"Kakashi, your pupil learns fast—he really understands sealing techniques?"
Kakashi's tone was calm.
"Yes. Souma is… quite gifted in that area."
He deliberately avoided going into detail.
Because if he truly explained how ridiculous Souma's growth was, it would take half a day—and people might not believe him anyway.
Better to let them see it for themselves.
Chiriku folded his hands together, thinking.
"Then… in your view, how should we modify Fire Temple's barrier?"
Souma considered for a moment.
"I'm not familiar with your temple's specific sealing system, so I can't give a perfect solution.
But if it were me, I would add a smaller secondary barrier around the statues—and bury its formulas underground so they aren't visible."
"Another layer…?"
Chiriku knew every part of the Iron Wall Seal.
Hearing Souma's suggestion, he began evaluating feasibility.
And after a few seconds—
It actually works.
The workload would be considerable—they would need to dig around the statues—but compared to the risk of leaving the formation exposed, it was nothing.
Souma shrugged lightly.
"Not that you must fix it. Fire Temple's monks are strong. There aren't many shinobi in the world who can threaten you."
"Strength is one thing…" Chiriku sighed.
"But embedding a second layer isn't simple. Adding another seal requires marrying it properly to the Iron Wall. That's the difficult part."
Souma smiled gently.
"You can borrow power from the main formation.
Insert a few new formulas that link the subsidiary barrier to the primary one.
Then even if the outer layer is attacked, it won't collapse instantly."
Kakashi, Tenten, and Hasuka fell silent.
This conversation was above their pay grade.
Even Kakashi—who knew over a thousand jutsu—rarely touched deep sealing theory.
Chiriku also looked increasingly confused.
Inserting formulas… borrowing power… connecting inner and outer layers…
Why does this boy speak of these as if he's arranging flowers?
"Is it really that easy…?" Chiriku asked cautiously.
"Reasonably easy." Souma nodded.
"Seals and barriers seem complex, but they all follow internal logic. Once you understand the principles, modifying them is simple."
Chiriku stared.
This child…
Either he was a genius on the level of legendary seal masters—
or he was the most delusional liar alive.
And yet—
Tenten and Hasuka didn't look surprised at all.
That meant—
This was normal for him.
"May I… see one of your sealing techniques?" Chiriku asked solemnly.
"If it is within your ability, I would like to request your help in modifying our barrier. Compensation will not be an issue."
"I've only studied theory recently," Souma replied honestly. "I haven't created any actual seals.
But—why not try one now?"
He pulled out four standard talisman papers.
Chiriku blinked in recognition.
"The Binding Array?"
A common mid-level sealing formation that immobilized targets within a defined area.
Four talismans placed in cardinal directions—simple but effective.
Souma nodded—and pulled out two blank talismans.
"I'll modify it."
Tenten tensed slightly.
Modifying a sealing formation on the spot…
That wasn't something normal people attempted.
And if it failed?
Explosions were not unheard of.
Souma dipped the brush and began to draw.
The brush strokes were as thin as silk, perfectly controlled.
Chiriku's eyes widened slightly.
This level of precision… from someone who studied for half a month?
Impossible.
This was the hand of someone who had practiced for years.
Souma's brush moved quickly, drawing a compact formula in the corner of the talisman—
one of the formation glyphs belonging to a barrier technique.
Chiriku recognized the style… vaguely.
But he didn't understand the details.
Within minutes, a finished talisman was placed aside.
"What technique is this…?"
"Not done yet."
Souma created another.
Then another.
Eight talismans soon lay arranged neatly on the table.
Souma exhaled lightly.
"Let's test it."
Chiriku nodded and stepped forward.
Souma placed the eight talismans around him.
Then Souma clapped his hands into a seal—
The formation activated.
A thin white membrane formed instantly.
"Binding Array—wait, no… this isn't just that…"
Chiriku felt something strange—
his chakra was being drained.
An absorption barrier?
He snapped his gaze toward Souma—
Souma wasn't even maintaining the hand seal!
Chiriku's eyes widened.
The Binding Array normally requires continuous chakra and sustained hand seals from the caster… but he's free to move?
Kakashi inhaled sharply.
Souma had fused the absorption barrier with the Binding Array—
and embedded both into the talismans.
Meaning:
The caster only needed to activate once
The formation would self-sustain for a moment
The target would be simultaneously drained and immobilized
And the caster could move freely
That one second of helplessness was enough to decide a fight.
Especially if the attacker is Souma.
Chiriku struggled—
And a blade was already at his throat.
He froze.
Souma had stepped forward almost casually, sword sheathed yet ready—
and Chiriku realized grimly that if this were real combat…
He would already be dead.
A heartbeat later, the absorption effect dispersed.
Then, a breath after that, the Binding Array released.
Chiriku exhaled shakily.
"What… incredible technique. You really thought of this on the spot?"
Souma shook his head.
"Of course not.
I could complete the formation because I've spent half a month studying sealing, and two months studying barrier theory."
He gathered the talismans.
"Creation is never sudden inspiration—it's accumulation.
You build foundations, then insights come naturally."
Chiriku fell silent.
Two months of barrier theory.
Half a month of sealing.
He himself had spent years mastering the Iron Wall Seal.
And even then, he was not half as versatile as this boy.
Souma smiled politely.
Chiriku forced a smile back.
This child… is not normal.
Not even remotely normal.
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