Ten years ago, in the hidden village of Uzushiogakure...
The roar of a waterfall echoed through the training grounds, its cascading water a curtain of white noise. Behind this veil, Ryuu Uchiha sat cross-legged, his gaze fixed on the silhouette of his sensei, Hinote.
"Hinote-sensei," Ryuu began, his voice carrying a hint of youthful eagerness, "I've completed my training for today. I've also finished reading the scrolls on chakra sealing techniques and even done some extra chores. Is there anything else for me?"
"You've completed your training, have you?" Hinote's voice, old and croaky, carried across the rushing water. Ryuu nodded silently, his eyes still focused on his teacher's shadowy form.
"Very well then," Hinote continued. "Tell me, Ryuu, what makes Fūinjutsu so dangerous?"
Ryuu paused, his brow furrowing as he considered the question. "What makes Fūinjutsu dangerous?" he echoed, his voice thoughtful.
A tense silence stretched between them, the only sound the relentless roar of the waterfall.
"Are you incapable of answering?" Hinote prodded, his tone sharper now.
"No, sensei," Ryuu quickly replied. "It's just... There are so many factors. The inherent nature of sealing itself, the potential consequences of misuse, the—"
"No," Hinote interrupted, his voice cutting through Ryuu's words like a blade. "Fūinjutsu is dangerous because it grants access to the old, the hidden, the forbidden. It reveals techniques and powers that were meant to remain sealed away."
With a sudden splash, Hinote emerged from behind the waterfall, his figure now illuminated by the dappled sunlight. His eyes, sharp and piercing, locked onto Ryuu's.
"Follow me," he commanded. "Today, you will learn about the most powerful category of Fūinjutsu."
Ryuu's eyes widened with a mixture of excitement and alarm. He scrambled to his feet, a newfound determination burning in his gaze as he followed his sensei into the depths of the Temple.
Ryuu and Hinote emerged from the forest, the towering Uzumaki temple looming before them. Hinote settled onto a weathered stone bench, his gaze sweeping across the intricate carvings that adorned the ancient structure.
"Listen closely, kid," Hinote began, his voice raspy yet commanding. "There are five categories of Fūinjutsu considered exceptionally dangerous. You are already familiar with two, and in time, you will master them all. But today, I shall impart knowledge of the most perilous of them all."
With a swift motion, he summoned his naginata, its polished blade gleaming in the sunlight. He traced the kanji characters for "Serpent Tongue" in the air, his movements precise and deliberate.
"The Serpent Tongue Technique," he declared, his eyes fixed on Ryuu. "It was my greatest achievement... and my most profound failure."
Ryuu leaned forward, captivated by his sensei's words.
"In my youth," Hinote continued, his voice laced with a hint of regret, "I sought to empower the Uzumaki clan, to give them the strength to stand against the other clans. We were dwindling, constantly outnumbered and slaughtered. In my foolishness, I sought a shortcut."
"Hinote-sensei," Ryuu interjected, his voice laced with concern, "what does this technique do? What are its consequences?"
Hinote turned to face his student, his gaze resolute. "The Serpent Tongue Technique is as ancient as it is powerful. Its capabilities are vast, as I ensured they would be. By placing a seal within the tongue and uttering specific incantations while performing the correct hand seals, one can summon fallen beasts from the depths of hell. But more importantly, it grants the user mastery over Fūinjutsu and the manipulation of space-time. Essentially giving the user a technique equivalent to the pinnacle of Fūinjutsu using nothing but words and seals."
Ryuu's eyes widened in awe. "The pinnacle of Fūinjutsu?"
"Indeed," Hinote confirmed. "But to wield such power, as my student, you must make a sacrifice."
"A sacrifice?" Ryuu echoed, a shiver running down his spine. He sensed the weight of his sensei's words, the gravity of the path that lay before him.
Ryuu's excitement quickly deflated as Hinote's playful smirk replaced his serious expression.
"Hmph. You're not ready yet," Hinote corrected, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You're not ready to walk the path. You're still too strong, too controlled. You've yet to face desperation."
"What?! Wait a minute! I'm ready!" Ryuu protested, his voice rising in indignation.
Hinote chuckled, his voice warm with affection. "10,000 laps around the temple, then head to bed. We have much to cover tomorrow, child."
Ryuu's shoulders slumped, a dramatic sigh escaping his lips. "10,000 laps..." he mumbled, his voice heavy with mock despair. "Just when I thought I was making progress..."
For a decade, the waterfall roared, bearing witness to the forging of a guardian until the boy became a man; a warrior and defender. Now, ten years later, in a realm between life and death...
The spectral figures of Limbo flickered and dissolved, revealing Hinote Senju in his current form, his ancient eyes fixed upon Ryuu.
"When you return to the world of the living," Hinote began, his voice grave and resonant, "you will face a threat unlike any other. A threat that can only be vanquished by the Serpent Tongue Technique."
Ryuu's eyes widened in astonishment. "How did—?"
"I do not know how she acquired it," Hinote interrupted, his voice tinged with disappointment. Yet he didn't aim it at Ryuu, not entirely. "You were the guardian of the temple. This means you have failed."
Ryuu clenched his fists, shame and regret washing over him. "I... I'm sorry, sensei."
Hinote shook his head. "Now is not the time for apologies. You must return to the world and destroy the kaiju that have been unleashed. You must do it as I taught you."
Ryuu nodded, his gaze hardening with determination. "I will, sensei. I promise."
A faint smile touched Hinote's lips. "Does this mean you are finally prepared to walk the path of chaos?"
Ryuu met his sensei's gaze, his resolve unwavering. "Yes, sensei. I will walk the path of chaos."
Hinote grinned, a spark of pride igniting in his ancient eyes. He placed a weathered hand on Ryuu's chest, his voice ringing with power as he spoke an enchantment.
"Serpent Tongue, Great Ward, break this contract!"
Blue energy surged through Ryuu's body, illuminating him from within. The light intensified, transforming into a blazing inferno that engulfed the entire plane.
"Farewell," Hinote's voice echoed through the flames as his form began to fade.
With a final surge of power, Ryuu was ripped from the ethereal realm, hurtling back towards the world of the living. The flames consumed him, leaving nothing but a lingering echo of his promise.
As the blinding blue light began to fade, reality seemed to reshape right in front of Ryuu's very eyes. His body rejuvenated with chakra, and his blood pumped once again.
Inside his body, a chilling sensation rose as his faithful beast re-emerged. Flames coursing through his veins and through his spirit.
"Let's go."
With a gigantic leap, Ryuu vanished, breaking through the barriers.