Naruto's first reaction was terror.
This was Amaterasu!
It might never have burned anyone to death, but its greatest trait was that it never went out. Why had Satsuki suddenly unleashed something like this on herself?!
"Satsuki! You—"
Before Naruto could finish, his hands had instinctively begun forming seals—the opening sequence of the Fire-Sealing Formula took shape in an instant. He had to seal these inextinguishable flames immediately, otherwise...
But at that moment, his movements froze, because the Amaterasu flames on Satsuki's body were not burning. No, more accurately—they were indeed flickering. Black flames coiled around her arms, shoulders, neck, and hair, yet they flowed slowly like docile pets. They did not scorch her clothes, much less leave even the slightest burn mark on her skin.
Satsuki closed her eyes slightly, as if feeling the flames flowing across her body.
Then she sat upright again and held out both hands, palms facing upward.
The black flames surrounding her gathered in her palms, eventually condensing into a quiet, floating ball of black fire.
The flames danced in her hands without leaking even a trace of heat.
"Naruto," Satsuki raised her head, her gaze unbelievably gentle, "hold out your hand."
Satsuki's dojutsu was definitely not ordinary Amaterasu.
Naruto recalled the strange events at the organization's base involving Shisui—first, he had suddenly gone stiff as though immobilized. Then Amaterasu had wrapped around him without causing any real harm. Finally, his Dojutsu had actually been temporarily sealed.
It was like an immobilization technique... combined with something similar to Sealing Jutsu.
Naruto did not hesitate. He extended his right hand, his fingertips reaching toward that cluster of black flames.
The instant he touched it—the flames did not burn him, nor did they resist. They flowed up from his fingertips, silently sank into his skin, merged