Shin Asks for Continued Reading

"Sorry, have you been waiting long?" A gentle voice suddenly sounded behind Kagetsu.

Kagetsu turned around and saw Namikaze Minato land on the ground a short distance behind him, waving at him.

"I haven't been waiting long. You're right on time, Senior Minato." Kagetsu smiled in reply.

"Jiraiya Sensei told me some time ago that you wanted to learn Sealing Techniques from me, and I agreed. But I had to leave on a mission then, so it could only be delayed." Namikaze Minato walked up to Kagetsu and spoke.

"If it's only Sealing Techniques, I believe Orochimaru-sama could teach you. You're learning from me because you want to systematically study Sealing Techniques, right?"

"Yes! Orochimaru Sensei said that the only people in the village currently capable of systematically teaching me the full body of Sealing Technique knowledge are the Third Hokage, you, and Senior Kushina." Kagetsu nodded.

Namikaze Minato scratched his head. "Kushina doesn't mind me teaching you the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Techniques, but some secret techniques require the Uzumaki Clan physique to use."

"I only wish to learn the knowledge related to Sealing Techniques. You can teach me as you see fit, Senior Minato." Kagetsu said gratefully.

"Sealing Techniques are quite a complex system. Learning and mastering them requires a certain amount of time. Do you have that time now? I heard Orochimaru-sama's Technology Development Department has always been short-staffed." Namikaze Minato spoke softly.

"Of course I do." Kagetsu nodded. He had not even maintained a Shadow Clone today.

"Then let's start with a test. Let me get a sense of your foundation in Sealing Techniques." Hearing that, Namikaze Minato acted with characteristic decisiveness.

Both of them were short on time. As one of the outstanding members of the new generation, Namikaze Minato had always carried a considerable workload. The time he spent resting in the village was basically all devoted to Kushina.

Even after meeting his mission quota, he still had to prepare for the Jonin assessment and for becoming a team leader in the future. He could not spend all his time teaching Kagetsu.

Kagetsu understood that well. After all, Namikaze Minato was not his teacher. He was only teaching him at Sannin Jiraiya's request.

Neither he nor Namikaze Minato could be certain how long the instruction would last. Perhaps Senior Minato would suddenly be sent away on a mission in two or three days. Then there would be a lull lasting half a month, or even several months.

That was why Kagetsu treasured every moment of Minato's lessons.

Namikaze Minato had clearly prepared thoroughly for this lesson. He took out the test papers for the assessment from a Storage Scroll.

"These are test papers Kushina prepared for you based on her own understanding while I was out on missions. Give them a try. Once you're done, we'll assess the Sealing Techniques you've mastered." Namikaze Minato laid the papers on a table he had taken from the Storage Scroll and gestured for Kagetsu to come over.

Kagetsu did not hesitate. He stepped forward, picked up a pen, and began answering the test.

The test Kushina had prepared was quite difficult. It covered everything from what category of Sealing Technique was needed for different situations to the basics of Sealing Techniques and the meanings of related runes. There were questions for nearly every stage.

Even for Kagetsu, the difficulty skyrocketed the further he progressed.

In the end, within the allotted time, Kagetsu still failed to finish all the questions. Nearly half a page was left blank, amounting to three questions.

After Minato checked the paper, he gave Kagetsu a thumbs-up and praised him. "Kagetsu, your foundation in Sealing Techniques is very solid. With the knowledge you've mastered so far, you're already quite impressive."

"The three major categories of Sealing Techniques—Physical Sealing, Chakra Sealing, and Mental Sealing—which one do you want to focus on learning first?" Once Minato had determined roughly what stage Kagetsu's Sealing Technique knowledge had reached, he began deciding what to prioritize.

"Mental Sealing." Kagetsu answered immediately.

Though they were called the three major categories of Sealing Techniques, there were actually many further subdivisions.

Physical Sealing included sealing all kinds of objects from the natural world. Most ordinary ninja used it to make Storage Scrolls.

Chakra Sealing covered any ninjutsu that targeted or involved Chakra, as well as anything related to it. This included certain Cursed Seal Jutsu. Most Sealing Techniques in this category targeted a ninja's body, the Chakra within it, and ninjutsu.

Mental Sealing was used to target memories and souls. It was mostly applied to the human brain and mind—in other words, the soul.

Of the three, Chakra Sealing was undoubtedly the most widely useful and the most complex.

Of course, these were only the three major categories summarized by the Uzumaki Clan. There were also some strange Sealing Techniques in the ninja world, but most of them lacked a coherent system or were unsuitable for ninja.

Minato was slightly surprised by Kagetsu's choice. After all, the most widely used category of Sealing Techniques was Chakra Sealing.

By learning the relevant knowledge and a few Sealing Techniques, one could become a member of the Sealing Team.

Once one had mastered the relevant Sealing Technique runes and knowledge, Sealing Techniques might not be as convenient as ninjutsu, but they could play an irreplaceable role in many situations.

"Are you sure?" Minato specifically asked again.

"The Chakra Sealing knowledge I have mastered is temporarily enough for my needs. What I need now is knowledge of Mental Sealing Techniques.

"One ninjutsu I have in mind requires this knowledge."

Faced with Minato's question, Kagetsu gave an affirmative answer.

"A ninjutsu involving Mental Sealing?" Minato gave Kagetsu a thoughtful look.

Combining Sealing Techniques and ninjutsu to create a new technique was not unheard of. For example, his Flying Thunder God had taken shape by adding the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Techniques to the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God, becoming his own Flying Thunder God.

"Let's stop here for today. Tomorrow, I'll organize some sealing scrolls containing the relevant knowledge for you." Minato glanced at the sky and spoke to Kagetsu.

Today had only been meant to gauge Kagetsu's foundation in Sealing Techniques. Having achieved that goal, Minato bid Kagetsu farewell and left.

"Shadow Puppet Technique? That's quite an interesting concept."

At the Nara Clan Grounds, while testing Kagetsu on his studies, Shikaji heard Kagetsu's idea for the new technique. After running it through his mind, he sighed softly.

The technique's style clearly carried many traces of the Shadow Secret Technique. If it could truly be created, it would undoubtedly become another powerful Secret Ninjutsu.

But unfortunately, it was not a secret technique that could be widely taught. A technique like this was destined to have a threshold and could only be learned by suitable candidates.

Just as Kekkei Genkai Clans with long inheritances had basic ninjutsu and more advanced ninjutsu, Secret Technique Clans with sufficient heritage were the same.

The Nara Clan did not lack advanced Shadow Secret Techniques. It was simply that, as strategists and support specialists, they had little use for them most of the time.

"Infuse one's will into the shadow, then use Sealing Techniques to grant it activity. It achieves the effect of a Puppet Master controlling a puppet against an enemy. It can be considered an advanced secret technique evolved from Binding Technique and Imitation Technique.

"It places heavy demands on mental will and thought. The clan members can meet those requirements, but most of them would struggle to meet the Chakra consumption and Physical Fitness requirements." Nara Shikaji grimaced.

"The physical issue and the Chakra issue can both be solved slowly in the future. I'm going to find Orochimaru Sensei." Having finished digesting lunch and rested enough, Kagetsu stood and spoke to Shikaji.

Shikaji waved Kagetsu off.

Upon arriving at the Technology Development Department, Kagetsu found Orochimaru and a young boy in the Laboratory.

"You came at the right time, Kagetsu. This is Shin." Seeing Kagetsu, Orochimaru's smile deepened on his pale face. In a particularly good mood, he introduced the boy.

"This is Nara Kagetsu, my disciple." Orochimaru also introduced Kagetsu to the boy. "If there is anything you want to know and I'm absent or busy, you may ask Kagetsu."

The boy called Shin nodded at Kagetsu. Though his expression was blank, Kagetsu easily caught the intense thirst for knowledge in his eyes.

"You may leave for now. Remember not to leave the Technology Development Department." Orochimaru waved Shin away, then called over a ninja attached to the Technology Development Department to lead Shin away and find him a room to live in.

"It seems you like him very much?" Kagetsu looked at Orochimaru and asked softly.

After spending so much time together, Kagetsu would not claim to understand Orochimaru completely, but he was highly sensitive to his emotional fluctuations. Especially the undisguised delight he showed now—even someone only slightly observant could clearly recognize it.

"An excellent specimen! And one that delivered himself right to my door!" Orochimaru licked the corner of his lips and lowered his head to meet Kagetsu's gaze.

"His medical checkup report is over there. Once you read it, you'll be surprised by just how special he is!

"He has a physique that does not reject any foreign organs! I'm sure you know what that means! It means he is a naturally ideal specimen for biological research! In my view, his physique could even be considered a special physical Kekkei Genkai.

"It is simply suited toward being researched rather than combat!"

Kagetsu nodded at that. A physique that did not reject any foreign organs was indeed rare, and it truly made for excellent research material.

In just a short time, Kagetsu could already imagine many experiments that could be carried out on a body with such a special physique.

"What is his goal? Does he want to seek refuge with you?" Kagetsu asked.

"No. He wants to learn Cloning Technology from me. The price is himself! He is willing to hand over his body for any research and experiments until he masters Cloning Technology." Orochimaru smiled.

"You agreed to his request?" Kagetsu asked again.

"Yes, I agreed." A smile appeared on Orochimaru's face. In his eyes, the other party's offer suited him perfectly. As for the end result, that would depend on each of their methods.