Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 186 Kushina's Family Dinner, Reverse Vortex - Golden Binding Talisman

Konoha's commercial street.

Sousuke walked ahead. Beside him was Kushina Uzumaki, carrying a vegetable basket.

She changed into a beige knitted cardigan, over which she wore a light green long skirt. Her red hair fell to her chest, standing out somewhat in the sunlight.

Most villagers who passed by would instinctively avoid eye contact with her, or even take a detour. Her identity as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki remained an invisible wall.

"Mr. Sosuke, you didn't really need to come with me."

Kushina awkwardly tossed her hair.

"I can buy it myself."

"That won't do."

Sosuke stopped in front of a fish stall.

"You didn't make a reservation—supplies are very tight right now, and without me, you wouldn't be able to buy any good fish."

The stall owner was a shrewd middle-aged man who was preparing to pack up his stall.

"Sold out! Sold out! All the fish for today has already been pre-ordered!"

The stall owner waved impatiently until he saw Sosuke's face clearly. The eye patch, the elegant clothes.

The stall owner's expression instantly changed to one of awe and obsequiousness.

"Oh! It's Mr. Takaya!"

He quickly wiped his hands, his face beaming with smiles.

"Why did you come in person? If you'd like some fish, just let me know, and I'll have it delivered to your door!"

I want to choose for myself today.

Sosuke walked up to the stall.

"I want the best. To entertain our distinguished guests."

"no problem."

The stall owner pulled out a wooden bucket covered with a damp cloth from under the counter.

Lifting the damp cloth, a blast of cold air escaped. Inside lay five plump mackerel.

The fish's eyes were clear, its scales intact, and it shimmered with a silvery-blue luster amidst the clusters of broken ice.

"This is top-grade goods. It was just delivered and kept chilled; it's not spoiled at all."

During wartime, this level of fresh seafood was a special commodity that money couldn't buy.

Sousuke nodded, gesturing for Kushina to hand over the basket.

"I'll take them all. Put it on the Chamber of Commerce's account."

"No problem! I'll wrap it up for you right away!"

Kushina looked at the five heavy mackerel in the basket, her feelings complicated.

She knew how scarce supplies were right now. Ordinary people had to queue up to buy even salted fish, but Sosuke didn't even need to ask; the best things would automatically be delivered to him.

He clearly didn't make an appointment.

"Is this... privilege?"

"This is the distribution channel. Takaya Shokai controls the logistics, so they have priority in allocation. It's fair."

Sousuke corrected.

"Let's go, we still need to buy groceries."

In front of a vegetable stall.

"I want lotus root, burdock, and carrot."

Sosuke was picking through the root vegetables covered in mud.

"These are what you need for Chikuzen-ni (a type of stew). These root vegetables are resistant to overcooking, have a rich flavor, and are perfect for the current weather."

"And eggs."

Sosuke took a whole tray of eggs.

"I'm making thick omelets tonight. Sweet ones."

Kushina stared at the whole tray of eggs, somewhat speechless.

"Isn't that too much? Eggs are rationed now; each family can only buy two."

She saw a sign next to her that read, "Limit of two per person."

But when the boss saw that it was Sosuke who took it, he simply turned the sign over and pretended not to see it.

"Chiba and Kakashi are both growing, so they need to eat more."

Sosuke put the eggs into Kushina's basket.

"Lady Kushina, you're a wealthy woman now. Since you're treating us to a meal, you can't be stingy."

Kushina thought about it and realized that it made sense; the two children were growing and needed to eat more.

"You're right. If we're going to treat them, we can't be stingy. I'm going to make the best thick omelet ever, and feed those two little devils until they're full!"

""

"I need to go buy some more chicken drumsticks —"

She took the initiative to lead Sosuke to the butcher shop.

Kushina's villa.

In the living room, Kakashi and Chiba were hunched over the table.

They are drawing symbols.

"The chakra pathways here need to be narrower."

Chiba pointed to the scribbles Kakashi had drawn.

"If the lines are too thick, the procedure will fall apart."

"Too verbose."

Although Kakashi complained, he obediently switched to a finer brush.

"We're back!"

Kushina pushed open the door and shouted loudly.

"Welcome back, Mrs. Sosuke."

Kakashi came out of the living room.

Sosuke smiled and put down the vegetable basket in his hand.

"Alright, everyone, get moving. Tonight's going to be a feast."

The kitchen became crowded and lively.

Kushina is the head chef. She displays amazing leadership skills, directing three men around like crazy.

"Kakashi! Cut the carrots into chunks!"

"yes----"

Kakashi swiftly wielded his knife, the blade blurring into a blur. Each carrot was measured with the precision of a ruler.

"Chiba! Go beat the eggs! I need to make tamagoyaki, so beat them until foamy!"

"clear!"

Chiba picked up the chopsticks and used the chakra vibration technique to instantly beat the egg mixture until it was smooth and even.

Sosuke was in charge of preparing the mackerel.

He made cross-shaped cuts on the fish, sprinkled it with coarse salt, and his movements were as elegant as if he were sculpting a work of art.

"Mr. Sosuke, your knife skills are truly excellent," Kakashi couldn't help but exclaim.

"After all, I'm practically a doctor myself."

After preparing the fish, Sosuke washed his hands.

"Moreover, the feel of cutting open the trachea and cutting open the belly of a fish is actually quite similar."

Kakashi:

Chiba: "————"

The warm atmosphere just moments before instantly turned somewhat eerie.

"Don't say such scary things!"

Kushina glared at Sousuke and tapped his arm with a spoon.

Dinner has begun.

The long table was laden with dishes.

The steaming hot Chikuzen-ni is made with root vegetables that have absorbed the chicken broth, resulting in an enticing dark brown color.

The thick, golden-yellow omelet is layered and has a smooth cut.

Salt-baked mackerel, the skin is crispy and sizzling with oil.

There was also a big pot of white rice.

"I'm starting!"

Even when eating, Kakashi would only pull down a corner of his mask very quickly, stuff food inside, and then quickly pull it back.

His hand speed in that instant was even faster than when he formed hand seals.

Sousuke sat opposite Kushina, quietly eating his fish.

He didn't say much, but when Chiba tried to pick out the carrot, he gently tapped the back of Chiba's hand with his chopsticks.

Chiba shrank back and obediently ate the carrot.

The atmosphere was strange. It didn't feel like a ninja technique seminar; it felt more like a dinner party for a blended family.

"Mr. Sosuke."

Kushina suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

"Regarding that topic about combining Water Release techniques with sealing techniques—"

Kushina put down her chopsticks, her expression serious.

"I have completed the construction of the core techniques."

"Oh?" Sousuke was somewhat surprised. "So fast?"

"I just happened to have some inspiration recently."

Kushina smiled.

"I have already designed the structure of the sealing talisman. It can be perfectly integrated into the high-pressure water flow without being washed away."

"I even added a little surprise."

A sly glint flashed in Kushina's eyes.

"What surprise?"

"If the enemy attempts to forcefully break the seal with chakra, the technique will reverse, absorbing the enemy's chakra and reinforcing the seal's effect."

Sousuke smiled.

"That's... amazing!"

"It seems my new ninjutsu will be completed soon."

The table hadn't been cleared away yet after dinner.

Several empty plates were piled together, covered in sauce and grease.

But nobody cares about those things.

In the center of the living room, Kushina knelt on the floor, her long red hair pulled back, a few strands falling beside her cheeks. Her gaze sharpened and became focused.

"Watch closely, Chiba, Kakashi."

The brush in her hand was fully dipped in special ink.

The brush tip landed on the talisman paper. Without the slightest hesitation, it was completed in one go.

The black lines meander across the yellow paper, like living snakes or precisely meshing gears.

"The core of sealing techniques is a closed loop."

Kushina explained in a low voice as she drew.

"Ordinary binding talismans use chakra to form ropes. When the enemy struggles, the ropes loosen."

"But the idea behind this sealing technique is—to reverse the flow."

She drew a complex spiral pattern in the center of the talisman.

"This is a 'vortex'."

"When the enemy's chakra attempts to break through the seal, this vortex uses centrifugal force to forcibly draw the enemy's chakra into the technique itself."

"The harder the enemy tries, the tighter the seal becomes. It's like—being trapped in a swamp."

The final stroke was made.

hum.

A dark golden light flashed across the talisman before disappearing. A heavy sense of oppression emanated from the thin piece of paper.

"It's done."

Kushina put down her pen and wiped the fine sweat from her forehead.

"This is—【Reverse Vortex·Golden Binding Talisman】."

"Sousuke's left pupil contracted slightly."

In his vision, the talisman was not an inanimate object. It was like a miniature black hole, absorbing and releasing the surrounding free-floating energy.

"This thing—can it really lock down a Jonin?"

Sosuke picked up the talisman.

"Give it a try."

Sousuke looked at Kakashi.

"Kakashi, you're a Lightning Release ninja with explosive power. You'll be the test subject."

Kakashi was taken aback for a moment.

"Mr. Sosuke, isn't this dangerous?"

"Don't worry, with Kushina-sensei here, nothing will happen."

"Okay————" Kakashi's eyes turned into dead fish eyes.

He walked to an empty space in the living room and stretched out his arm.

Sosuke affixed the talisman to his forearm.

Are you ready?

'

"Um.

"6

Kakashi's eyes narrowed.

"Lightning Release: Activation!"

At this time, Kakashi had not yet unleashed Chidori, but he had already mastered the technique of using Lightning Release chakra to activate his body and increase his speed.

He gathered chakra in his palm. A burst of blue electricity erupted—"Whoosh!"

The talisman on my arm suddenly lit up.

That black vortex expanded instantly, like a mouth biting Kakashi's meridians.

"Well!"

Kakashi groaned, his face turning deathly pale instantly.

The lightning chakra was extinguished.

Not only that, his entire arm was trembling violently, with veins bulging, yet he couldn't move it an inch.

The talisman felt incredibly heavy, like a nail, pinning his arm firmly to the air.

My chakra is flowing backwards!

Kakashi gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead.

"The more I tried to mobilize my chakra to resist, the stronger the feeling of being bound became. Even—my nerve signals were blocked."

This feeling is terrifying.

For a ninja, being unable to control chakra is tantamount to becoming a cripple.

"untie."

Kushina formed a hand seal.

The light from the talisman went out.

Kakashi's legs buckled, and he almost collapsed to his knees, panting heavily. His arms were numb and had lost all feeling.

"The effect is amazing!"

Chiba was quickly recording data on the side, his glasses reflecting the light.

"Duration: As long as the talisman is not destroyed, it can theoretically last indefinitely until the enemy's chakra is exhausted."

Trigger delay: 0.01 seconds.

"Rating: S-rank support item".

Sosuke was extremely satisfied.

"That's incredible!"

"Using my Water Release technique, I'll deliver this talisman into the enemy's arms. Once it's affixed, it'll be a fatal blow."

He looked at Kushina.

"Lady Kushina, how many of these talismans can you draw in a day?"

Kushina thought for a moment.

"It's very mentally taxing. If I were to draw them by hand, I could only manage a maximum of ten a day."

Ten photos —

Sosuke frowned. That's too much.

This is a one-time consumable item. If used as a regular tactical tactic, a single battle might consume more than a dozen of them.

"Can't it be mass-produced?" Sosuke asked.

"It's difficult."

Kushina shook her head.

"The amount of chakra used in each stroke must be extremely precise. Even Kakashi and Chiba cannot do that yet."

Sousuke nodded.

It seems that this sealing talisman can only be used by himself and a select group of trusted confidants.