bit shameless.
"Anyway," she said, forcing the topic back on track, "what's next? Wait for her Scorch Release to dissipate, then restrain her? Still… it's strange. She hasn't realized she's in a genjutsu at all."
As Pakura's technique finally collapsed, Ran calmly pulled a rope from his pouch while replying,
"A genjutsu that evolves into a complete, self-consistent 'reality' leaves the target with no resistance. This illusion has already surpassed ordinary Sharingan genjutsu. It's exclusive to me."
He paused, then added with visible pride,
"I like to call it Complete Hypnosis."
"Complete hypnosis?" Ruka shot him a look of disbelief. "Do you have any idea how many conditions that requires? Total sensory interference, a non-sensor-type target, flawless control—are you sure you know what you're saying?"
Ran smiled innocently.
"Or maybe," he said gently, "I'm just not there yet. She hasn't realized anything's wrong, so she can't break it."
Ruka stared at him.
For some reason, his sincerity made it even less convincing.
"Forget it," she muttered, stepping forward and drawing a short blade. "Let's injure her lightly and restrain her properly."
"No need," Ran replied calmly. "In her illusion, she just barely defeated us. She should be exhausted right about… now."
Right on cue, Pakura sat down.
Ran made a small adjustment.
"In her mind, she's standing up. In reality, she's lying down."
Pakura slowly collapsed backward.
Ruka froze.
You're telling me this thirteen-year-old hasn't even unlocked the Mangekyō…?
Her thoughts were in complete chaos. Ran's genjutsu proficiency had already surpassed hers by an unreasonable margin.
Ran pulled out a long length of rope.
At Ruka's questioning glance, he explained casually,
"Composite material. Orochimaru-sensei developed it. Looked useful, so I took some."
He proceeded efficiently—methodical, precise, practiced. The bindings were functional, designed to suppress movement and chakra flow, leaving no leverage for escape.
Ruka watched far too intently.
"…I've never seen this kind of restraint," she muttered. "The Academy definitely doesn't teach this."
When Ran finished and secured Pakura against the tree, immobilized and suspended in place, Ruka finally snapped.
"UCHIHA. RAN. WHAT are you doing?!"
Her face had gone bright red.
"Orochimaru-sensei taught it," Ran said seriously. "Said it prevents escape techniques during interrogation."
Ruka took a sharp breath and looked away.
"…When we're on missions together," she said stiffly, "you are never using this method again. It's… unacceptable."
"But you have to admit," Ran replied evenly, "it's extremely effective."
Ruka chose not to answer.
Ran stepped forward, standing calmly before Pakura, blade in hand.
He released the illusion.
Pakura jerked awake, immediately struggling—only to realize she couldn't move.
Then pain struck.
A clean, controlled slash—enough to hurt, not enough to kill.
The shock tore a gasp from her throat as humiliation and pain collided, forcing her fully conscious.
Her eyes snapped open—
Straight into crimson three-tomoe Sharingan.
"Shi—Sharingan…!"
That was the last thing she clearly remembered.
Ruka moved without hesitation, her follow-up flawless and professional. Within seconds, Pakura—the famed Scorch Release jōnin—was fully subdued.
Ruka exhaled slowly, then glared at Ran.
"I'm warning you. If I'm present on a mission, that restraint method is banned."
"…Understood."
Ran activated his Sharingan again, tightening the genjutsu.
As Pakura began to speak, the expressions on Ran and Ruka's faces gradually changed.
Confusion.
Unease.
Suspicion.
Ruka's gaze slowly shifted toward Ran—
Something about this mission was no longer adding up.
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