Bloodline Seal

The next day, Hashirama and Masahiko declined Senju Tenyu's request to send people along. The two of them headed straight for the Balance Clan territory.

After explaining their purpose to the two guards, one of them went to report to the Clan Head.

Before long, the Balance Clan Head came out to greet them personally. He was the very person whose Chakra fluctuations Masahiko had sensed before, someone close to the level of a Peak Jonin.

"Welcome, Senju Clan Head," the Balance Clan Head said. "This way, please." As he spoke, he led Masahiko and Hashirama into the Main Hall.

Once they were seated, before Hashirama could ask anything, the Balance Clan Head took the initiative to speak. "If I'm not mistaken, when the Senju Clan Head returned this time, you invited an expert skilled in Sealing Jutsu, didn't you?" As he spoke, he turned to Masahiko. "This gentleman should be an Uzumaki Clan member, correct?"

With that head of red hair, who else could he be but an Uzumaki? Did you really need to guess...? Masahiko muttered inwardly.

Hashirama looked embarrassed. After all, he had invited Masahiko here to deal with the Balance Clan, and it was rather awkward in this setting.

"There is no need for the Senju Clan Head to mind it. After all, we were enemies before," the Balance Clan Head said.

"Yes, I originally invited Second Grandfather Masahiko here because I wanted him to seal your Transformation Technique..." Hashirama explained. "But now..."

"Can this Transformation Technique truly be sealed?" the Balance Clan Head interrupted.

Hashirama did not know either. He turned to look at Masahiko, who spoke up.

"In theory, there is nothing that cannot be sealed."

"So our Transformation Technique can be sealed as well?" At this point, the Balance Clan Head's expression became excited. "Then please seal our Transformation Technique!"

Hashirama looked astonished, while Masahiko wore an expression that said, Just as I expected.

After sensing the Chakra of the Balance Clan members at close range, Masahiko had finally confirmed what was so strange about them.

It truly was Natural Energy, but the Balance Clan members could not absorb and transform it into Sage Mode Chakra. Instead, it constantly eroded their Chakra and caused their bodies to mutate. The Balance Clan had likely suffered deeply because of it.

Just as Hashirama was about to ask why, someone suddenly rushed in from outside.

"Big Brother, you can't let them seal it!" The newcomer was a rare burly man in the Naruto World, somewhat like the Third or Fourth Raikage.

"If they seal our Transformation Technique, what will we use to protect our clan members?" the burly man continued.

"Second Brother," the Balance Clan Head said, "do you really think that having the Transformation Technique means you can definitely protect our clan members?"

"Not to mention anyone else, the Senju Clan Head is right here. Your Transformation Technique is completely useless against him!" the Balance Clan Head said.

"Impossible!" the burly man shouted. He actually activated his Transformation Technique and attacked Hashirama.

"Steel Arm Restraint!" The man's right arm suddenly enlarged as it reached for Hashirama.

"It's somewhat like the Akimichi Clan's secret technique..." Hashirama muttered as he dodged aside.

"Earthquake Flame!" Seeing that he had missed Hashirama, the enlarged arm slammed down toward the ground.

The earth shook, and Hashirama temporarily lost his footing.

"Super Heavy Fist!" Seizing the opportunity, the burly man withdrew his arm, gathered power, and launched a heavy attack at Hashirama.

"Wood Style: Wooden Wall!" Hashirama released five Wooden Walls in succession before finally blocking the attack. However, the clan's Main Hall was reduced to dust as well.

"This kind of power... As expected of Natural Energy. It allowed even an Elite Jonin to briefly wield strength at the Clan Head level..." Masahiko looked surprised as well.

With such a huge commotion, the Balance Clan members began gathering around them.

Seeing more and more people gathering, Hashirama formed hand seals with both hands. "Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Although he had not used his full strength, towering trees still sprang up throughout the area within a hundred meters. The burly Balance Clan man was also bound by the trees. After struggling for a while, he ran out of strength and reverted from his Transformation Technique.

At this moment, the Balance Clan Head stepped forward and addressed the watching clan members. "Do you see? This is the strength of the Senju Clan Head. Against this kind of power, our Transformation Technique is completely useless! And think about the suffering this ability has brought us. Ten years ago, we had over three thousand clan members. Now, we have fewer than one thousand!"

"Over a hundred years ago, our clan's elders settled here and gradually gained the Transformation Technique."

"At first, this ability did give us greater strength. But as time passed, more and more clan members were turned by this power into monsters that knew only slaughter!"

"Especially in recent years, more and more clan members have gone berserk. This is an ominous power!"

"Therefore, in my capacity as the Seventh Clan Head of the Balance Clan, I hope everyone can abandon this power and let the Uzumaki Clan elder seal it!"

The scene fell silent for a moment, then more and more Balance Clan members joined those in agreement. Aside from a few clan members who pursued power, nearly everyone loathed the Transformation Technique.

Seeing this, the Balance Clan Head turned to Masahiko.

Masahiko thought for a moment before saying, "May I first examine the specifics of this Transformation Technique?"

The Balance Clan Head immediately agreed and personally allowed Masahiko to examine him.

"Just as expected, the mutated Chakra has already fused into your bloodline," Masahiko said slowly. "If you want to seal this power, I will have to seal your bloodline power. That way, you will lose the Transformation Technique, and your descendants will lose this mutated bloodline as well. They may gradually grow weaker until they lose the ability to become ninja."

"Of course, it is also possible that one of your descendants may experience an ancestral reversion and regain the Transformation Technique." At this point, Masahiko thought of Jugo again.

"Even so, do you still want to seal this power?"

The Balance Clan Head gritted his teeth. "Then please seal it! If this continues, our clan may disappear from the Warring States before long. We cannot even speak of descendants losing their power."

Thus, Masahiko spent a full half month developing a special Bloodline Sealing Technique for their bloodline. Then he spent another half month applying Bloodline Seals to every member of the Balance Clan, sealing their Transformation Technique one by one.

After the sealing was complete, Masahiko received another familiar line of Chinese prompts.

Witnessed and participated in Naruto World side storyline—Sealing the Balance Clan. Received 2 Witness Points.

What was this? Only 2 Witness Points?

Masahiko cursed inwardly. That month of hard work was far too worthless.

And... a side storyline. Was it because Jugo was not important to the main Naruto storyline? The Kaguya Clan before must have received so many Witness Points only because they could be connected to Kaguya Otsutsuki.

Forget it. Two points are still better than none.

After the sealing was complete, Hashirama came to find Masahiko and prepare to return to the Senju Clan, but Masahiko stopped him.

"Hashirama, don't you want to know why the Balance Clan gained the Transformation Technique?"