A/N:- Merry Xmas Everyone. My finals are finally over. Now we are back to schedule.

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Izuna calmly lies down on the bed with his eyes half-open.

Huh…

He notices a black apparition slowly crawling towards him.

'So… that's the assassin. I wonder how is he able to see me.'

The Assassin takes out the special transparent kunai and peeks through the blade of the kunai.

'This kunai is made from a special mineral found deep in the veins of the earth. It allows us to locate see in this absolute darkness and locate our target. My Kamishiro clan utilizes this special technique passed down through generations to fight in battle.

We had a very high aptitude for Genjutsu and Yin release. Thus we created the Night Release technique. Kamishiro clan was famed for their skillful use of Genjutsu. We were feared for our secret assassination techniques, and many other clans and villages hired us.

Our fame spread throughout the entire shinobi world when a few of our members successfully assassinated the First Kazekage... followed by the Second Kazekage during the Second Shinobi War.

Soon, the entire shinobi world saw us as a threat and the hidden villages sent their powerful forces to annihilate our village hidden deep in the Land of Silence.

They annihilated and killed almost the entirety of my clan. Only a handful of people escaped from the village. I was a young teenager at that time. I ran away from the village… starved in hunger for God knows how many days.

Finally, Akifumi-sama found me. He fed me… sheltered me… and to pay my gratitude. I became his hidden blade. A blade that will terrorize his enemies in the wake of night. I became the 'Night Reaper'.'

'Time to die.'

The Assassin raises his kunai and stabs it towards Izuna's heart.

'No one has ever escaped from the deadly Night Release of our clan. Even if the 'Silent Shinigami' of Konoha appears before me… he will also fall under my blade like the rest of the world.'

Stab… clank…

A shard of ice blocks the kunai and deflects it. The assassin panics for a second before he calms down.

'I don't believe he can see me in this darkness. We have assassinated many sensor ninjas and even the possessor of many powerful Kekkei Genkai using this technique. Unless the user has a powerful defense like the Third Raikage or a similar shield… then we are helpless against him.'

The 'Night Reaper' remembers his failed assassination of Third Raikage, where his kunai wasn't able to pierce through the absolute defense.

'That was the biggest humiliation of my life. As a Kamishiro clan member… I failed to complete an assassination. It won't happen again… it must be a fluke. I will try again.'

Izuna calmly looks at the assassination whose entire body is draped in black clothes and his face is covered with a black mask.

'Are we playing some sort of Assassin Creed here? Why does he look like a brotherhood member?'

Swish… Swish… swish…

The assassin flails his hands around to perform some unusual hand signs.

"…"

'What kind of ritual is he performing?'

Swish…

The special kunai flies towards the assassin and falls into his hand. The assassin infuses some chakra into the blade.

'Night Release: Stab of Umbrage'

Swish…

He swiftly moves in Izuna's direction to stab him again.

"…"

"I can see you alright."

Clank…

Izuna blocks another attack with an ice shard as he remarks to the assassin.

"Impossible… impossible! How can this be possible?"

The Assassin yells hysterically.

'No… this can't be true. You are lying.'

Stab… clank…

He tries to stab Izuna again, only to get parried by him.

"Your technique is quite interesting. I have learned a lot from you... I can even see hope for my new technique. But regretfully… you are my enemy."

Izuna sighs and makes some hand signs.

"Wait… wait… tell me… how can you see me in my Night Release?"

The Assassin… aware of his imminent death questions Izuna.

"That's a secret." Izuna smiles at the assassin and makes some hand signs.

"Ice Release: Chilling Touch"

He grasps the head of the assassin. The assassin's body freezes from head to toe with his eyes wide open.

"Let me real quick check his memories to learn more about his technique. If not for my Mangekyo Sharingan and Shock Release… this guy could have done a number on me."

Izuna searches through his memories.

"Kamishiro clan… huh! They are various powerful clans hidden throughout the Shinobi World. Chinoe clan is one such example... and this Kamishiro is another. Guess… I can never lower my guard… not even against a small-fry. Who knows if they might pull out a surprising ability and land a killing blow on me."

Crack… Crack…

Various cracks appear on the 'Night Reaper's body before it shatters into countless ice particles.

The special transparent kunai of the assassin remains intact. Izuna picks it up and examines it closely.

"This kunai is made of chakra. I have never seen such pure chakra anywhere else. And there is a mine of this material hidden in the 'Land of Silence'. Maybe… I should make a trip to the Land of Silence in the future."

Bzzz…

The Sin Seal on Izuna's hand wakes up. Izuna frowns and looks at the seal.

"What's the matter with this guy? It has been pretty obedient in the past few years. Is it revolting or something?"

The Sin Seal activates, and the Grimoire appears in front of him. The Grimoire opens its page and forms a mouth.

Chomp…

It chomps down on the special Kunai in Izuna's hand.

Crunch… crunch…

The sound of munching of kunai echoes in his ears.

"…"

"Give it back… Give the kunai back to me… I needed that for my research."

Izuna frantically grabs the Grimoire and shakes it violently to make it spit out the kunai.

"Oye!... stop with your nonsense. It is making me dizzy." The Yin Kurama growls at Izuna.

"…"

Haha…

"Izuna is still as childish as ever." An apparition of Kushina chuckles.

"What?... Ku… Kushina… nee-san… you can hear me?" Izuna points a finger at the apparition.

"Yes… we can see and hear you, Izuna," Minato replies to him.

"Even you… Minato-san." Izuna looks at the apparition of Kushina and Minato with wide eyes.

"Oye… don't ignore me." The Yin Kurama growls at Izuna.

"Shut up... you pesky fox… or I will feed you to this book like that kunai." Izuna scowls at Kurama.

Brrrr…

A shiver ran through Yin Kurama's body as it stares at the Sin Grimoire with dread. It quietly lays down and closes his eyes.

Izuna turns towards Minato and Kushina and questions him. "Since when…"

Minato and Kushina smile at him.

"We have looked at you all this time. The moment we were sealed by you in this book. This book started to drain chakra from the Yin half of Kurama and used it to heal our damaged souls and with that last addition of pure chakra from that kunai… our souls were completely healed."

Kurama opens one eye and remarks.

"They fed on my body or to say chakra. I never had any chakra in this past few years... and this book is still constantly draining all of my chakras as we converse."

Kurama closes its eyes again.

Haha…

Minato chuckles at Kurama and introduces him.

"The real name of the Nine-tails fox is…

"Kurama… right?" Izuna replies to him.

Kurama's eyes-widens as it stares at Izuna.

Sigh…

"Yes… I am not even surprised anymore." Minato sighs as he continues.

"Since… our chakra and soul were linked together… we were able to converse and reconcile with him. I don't blame him anymore."

Kurama opens his eyes and grins at Minato.

"Give a hug to big sister Kushina." Kushina rushes towards Izuna and hugs him.

"You have turned into a big boy in these past few years. I am sure plenty of girls have fallen for you." Kushina chuckles as she teases Izuna.

"It… it is not like that." Izuna hurriedly denies her.

Haha…

Kushina laughs at Izuna's reaction.

"Soon… Kushina nee-san… I will heal both of you soon." Izuna clenches his fist as he promises to Kushina.

"You don't have to push yourself… Izuna-kun." Kushina pats his head.

"Naruto is truly blessed to have a caring big-brother like you. Also… I am waiting for the day… when I will be able to hug him in my embrace and shower him with all of my love."

"Yes… that day will come soon."

Izuna assures Minato and Kushina.

He turns towards the Grimoire and questions.

"What kind of thing are you? How are you able to do almost anything?"

Ptui…

The Grimoire spits out the handle of the kunai, which hits Izuna straight into the face.

Haha…

Kurama burst out in laughter.

"That's what you get for calling her a thing?"

Izuna turns towards Kurama and tilts his head in confusion.

���What do you mean by her?"

Rattle… Rattle…

The chains around the sin grimoire rattles. Kurama immediately shuts its mouth and starts to behave like a cute dog.

"…"

Izuna silently stares at Kurama and questions.

"Where is the dignity of the most powerful tailed beast which you boast of so proudly?"

Humph…

Kurama snorts and replies.

"I don't give jack shit about dignity. Besides, it won't help me in this situation."

"…"

'Is he influenced by me? I have been using such kind of cusses a lot.'

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A/N:- From the end of the chapter... you know what's coming in the future. Comment down your thoughts on this chapter.