Black Zetsu's Body

Yichen frowned. This black substance looked like a bit of dirt, very inconspicuous.

However, Yichen is Tsuchikage). If this were a soil-like substance, Yichen's sensory abilities and Earth Release skills would allow him to easily distinguish it.

Moreover, with the blessing of Sage Mode, Yichen's Mind's Eye ability is incredibly powerful.

Even within the barrier, the perception-blocking barrier already activated outside the laboratory could not conceal his Mind's Eye.

So although this tiny black substance was inconspicuous, it still caught Yichen's attention.

Yichen picked up a tool from the side and was about to clamp the black substance and put it into a glass bottle.

To everyone's surprise, the moment the clamp touched the black substance, it began to move as if it were alive.

It detached itself from the jar, fell to the ground, and then moved quickly in a certain direction.

In Yichen and Ogura Saki's eyes, this thing's movement speed wasn't particularly fast, and the two of them could easily catch up with it.

However, considering its size, its speed is astonishing.

Yichen held the glass bottle, pointed the opening at the rapidly receding black substance, and whispered, "Banshō Ten'in."

Then, the black substance that was about to hit the laboratory wall immediately detached from the ground and was precisely sucked into the bottle in Yichen's hand.

Yichen put the cap back on the bottle, looking thoughtfully at the black substance that was still wandering around and constantly bumping against the glass.

Yichen Hand Seals and applied a Five Elements Sealing Jutsu to the glass bottle, immediately slowing down the black substance.

Although it wasn't completely still, it was much less sensitive and no longer thrashed against the glass bottle.

"Affected by the seal?" Yichen wasn't sure.

"Saki, go outside and Katsuya in," Yichen said to Ogura Saki after thinking for a moment.

"Okay." After agreeing, Ogura Saki communicated with the Barrier Team outside for a while.

Then, Katsuya, who was maintaining the Soul Seal outside, entered.

Yichen was well prepared; not only Katsuya outside, but Atsumi Akino, a professional researcher of Space-Time Ninjutsu, was also outside.

Yichen Katsuya, "What level of Soul Seal are you capable of performing?"

Katsuya added, "It's much stronger than the seal I submitted to the village last time, but it's still far from being comparable to the Miko's seal."

Yichen nodded and said, "We don't need to compare ourselves to the Miko; their constitutions are special, and there's no comparison."

"Come, I will break the Five Elements Sealing Jutsu. You then cast your strongest Soul Sealing Jutsu on it," Yichen said, pointing to the glass bottle in his hand.

"Yes," Katsuya replied.

A moment later, Yichen looked at the motionless black substance and revealed a cold smile.

The effect of Soul Seal is greater than that of attribute sealing; this black substance is undoubtedly a soul.

"It really is you, Black Zetsu!"

That's right, this black substance is part of Black Zetsu's body; it was attached to the jar by Black Zetsu to monitor its condition.

Suddenly, Yichen's interest in the Ghost Fire diminished. He looked at the bottle in his hand with shining eyes.

Studying that Ghost Fire is nothing compared to studying Black Zetsu's body.

Black Zetsu represents the pinnacle of Yin Release in the Ninja World. It may hold the secret to transcending the mortal realm and becoming Sage.

Both Ogura Saki and Katsuya sensed Yichen's turbulent emotions.

Both of them were somewhat surprised. In their eyes, although Yichen was unreliable, nothing had ever excited Yichen so much.

Putting aside other things, Yichen didn't show such strong emotional fluctuations when it came to the two temples related to the two of them.

The two exchanged a glance, both showing great interest in the black substance in Yichen's hand.

Yichen cast Defense Barrier around the glass bottle again before putting it into his pocket.

"Katsuya, if you ever develop a stronger Soul Seal in the future, come to me immediately to replace the seal on this glass bottle," Yichen said to Katsuya.

After hesitating for a long time, Yichen decided to postpone his research on this part of Black Zetsu's body, as his current level was not high enough.

At the very least, we must wait until Katsuya and his team make substantial progress in their research on Soul Sealing Jutsu.

We need to at least reach the level of being able to seal Kage Level soul. We'll learn Soul Seal first, and then start researching.

Otherwise, the risk is too great. It would be bad if it got away or was ambushed and controlled by it.

Black Zetsu have this ability; in the original story, it was even able to control Obito Uchiha, who possessed the Rinnegan.

Although this part of the body is not large, its level is significant, so caution is necessary.

Katsuya immediately agreed upon hearing Yichen's words.

Taking a deep breath, Yichen finally forced his attention to the jar.

After careful observation, Yichen came to the conclusion that the jar was very ordinary.

The material may be somewhat exquisite, but it doesn't resemble the monk carvings in the previous temple, which were decorated with Soul Seal.

The jar was completely empty; its purpose was simply to serve as a container for the wondrous life within.

After a moment's thought, Yichen realized he had fallen into a cognitive trap.

In the first temple, the statue's function was likely to be sealing or suppressing. That's why there's a seal on the carving, and the temple itself also has a special seal.

However, the second temple served a clearly different purpose; this temple was dedicated to the jar, or more precisely, to the contents of the jar.

In the eyes of those believers, the object in the jar is the deity; how could they possibly seal the deity?

After thinking it through, Yichen breathed a sigh of relief.

Without a seal or barrier, the entity within this jar possesses little power. This alone demonstrates its weakness.

It seems we overestimated what was in the jar.

Yichen gestured for Katsuya and Ogura Saki to leave, then left Shadow Clone before departing from the laboratory.

Then the Shadow Clone opened the jar by itself.

"Phew." The Shadow Clone breathed a sigh of relief.

When the jar was opened, no earth-shattering monster appeared; inside was just a ball of blue flame.

But the next moment, the flames suddenly shot up and rushed straight at Yichen's head.

Although this was just a Shadow Clone, and its reaction speed was far inferior to Yichen's main body, the Shadow Clone remained vigilant about the danger inside the jar.

So he easily dodged it.

The blue flames missed the Shadow Clone, spun in the air, and then hurtled towards Shadow Clone head.

The Shadow Clone quickly Hand Seals and unleashed a C-rank Water Style Jutsu at the ball of blue flame.

The flames seemed to be in great pain after being C-rank Water Style Jutsu, and dared not approach any further, instead trying to escape the laboratory.

The Shadow Clone didn't stop them, wanting to see what special abilities this blue flame had.

But he was destined to be disappointed; the blue flame could not penetrate walls, ignite other objects, or open or break through doors.

It was as if it were a harmless little flame.

However, judging from its attack just now, it was indeed filled with malice towards the Shadow Clone.

It certainly has offensive capabilities, but Yichen doesn't know that yet.

After thinking for a moment, Yichen unleashed a mini version of the Great Fireball Jutsu.

Since this blue flame is afraid of Water Release, it's probably similar to a normal flame.

Yichen thought that since they were both flames, perhaps it could absorb the Great Fireball Jutsu to strengthen itself.

However, Yichen was overthinking it. After making contact with the Great Fireball, the blue flame shrank and its flight speed slowed down, clearly indicating that it had been seriously injured.

Then Yichen used various Ninjutsu and found that these Ninjutsu could all attack the blue flames.

Oh, it might be more appropriate to call it a flame now. After being tested by Yichen for a while, its size didn't change much, but its brightness was noticeably reduced.

After thinking for a moment, the Shadow Clone had the main body outside bring over some small animals.

As soon as a rabbit entered the laboratory, blue flames shot towards its head.

The rabbit began to struggle, but the struggle was short-lived, and it soon died.

When the blue flame emerged from the rabbit's head, its color became noticeably brighter.

The Shadow Clone's eyes lit up, as if it understood something. It deactivated itself and transferred its memories to the original body outside.

Yichen hesitated for a moment, then gave a few instructions to Katsuya and the others before entering the laboratory.

Seeing that another life form had entered, the blue flames lunged at Yichen's head again, but were immediately struck by a Water Release, causing their light to dim.

Next, Yichen tossed another rabbit to the blue flame.

The result was the same as before: the blue flame entered the rabbit's head, then came out again, becoming brighter once more.

Yichen took a deep breath. This time, he could feel it; the blue flame was forcibly absorbing the rabbit's soul.

Unlike the Shadow Clone, Yichen's main body possessed sufficient Yin Release skills and sensory abilities, allowing him to roughly understand what happened after the blue flames entered the rabbit's body.

The origin of this blue flame is unknown, but Yichen has only confirmed one of its abilities: devouring souls.

The blue flames ignited the rabbit's fragile soul like kindling.

However, the energy released after ignition is absorbed by it.

This was such a broken ability that Yichen instantly considered many ways to use the blue flames.

However, regardless of the method of use, there is a fatal flaw: the blue flame is too weak.

None of the ninjas that Yichen had to deal with were weak; the blue flames couldn't even get close to them.

If this blue flame devours a certain number of souls, it might become powerful enough to withstand Ninjutsu attacks.

However, Yichen knew that this blue flame was uncontrollable; releasing it would harm both others and himself.

Keep it for now; it might come in handy someday.

Having obtained at least a portion of Black Zetsu's body, and despite the considerable expense of building the laboratory, Yichen felt it was worthwhile.

Picking up the jar again, Yichen used the same method he had used against Black Zetsu's body Banshō Ten'in draw the blue flames into the jar.

Gently close the lid, and the blue flames will no longer cause any trouble.

This blue flame has almost no other ability besides dealing with souls.

The Ghost Fire he creates are most likely used for hunting.

When this blue flame is at its strongest, the Ghost Fire it splits out could probably easily devour the souls of ordinary living beings.

It only needs to stay in the jar to grow stronger by devouring souls through Ghost Fire.

But Yichen isn't afraid now. Given the current state of the blue flames, the Ghost Fire they split off probably wouldn't even be able to deal with a rabbit.

However, Yichen still carefully sealed the jar.

After finishing, Yichen left the laboratory with the jar, and then had Katsuya, who had been waiting outside, place Soul Seal on the jar.

Yichen patted the jar and said to Ogura Saki, "Alright, everything's fine here. This Ghost Fire looks like a flame, but it's not; it's related to souls."

"This thing is useless now, let's seal it away for now, and use it later if there's a special need."

Ogura Saki nodded somewhat disappointedly. She had thought she had encountered some special Fire Release energy, and perhaps she could improve her Flame Release through this flame.