Advanced Application: Netsuke

After a period of depression, Mokushō realized that no one cared about his gloom, so he straightened up and patted off non-existent dust from his clothes.

"While I can't use particularly advanced spells, I can demonstrate intermediate ones."

Tobirama looked at him. "Take a look."

Mokushō raised his hand, his fingertips tracing a line in the air.

A beam of white light flowed from his fingertips, tracing lines smoothly in mid-air, and a Pentagram appeared, emitting a soft white light that reflected on the faces of the three people.

"Next, I will demonstrate one of the advanced applications of lines: the Pentagram Array."

"The Pentagram is the most basic Formation in Barrier Ninjutsu; almost all Barriers are derivatives or variations of the Pentagram."

"You can use Pentagram Array to do the same thing as a single line, only with greater power, a larger range, and requiring more Mental Power. The Pentagram Array can also be used to recall Shikigami in emergencies or to forcibly bind them when the location is unknown."

Mokushō spoke, he flicked his finger, and the Pentagram spun once in the air before dissipating into specks of white light.

Tobirama stared at the scattered points of light and thought, "I understand. It's like how Shurikenjutsu can be honed to perfection, and dodging can be mastered to the extreme, which is the Body Flicker Technique. But it is indeed an advanced application."

"Next, we'll discuss the application of conventional spells, which is also one of the more advanced applications of lines; we'll call it Writing."

He raised his finger and drew several more complex characters in the air.

Tobirama glanced at it and froze.

The characters clearly showed the hand seals for the Great Fireball Jutsu.

Si-wei-shen-hai-wu-yin.

Six characters appeared in mid-air one after another, emitting a faint white light.

As the last character hovered in mid-air, Mokushō pointed forward through the character and whispered:

Fire Style: Great Fireball!

A blazing Fireball roared out, tracing an arc as it hurtled towards the sea.

The Kakkō illuminated the entire night, turning the sea a crimson red, its shimmering waves trembling. The Fireball burned in mid-air for a while before dissipating, leaving behind a trail of embers slowly descending.

Izuna let out an "Oh," his eyes widening.

Tobirama stared at the remaining red light on the sea surface and remained silent for a moment.

"Just like the hand seals in Ninjutsu."

Mokushō blinked, his fox mask tilting slightly. "Ninjutsu?"

Tobirama didn't explain, but instead raised his hand and awkwardly formed those hand seals.

His movements weren't very fluid; after all, the Great Fireball Jutsu wasn't his Ninjutsu, and he didn't use it often.

The moment the hand seals were formed, Chakra flowed through his body, gathering in his throat. He opened his mouth and spat out a huge Fireball, almost exactly the same size and power as Mokushō's earlier attack.

The Kakkō reflected on the three people's faces, then dissipated after a moment.

Izuna looked at the sea, then at Mokushō, then at Tobirama: "Exactly the same."

Mokushō raised an eyebrow, his voice behind the fox mask carrying a hint of understanding. "It seems you actually know how to guide energy, only you've transformed it from Natural Energy into your own power."

Chakra lowered his Tobirama, the lingering warmth of the flowing chakra still remaining on his fingertips.

Transforming Natural Energy into one's own power.

He silently pondered those words.

Ninja's Chakra originates from the combination of physical and mental energy; it is essentially their own power.

The Spirit Power of Onmyōji comes from nature; it is an external force.

The two systems are different, but their guidance methods are surprisingly similar.

No wonder Izuna and Mokushō could use the power system of another world. In essence, there is not much difference between the two. It's just that our world makes good use of physical strength, while the other world makes good use of Natural Energy.

But one's own power is always easier to control, so why would another world be better at using Natural Energy, which is more difficult to control?

Tobirama frowned, silently deducing the situation in his mind.

No... maybe it's not that difficult to master? If they start practicing from a young age, like Mokushō said, they could see the Light Veins before, so they should be able to master incantations easily.

That's where things get interesting.

What makes Ninjas special is that they possess the potential to extract Chakra within their bloodline.

But Natural Energy is everywhere.

Mokushō spoke of it casually, as if it were something trivial.

That means that Ordinary People, as long as they have spiritual energy, can use Natural Energy to do something, even if it is very weak.

Tobirama imagined that scene, and then the early days of the Shinobi Village came to mind.

Ninjas from various clans mingled together, none of them willing to submit to the others, and even the slightest friction could escalate into a fight.

If even Ordinary People can Fireballs, wouldn't a street argument burn down houses?

Just thinking about it gives me a headache.

Tobirama decided to ask clearly, "Mokushō, if you use magic based on Natural Energy, does that mean that anyone can use magic?"

Mokushō turned his head to look at him, his fox mask tilting slightly. "Is this how it is? Is this considered daily life where we live? Actually, when I went shopping before, I found it a bit strange to see everyone doing their work in such a complicated way."

He was speaking when he suddenly stopped.

"Oh!" Mokushō clapped his hands. "You don't need to worry at all! The training of Onmyōji is still very difficult because the human body actually naturally rejects Natural Energy."

"Only those who frequently come into contact with Natural Energy can use it with exceptional ease. For most people, being able to float small objects or start a fire is already their limit. Becoming Onmyōji is actually a matter that heavily relies on talent."

Tobirama: "I see."

Mokushō added, "Clans like the Senju and Uchiha pass down their talents through bloodlines, making it easy for them to begin training and become Onmyōji."

Tobirama stroked his Tobirama. In other words, in that world, Onmyōji were actually quite particular about bloodlines. In that case, managing them shouldn't be too troublesome, and Ordinary People knew a little bit of sorcery could even live more conveniently because of it.

That's good.

"However, it actually has some side effects," Mokushō added.

Tobirama snapped Tobirama and looked at him, "Side effects?"

"For example, when the Uchiha awakens their bloodline, they resonate with Natural Energy and grow wings."

Izuna was squatting on the ground teasing Fire Fly when he heard this. He looked up abruptly, his face full of surprise. "Is this something bad?"

Wings! Those are wings! Wings that can fly! He had so much fun flying in the sky before! How could this be a bad thing?

Mokushō turned his head to look at him, his tone carrying a subtle pity. "It's a mixed bag. The advantage is that your power will increase significantly, but the disadvantage is that you'll be too close to Natural Energy, and there's a possibility of being assimilated."

Izuna's face froze.

Assimilated?

"Am I going to turn to stone?!" He suddenly stood up, his hands instinctively touching his face.

Seeing his panicked expression, Mokushō let out a burst of laughter from behind the fox mask.

"Even worse! If you Losing Control, you'll turn into a gust of wind and blow everyone away!"

Izuna stared blankly at Mokushō, a smirk playing on his lips, revealing a pair of Dead-Fish Eyes. "Hey, can you be serious for once?"

The thoughts flashed through Tobirama's mind: the price, Losing Control, turning into the wind.

He instinctively felt that Mokushō was downplaying the situation, and that the actual cost must be far more severe than imagined; otherwise, it wouldn't be referred to as a "cost."

But now he's more curious about something else.

Since the Uchiha has this phenomenon, does the Senju Clan also experience a similar awakening?

"Mokushō."

"Um?"

"Since the Uchiha has it, does the Senju Clan also have a similar awakening?" Tobirama asked. "Do you know what it is?"

Mokushō turned his head to look at him, the fox mask giving a half-smile, "The Senju Clan, huh? The Awakened Form of the Senju Clan is the tanuki."

Tobirama: "..."

Tanuki?

He imagined what his Big Brother would look like as a raccoon dog, then quickly banished the image from his mind.

Why a tanuki?

You sound a little reluctant.

"After all, that means I'll be a tanuki in another world too, which is too weird."

"That just shows you're inexperienced!" Mokushō looked up. "There's a saying in the Onmyōji World..."

Humans live in cities, tanuki crawl on the ground, Tengu soar in the sky.

His tone became melodious and varied, as if he were performing in a Noh play.

"Our race lives in this world, defining all things and submitting to all things. Our race is both greedy and selfless. War and peace are both our doing. This world belongs to our race! This is the way of Human Race."

"Humans are merely appendages of our history; history and cities were created by our own hands. The mountains are the bodies of our ancestors! The rivers are our bloodlines! Those who boast like this are nothing but ever-changing raccoons."

"The celestial realm, the land of the imperial city, has been our territory since ancient times. The wind god and the thunder god both obey our summons! Have reverence for us who reside in the celestial realm! If this is what you say, you are Tengu."

Tobirama looked at him, speechless for a moment, seemingly stunned.

Izuna stood to the side, his Dead-Fish Eyes unchanged.

"So cringey."

Mokushō pursed his lips. "I'm stating the facts."

"Humans are nothing but vassals?" Tobirama frowned. "Could it be that a clan like the Senju Uchiha isn't even human in your world?"

"In a sense," Mokushō raised a finger, "After all, he has had deep contact with nature, and his way of thinking and behavioral logic are actually different from humans, which is why I often call Izuna a Great Yōkai."

Tobirama couldn't help but glance at Izuna Tobirama him. Indeed, some of Izuna's actions were somewhat out of line.

Izuna's expression changed from speechless to disgusted. "You brat... how dare you say I'm not human to my face..."

Mokushō Kaba turned his head sharply, "I didn't say that!"

"You have."

"I don't!"

"You have!"

I really didn't!

You have it!

I swear I didn't!

Tobirama looked at them, his eyes Dead-Fish Eyes: "Are you two three-year-olds?"

Just then, Madara and Hashirama returned.

Hashirama and Madara walked over, chatting and laughing, seemingly having made up.

As he approached, Hashirama first noticed the tense standoff between Izuna and Mokushō, and blinked, "Oh, what's going on here?"

"Hashirama- nii!" Izuna immediately turned around, as if he had found a powerful backer, "Mokushō said I'm Yōkai!"

"I didn't say you were Yōkai, I said you were originally—" Mokushō to explain, but was silenced by a glare from Izuna.

Hashirama glanced at Izuna, then at Mokushō, and tilted his head. "Yōkai? What Yōkai?"

Tobirama briefly explained, "Tengu."

"Oh, Tengu." Hashirama nodded, an "I see" expression on his face, though it was unclear what he actually understood. "That's pretty impressive."

Izuna's eyes widened. "Where's the prestige?! I can turn into the wind and blow everywhere!"

Madara looked at Izuna with a puzzled expression. "What wind? What's blowing everywhere?"

Just as Izuna was about to complain, Tobirama interrupted him.

"Mokushō just taught us how to use Natural Energy."

Izuna, who was interrupted, glared at Tobirama, who returned his Tobirama without changing his expression.

This guy! I'm not a child!

Hashirama immediately turned to look at Mokushō, his expression one of utter disappointment at being abandoned. "Why were you teaching us when we weren't here?!"

"Who told you to go and fight?"

Hashirama let out a soft "Eh..." and his shoulders slumped dejectedly. "But I really enjoy sparring with Madara..."

Mokushō couldn't help but retort, "Are you a battle maniac?"

Ban frowned and looked at Mokushō: "I haven't seen Light Veins yet, can I learn them too?"

"You can already see it, now try it?"

Madara raised an eyebrow. "What makes you so sure?"

"Your aura has changed," Mokushō said. "Anyway, give it a try first."

Ban looked at him questioningly, but he agreed, "Okay."

Upon hearing this, Hashirama, Tobirama, and Izuna all fell silent, taking a half-step back so as not to disturb him.

Ban stood still, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

A night breeze blew from the sea, brushing against his hair and the hem of his clothes. At first, he could still feel the wind, the cool moonlight on his skin, and the rough texture of the stone slabs under his feet.

But gradually, these feelings faded away, becoming a thin background.

He entered a state of complete focus.

In the past, he couldn't see anything after entering this state, but now he saw specks of light.

Tiny specks of light floated in his field of vision, like an invisible net spreading out from the ground to the treetops, and from the treetops to the sky.

A thick river of light flows slowly underground.

He could feel the earth breathing, the trees whispering, and even the stones beneath his feet seemed to be alive.

But the most eye-catching thing was the red trim around Izuna's waist.

The red color was particularly dazzling in the field of vision of the Light Vein, like a compressed flame, flickering and radiating an aura completely different from the surrounding Natural Energy.

Madara immediately opened his eyes and looked at Izuna.

Izuna: "?"

Madara rushed over to Izuna, his voice tense. "Izuna, could you take that Netsuke your waist and let me see it?"

Mokushō stood to the side, his pupils behind the fox mask contracting, but he neither moved nor spoke.

Izuna was puzzled and tilted his head, but he still obediently took off the Netsuke and handed it to Madara.

Ban took the Crow Netsuke and placed it in his palm.

The Black Peach Wood is dark and dull, and doesn't look particularly special under the moonlight.

Ban frowned slightly.

Why does this thing emit red light when I look at the Light Veins?

He looked up at Mokushō: "Hey, Mokushō."

Mokushō: "Hmm?"

"You mentioned before that your Shikigami must possess an object to function," Madara said, narrowing his eyes. "Then let me ask you, are there any beings here like you?"

Mokushō was silent for a moment.

Then he nodded. "Yes."

Izuna's eyes widened. "Eh? This one has Shikigami residing within it?"

"Why didn't you tell Izuna?" Madara's tone was somewhat sharp.

Mokushō shrugged, saying helplessly, "Because... it's in a dormant state right now. You can't summon it without knowing its name. I told Izuna he still can't use it."

Ban frowned, his fingers gently tracing the surface of the Netsuke: "You mean, that being like you is trapped inside?"

"More or less." Mokushō tilted his head. "However, I could try to communicate with him using my Mental Power and get him to tell me his name. That is, provided he's willing to wake up and speak."

Madara glanced at Izuna.

Izuna looked at him too, his dark eyes reflecting the moonlight, his expression somewhat blank.

He probably never imagined that a Netsuke he casually picked up in the narrow alley would harbor a sleeping Shikigami.

Hashirama Earth Flow over with a serious expression and stood beside Madara: "Madara."

The spotted Netsuke held in the palm of his hand.

"Let's go to the Shrine," he said. "We'll talk about it later."