It was this technique—the one that let Tsunade outlive her grandfather, even though she couldn't beat him—that reminded Nara Dan.
It wasn't that Nara Dan hadn't known about it before. He had simply felt that a technique that consumed the potential of his cells to achieve High-Speed Regeneration was unnecessary for him.
His Metal-Devouring was enough to repair damage to his body without any side effects.
But after reaching God-Seeing Indestructibility, he'd grown curious about how the Yin Seal achieved the same effect of gathering Life Energy.
After all, Tsunade couldn't have maintained her youthful beauty for so long otherwise.
She still looked that way even in Boruto.
So, taking the opportunity to carry Tsunade home, Nara Dan had thoroughly and completely "seen her naked."
Or, more accurately, he had used the Jin Force unique to God-Seeing Indestructibility to examine the Yin Seal's inner workings in Tsunade's body.
Of course, if he'd sent Chakra into her body, Tsunade's sensitivity to Chakra would probably have woken her instantly.
"Now that's interesting."
Nara Dan recalled what he'd seen inside Tsunade the day before.
"She actually found another way to gather Life Energy."
"She makes Chakra materialize inside her body, forming extra 'Artificial Meridians.'"
"This sends the extra Chakra from throughout her body to the Pineal Gland between her brows."
"Then she stores it there with a Sealing Technique."
Nara Dan truly had to admire Tsunade's ingenuity.
Back in Uzumaki Mito's time, the Yin Seal had only been a prototype. It didn't even have the effect of prolonging life.
It was only in Tsunade's hands that the Yin Seal became a complete technique.
"Likewise, making Chakra materialize inside the body and form tiny meridian channels..."
"The slightest mistake could disrupt the balance of Chakra inside the body."
"There's no doubt it's extremely difficult."
"Only someone with Chakra control as precise as Tsunade, a top Medical Ninja, could manage it."
"That's also why Haruno Sakura was able to inherit her legacy."
Nara Dan analyzed the technique.
"It really is an ingenious idea."
"Chakra itself is an important manifestation of the essence of life."
"It's Transcendent energy produced by drawing upon the essence of life."
"So, storing in the Pineal Gland the Chakra normally drawn from all over the body..."
"Then using the Chakra meridians to nourish every part of the body in reverse..."
"In a way, that preserves as much of the life force the body consumes each day as possible."
"It achieves the goal of Golden Elixir Swallowed into the Belly, Planting Golden Lotus in Fire."
"It's much like God-Seeing Indestructibility."
As he spoke, Nara Dan controlled the Chakra inside his body, making it form materialized meridians.
He circulated it according to the pattern he'd observed inside Tsunade the day before.
A few seconds later, a faint purple mark appeared on Nara Dan's forehead.
But it lasted only an instant before vanishing.
At the same time, the Chakra meridians he'd formed inside his body collapsed and dissipated.
"Just as I thought."
Nara Dan shook his head at the result.
"It's not that easy to replicate."
"After all, everyone's meridians and physical condition are completely different."
"Men and women are even more different."
"It's hard to gather Chakra and circulate it through the meridians in the same way for both sexes."
"There's a reason it's called the Yin Seal."
"If I really want to learn this Secret Technique, I'll have to go through a great deal of trial and error."
"And I'm not particularly skilled in Sealing Technique knowledge, either."
Nara Dan weighed the cost against the benefits.
"For me, the Yin Seal's passive gathering of Life Energy is of little use."
"God-Seeing Indestructibility is far more powerful."
"Cell Activation and division are optional for me, too."
"If Susanoo chops me into pieces, there's basically no point struggling."
"But storing a large amount of Chakra as a trump card could be useful."
"After all, I don't have that much Chakra."
"Not compared to those Chakra-Ton monsters."
"Even figuring out how to store Senjutsu energy could be a good idea."
As Nara Dan considered whether to study the Yin Seal properly, a servant came over.
"Lord Nara."
"There's someone outside named Ino Rinya. He says he's your student."
Nara Dan's expression didn't change. He simply nodded.
It seemed that seed had sprouted, too.
Before long, Nara Dan sat on the doorstep, facing Ino Rinya, who knelt before him.
Once, Hyuga Nana had knelt here.
Now it was someone else.
Perhaps word would spread again throughout Konoha that Nara Dan had no standards when it came to women.
But he didn't care.
Looking at the respectful Ino Rinya, Nara Dan naturally knew why he had come.
The scroll Nara Dan had given him had opened up another choice.
As for who had sent Ino Rinya, or who had tried to recruit him, Nara Dan knew, but didn't care.
Or rather, he had enough confidence to know that none of those old politicians could match the leverage he'd offered.
After all, he wasn't like those politicians who wanted to have their cake and eat it, too. He had no need to completely control anyone.
His goal was to plant the seed and reap the harvest when the time came.
The experience and growth he gained from the seed would all become fuel for his own advancement.
Much like Demonic Seed of Dao Heart.
As for being devoured in turn...
If Nara Dan didn't have that much confidence in himself, he might as well bash his head against a wall and die.
"Looks like you've made your choice."
Nara Dan smiled.
"You know what you want now?"
Ino Rinya worked up his courage and raised his head.
"Teacher Nara."
"I want to live!"
"I want my sister and me to live!"
Nara Dan nodded, contemplating the determination in Ino Rinya's eyes.
To live...
In this cruel world, for the vast majority of people at the bottom, that simplest of wishes was actually the hardest to fulfill.
And even harder was living with dignity and the freedom to choose.
In truth, in this world ruled by destiny, even the protagonists had to follow its course.
Or be controlled by aliens and talking animals.
The freedom to choose is nothing but a false premise.
Nara Dan sighed to himself.
But he understood what Ino Rinya meant. He needed the power to decide his own fate.
That was something the politicians couldn't give him. And he'd seen what Nara Dan could do.
In just a few days, Nara Dan had transformed his basic ninja skills beyond recognition, leaving even Danzo stunned.
"Get up first."
Nara Dan said without warning.
"Hm?"
Ino Rinya was a little confused, but he still obediently stood up.
Suddenly, without any warning, Nara Dan flicked his finger. A sharp Chakra blade shot from it,
hurtling toward the main artery in Ino Rinya's neck at tremendous speed.
But Ino Rinya just stared blankly, still dazed as he tried to stand up.
The Chakra blade was almost at his throat.
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