The winds of Enraoi whistled through the towering peaks of the mountain range, carrying the sound of distant thunder from a storm brewing in the horizon. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows that stretched across the rugged landscape, painting everything in shades of gold and crimson. At the highest point of the mountain, where few could ever reach, stood a modest but beautiful home, a minka, nestled at the peak of the tallest mountain in the land. The structure stood as a testament to the time, effort, and love that had been poured into it by two individuals who had faced and survived unimaginable trials.

Yami and Rei stood side by side, gazing out over the sprawling land below. The mountain range was theirs now, untouched and serene, far from the chaos of Moukoku and the struggles they had left behind. Their new life had begun, far from the prying eyes of those who sought to control or manipulate them. They were free. For the first time in years, they could breathe, and it was a feeling neither of them had ever truly known before.

It had been nearly three years since the climactic battle with Vistago. Since that day, everything had changed. The Naguyoto Clan, once exiled and cast aside, had been welcomed back into the world, their sins forgiven by the island's ruling council. Buddha, the once-distant, cold figure who had been forced into exile alongside the clan, had found a place within that same council. His strength and wisdom had earned him the respect of even the most skeptical of the island's inhabitants. He was considered one of the strongest men on Enraoi, a figure to be respected and feared.

Moukoku, the heart of the island, had taken nine months to rebuild after the devastation Vistago had caused. The wounds of the land had healed, but the scars would remain. The scars of the people, too, would remain. But life had returned to normal—albeit a new normal—one where the past was no longer haunting their every move.

Yami and Rei had decided to leave all that behind, to start anew in the peace they had fought so hard to achieve. And so, they had made the mountain their home. Together, they had built their minka—stone, wood, and thatch combined in the traditional Japanese style. The structure was small, but it was enough for them. It was a place where the past could be left behind, and the future could be forged from the very earth beneath their feet.

But their lives had not been idle. Far from it.

Yami's Work: The Creation of Jutsu

The isolation of the mountain had not been a curse but a blessing. It had provided Yami with the peace and solitude he needed to develop and refine his skills, his abilities. He had spent the last few years pushing himself further than he ever had before, reaching new heights of power and understanding. His Kusarigan, his ability to see the chains of fate, had evolved. But more than that, his mastery of jutsu had deepened, and the creations he forged in the silence of the mountains would shape the future of shinobi for generations to come.

Over the course of the three years, Yami had created nearly sixty new jutsu. Some were rooted in the elements, while others were more esoteric, drawing upon the complex energies of Yin and Yang. His knowledge of the elements had expanded far beyond what most shinobi could ever dream. He had mastered Earth and Lightning to their fullest extent, learning to manipulate the very ground beneath his feet and the electricity in the air like no one else could.

Earth-based jutsu had always come naturally to Yami. He had always been connected to the earth, its weight, its pressure, its strength. But over time, he had discovered ways to bend the earth to his will in ways no one had ever imagined. He had created jutsu that allowed him to reshape the terrain, summon colossal stone walls, or even manipulate the very rocks in the soil to bind and crush his enemies.

Lightning, too, had been a focus of his studies. He had learned to harness the fury of the storm, to summon bolts of raw energy that could shatter mountains or sear the very air itself. But Yami had gone beyond merely controlling lightning—he had learned to shape it, to refine it, and to infuse it with other energies to create devastating effects. His jutsu could strike with pinpoint accuracy, or they could blanket entire battlefields with lightning-infused devastation.

However, it wasn't just the elemental jutsu that had consumed his time. Yin and Yang—two opposing forces that held the key to balance—had intrigued him more than anything. The delicate dance between creation and destruction, life and death, was something Yami had come to understand on a deep, spiritual level. He had created jutsu that could heal and destroy in equal measure, techniques that manipulated the very essence of life itself. One of his most notable creations was a technique he called Soul Bonding, a jutsu that allowed him to bind the souls of two individuals together, either to strengthen them or to drain them. It was a dangerous and forbidden technique, but it had its uses.

But perhaps the most notable and dangerous of his creations were the jutsu he had categorized under a new style—Dēmonsouru.

Dēmonsouru Style: Pacts with Demons

The Dēmonsouru style was a forbidden path that Yami had carved for himself, and it was one that no other shinobi had dared to walk. To the world, it was a technique rooted in the darkest of arts. The idea of summoning and controlling demons was something most shinobi rejected. Even the most skilled of those who dealt with the supernatural, like the toads of Mount Myoboku or the snakes of the Ryūchi Cave, would never dare to engage with demons.

But Yami was different. His Kusarigan, his ability to see the chains of fate, gave him a unique advantage. The chains of fate that connected the world of mortals to that of the demons could be manipulated. Yami had discovered a way to reach across the barrier between worlds and forge pacts with demons. He could summon them into his world, bind them to his will, and control them without fear of losing his own soul to their dark influence.

But this power came with a price. Each time Yami forged a pact with a demon, he risked exposing himself to the very same fate that had claimed so many before him. The risk was only for those who lacked the control that Yami had, but it was still present. The demons themselves were powerful beings, capable of wreaking havoc on the world if left unchecked. But Yami had no fear. He controlled them, and they bent to his will.

The Dēmonsouru style was based on a series of rituals, each more dangerous than the last. Yami had learned how to summon demons from all walks of life—some were fire demons, others were ice demons, and some were beasts of pure darkness. Each demon he called upon could bring with it a different set of abilities, powers that Yami could use to enhance his own strength.

But while Yami was immune to the risk of being consumed by the demons, others were not so lucky. The pact was a one-way street. If a weaker individual attempted to summon and control a demon without the proper training, they would be consumed. Their body and soul would be twisted and turned into nothing but a vessel for the demon's will.

The first time Yami used Dēmonsouru, he had summoned a demon known only as Azaroth, a creature of flame and darkness, a being of pure destruction. The battle had been intense, and Yami had nearly exhausted himself before he had finally forced the demon into submission. But once Azaroth had been bound, Yami found that the creature could be used as an extension of his own power, wielded like a weapon in battle.

Since then, Yami had made pacts with several other demons, each one more powerful than the last. The creatures he summoned had become his tools, his allies in battle. But he never used them lightly, for he knew the dangers of relying too heavily on them. The demons could easily turn on him if he lost control.

Life on the Mountain

During these three years of creation, Rei had been by Yami's side, supporting him in every way she could. She had helped him refine his jutsu, and together they had built their life in the mountains. Rei had spent her time focusing on her own growth, training and meditating, using the peaceful environment to clear her mind and sharpen her body.

But the most important part of their life was the child growing within her. It had been a time of joy and reflection for the couple, knowing that their bond was now going to extend to the next generation. As Yami had created his jutsu and honed his skills, Rei had been preparing to bring a new life into the world. The baby would be their future, the living embodiment of their love and the peace they had fought for.

The mountain had been a place of peace, yes—but it was also a place of deep contemplation. Yami had poured his soul into his jutsu, each one a reflection of his journey, his battles, and the people he had fought for. He had spent the past few years becoming more powerful than anyone could have imagined, and it was all done in preparation for the challenges that would come in the future. Because peace, while necessary, was always fleeting.

And for Yami, Rei, and their child, the future was still unwritten. But for the first time in his life, Yami was content with that fact.