Northern border of the Land of Steam.
The four Leaf battalions and the Fox Division had established a fortified encampment. This confrontation felt like a miniature war; one that might drag on for months without a clear resolution.
A messenger hawk spiraled down into the camp. White Sheep untied the message from its leg, used the specific ANBU decryption technique to open it, and brought the letter into Captain Fox's tent.
Yagami's eyes flickered as he read.
The Hokage had personally issued an order: all ANBU were to be on high alert for Uzumaki remnants. They were to be eliminated on sight. The rationale? To prevent these "rogues" from influencing the Leaf's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Kushina.
"White Sheep," Yagami said, masking his internal tension, "set the collection of intelligence on Uzumaki remnants as a long-term priority for our division. This is a direct order from the Hokage."
"Yes, sir!" White Sheep saluted and left to relay the orders.
Left alone, Yagami leaned back behind his desk. He had been incredibly cautious, but Orochimaru was simply on another level. The Sannin had managed to piece together enough clues to point the finger at the Whirlpool survivors.
So, you're afraid they'll influence the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? Yagami thought coldly. If Yuka and the others truly face danger, I might just have to "influence" the Jinchuriki myself.
For now, he wasn't overly worried. The remnants were hidden deep within the rainforests southwest of the Land of Rain. To reach them, an intruder would have to bypass the miasma-filled territory of the Salamander clan—a suicide mission for most.
...
At midnight, Yagami led the White Sheep squad out of the camp on a reconnaissance mission.
His relationship with Hatake Sakumo remained "ambiguous"—they shared the same camp but had only met once during the initial briefing. Since the conflict in Steam was primarily about scouting and posturing, Sakumo hadn't micromanaged the Fox Division, allowing Yagami to decide whether to scout or record the battlefield.
Once they reached the border, Yagami activated his Byakugan. After confirming the coast was clear, he turned to his subordinates.
"White Sheep, take the squad and scout three kilometers to the east, then double back. I'll scout three kilometers to the west. We rendezvous here."
"Understood, Captain."
As soon as they were out of sight, Yagami summoned the Stone Pandas, Shiro-ji and Shiro-yu. He used them to bridge the gap to the Uzumaki hideout and found Yuka.
"Yuka, Danzo knows about you," he said without preamble. "The diversion task you three carried out left a trail. You've been exposed as Uzumaki remnants."
Yuka's eyes widened with panic, but she looked at Fox and asked, "What do we do now?"
"Do nothing," Yagami replied firmly. "Do not let yourself be rattled. Orochimaru suspects Uzumaki involvement, but he doesn't know the specifics. Strengthen your perimeter scouting. If you encounter a small ANBU team, relocate immediately. If you see a large force, reverse-summon me at once."
He held out his hand, letting the persistent rain of the Land of Rain pool in his palm. "I will make sure they never return. If I get intel of a strike beforehand, I'll warn you immediately."
In this environment, Yagami could use Water Body Flicker without restraint. Even if Danzo himself came, Yagami was confident. He was like Hanzo; in the rain, he was effectively a demi-god.
He looked at the trembling Yuka and stepped forward to pull her into a reassuring embrace. "Don't be afraid. The Uzumaki have moved past their darkest hour. We are stronger now than we were two years ago when Whirlpool fell."
Yuka nodded against his chest. "I understand."
"One more thing," Yagami said. "Danzo is using the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal to tighten his grip on Root. I need you to study it. The seal uses the caster's blood, like a summoning jutsu. I'll find a way to bring you a subject marked by Danzo. If you can decode his chakra signature within the seal, we can break it. It's vital to my plans."
"I'll give it my all," Yuka promised. "Fox, I've compiled a new Uzumaki Sealing Book from the scrolls we saved and my own research. I hope our arts can help you."
"I'll have Shiro-ji return it to you in a few days."
...
Back in the Land of Steam, Yagami returned before White Sheep's squad. He shed his hooded cloak and used a small Fire Style jutsu to dry it instantly. Ten minutes later, the squad returned with nothing to report.
"Let's head back to camp," Yagami ordered.
Inside his private tent, Yagami unsealed the large scroll Yuka had given him. He scanned the index. Reaper Death Seal and Adamantine Sealing Chains were missing, but almost everything else was there.
The Four Symbols Seal caught his eye.
Unlike the Adamantine Chains, which screamed "Uzumaki bloodline," the Four Symbols Seal could be learned by other talented ninja. In terms of sealing Tailed Beasts, it was second only to the Chains.
Yagami dove into the text. The technique required talent in both Yin Release and Yang Release. By balancing equal amounts of Yin and Yang chakra into a rotating Taiji-like fish pattern, one could form the basic Two Pillars Seal.
He learned that Uzumaki sealing arts were divided into three main schools:
1. Bloodline Seals: Based on the Adamantine Chains.
2. Yin-Yang Seals: Based on the Two Pillars Seal.
3. Shinigami Seals: Based on the Reaper Death Seal.
The Four Symbols Seal, Cursed Tongue Seal, and Five Elements Seal were all branches of the Yin-Yang school. Even Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred Seal (Yin Seal) likely shared roots with these arts.
The Four Symbols Seal was an evolution of the Two Pillars:
Two parts Yang formed Great Yang.
One Yin, one Yang formed Lesser Yang.
Two parts Yin formed Great Yin.
One Yang, one Yin formed Lesser Yin.
By rotating these four sets of chakra, one created a stabilized, impenetrable barrier. The secret lay in the "Yin-Yang Harmony."
Yagami channeled Yin chakra in his left hand and Yang in his right. He brought them together. Two Pillars Seal! It was simple enough that he mastered it after a few tries.
However, the Four Symbols Seal proved much more resistant. Yin and Yang chakra weren't as stable as the five basic elements; they were easily neutralized by unknown environmental factors.
'If I can master the Four Symbols Seal,' Yagami thought, 'I'll truly be a master of sealing. Tailed-beast level chakra, tailed-beast level size—nothing will be beyond my reach.'
***
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