WEEKLY POWER GOALS 💎🔥 30→2ch | 60→5ch | 100→8ch | 200→15ch | 400→25ch⏰ Resets Monday!
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It took Orochimaru a full six hours to lay down the intricate, triple-layered composite sealing array around the altar within the Dragon Vein shrine.
Finally done, Sasuke sat cross-legged on the platform. "Orochimaru. Do I just sit here and do nothing?"
"Not at all," Orochimaru replied. "This Dragon Vein is a massive aggregation of natural chakra. But you must refine it through the Yang Seal to transform it into Yin-natured chakra compatible with your eyes. The process demands extreme finesse in chakra control and immense mental focus. I doubt it will be pleasant."
"I understand."
Sasuke closed his eyes, steadying his breathing. He was ready.
Microscopic chakra manipulation. That had once been Sakura's greatest talent. His past self probably couldn't have done it. But with two lifetimes of experience? He was confident he wouldn't lose to her in a single specialized skill.
Orochimaru glanced at the three arrays surrounding the altar. "The first disables the Dragon Vein's original seal. The second is the connection formula for the Yang Seal. The third is a diversion array. I will take the lead, guiding the Dragon Vein's chakra to you, Sasuke-kun. Your task is the refinement and finalization of the Yang Seal. It is a massive, precise undertaking. It will take three days and three nights."
Kabuto pushed up his glasses. "That's… quite a marathon. If I recall correctly, the Akatsuki's tailed beast sealing ritual also takes three days and three nights."
"Indeed," Orochimaru said gravely. "Once the Dragon Vein's seal is released, the construction formula for the Yang Seal will activate immediately. However, the violent eruption of the earth's energy after years of dormancy will have… unpredictable consequences. We will need a powerful external force to suppress it. Kabuto. This is your task. Use the Wood Release power inherited from Lord Hashirama to contain it!"
Kabuto couldn't hide his doubt. "Can… can I really do that?"
"Have confidence," Orochimaru encouraged. "The purity of the Hashirama cells you received is extremely high, far surpassing my old experiment, Yamato. Suppressing the Nine-Tails may be beyond you, but containing the Dragon Vein should be well within your capabilities."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses again, a smile returning. "In that case, I'm reassured."
Karin, not wanting to be left out, piped up. "What about me? What can I do?"
Orochimaru thought for a moment. "Myself, Kabuto, and Sasuke-kun will be in a state of absolute concentration for three days. The probability is low, but these ruins are in the Land of Wind. Some curious Suna shinobi might decide to 'sightsee'. Please use your sensory abilities to monitor the surroundings for any movement."
"Understood!"
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened, his hands forming a seal. "Then… let us begin."
— Dragon Vein Seal: Release!
Zzt…!
The first layer of his inscribed formula activated, flowing over the original 'Dragon Vein Sealing Formula' left by Minato beneath Sasuke. Like a key sliding into a lock. The seal disengaged.
BOOM!!!
Instantly, the unique dark-purple glow of the Dragon Vein's chakra erupted from beneath the altar. The ground shook. The altar trembled. The entire Loulan ruins rumbled violently.
"Kabuto! Now!" Orochimaru barked.
"Leave it to me!"
Kabuto, who had been poised and ready, brought his hands together in front of his chest.
Snap! Eight wooden pillars, adorned with iron spikes and beast-head carvings, surged from the ground around the altar's perimeter.
Kabuto gripped his right wrist with his left hand. The kanji for 'Throne' glowed on his right palm, aimed at the altar.
— Hokage-Style Sixty-Year-Old Technique — Kakuan Entering Society with Encouraging Hands!
RUMBLE…!!!
The Dragon Vein chakra, which had been on the verge of exploding outward, was violently forced back under the pressure of Wood Release, rapidly stabilizing.
Kabuto let out a strained breath. "Suppressing it isn't the hard part. The hard part is maintaining this for three days and nights."
"As the Dragon Vein is converted, the pressure will gradually lessen," Orochimaru said, already forming another seal. "Consider it training for your Wood Release proficiency."
Zzt! The second array lit up. Dark-purple lines crawled up the altar, flowing along the outside of Sasuke's arms, climbing his face, turning inward at his eyes, and finally converging on his forehead. They formed the hollow, core network of the Yang Seal—the very channel through which the Dragon Vein's chakra would flow.
Orochimaru formed one final seal, holding the last 'Ram' sign.
Whoosh!
The diversion array activated. The deep, subterranean river of Dragon Vein chakra, under Orochimaru's meticulous guidance, began to flow into Sasuke's body at a steady, measured frequency. Sasuke, with total focus, refined the raw energy, directing the purified chakra to the hollow core of the converging network on his forehead.
When the seal was finally complete, that hollow core—the legendary Yang Seal—would manifest within it.
"Then I should do my part too," Karin said, her face serious. She raised two fingers, unleashing her sensory prowess to its fullest.
— Mind's Eye of the Kagura!
While the four worked in perfect concert to forge the Yang Seal, a thousand miles away in another part of the Land of Wind…
An uninvited guest descended amidst the swirling sands of Sunagakure, accompanied by a distorted, spiraling vortex.
The village's barrier and sensory teams detected nothing.
Who else could it be but Obito Uchiha?
Shun.
He glanced around, then released the key players for this operation from his Kamui dimension.
Suigetsu and Jugo, now full-fledged members of the Akatsuki, stood clad in black robes with red clouds. A ring bearing the numeral '三' (Three) adorned Suigetsu's left index finger—the mark of the Santai. On Jugo's left middle finger was a ring with the kanji '北' (North)—the symbol of the Hokuto.
At the recent gathering, they had been assigned their mission: Hunt the One-Tail, Shukaku.
Since they were now allies, Obito had no need to hide his abilities this time. He brought them directly to their destination, skipping the tedious travel and infiltration.
But… going straight into an 'away game' against a jinchūriki right after joining? How could Suigetsu and Jugo not be nervous?
Especially Suigetsu. During the Akatsuki meeting, facing Kisame's skepticism, he'd boasted that if he didn't bring Shukaku back, they could have his head.
Now, standing here, his legs felt like they were turning to water.
Damn it… should've kept my big mouth shut. Now I've gotta follow through…
Jugo's anxiety stemmed from a different place: the thought of killing someone who had done him no wrong.
He never imagined the Akatsuki was an organization built on hunting tailed beasts.
He had no grudge against Suna's One-Tail jinchūriki. Without actively unleashing his murderous intent, how could he strike to kill? But to consciously release that intent… it weighed on his conscience.
Observing their hesitation, Obito's voice was stern. "This is your debut for the Akatsuki. Its success is crucial not only for our plans but for establishing your place within our ranks."
"Suigetsu… summon the courage and cunning you showed against Pain. The One-Tail jinchūriki is just a child. You've seen his capabilities through Zetsu's intelligence."
Suigetsu grimaced. "I… I know that. But this is Sunagakure! If our fight draws attention, we'll be caught between the jinchūriki and the entire village. Getting out alive would be a miracle!"
"What you've considered, we've already accounted for," Obito stated flatly. "Listen. The jinchūriki, Gaara, is seen as a curse by his village. Last month, Suna's elders heard he aspired to become Kazekage, to replace his father, Rasa. The idea was universally rejected. In fact, he has already survived three assassination attempts this month alone."
Suigetsu blinked. "Whoa, whoa… what did this 'Gaara' guy do to deserve that? If it were me, forget becoming Kage, I'd have slaughtered those bastards and been long gone!"
Obito thought of the figure of that blond-haired boy. "Hn… such is the fate of a jinchūriki. In Suna, the only ones who might protect Gaara are his jōnin-sensei, Baki, and his siblings, Temari and Kankuro. But to make it easier to deal with Gaara, the Suna elders have sent all three away on a mission. They won't return for days."
Suigetsu's expression shifted. "Oh… is that so?"
"Yes. If your target is 'Gaara,' Sunagakure will be more than happy to see this problem disappear. They may not assist you, but they will not interfere."
Suigetsu's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Well, that's not so scary then."
Obito's masked gaze turned to Jugo, whose brow was deeply furrowed.
"Jugo… you feel you have no quarrel with the jinchūriki and are reluctant to kill. Is that it?"
Jugo clenched his fist. "Yes."
A cruel smile curled beneath Obito's mask. "Then you have no reason to hold back. Because Gaara of the Sand… is the one who killed your dearest friend. Kimimaro Kaguya."
Jugo's pupils constricted to pinpricks. "What… did you say!?"
"Enough. The target is training alone in one of Suna's fields. Go. Once you have him, bring him to the designated rendezvous point for the sealing. Succeed. Do not fail."
Shun.
With his final instruction delivered, Obito vanished into a spiraling vortex of space-time.
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