Chapter 99: The Fragmented Orochimaru Inside the Cursed Seal
"Well then, Miss Anko, please activate the Cursed Seal," the Slug reminded her gently.
Anko took a deep breath and closed her eyes, beginning to mobilize the Cursed Seal within her body.
Soon, Haruko felt the changes in the body in his arms—Anko's body temperature rose sharply, and her muscles began to tense.
'Holy crap, she's like a little furnace."
As the Cursed Seal activated, a surge of violent Natural Energy also began to run rampant inside Anko's body. Haruko could clearly feel the chaos and destructiveness of that energy—it was like someone pouring a bucket of boiling water into a precision instrument.
"Ugh..." Anko let out a pained groan, her body beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
"Concentrate. Let your own physical and spiritual energy merge with them."
While whispering in Anko's ear, Haruko mobilized the gentle Natural Energy within his own body, letting it permeate into Anko's body through skin contact to help her relieve the pressure.
"I... I know! Don't talk right against my ear!"
Anko bit her lip, forcing herself to focus her mind.
Although her mouth was stubborn, her body honestly leaned back, placing more of her weight onto the youth behind her.
In the eyes of the bystander, the Slug, this scene was practically a "miracle."
The reason so few people could master Sage Mode was not only due to its inherent difficulty but also because of the extreme risk—a single mistake by the practitioner would lead to eternal damnation.
As a Sage of the Shikkotsu Forest, it had seen far too many practitioners over its long lifespan.
Some died miserable deaths because they couldn't control the Natural Energy, while others gave up halfway due to fear or other reasons. Not even one in ten truly made it to the end.
Yet, the youth before it could actually soothe and domesticate the violent Natural Energy through physical contact, then feed it to Anko like a meal.
With his help, Training became risk-free, offering countless opportunities for trial and error.
...
As Anko gradually got into the rhythm with his assistance, Haruko also quietly closed one eye.
"Byakugan."
Anko's body structure, Chakra flow, and meridian distribution were all laid bare before him.
And the most eye-catching thing was that complex jutsu circuit located at the back of her neck.
'This Cursed Seal is really big... No, I mean, this Cursed Seal is quite sophisticated."
Although Orochimaru's Cursed Seal was crude, it was, after all, a device related to Sage Jutsu; it couldn't possibly be simple.
Haruko continued to maintain his support for Anko while analyzing and memorizing every detail of the Cursed Seal.
As time passed minute by minute, Anko's control became more and more proficient. Haruko could feel the energy flow within her body gradually becoming orderly, no longer in its previous state of chaos.
The Three Tomoe Mark on the back of Anko's neck also began to change. Snake-like black patterns gradually spread out from the Cursed Seal, and Anko entered Cursed Seal Level One.
"Huff... huff..."
Anko looked down at the black patterns on her body, feeling the surging power within.
"Is this Sage Mode Chakra? It feels... so strong."
She clenched her fist, clearly feeling the increase in strength.
Not only that, her sensory abilities had also become sharper, to the point where she could even feel the life force of the surrounding plants.
'Isn't this a bit too easy?" Haruko was somewhat surprised.
Mastering the Cursed Seal should have been a very dangerous process. How did Anko succeed so easily this time?
"Lord Haruko is indeed very special," the Slug seemed to see through his confusion. "Normally, the best one can do is expel some excess Natural Energy from the body. Your Natural Energy is like it has a life of its own, capable of actively soothing Natural Energy. I have never seen this before."
"I see..."
It seemed this ability of his was much more powerful than he had imagined.
Successfully mastering Cursed Seal Level One made Anko eager to try more: "I think I can attempt a deeper level of transformation."
Having been tormented by the Cursed Seal for years, this was the first time she truly controlled it...
She wanted to defeat that man(?)—even if only by a little bit.
"Wait, Miss Anko—" The Slug's voice carried a note of warning.
But Anko had already begun to force a breakthrough of the limits.
The Cursed Seal patterns instantly spread across her entire body, her skin color began to darken, and her aura became cold and violent.
"This is... Anko-sensei, stop quickly!"
Anko did not respond to Haruko's shout; her consciousness seemed to have blurred.
Haruko's Natural Energy responded to his will, quickly draining all the Natural Energy from Anko's body and forcibly stopping the Cursed Seal.
Anko's body went limp, and she collapsed directly into Haruko's arms. The Cursed Seal patterns also rapidly receded, shrinking back into the mark on her neck.
"Phew..." Haruko breathed a sigh of relief, recalling what he had just seen with the Byakugan.
Just as Anko attempted to activate Cursed Seal Level Two, in the deepest part of the Cursed Seal, a mass of cold Chakra with an independent will had faintly appeared.
'That should be a soul fragment of Orochimaru..."
Haruko narrowed his eyes. This thing was like a time bomb that could go off at any moment.
But now was not the time to deal with it—his knowledge of Sealing Jutsu and Cursed Seal Jutsu was not yet sufficient.
"Lord Haruko, how is the situation?" the Slug inquired.
"It's fine for now." Haruko deactivated his Byakugan and opened his eyes. "The Cursed Seal is more dangerous than imagined. If one forces a breakthrough, irreversible mutations are very likely to occur."
Looking at the sleeping Anko in his arms, Haruko began to scheme.
" Orochimaru's soul fragment... maybe I can ask for some resources?"
'Given how much the Konoha higher-ups value Orochimaru, if I say I've discovered a hidden hand he left in Anko's body, and since I'm the only one in the village right now who can handle Natural Energy..."
'When the time comes, research materials on Sealing Jutsu, Cursed Seal Jutsu, and even higher-level Forbidden Jutsu scrolls... Hehe."
The corners of Haruko's mouth were harder to suppress than an AK.
He had been worrying about where to get the resources to study the Cursed Seal, and now, Orochimaru had delivered a perfect excuse right to his door.
Say: Thank you, Orochimaru.
"Lord Haruko handled it very well," the Slug praised. "If you hadn't been by her side, Miss Anko might have just..."
"Yeah, I know. So let's take it slow." Haruko used Earth Release to make a lounge chair and carried Anko onto it.
"That's it for today. Let her have a good rest... Oh, right. I'll have to trouble you to pass a message to Master: I'm going to participate in the Chunin Exams, but don't worry, having already learned Sage Mode, I'm guaranteed to win."
"Yes, I understand... Eh?! Lord Haruko can already use Sage Mode?!"
Haruko, who not long ago had been told by the Slug that he was unsuitable for Sage Mode Training, had already learned it by their next meeting.
With its perception overturned, even the Slug Sage, who had lived through long ages, could not remain calm.
"Yeah, the Third Hokage gave me some pointers, and with a bit of my own effort, although it's a bit of a shortcut, it's usable."
"Lord Haruko is truly special..."
This nonchalant attitude left the Slug completely speechless. "I will deliver the message. Well then, I'm heading back."
Poof.
After the Slug vanished into white smoke, Haruko turned his gaze back to Anko on the lounge chair.
"Well then. When the sleeping beauty wakes up, I'll sell her to the old fogey for some cash."
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