Genshin Impact: Arataki Itto, No Longer the Clown!

Kujou Sara pushed through the bustling crowd and the maze of streets, her eyes finally catching sight of a figure perched atop a massive boulder not far ahead. Her pace quickened as she strode purposefully toward the figure.

"Itto!" she called out.

Arataki Itto, seated on the giant bluestone with a Raiden Shogun doll in his hand, looked up at the sound of her voice.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Tengu herself. You're a bit late, aren't you?" Itto's voice was laced with his usual playful mockery as he waved the doll in his hand.

The sight instantly ignited a fire within Sara. Her expression turned icy, and she extended her hand toward Itto, her voice cold and deliberate.

"Arataki Itto, return the statue of the Almighty Narukami Ogosho to me now, and I might consider not arresting you." She paused, her tone sharpening. "Otherwise, I can guarantee you'll be spending a very long time in a cell."

Her words were heavy, each syllable dripping with barely contained fury.

Sara was livid. As the general of the Tenryou Commission, her duties had multiplied with the impending war between Inazuma and Watatsumi Island. While the increased workload was nothing new—she was, after all, the Tenryou Commission's top officer, tasked with removing obstacles for the Shogun—it was still exhausting.

But just as she thought she could handle it all, several squads reported turning in confiscated Visions. At first, Sara felt a sense of pride in their efficiency—until she realized the so-called Visions were nothing but glass baubles in every color imaginable: red, yellow, blue… everything except the real deal.

And that wasn't the end of it. After finishing her administrative duties, she decided to inspect the training grounds to check on the new recruits. What she saw there made her blood boil. Out of the entire training field, barely ten soldiers were actually training. The rest were lounging in the shade, waiting for the session to end—some were even fast asleep! Sara immediately called them out, berating them for their laziness, but the recruits barely paid attention, their indifference only adding to her frustration.

She had considered making an example out of a few to set the others straight, but these recruits were no ordinary soldiers. Many were the sons of nobles or influential families, their positions secured through connections and bribes. Dealing with one or two was manageable, but dozens? And with the Kanjou Commission watching the Tenryou Commission like a hawk, she couldn't afford to stir up unnecessary trouble.

By the afternoon, Sara was seething with pent-up anger. She thought buying a limited-edition Raiden Shogun doll might help ease her frustration, only to find it stolen. From morning till night, it had been one thing after another. She wanted to scream, "Who could possibly endure this?!"

If it weren't for her years of discipline, her position as the Tenryou Commission's general, and her deep respect for the Raiden Shogun, she would have already thrown a punch. Forget the doll—she wanted to teach Itto a lesson first.

Itto, meanwhile, was taken aback by Sara's uncharacteristic rage. Since when had the Tengu become so hot-tempered? Still, he remained calm. "Tengu, you've got it all wrong. I just happened to pass by that shop, and when I heard how busy you were, I thought I'd do you a favor and hold onto it for you. Now that you're here, I'll gladly return it."

With that, he tossed the doll to Sara, who fumbled to catch it. Once it was safely in her hands, she let out a long sigh of relief. She glanced at Itto, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. Since when did he become so considerate?

"Ridiculous," Sara muttered under her breath. She decided against arresting Itto and turned to leave, still clutching the doll.

Itto watched her go, scratching his nose with a wry smile. He had known from the moment he heard the doll was reserved for Sara that he was playing with fire. Even if he managed to swindle it from the shopkeeper, Sara would hunt him down, and he'd likely end up with a theft charge. The last thing he wanted was to rot in a cell. So, the doll was nothing more than a hot potato. Once he got his system points, it was useless to him anyway. Better to return it and avoid trouble. That's why he had the shopkeeper tell Sara where to find him.

[Ding. Major event notification for the host.]

The system's voice suddenly rang in Itto's mind. He mentally acknowledged it. "Go on."

[First major event: Due to the system's interference, the fate lines of Teyvat have been disrupted. Consequences include an extended timeline, the possible reappearance of the remnants of deceased individuals through various means, and a weakening of fate itself.]

[Second major event: The system will undergo an update. The update will take seven days, during which only basic functions will be available. Notification complete.]

With that, the system fell silent.

Itto stared at the notification on his interface, deep in thought. "The remnants of the deceased returning to the world? Does that mean… she might come back?"

For some reason, an image of someone deeply connected to him flashed in his mind. He murmured to himself, "If she really does return, I'll make sure to give her a proper 'welcome'…"

His eyes glinted with a cold, dangerous light.

"Boss! Where've you been? Come on, we're waiting!"

Itto looked up to see Akira and the others waving at him from a distance, calling him over. The coldness in his eyes vanished, replaced by his usual boisterous energy. "Wait up! I'm coming!"

When he reached them, Akira and the others enveloped him in a group hug.

"Boss, we don't want to interrupt, but it's getting late. We should head back," Kuki Shinobu said softly, glancing at the darkening sky.

The group looked up, realizing how late it had gotten. "You're right, Shinobu. Let's head home."

"Yeah, I'm exhausted from all the fun today. Home sounds good."

As they chatted and laughed, the group made their way back to the Arataki Gang's hideout, the scene warm and full of camaraderie.

---

Somewhere in an unnamed mountain range.

As the sun set and night fell, the mountain was cloaked in an aura of mystery and danger. The moon, like a piece of white jade, hung high in the sky, its silvery light casting an almost sacred glow over the landscape.

In the forest, wild boars nibbled on fallen fruit, tanuki hid among the rocks and grass, and birds rested on tree branches.

Tap, tap, tap…

The sound of wooden sandals striking the ground echoed through the silent forest, unnaturally out of place. The animals, sensing the disturbance, trembled with instinctive fear and scattered into the wilderness.

Once the animals had fled, a figure emerged from the trees.

It was a woman.

She wore a tattered, blood-red junihitoe, a traditional twelve-layered kimono. A long oni horn protruded asymmetrically from the left side of her forehead. Her right arm was missing, seemingly severed by some sharp weapon, while her remaining left hand gripped a katana. The blade, shrouded in black mist, was stained with blood, emitting a nauseating mix of rust and iron. Her face was obscured by the same dark mist, revealing only a pair of eyes that glowed with a sinister red light. Even a fleeting glance would make one feel as though they were standing in a sea of corpses, surrounded by endless killing intent.

The black mist around her writhed like a living thing, seemingly attempting to repair her missing arm and the right side of her forehead.

"Ah… hh… hh…"

She opened her mouth, trying to speak, but her voice was hoarse and guttural, like the growl of a beast or the mutterings of a monster. Gradually, her voice became clearer, repeating a single word over and over:

"Kill… kill… kill!"

Her shrill cry pierced the silence of the forest, sending chills down the spine of anyone who might have heard it.

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