The two sat in silence, as Yakumo remained blushing, not really knowing what to say. Saul gave her a little out.

"So? What exactly does giving a Red Tulip mean? I know a lot of things like this have some sort of hidden meaning to flower enthusiasts."

"It doesn't mean anything, don't worry about it." Yakumo lied smoothly.

She waved her hand, and the flower in his hair dissipated and flew away in the wind. 

"Without my chakra inside it, the things I create fade away."

It seems she has been busy practicing... This is already much more advanced than the rudimentary showing she had with the vines last time.

"What exactly can you create?"

Yakumo formed the seals for the mind body palm. 

"Simple things... Water. Plants. Fire. And oh, Id showed me how to do this one! Lightning!"

From her palm came down trickles of water that streamed over her hand to create a plant. That plant grew before becoming fuel for a fire. She tossed up the burning strands of fabric, and a lightning bolt zapped out, turning it into ash. Saul was shocked. In a world of ninja, it was almost like she was a wizard or something. 

Yakumo giggled. "I know, right? My grandfather used to swear that the founder of this village was actually born of an affair between the Kurama and the Senju. So his Genjutsu just ended up 'manifesting' in one way, wood release! I haven't quite figured out trees yet, but once I do I'll basically have it!"

What the actual fuck?

"What do you mean by... figuring it out?"

Smiling innocently, she put her hands together. "Well, ummm... I just tried it out? When it works, it kind of just works out I guess."

Exasperated, Saul tried to find another angle of approach, "You said Id showed you how to do lightning. How exactly did she show you how to do lightning?"

"Well Id... She kind of just, you know, did it. While we were in a Genjutsu. I saw how the chakra moved, felt how it interacted with my chakra, and well I was able to do it."

"May I put you in a Genjutsu?"

"Sure!"

The world vanished, shattered into a bunch of empty shards, reforming into a dark, empty space. The sky was pitch black, except for the occasional streak of lightning that flashed by. At its center was a small, steel cage. One did not need light to see it. It stood alone radiating its own, visible glow.. Steel bars extended upwards into the nothingness of the sky above and within it was a figure that looked just like Yakumo.

The pair descended downwards.

"This is my consciousness... Why are we here?"

Id opened her black eyes. "You know he wanted to show us something special. Why are you probing for an answer we already know?"

Yakumo smiled awkwardly. "Sorry Saul-san, Id's still somewhat of a... contrarian. She doesn't see the need to be polite."

"We don't see the need to play games... Now, we're in private. Tell him exactly what you want. There's nobody to judge."

"ID!"

Id sneered and closed her eyes again to rest. Saul interjected, 

"Well, Id was right about me coming here to show you something. It's most effective when in your consciousness, actually. But first, since I'm here, I should resupply chakra to the seal."

Yakumo nodded. "Though she's been on her best behavior, that would be for the best."

Saul walked up to the cage, putting his hand on it. Id said nothing, but her lips were curled into a smirk as he fed in the chakra. It was wrapped in Yakumo's kekkai genkai power, using all its might to maintain his chakra inside rather than actually restricting anything. 

After he was done, he positioned himself in front of Yakumo. 

"Watch carefully. I want you to see if you can replicate this with your Genjutsu."

Saul recalled the process of creating the Mind-Body palm using his frontloading technique. The chakra formed into a sphere in mid air, circulating, combining, and infused with a certain will. Saul put his hand inside that sphere, and the sphere coalesced over his palm like a glove.

"The Mind-body palm? Saul, you know there's no point in making that in Genjutsu, right? Whatever you imagine comes true in here. It doesn't transfer into the real world."

"You felt how the chakra moved, right?" 

Yakumo nodded hesitantly.

"Try it. Just try making it."

She thought for a moment, then extended a delicate hand out into the air. Then a glove of chakra wrapped around it, just like his. Her palm glowed.

"Saul... You can't be saying...?"

"Now try it in the real world."

Yakumo broke out of his Genjutsu without even having to struggle, leaving him slightly disoriented as he returned back to where he was talking to her just a second prior. Yakumo extended her hand, and... 

"I did it! Saul-san, I did it!"

Without any delay, without any fanfare, her palm was covered in a glowing, green light.

Yep. Why would the restrictions of the technique he tried so hard at theory crafting apply to her? He was only able to figure it out by 'imitating' what her Kekkai Genkai did, after all. The original would always be far superior. 

Trying his best to suppress his envy, all Saul could manage was a small "Well-done." Yakumo kissed him on the cheek in excitement!

"How did you manage to figure something like that out!?"

"...A man never reveals his secrets."

"That's not even the saying! C'mon, tell me!"

"Nope."

Yakumo was still smiling. 

"Jeez! As always you do just enough to keep a lady wanting, but you always run away at the last moment. Are you scared?"

Actually... yes. With Hinata he had easy, proven methods of manipulating her. He had incredible insight into her personality from the series, and their bond was extremely strong. Even with other women at the very least, Genjutsu was most likely an option if he became good enough. But with Yakumo in particular, he felt as if he was always walking on a tightrope. 

If she ever looked into his mind and truly saw who, no, what he was, it would be an exposure on a much deeper level than he was ever willing to give. To him, he was playing a game. He was within a fantasy where he was roleplaying as a ninja, helping some, destroying others. No matter what he did, there would be no consequences, right? None of these people were real! This entire world was simply imagined from the very beginning.

Essentially, he did whatever he pleased. Deep down Saul was still the depraved degenerate who self isolated for as long as he could - delving into fantasy for what he knew the real world could not give him. 

If one of the characters could reach out, break the fourth wall, and start talking to him, the actual him, Saul wouldn't want to play anymore. Yakumo represented that possibility. She was dangerous. She was the promise of fine, aged wine. Tempting, but if not handled properly, could turn into poison. 

His long silence gave Yakumo pause, "...Really? I w-was just joking with you."

She didn't know anything. Yet.

Saul snickered, "Wow you actually fell for something like that? I'm impressed."

"Saul!"

She hit his chest playfully, then leaned in and hugged him. "Really, thank you. This will help so much! Whenever you feel like you can tell me what's been bothering you, I'll be here for you. Just like you've been for me. Ok?"

He made a sound of acknowledgement, "Mnn." 

Yakumo smiled sadly, before pulling back and changing the subject, "One more thing! You have to make up for yesterday. Don't think I forgot - you didn't visit me. I missed you! Even Hinata took the opportunity to tease me about it! Come home to me, Saul-san. I'd like to spend some more time together with you..."

Author's Note: Hopefully this chapter provided a little more insight to you all on what makes the human Saul act like he does. The transmigration has caused him to sort of deny reality. No 'characters' are able to cause him to feel much empathy. As such, he will do whatever he wishes with them.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed the ch! A little more progress with Yakumo coming up next before I send him on that second C-ranked mission.

Also I've received feedback about what should happen before the Chunin exams. It seems what the majority of feedback boils down to is that Saul needs to become stronger than he is right now before he takes them. I won't spoil what happened to Zabuza, but... Lets say Naruto using some ideas that weren't his own did not bode well for the dude in their confrontation. More on that later.