Sometimes, the most dangerous truths are the ones spoken too plainly.
Emiya Shihara knew this well.
Standing in the quiet corridor outside Konoha Hospital's ward, he hesitated. Telling Senju Tobirama outright that a full resurrection would let him heal Hashirama completely was out of the question. Tobirama was clever, suspicious by nature. The moment Shihara spoke openly, Tobirama would begin probing for traps, reading conspiracies between every line.
And to be fair, there was a conspiracy.
Shihara's very existence in this era depended on careful deception. The plan he had hidden for centuries was a delicate web. One wrong thread pulled, and the entire design could collapse before he had even begun.
Yet Tobirama, for all his intellect, showed a kind of blind spot. He cared little about whether Shihara could truly be resurrected; he was fixated only on this mysterious "Yang Power" Shihara had mentioned—this rumored energy that might restore Hashirama's fading life force.
"Sir Emiya," Tobirama said, his sharp eyes narrowing. "What exactly is this Yang Power?"
He spoke in that brisk, analytic tone Shihara had already learned to expect. The Second Hokage's mind never rested; it dissected every term, every hint of information. "It seems related to Yang-attribute chakra," Tobirama went on. "I know that Yang chakra forms the basis of many miraculous techniques. Medical ninjutsu itself is grounded in Yang chakra…"
He paused, then offered an example, as if giving evidence to a court: "The Akimichi clan, for instance. They manipulate Yang-attribute chakra to create their secret Multiplication Technique, massively increasing physical power."
Shihara gave a small, patient smile. "That's correct. Yang Power is the ultimate form of Yang-attribute chakra."
He let his words hang for a heartbeat, watching Tobirama lean slightly forward, waiting. "With it," Shihara continued softly, "one can create life where none existed. Limbs severed in battle can be restored. Destroyed organs can be regrown. Even a body drained of vitality can be filled again, granting the patient more years to live…"
His gaze drifted to the hospital bed inside the room, to the still form of Hashirama Senju. "Yes," he said quietly, "even a man whose life force is nearly spent could be saved."
Tobirama's pupils contracted. "Then how," he asked, "can a ninja maximize Yang chakra and achieve this Yang Power?"
"That," Shihara said with a sigh, "is not easy. The simplest way is for someone who already possesses Yang Power to share it with another."
He looked meaningfully at Tobirama. "Your brother is the perfect candidate for me to share my Yang energy with."
A flicker of emerald-green chakra glimmered in Shihara's palm, bright and alive. After a moment it faded, leaving only empty air. Shihara shook his head with theatrical regret. "But the Yang energy within me vanished without a trace during this resurrection. I don't know why."
Tobirama drew a slow breath. His voice dropped to an unusually humble register. "It's my fault," he said. "My Impure World Reincarnation was incomplete. This was my first time using it."
"No problem," Shihara replied gently. "Perhaps this body isn't truly mine from my lifetime. Perhaps the power was lost in the underworld."
He tilted his head, watching Tobirama's frown deepen. Inwardly, Shihara could hardly stop himself from snorting. Do you honestly think this is my mistake? he thought. Without my cooperation your crude jutsu wouldn't have worked at all. I lingered in the underworld on purpose to make this possible.
But he said none of this aloud.
Instead, he reminded himself of his real objective: to remain in this world long enough to rebuild what he had lost. If that meant playing the meek guest and allowing Tobirama to shoulder the blame, so be it.
"Forget it," he murmured at last, stepping toward Hashirama's bedside. "For now I'll try other methods. First I'll suppress the chakra in his body, slow his self-healing, and stop his cells from dividing too quickly. That should limit the damage to his lifespan."
"That won't be easy." Tobirama's tone carried both agreement and doubt. "My brother's chakra is extraordinary. Restraining it is… difficult."
Shihara extended two fingers. A faint black pattern appeared on the tips, writhing like ink. "Indeed. He's scarcely inferior to Ashura himself, your clan's ancestor."
Tobirama's eyes sharpened. "What is that?"
"A curse seal," Shihara said, holding the black energy up so Tobirama could see. "A seal condensed from natural energy. It prevents a person from using their chakra freely. If they try, the seal restrains their movements. In theory it should force his body to rest."
He allowed a hint of uncertainty to color his face. "But I'm not sure it will work on him. He's dabbled in Sage Mode—his body may adapt to the seal too quickly."
"Natural energy…" Tobirama stepped closer, curiosity overcoming caution. "May I examine it? I've studied many jutsu. Perhaps I can improve it, help you stabilize the effect."
Shihara inclined his head. Perfect. The more Tobirama involved himself, the less he would suspect.
Even so, a flicker of unease crossed Shihara's features.
"Is there a problem?" Tobirama asked.
"This procedure isn't common," Shihara admitted. "The curse seal can temporarily block a person's chakra, but if the bearer masters it completely, it can also grant them greater power by integrating the seal's energy. I'm worried…"
He trailed off, then finished softly, "…worried that spreading this power to the world will make it another weapon. Like chakra itself."
A shadow of memory passed across his face. "When the Sage of Six Paths and our order first taught chakra, some feared it would be used for war. Ashura and I believed otherwise—we thought the world would use chakra to end suffering, as we did. But now…" He gave a faint, bitter laugh. "Now it's clear we were wrong. Chakra became a tool for ninjas to fight and kill each other."
Tobirama studied him for a long moment, then spoke with quiet certainty. "Sir Emiya, this is not your fault. Power itself is never evil. Only the hearts of the greedy twist it. Please rest assured: I will not reveal the existence of this curse seal."
He raised his hand as though taking an oath. His grey eyes hardened. "And if I ever use the curse seal for battle, may my soul find no peace in the underworld after death."
Shihara's eyelid twitched. No need to go that far, he thought. You, of all people, with your Impure World Reincarnation disturbing souls—do you really think your own soul will rest peacefully? How extravagant.
Still, the oath suited his purposes perfectly.
Since Tobirama had bound himself with his own words, Shihara could safely imprint the seal. If the Second Hokage ever turned against him or tried to cancel the Impure World Reincarnation, the curse seal would serve as a quiet leash.
He looked down at the unconscious Hashirama, then back at Tobirama. "Very well," he said softly. "Let's begin."
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