Senju Takeshi Has Changed

Senju Takeshi's situation ultimately drove Mito Uzumaki and Jueming into a cold war.

For Jueming,

anything that threatened him had to be dealt with. Doing so was also a way to test whether the Senju Clan truly had no way to resolve the Mutation problem.

Or were they... still hiding some trump card?

Senju Takeshi was a very useful pawn for scouting the way ahead.

But for Mito Uzumaki,

she could not tolerate Jueming's actions.

The Uchiha Clan... those were the evil Uchiha!

Senju Takeshi was a fellow member of the Senju Clan.

How could the two be the same?!

What Senju Jueming had done was clearly indiscriminate!

During the afternoon class, Funano Daikoku taught the Transformation Technique and Substitution Technique again.

The two were the remaining techniques of the Three Body Technique.

Like the Clone Technique, they were both E-rank techniques, though they had different uses.

The Transformation Technique...

could disguise a person as another person, an animal, or even a rock.

It was difficult to tell real from fake with the naked eye.

It was said that even the Sharingan, Byakugan, and Rinnegan could not see through one's true appearance.

The Substitution Technique...

involved inscribing talismans onto prepared items such as logs.

When used, the person would exchange positions with the substitute item, allowing them to evade attacks or move through thin air.

"All right. After school this afternoon, go home and practice properly. Don't slack off."

Funano Daikoku smiled.

"You should all learn from Jueming."

After saying that, the students cheered and rose to leave the classroom.

Just as Jueming was about to leave, Funano Daikoku stopped him.

"Jueming, why didn't Senju Takeshi come to class this afternoon?" Funano Daikoku stared at Senju Takeshi's empty seat, looking puzzled.

"I don't know."

Jueming shook his head and left.

Funano Daikoku thought about it. Perhaps he should pay his student a visit.

That night,

after returning home, Jueming repeatedly practiced the Transformation Technique and Substitution Technique Funano Daikoku had taught during the day.

As his training progressed,

Jueming vaguely felt that he was about to break through another bottleneck.

All he lacked now was an opportunity, and his strength would rise to another level.

Knock, knock, knock!!

Someone knocked on the door, sounding quite urgent.

"Who is it?"

Jueming stopped moving, his face filled with vigilance.

"It's me, the Great Elder." The Great Elder's voice rang out.

Jueming said, "You say you're the Great Elder, and that makes you the Great Elder? What if you're Senju Takeshi transformed, coming to harm me?"

Great Elder: "..."

He was speechless for a moment.

"Senju Takeshi... that child has already mutated!"

The Great Elder delivered the news in a grief-stricken voice.

Creak.

Jueming pulled the door open with a rope.

The doorknob was still secured by an iron chain.

Through the crack in the door, the Great Elder could be seen, but he could not enter directly.

Seeing this, the Great Elder was briefly stunned, but he knew this was not the time to dwell on it or complain.

"Jueming, come with me."

Outside, the area was brightly lit.

Some clan members stood beside the Great Elder, holding torches.

Seeing this formation, Jueming knew the matter might truly be serious.

So he undid the chain and walked outside.

Every clan member wore a solemn expression.

They wore forehead protectors. All of them were official Ninja.

"Senju Takeshi changed?"

Jueming followed the group and asked.

He noticed that Sayuri was also among them.

Her silver braid was illuminated by the bonfire, tinged with a layer of orange light.

"He mutated."

The Great Elder nodded slightly, his expression mournful.

In the end... Senju Takeshi had failed to overcome that hurdle.

"When we found him, he was chewing on a live rat at home..."

While walking past the house, a clan member had accidentally witnessed the scene through the window.

He suppressed his cry of alarm and immediately went to find the Great Elder.

The Great Elder promptly gathered the clan members and surrounded the house.

Even so, Jueming was still confused.

Even if Senju Takeshi had changed,

any Chunin from the Senju Clan should have been capable of dealing with him.

Was there really a need to make such a huge fuss?

Soon,

the group arrived outside Senju Takeshi's home.

It was already eight o'clock at night.

Other than the areas lit by torches, everywhere else was pitch-black.

Senju Takeshi's house in particular

did not have the slightest trace of light.

A Senju Clan Ninja sat cross-legged on the ground, his hands forming Hand Seals as though he were maintaining some kind of formation.

"It's the Five Seal Barrier."

Jueming recognized the formation.

By affixing five talismans to objects within a certain area, one could form an invisible barrier.

Those inside could not get out, and those outside could not get in.

It was extremely, extremely difficult to break it by force.

Senju Takeshi would likely never be able to come out again.

The Great Elder walked to the front of the group, then turned to face everyone.

"Everyone... you should all know about the bloodline curse our Senju Clan suffers from..."

The Wood Release Factor...

"Since gaining this power, we have cultivated much faster than before. But the path of Nindo has also become more dangerous, and Mutation could occur at any time... Therefore, cultivators must possess strong willpower and spirit to endure it."

"..."

Everyone nodded, their expressions solemn.

Because this was the reality the Senju Clan had to face.

"So after becoming official Ninja, our Senju Clan regularly uses Medical Ninjutsu to examine every Ninja's body, ensuring that no problems arise..."

Everyone held their breath and listened quietly to the Great Elder's words.

Great Elder: "Mutation is irreversible... once one embarks on this path, it will continue onward..."

So that was it.

Jueming nodded. It seemed the Senju Clan truly had no way to reverse Mutation.

"Every clan member's Mutation is a grievous loss. But it is also the driving force that keeps us moving forward."

The Great Elder stepped forward.

"Face Mutation. Face suffering. Only those who can endure are true Ninja!"

By the time the Great Elder said this, Jueming understood.

The reason they did not immediately kill Senju Takeshi

was because the Great Elder intended to use Senju Takeshi as an example.

To remind the clan members and temper their hearts.

I said it long ago. Running away is useless. Facing fear is the best way, Jueming thought.

Mito Uzumaki's response remained silence.

"Senju Sayuri. Senju Jueming."

The Great Elder called out their names.

"Present." x2.

The two stepped forward.

"Next, the two of you will enter the barrier and personally send Takeshi on his way..."

Senju matters had to be resolved by the Senju Clan.

If One of Our Own mutated, then One of Our Own naturally had to bear the burden.

This was not merely about shouldering the responsibility they ought to bear.

Personally dealing with mutated clan members was also a trial and hardship every Senju Clan Ninja had to undergo.