Setting: Spells

Tobirama sat Mokushō, his back ramrod straight, his hands resting on his knees, looking as if facing a formidable enemy, which made Hashirama him sideways.

He stared at Mokushō for a long time, and Mokushō looked back at him without any hesitation.

The crescent-shaped smile on the Fox Mask looked even more eerie under the oil lamp.

Tobirama frowned as he read this.

"Name."

"Mokushō."

"Age."

"I don't remember."

Tobirama frowned. "Give me some time."

"Well, then you can pretend I'm 13."

Tobirama thought to himself, "I don't believe you for a second," but in the end, he skipped over the matter.

What are you?

"Izuna's Shikigami."

Izuna muttered to himself, "It feels like they're conducting some kind of population survey."

Tobirama ignored Izuna's sarcastic remark and continued staring at Mokushō. "Did you tell Madara about those things regarding Onmyōji?"

"Yes, that's right."

Tobirama took a breath, paused for a moment, and said, "I have a mountain of questions, but right now I have something I urgently need to know."

"What was that golden pillar of light erupting from the ground at the dock? What were those words Izuna uttered back then? And what about that Wind Release he unleashed later? I don't recall him having that kind of Chakra attribute."

Izuna gave Dead-Fish Eyes, "I have Wind Release Chakra."

Chakra, without batting an eye, changed his Tobirama, "He's not good at using Wind Release chakra, so how come he can unleash such a powerful Wind Release?"

Izuna couldn't help but chuckle. He covered his face and whispered, "I'm sorry."

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.

Just then, Madara clicked his tongue and said, "Tobirama, are you here to be funny?"

A vein throbbed on Tobirama as he slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "Madara Uchiha! I've put up with you for far too long!"

"What? You want to fight?"

"You think I'm afraid of you?!"

Hashirama quickly tried to smooth things over. "Alright! Alright! Madara, say less! Tobirama, calm down too! Let this young man finish explaining!"

Hashirama tugged at them from one Hashirama and pressed them down from the other, finally managing to persuade them both to stop, and then looked at Mokushō, waiting for his explanation.

Mokushō clearly just finished laughing, and there was still a slight smile in his voice, "Then I'll answer them one by one. That pillar of light, it's the Light Vein Reversal that's always triggered during the Contract."

"Light Vein?" Tobirama frowned.

"Here, it should be called a Natural Energy aggregate. When the Contract is established, Natural Energy will surge out from underground, forming that pillar of light."

Tobirama frowned. "Does that happen every time Contract is established? Although I'm not an expert on Natural Energy, such a dense eruption can't happen with every Contract, can it?"

"Well, well, don't be so nervous. I was just about to explain," Mokushō said. "The size of the activated Light Veins is related to the 'weight' of the Contract soul."

Hashirama couldn't help but interject, "The weight?"

"Ordinary souls among those bound by Contracts may emit a faint glow, like Fire Fly, not enough to illuminate the docks in broad daylight. But if a soul already possesses merit or has a particularly strong affinity with nature, the response from the Light Veins will be more grand."

"So, you did a lot of good deeds in your life?"

Hashirama interrupted Tobirama's question, "Wait! You're already dead?!"

"Isn't this just common sense?" Mokushō looked at him, puzzled.

Hashirama opened his mouth, then closed it again.

From the moment Mokushō appeared, I had a strange feeling that this child had some connection to me.

But at the moment he learned that the other person was dead.

That inexplicable feeling suddenly disappeared, like looking at the other side of a river from one end but never being able to reach it.

"As for Izuna reciting the Contract Words, this Contract is the formal Contract," Mokushō nodded. "Although he had already established a connection with me through summoning before, that was just a 'fate' between us."

"This fan is the 'Dwelling' he gave me, and it is also the proof that I officially became his property and he officially became my master."

"The following words are similar to an oath like 'Heaven and Earth bear witness'," Mokushō said. "Well, there's no standard, as long as the master feels he hasn't done anything wrong."

He spoke very logically, and every detail matched up, but Tobirama still had doubts.

He sensed a familiar Tai Chi skill in Mokushō's words.

It was so obvious that he seemed to have said everything, but in reality, he hadn't revealed anything crucial. However, since he knew nothing about that world, he couldn't question it and could only bury his doubts in his heart.

"What about Wind Release?" Tobirama decided to change the angle. "After you possess the fan, you can unleash your own power?"

"No, no, no, that's not my ability." Mokushō waved his hand.

"That Tengu Wind is Izuna's own power; the fan is merely a medium to help him channel that power."

"Medium?"

"Just like a scroll, the power sealed within it needs to have its spell broken to be released, right?" Mokushō gestured with one finger. "I am the spell, and he is the user of the spell, that's it."

Izuna opened his eyes wide and exclaimed, "Oh, I'm really amazing!"

"I already said it's Tengu!"

Madara recalled the strong wind that had blown him a distance even after activating Susanoo, which gave him an idea of the wind's power.

Tobirama silently looked at Mokushō.

He was now almost certain of one thing: Izuna's power and the original rules of this world were far different than they had imagined, but they were not unrelated.

The evidence is that Izuna can also use the power of his world system in this world.

He simply didn't know exactly how he had used it.

Interesting, I'd love to study it.

"We all want to know what happened on the day of the Memorial Service. But I think it must be related to the power system of your world, so let's start from the beginning."

Mokushō pretended to think for a moment, "Let's start from the beginning... Let's begin with the 'curse'."

Tobirama looked at him, waiting for him to speak.

After a moment of Mokushō asked, "What do you think is the shortest curse in the world?"

Tobirama frowned, pondering for a moment. "The shortest incantation? I've never heard of such a thing. An incantation is nothing more than a technique that influences another's mind and body through specific means."

Mokushō shook his head. "I'm talking about something more fundamental. The shortest curse in the world is 'name'."

"Name?"

"Yes. Just like you are Tobirama, I am Mokushō, and Izuna is Izuna. Names like mountains, seas, trees, grass, and insects are all types of curses."

Tobirama frowned even more, but did not interrupt him. Hashirama and Madara also fell silent, the sea breeze outside pattering against the window frame like some distant harmony.

"In short, a curse is a form of binding." Mokushō extended his index finger and drew an invisible circle in the air. "A name is precisely what binds the fundamental form of things. If there is something in the world that cannot be named, then it is nothing. It is as if it does not exist."

"That's too far-fetched," Tobirama said.

"Then let me use you as an example." Mokushō looked at him. "Although you and I are both human, you are bound by the curse of 'Tobirama.' If you have no name, it doesn't mean you're gone, but you are no longer 'Tobirama.'"

Tobirama silent. He understood the words, but inwardly he retorted: No, how can a person's existence be determined by a name?

But then I thought, how would we distinguish people if they didn't have names?

Without a name, no one knows you; without someone knowing you, you cannot connect with others.

Ultimately, people are connected to the world through their names.

Madara suddenly spoke up, "So, you're saying that even if you can't see, you can still be caught just by giving someone a name?"

"Exactly." Mokushō nodded. "Some things are invisible to the naked eye, yet they can be bound by names."

"For example, when a man falls for a woman, or a woman falls for a man, if this feeling doesn't have a name, people can only vaguely say 'it's itchy inside.' But once you give it a name, put a spell on it, it's called 'Love.' From now on, as long as people hear these two words, they'll know what kind of feeling it is."

Hashirama blinked, a puzzled look on his face. "But... even without the term 'Love,' men still find women cute, and women still find men cute, right?"

"But without a name, you can't point it out to others, you can't tell them what's troubling you, and you can't ask for their help. A name makes it visible; only then does it truly become something that can be touched, talked about, and passed on."

Mokushō shrugged. "So, a name is the lightest yet heaviest curse in this world."

"But what does this have to do with your power?" Tobirama asked.

Instead of answering directly, Mokushō asked in return, "Chakra is a controllable energy produced by combining physical and spiritual energy, right?"

That's right.

"So, Water Release Ninjutsu is enhanced near a river; and Earth Release can be used with ease on the ground. Can you guess why?"

Tobirama pondered for a moment, then began, "Because we can use Chakra to guide the natural..." He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, as if something had made a connection in his mind, "Nature... ah."

"That's right." Mokushō nodded. "Chakra can guide Natural Energy, making the environment work for you. The reason Ninjas can change tactics in different terrains is essentially because they borrow the power of nature. It's just that you've taken this for granted as common sense in combat and haven't explored it further."

"And curses, what you call Ninjutsu, are one way of binding and utilizing nature."

Tobirama's expression turned serious. "But normally, simple guidance wouldn't have that kind of power. Izuna's Wind Release technique is definitely not something that can be achieved by simply borrowing momentum. Was it the amplification from that fan?"

"No," Mokushō shook his head. "That fan was at most a trigger. If I had to say, after I possessed him, I not only didn't amplify his power, but I actually restricted him. After all, it was just an ordinary decorative fan; it would break if actually used. If Izuna really wanted to, he could create Hurricane with his bare hands and burn the entire Land of Hot Water to the ground."

"Huh? Me?" Izuna pointed to his nose, his eyes wide open.

"Yes, Tengu are such great beings." Mokushō nodded casually.

"That's terrifying!" Izuna's voice trembled. "Don't make me sound like a human natural disaster!"

"But you are Tengu." Mokushō tilted his head, the crescent moon smile on his mask facing Izuna, his tone like he was teasing a ruffled cat, "I'm just stating the facts."

Tobirama's brows furrowed deeply. "You keep emphasizing the Tengu, could it be that bloodline also affects this power?"

"No." Mokushō held up a finger and shook it from side to side. "As long as one can communicate with nature through incantations and establish Contract with it, even Ordinary People can learn our methods. The power will vary depending on the affinity. The Tengu Clan finds it easier because of generations of inheritance, but the path is the same."

Hashirama pondered, "Communication? Contract? You don't mean Senjutsu Chakra, do you?"

"No," Mokushō said, "That's a more advanced usage."

"Senjutsu Chakra involves temporarily storing Light Veins, or Natural Energy, within the body. This requires specific talent and is not something everyone can do. However, anyone can use Natural Energy itself."

Ban spoke up, "Then how do I do it to use Natural Energy like you described?"

"This also requires a bit of talent, but anyone can do it, it's just a matter of speed." Mokushō paused, then suddenly stood up. "Let's try it now."

He walked to the oil lamp, bent down, and blew it out.

The room was completely dark. The moonlight outside the window was blocked by thick clouds, not even a sliver of light could penetrate it, and all that remained was a thick, almost solid blackness.

"Now, close your eyes." Mokushō's voice rang out in the darkness, carrying a power that unconsciously calmed people down.

All four of them closed their eyes.

Mokushō asked, "Tell me first, what can you see with your eyes closed?"

"I can't see anything," Tobirama answered first.

"Look closer, can't you see the veins in your eyelids? Those dark red, fine lines?"

Tobirama paused for a moment, then said, "... I can see it."

This means you haven't truly closed your eyes.

"Didn't you really close your eyes?"

"That's right," Mokushō said. "Your eyes are still seeing things outside, but only through your eyelids. If you want to see true darkness, you must also close the eye that can see the movement of your eyelids. In this way, shadows will descend from above."

"What's the point of doing this?" Tobirama asked, his tone tinged with doubt.

"Because you have to do this to see the Light Veins beneath your feet."

Tobirama was somewhat surprised, "You can see that kind of thing just by closing your eyes?"

"You can only see it when you truly close your eyes." Mokushō looked at Hashirama. "Mr. Hashirama, you can try absorbing Natural Energy first, and then give it a try. Of the four of you, you are the most likely to succeed."

Upon hearing Hashirama, Hashirama followed instructions and channeled Natural Energy into his body.

In the darkness, his breathing became long and even, and a few lines appeared on his face.

But after a moment, he shook his head. "No, I still can't see anything."

Mokushō wasn't disappointed. He just chuckled softly, "Take your time, you'll succeed. After all, this is something anyone could do when they were kids. It's just a matter of rediscovering that feeling."

Ban said, "Anyone could do that when they were kids?"

"Yes, even children under 7 can see it, it's just that you don't have the tradition of cultivating this from a young age."

Just then, Izuna suddenly tumbled to the side, but Madara caught him with lightning speed.

His head rested softly on Ban's shoulder, his breathing steady; he had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

After this incident, Tobirama and Hashirama had no choice but to open their eyes and look at him.

"This guy..." Tobirama sighed helplessly in the darkness.

"He's been making a ruckus all afternoon, he must be exhausted," Mokushō said with a hint of amusement. "Let him sleep."

Madara picked Izuna up in his arms and said to them, "I'm taking him back to sleep."

"Mm." Hashirama nodded. "Goodnight, Madara."

"Good night."

Hashirama and Tobirama tried again in the dark, but after realizing that it wasn't something that could be achieved overnight, they went back to sleep.

After they all fell asleep, Mokushō went to the corridor and silently gazed at the moon in the sky.

A sudden flapping of wings shattered the silence of the night, Tsukimiyo landed behind Mokushō.

What's the point of teaching them this kind of thing?

Mokushō did not turn around.

"You know what we've been through because of that power, right?"

They won't tell anyone.

He tilted his head slightly, and the crescent-shaped smile on his mask was gilded with a cold white light in the moonlight.

"That's true!" Tsukimiyo raised her voice slightly, "You know best what nature can turn people into. What if they become like that too!"

"But they're too weak, too weak!" The boy's voice was filled with impatience. "How can they be so weak! A mere Tengu Wind has made them treat it like a formidable enemy, and an Isshiki has injured them like this! If this continues!"

He stopped speaking, and after a moment of silence, the boy seemed to calm down. He said, "... They must become stronger."

Beneath the mask's eye sockets, his eyes gleamed with a golden light.

"We must become strong enough to sever 'ties' before the enemy arrives."