Chapter 57: The Yin Seal, Mastered!
"Why are your pants half-off? Don't tell me you wet the bed?"
Akiyama Makoto struggled to sit up, but Sakura pushed him back down onto the bed with just one hand. He wanted to say something, but all he got in return was her warm embrace. "Don't move. It's my turn to take care of you now."
"You must have suffered a lot all alone in the Sand Village... I'm sorry I couldn't bring you back."
"But it's alright now. I'm here!"
Sakura looked at his skin, which had become much rougher from the wind and sand, and wiped away the tears of joy from the corners of her eyes as she tidied his clothes for him. As for any other potential smells on him, they were long since masked by the strong scent of alcohol on both of them.
At this point, Makoto had finally figured out what had happened that night. As expected, it was all the alcohol's fault. However, he also had to admit that with his now sufficiently powerful Yang Release chakra, he was not afraid of a battle of attrition. In fact, it was Sakura, who could normally send most enemies flying with a single punch, who was as delicate as a leaf in that moment. Perhaps this was her own form of gentleness?
A long while later, after Sakura had fallen into a deep sleep, Makoto held her and closed his eyes as well, finally withdrawing his consciousness to attend to more important matters.
In the simulation, the Sakura of the next year had explained to him in detail how all of Tsunade's S-rank ninjutsu worked. What he needed to do now was to review all the details one more time, striving not to miss anything.
The core of Tsunade's ninjutsu system was the Yin Seal. By placing a sealing formula on the forehead, one could store chakra that had been refined but was not immediately needed. Furthermore, by fine-tuning the seal, the user could, in their normal state, achieve accelerated healing, enhanced attacks, and increased speed. Makoto had reason to believe that Tsunade had developed this technique to imitate Senju Hashirama, hoping to achieve the combat effectiveness of his Sage Body.
The Yin Seal had another function that had to be mentioned: it could also enhance physical functions, keeping the body in its prime and even achieving the effect of eternal youth. The current Makoto was still young and might not need this effect yet, but he was certain that no kunoichi in the world would refuse such a jutsu. Unfortunately, very few could learn it. However, he could potentially use his talent transfer method to give the people around him a chance to learn it as well.
When the Yin Seal was released, the stored chakra would be unleashed, allowing the ninja to use ultra-powerful jutsu that they would normally be reluctant to use. For example, Tsunade could use this method to summon a Katsuyu several stories high to treat the wounded of an entire village.
Of course, the most important function of Yin Seal: Release was to provide support for the subsequent Creation Rebirth — Strength of a Hundred Technique and Creation Rebirth.
Once the Strength of a Hundred Technique was activated, curse marks would cover the body. These marks would automatically consume chakra to heal the ninja, allowing them to ignore most injuries. As for Creation Rebirth, it could instantly heal fatal wounds by consuming cellular lifespan; one could even recover from being cut in half. However, Creation Rebirth required the ninja to form a hand seal to activate it, which was probably the technique's only weakness.
Having sorted out Tsunade's entire ninjutsu system, Makoto found it interesting. He and Tsunade had never even met, yet he had already learned all of her techniques. What kind of expression would she have in the future when they finally met and she discovered that he had already learned the Yin Seal? He was eager to find out and wasn't afraid of a conflict with her. In any case, he would only try it out in a simulation first.
What he needed to do next was self-evident.
He was going to master the Yin Seal!
Ever since he had gotten the simulator, this was the jutsu he had been thinking about the most. Learning it would greatly alleviate his survival pressure. After accumulating a few months' worth of chakra, he might even be able to erupt with Kage-level combat power. When that time came, no one would be able to casually dictate his fate anymore.
There was just one small problem: he couldn't place the Yin Seal on his forehead. The moment a diamond-shaped mark appeared there, it would be like telling everyone he had a secret. He didn't want to have a falling out with Konoha just yet; he still needed to develop until the start of the Konoha Crush plot.
So, Makoto decided to move the diamond mark to his chest. By wearing a dark undershirt in his daily life, he could avoid most trouble.
However, moving the location of the Yin Seal was no easy task. It would be difficult even for Tsunade herself to do, as it involved rearranging the entire sealing formula. The time and energy required were not something a single ninja could bear.
But the simulated Makoto had had more than enough time and energy to research this. In fact, he had already dedicated more than one simulation to it. In addition, he had the legacy of Chiyo, who was herself a master of both medical ninjutsu and sealing jutsu, not much weaker than Tsunade in terms of skill.
All of this combined was enough to give him the courage to try. And even if he failed, it didn't matter. At worst, he would just start another simulation. He still had three attempts left.
No sooner said than done. Makoto took off his clothes and created a Shadow Clone, having himself and the clone simultaneously carve the sealing formula onto his chest and back with chakra.
A full hour later, he brought his hands together in a seal, and the formula covering his body lit up. The seal absorbed the chakra from his body and then rapidly converged on his chest. Finally, with a soft cry from him, a diamond-shaped mark condensed there.
Success?
Before he could celebrate, the diamond mark exploded the next second, blasting him into a wall.
He grimaced in pain, then pulled himself out of the wall, stretched his muscles, and a smile appeared on his face. He had indeed failed just now, but it wasn't a failure in theory, but one in the fine-tuning of the chakra balance. Faced with this kind of failure, all he had to do was keep trying.
To this end, he set a small goal for himself: work until dawn. If he failed again, he would solve it in a simulation.
Time passed, minute by minute. He made seven or eight attempts in total.
Finally, at the moment the sun shone through the window and illuminated his bedroom, a diamond-shaped mark appeared on his chest, resting there quietly like a jewel.
Makoto lay weakly on his bed, feeling the chakra in his body slowly flowing into the Yin Seal, and slowly clenched his fist.
If obtaining the simulator was the first major turning point in his life, then obtaining the Yin Seal was the true beginning of his journey to becoming a powerhouse.
Just as he was about to close his eyes for a rest, a fiery and energetic voice came from above his head. "Mako, how did you get hurt?"
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