Naruto: I, Shikotsumyaku, Byakugan Princess

Chapter 140 Cursed Seals and Chakra Charts
Base No. 3, Equipment Department.

The room was dark and gloomy, with only a ventilation duct and a door. A tall, four-tiered iron frame occupied more than 80% of the space. It was filled with white masks with all sorts of bizarre patterns, as well as standard cloaks, bodysuits, kunai, shuriken, and other weapons and equipment.

On the top shelf inside the iron rack, there were rows of sealing scrolls, with the word "explosion" written in bright red on the back.

Right side of the iron frame.

In front of the rectangular mahogany table, Hui Li and You Nv Long Ma stood quietly, while a black-haired woman with a blank expression sat behind the table, filling out a form with her head down.

"height."

"135."

The ballpoint pen quickly drew indistinct cursive strokes on the paper.

"weight."

“250.” Hui Li pursed her lips. She didn’t like the number, neither its literal meaning nor its implied meaning.

Click!

The brushstroke paused.

The woman slowly raised her head, her panda eyes with large dark circles looking at Hui Li's childish face. Her gaze focused on the dark veil for a moment before she lowered her head to start writing again.

Wipe...

Weight: 250 kg.

After writing it down, the panda girl hesitated for a moment, then added a decimal point between the five and the zero before nodding in satisfaction.

"Code name".

"Night crossing".

Wipe...

The two exchanged questions and answers, and the form was quickly filled up.

Ryoma Aburame stood quietly behind Kairi, waiting like a cold wax figure.

The ballpoint pen tip snapped back with a click.

The panda girl folded the completed form in half, stamped it with her seal, and turned to help Gray Glass choose suitable clothing.

Can I wear my own clothes?

"When you're on a mission, wear a cloak and a mask. Everything else is up to you." She bent down and rummaged through the items, soon pulling a set of clothes from the bottom of the metal shelf and handing it to Hui Li. Then she took an owl-shaped mask from the shelf.

"There are too few masks that suit your face shape, so you don't have much to choose from. As for ninja tools, each person has a limited quota, and you need to report when you receive them. I suggest you take this opportunity to report as many as possible."

"No thanks."

Hui Li didn't complain and accepted the mask and robe.

The mask's overall shape resembles the upper part of an owl, with strange patterns constructed from red and black lines around the left and right eyes.

It's not ugly, but it's not particularly beautiful either.

Popular style.

Based on the emotional glow above Danzo's head, it can be inferred that his main purpose in recruiting her was to target Hiruzen Sarutobi.

If her relationship with Root is exposed, it could affect Danzo's future plans.

Danzo understood this even better than she did; he wouldn't usually send her on missions, so the chances of her using these things were slim. As for ninja tools, only those left behind by the Sage of Six Paths might be of some use to her; the rest were unlikely to offer her much assistance.

"And one more thing."

The panda woman took out a dark green manual and a wooden black disc from under the table.

The surface of the disc was covered with densely packed runes, and the center was a hollow cube.

"The manual records the Root's rules and regulations, maps, and methods to break the base's seal barrier. It's best to memorize it when you get back to avoid breaking any taboos. Input your chakra into this disc, and you'll get a unique symbol to identify yourself."

Carefully putting away the manual, Hui Li took the disc and examined the deep incantations on it.

The six-year ninja academy doesn't just teach the Three Body Techniques.

The course covers everything from the Will of Fire, the principles of chakra, setting traps, the structure of ninjutsu, hand seals, throwing, taijutsu, analysis of genjutsu, infiltration and reconnaissance, to more.

'Ninja Academy Gray Glass' even mobilized its fan club to borrow many textbooks from older students, some of which even contained basic knowledge of sealing techniques and curse seals.

Sealing techniques and curse seals may sound sophisticated, but they are not as complicated as you might think.

'Sealing Technique' represents a broad category of ninjutsu.

Just as shadow clones, water clones, and lightning clones can all be called clone techniques, all techniques that can produce a 'sealing' effect can also be called sealing techniques. For example, the technique she developed to control ropes to bind enemies is a very standard sealing technique.

Rabbit hair needles can block the flow of chakra within an enemy's meridians, and strictly speaking, they can also be classified as sealing techniques.

'Cursed Seal' is a semi-automatic ninjutsu, an alternative way of releasing ninjutsu.

The chakra flow and hand seals used when releasing ninjutsu are translated into abstract written form, which is called 'incantation'.

Let's take the example above again.

The ninjutsu that can control ropes is analyzed and translated into written form, which is a 'sealing incantation'. Finally, the incantation is drawn on a material that can conduct chakra. There is no need to hold your breath or form hand seals. As long as there is chakra input, the corresponding ninjutsu can be performed, that is, the incantation seal for 'rope binding seal' can be activated.

The 'Sealing Scroll' that records forbidden techniques combines the three elements mentioned above.

The principle is to draw the 'incantation' translated from a certain 'sealing technique' on paper that can transmit chakra through the 'curse seal' method.

This type of paper is also familiar; it belongs to the same category as the test strips used to test chakra properties.

The manufacturing process for 'ninja tools' is the same, except that they require rare chakra metals, making them much more expensive.

In addition to the materials mentioned above, human skin is also an excellent material for chakra conduction. Ninjas skilled in cursed seals will draw cursed seals on their skin to increase their combat power.

For a time, most ninjas in the ninja world wore strange cursed marks on their faces and bodies, even regarding them as symbols of power. Later, as the incantations of these cursed marks became more complex and the surface area of ​​the human skin was insufficient, this method of use was phased out.

In conclusion, sealing techniques and curse seals are two completely different concepts. However, because they are often used together, these two techniques overlap a lot.

By reading the incantation on the disc, Hui Li determined that the seal on the disc in her hand was neither a sealing technique nor some strange and powerful secret method. Just as the panda girl had said, it was a simple seal that generated a representative pattern based on chakra fluctuations.

A pale purple aura of chakra gathered in his hands.

Buzz!

The disc immediately vibrated, and the talismans began to slowly emit a purple halo.

Standing behind Gray Glass, Aburame Ryoma's icy expression finally showed a slight change. Black insects crawled out from his eyelids, releasing their pheromones full of longing towards the pale purple light.

阳？
Pushing his sunglasses up to the top of his nose, he pressed down on the restless parasites inside him and took three steps back, avoiding the purple halo and hiding himself in the shadows in front of the door, like a reptile that could only survive in dark corners.

Buzz!

The runes on the disc lit up in circles, eventually converging on the central square to form a unique pattern.

The three of them looked over at the same time with curiosity.

The overall design is an unclosed circle, composed of two overlapping wings in opposite directions. The left wing has a spiral pattern, and the right wing has a radial pattern. The two intersecting arcs, one forward and one backward, form an unclosed crescent moon and eclipse ring, with three diamond-shaped dots at the gap.

Although it is a static pattern, the three dots appear as vibrant as flowing water.

"This is your chakra fluctuation diagram. The chakra fluctuations recorded by the perception barrier around the village will eventually transform into this kind of diagram."

The panda girl took the disc from Gray Glass's hand, admired the beautiful and mysterious patterns on it for a while, then pulled out a piece of white paper and quickly formed a hand seal.

The constantly rotating and undulating purple pattern quickly solidified and was then rapidly imprinted onto the white paper to be fixed in place.

"From now on, this will be your mark. Your code name, mask, and chakra mark are all unique characteristics. When combined, they can quickly identify you. This is much more precise and stable than your appearance, which can be changed at will."

The woman handed the white paper with the pattern printed on it to Hui Li, then put the disc back under the table. As if her task was complete, she sat motionless in the chair.

Looking at the puppet-like panda woman in front of her, and then scanning the cold insect man hiding in the dark corner behind her, Hui Li felt that there were hardly any normal humans in the Root.

"Let's go!"

Holding a large pile of things, she spoke to Aburame Ryoma.

"Ah."

Surprisingly, the usually aloof Ryoma actually responded, though he was still sparing with words, at least he wasn't as uncommunicative as before.

Hui Li was surprised for a moment, then looked at the emotional dot above her head, which was empty and hollow, yet contained an extremely slight kindness. If everyone's favorability towards her were set to 100, Aburame Ryoma's favorability would probably have increased from zero (no feelings) to five (having met her once).

Although she didn't know where this favorability came from, Hairi, who knew nothing about Root, needed a channel to provide information.

As Danzo's right-hand man and one of Root's only two elite Jonin, the other party was undoubtedly an excellent source of information.

"What do you call it?"

"...Ryoma."

The two talked as they walked, leaving the equipment department one after the other.

In the dark room behind her, the woman slowly lowered her head, her dark hair falling from both sides of her face, and slumped in the chair as if asleep.

……

Da da.

Lonely footsteps echoed in the monotonous corridor.

Aburame Ryoma walked ahead, his black hood covering his forehead, making no sound as he moved. Kairi, carrying clothes and a mask, hung behind him, her expression solemn.

The woman in the equipment department didn't seem particularly remarkable, but her chakra reaction was incredibly strong, stronger than the combined chakra of Hairi and Aburame Ryoma.

Strangely, the other party did not give her any sense of danger, and their muscle strength was also quite ordinary.

"Ryoma, what's that older sister's name?"

"……do not know."

Aburame Ryoma's voice hesitated for a moment, then, as if remembering something, he said calmly, "Don't disturb her. This is Lord Danzo's order."

Upon hearing Ryoma's words, Gray's eyes flickered.

Konoha is nominally ruled by only one Hokage, but in reality, it is Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo who jointly govern Konoha.

The two, one in the open and one in the shadows, subdued all the ninja clans of Konoha.

The Anbu and Root were the direct subordinate units of the two. Root did not have as many ninjas as the Anbu, but due to various secret techniques and resources or certain forbidden human experiments, the situation here might be more complex than she imagined.

"Ryoma, how long have you been with Root?"

"long time."

"How long is a long time?"

"I guess... I... forgot."

Faced with Hairi's questioning, Aburame Ryoma paused. The cold and dark underground base made time seem meaningless, and he could no longer remember the year he joined Root.

Da da!

Footsteps echoed in the empty corridor.

No matter how hard he tried to recall, Ryoma Aburame could not remember when he joined Root, and he had even forgotten the reason why he joined in the first place.

All he remembered was someone smiling and reaching out to him in that boundless darkness.

I couldn't see the person's face clearly, nor did I know their identity.

And that warm smile...

The two walked for a long time, passing through rooms filled with sealing barriers, and also encountered Root ninjas who happened to pass by and greeted Aburame Ryoma and Hairi.

No one spoke during that time.

"arrive."

Aburame Ryoma's body suddenly stopped, and Hairi, who had been silently observing him, raised her head.

Two large, iron-gray doors directly in front were tightly closed, with red warning signs next to them and the words 'Experimental Department' written above them.

Experimental Department?
Is this the location for human experiments? There should be hagi cells here! Hui Li thought to herself, having already memorized the route to the experimental department.

"Chihaya Tohru is waiting for you inside."

Ryoma Aburame looked at Kairi in front of him and reached out to open the door to the laboratory. Pale white light seeped out from under the door, illuminating the dim corridor.

Uncomfortably avoiding the light spilling from the doorway, he had already brought Hui Li with him. He turned and left silently, leaving only a dark silhouette behind.

"If you remember when you added the root, please let me know."

With one foot already inside the lab, Hui Li suddenly turned around and said.

"……Um."

The familiar answer was chillingly indifferent. Hui Li shook her head and walked into the experimental department.

Outside, she's actually the kind of person who's rather aloof and rarely speaks. But once she gets to the root of the world, where it's mostly ice, it only makes her seem more warm and welcoming.

Sometimes, people are just afraid of comparison.

Click.

The iron gate closed.

The pungent smell of disinfectant wafted in on the cold wind.

In terms of perceived temperature, it is at least two degrees lower than outside.

Having spent so much time in the dim environment, the bright lights made Hui Li's white eyes feel somewhat dazed. Once she gradually adjusted, the familiar, clear world unfolded before her eyes.

Through the outer barrier preventing spying, the Byakugan finally came into play.

Except for a few rooms at the very back that are still impenetrable, most of the walls and wooden doors have become semi-transparent with outlines.

The experimental department, even more spacious than the conference hall, is divided into numerous square cubicles, resembling a giant honeycomb when viewed from a 360-degree angle through the gray glass.

Inside the beehive.

A long row of long, rectangular incandescent light tubes overhead; medical staff wearing green surgical gowns, masks, and gloves push people covered with white sheets in and out.

There were no screams from the test subjects, nor any mutated creatures with flying blood and gore.

Cold, refined, and clean.

If it weren't for the fact that the people in the hospital beds had their limbs restrained by iron rings, Hui Li would have thought this was just an ordinary hospital.

"Is this the new test subject?"

The nurse in white, pushing an equipment cart out of the hive, pointed at the silver-haired girl standing in front of the door, her voice tinged with surprise.

(End of this chapter)