Breakthrough in the Caged Bird Seal

As time passed, friction throughout the Ninja World continued unabated, and clashes between the Five Great Nations grew increasingly frequent. Even Hyuga Mirai had encountered Iwa-nin once and Suna-nin once while carrying out missions.

Although Hyuga Mirai was immersed in research and experiments, he still diligently fulfilled his duties as a Chunin.

It was just that he took on fewer missions, and most of the time, Hyuga Kiyomi and Yuhi Kurenai had to request more difficult assignments before Hyuga Mirai would occasionally go to the Hokage Tower to accept a B-rank Mission.

Konoha's Yellow Flash had already gained some renown outside the village. Once Namikaze Minato clashed with Kumogakure's AB, the Yellow Flash title would be thoroughly established throughout the Ninja World.

Although Hyuga Mirai had spent a long time in the Laboratory at Konoha Hospital, he still kept an eye on matters within the village.

Today was his thirty-sixth experiment. After comparing dozens of Cell Gene samples, Hyuga Mirai had finally figured out the principles behind the Caged Bird Seal.

It was a Curse Mark rooted simultaneously in the brain tissue and soul, specifically targeting the Byakugan. It could also be considered a rather rudimentary Six Paths Technique.

Because it involved Yin-Yang Release, Hyuga Mirai had yet to fully understand the Curse Mark on the soul. However, he could still rewrite the Gene Sequence and eliminate the Caged Bird Seal's effect on the Byakugan.

"When a Branch Family member dies, the Caged Bird Seal disappears. How ridiculous. What disappears is only the Yang Release Curse Mark on the flesh; the Caged Bird Seal on the soul still remains. Is this a Curse Mark that makes you 'a slave even after death'?"

Hyuga Mirai vaguely remembered that during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Hizashi Hyuga had been revived through Impure World Reincarnation by Kabuto. Yet the Edo Tensei Body of Hizashi Hyuga still bore the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead.

Yakushi Kabuto had no reason to spend so much effort on the Edo Tensei Body of a Branch Family Jonin. According to the formula of the Impure World Reincarnation, Hizashi Hyuga should have appeared without the Caged Bird Seal.

"I'll first break the Caged Bird Seal Curse Mark that targets the Byakugan. As for the Curse Mark on the soul, I'll need to study it further before attempting anything."

After making his decision, Hyuga Mirai began using his own Cell Gene to develop an injection that could rewrite certain genetic cells. This would temporarily cause him to lose the Byakugan's abilities, but once the Curse Mark was removed, Hyuga Mirai would immediately recover—and the restored Byakugan would have no weakness.

"This is all I can do for now. If Orochimaru makes a breakthrough, I can also incorporate some Gene Sequences from Hashirama Cells."

Whether it was the Senju, Uchiha, Hyuga, or Kaguya Clan, all were bloodline branches descended from the Otsutsuki Clan. Logically speaking, the genes of these Kekkei Genkai clans should possess compatibility and the potential for fusion.

Bang! Bang!

Two sounds suddenly came from beneath the ground. The only ones capable of reaching the Laboratory beneath Konoha Hospital's lowest floor with Earth Style were Orochimaru's messenger snakes.

"Release!"

Hyuga Mirai temporarily released the Sealing Runes around the Laboratory. A White Snake then emerged from underground using Earth Style. After spitting out a scroll, she immediately undid the Summoning Technique, vanished in a cloud of smoke, and returned to Ryūchi Cave.

"This method of communication is convenient, but it's really hard to accept."

Hyuga Mirai said with a twitch of his mouth. He then took out a handkerchief, wiped the slime off the scroll, and opened it to read.

After finishing it, Hyuga Mirai smiled faintly. This was a scroll bearing good news from Orochimaru.

Ever since Orochimaru had learned the scientific experimental methods for Cell Gene research from Hyuga Mirai, his research into Hashirama Cells had progressed much faster. In less than a year, Orochimaru was already close to thoroughly understanding the Gene Sequence of Hashirama Cells.

The message Orochimaru had just sent informed Hyuga Mirai that he had extracted the characteristics of Hashirama Cells and applied them to different test subjects. The experiment's success rate had reached thirty percent.

At the end of the message, Orochimaru also invited Hyuga Mirai to visit his Laboratory and see the results.

"It wouldn't hurt to take a look. I can also bring up the matter of the trade with Orochimaru."

Hyuga Mirai took out the Clone Cultivation Technique he had prepared long ago. It could perfectly cultivate an identical Clone based on a Gene Sequence. Hyuga Mirai had even modified the technique so that a Clone Body's consciousness could be cultivated through Sealing Technique, turning the Clone Body into a true Shadow Clone.

However, Clones were exceptionally expensive. After calculating many times, Hyuga Mirai concluded that under the Ninja World's current conditions, cloning a perfect version of himself would require at least tens of millions of ryo and more than four years.

The costs were enormous, it took too long, and it required a territory exclusively his own. As someone living in Konoha with only a thirty-square-meter home in his name—and without even owning his Laboratory—Hyuga Mirai had none of the conditions needed to cultivate his own Clone.

Many of Dr. Genus's studies were indeed highly practical, but the Ninja World's technological environment could not rapidly replicate Dr. Genus's experimental results.

However, Orochimaru would definitely be interested in this. He had already revealed his desire for immortality to Hyuga Mirai. To pursue the truth of the world, a long life was a necessary condition.

As long as Orochimaru developed Living Corpse Reincarnation and combined it with Clone Technology, he could truly become immortal.

During his dealings with Orochimaru, Hyuga Mirai had obtained quite a few good things from him.

Barrier Technique, the Eight Gates, Sealing Technique, and more. Aside from the Reaper Death Seal, Hyuga Mirai had learned nearly every Sealing Technique in Konoha.

However, Orochimaru had never seen the Reaper Death Seal either, so Hyuga Mirai could not learn it from him.

In Orochimaru's view, what Hyuga Mirai had asked for was completely disproportionate to what he had given. Although the Eight Gates was a Forbidden Technique recorded in the Book of Seals, no one had ever succeeded in cultivating it. Perhaps because it was so dangerous to practice, the Eight Gates had been recorded in the Book of Seals.

As for the other Barrier Techniques and Sealing Techniques, Orochimaru considered them completely inferior to the gene research methods Hyuga Mirai had taught him.

Without Hyuga Mirai, Orochimaru might not have made such a major breakthrough with Hashirama Cells even after several more years.

"This time, I can trade the Clone Technology to Orochimaru for Ryūchi Cave's Summoning Scroll and the Spirit Transformation Technique. I wonder if he can get his hands on that ninjutsu."

Hyuga Mirai considered it for a moment and felt there should not be much of a problem.

Danzo was Orochimaru's backer. With the authority of Konoha's Assistant Hokage, he should be able to look through the Book of Seals.

Afterward, Hyuga Mirai left the Laboratory at Konoha Hospital. Along the way, he changed his appearance. Only after opening his Byakugan and confirming that no one had noticed his movements did he head toward Orochimaru's experimental site.

Hyuga Mirai currently needed a low-profile environment in which to successfully remove the Caged Bird Seal Curse Mark, so he would not let anyone know that he had dealings with Orochimaru. Otherwise, Hyuga Mirai could easily become caught up in Konoha's power struggles.

Yanzu, did you vote today?