Cursed Seal

Even Akashi winced just watching. Someone was biting down hard on another person's neck, teeth sinking into the skin, saliva running down their body... Huh? Why did that seem kind of gross?69§hµx.¢ðm

But after seeing all the techniques Orochimaru used, he'd gotten used to much worse.

A moment later, Orochimaru straightened up and ran his tongue over his lips, as if that were all it took to wipe them clean.

Faint markings appeared on Shinnō's neck, gradually taking shape: three tomoe.

The Heaven Cursed Seal!

Even Akashi was taken aback. He knew Orochimaru had an experiment in mind, but he hadn't expected it to involve a "Cursed Seal."

The Cursed Seal was something Orochimaru had developed to help his vessels withstand his Senjutsu Chakra. It could strengthen the body and store a backup of his soul, and it was also a vital technique that allowed Orochimaru to cheat death.

As long as a Cursed Seal existed, Orochimaru could be resurrected from it.

That could happen with help from someone else, or when the vessel's chakra ran out.

But had Orochimaru already developed the Cursed Seal to this point?

Akashi couldn't help reviewing the history he knew.

According to Kabuto, the Cursed Seal's power came from Jugo, and Orochimaru had discovered Ryūchi Cave because of Jugo's Natural Energy. But that account clearly didn't add up.

Jugo was about the same age as Kimimaro, born around Year 46 of Konoha. When Orochimaru defected, Jugo was only five, and Orochimaru hadn't even abducted the young Kimimaro yet. So Kimimaro couldn't have found and taken Jugo in at this point. But Anko had been branded with the Heaven Cursed Seal just before Orochimaru defected, which clashed considerably with the timeline Kabuto had described.

In any case, the Cursed Seal on Anko was solid evidence.

What's more, the Sannin, feared on the battlefield, and their summoning beasts from the Three Great Sage Lands showed that they had each signed contracts with Shikkotsu Forest, Ryūchi Cave, and Mount Myoboku.

Perhaps Orochimaru had already found members of Jugo's clan and begun researching Sage Transformation, though his work was still incomplete. Some of Jugo's clan members may have died in his experiments, while others had gone into hiding, much like the Iburi Clan.

Jugo was one of them. Later, Kimimaro found him.

After that, Orochimaru formally began training in Senjutsu and perfected his Cursed Seal. But his research into reincarnation caused his soul and body to become incompatible, preventing him from achieving perfect Sage Transformation. Orochimaru also discovered that a Cursed Seal infused with Senjutsu Chakra could hold a soul. By a twist of fate, this helped him solve the vessel problem sooner, and he successfully developed Living Corpse Reincarnation.

Cell activation, Body Regeneration Secret Technique, Cursed Seal, Living Corpse Reincarnation... They formed a perfect loop.

If Akashi's guess was right, then it made sense that Orochimaru already had the Cursed Seal.

The seal probably wasn't complete yet, though.

Akashi watched Shinnō lose consciousness. A chill suddenly ran down his neck, and he felt a little afraid.

Orochimaru came over and rested a hand on his shoulder. "This is a technique I've recently developed. It's called the Cursed Seal. It comes from Natural Energy and can strengthen the body, but its controllability still needs to be tested. The fatality rate is high."

"What if he dies? Don't we still need his regeneration technique?"

"We'll watch him through the night. If he's fine tomorrow morning, then he's made it through."

Orochimaru shot Shinnō a sidelong glance, then turned to leave. "If he doesn't make it, I have no interest in a regeneration technique like his."

The door shut behind him, leaving the room quiet and cold.

Akashi had told his family in advance that he'd be on a special mission and wouldn't be coming home tonight, so he had plenty of time to keep Shinnō company.

He yawned, found a place to lie down, and felt sleep coming on. "The theoretical survival rate for the Heaven Cursed Seal is one in ten, but the actual survival rate is two out of two. Hope you make it. Good night."

?

Drip...

Drip...

Greenish liquid slowly fell from a test tube, striking the bottom of a glass dish and splashing into pretty droplets. Several slender white snakes quickly raised their upper bodies and writhed frantically.

Dressed in a white lab coat and holding a report, Akashi wrote at lightning speed.

<Feasibility Study on Activity-Stimulating Agents for Snakes>, Experiment 101—Success.

"Phew... Finally done." Akashi shut the transparent cabinet, looking relieved as he let out a long breath.

He glanced up at the clock. It was already seven in the morning.

Shinnō lay on the operating table, twitching frequently, still unconscious.

There was no way he was faking it. Akashi was sure he was in real pain. He'd cried out for help in his sleep several times, his voice muffled.

Black markings had appeared and disappeared several times, as if a struggle were taking place inside his body.

The initial stability of this Cursed Seal probably wasn't even as good as the one he'd administered to Sasuke.

"Good thing he didn't use me as a test subject. That must've been torture. Tsk, tsk."

As he was thinking this, Akashi saw Shinnō wake up.

For observation purposes, they hadn't restrained Shinnō. The moment he came to, he sat upright, his eyes filled with shock and delight.

The feeling of being reborn surged through him.

A powerful force coursed through his entire body.

"What's going on?" Shinnō stared at his hands in disbelief.

Akashi cleared his throat and shamelessly said, "This is a modification that gives you greater strength. In exchange, you'll give us your Body Regeneration Secret Technique. You're getting a fair deal. So, how does it feel to work with us?"

"Work with you? Is this how you work with people?!" Remembering how he'd been treated last night, Shinnō nearly burst into tears.

"At least you're still alive."

"So, what's your goal? Why do you want my technique? Why did you set up an experimental base outside the village?"

Akashi's gaze turned cold. "You ask too many questions!"

Shinnō's hair stood on end. He gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Looks like underestimating the Konoha Ninja was the biggest mistake I could've made."

Akashi's smile returned. "You weren't wrong. You were just unlucky enough to run into me. But as it happens, there's an opportunity for us to work together."

"Hmph. I'll never trust Konoha Ninja again..."

Halfway through his sentence, Shinnō suddenly realized something. "You want the things in the library too. You used me!"

Akashi didn't admit it. Instead, he changed the subject. "That doesn't matter. I know you hate Konoha. I know your real identity, your abilities, your goals... I know it all, but I don't care."

"Heh. After all this, you still want to pump me for information?"

"Why don't people from the Land of Sky like trusting others?" Akashi shook his head.

That simple remark hit Shinnō like a bolt of lightning.

Akashi pressed his advantage and continued revealing what he knew about Shinnō. He didn't know much, but just mentioning the history of the Land of Sky and Shinnō's aims was enough to cow him.

Sure enough, Shinnō froze.

His beard trembled. He'd hidden everything so well, yet this kid had seen right through him. This boy was even more frightening than Orochimaru!

"You... What exactly do you want?"

"First, complete Lord Orochimaru's mission and hand over all the knowledge you've gained so far—medical techniques, ninjutsu, everything. Second, use your position as a doctor to get me some samples. Then I'll let you go."

Such blunt honesty left Shinnō at a loss. "I'm planning to harm Konoha. You'll really let me go?"

Akashi replied, "I don't care whether Konoha survives. If you have what it takes, go ahead and try."

Shinnō grew even more puzzled. He climbed off the operating table and stared at Akashi in surprise. "Aren't you afraid I'll expose your secret and Orochimaru's?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp pain struck his neck. The agony that followed tore through him like a tidal wave. He'd barely stepped off the table before collapsing to his knees with a thud, one hand clutching his neck and the other braced against the floor as he gasped violently.

Orochimaru walked in from outside. His cold eyes carried immense pressure.

Akashi smiled. "Now you understand, right? The Cursed Seal is Lord Orochimaru's creation. It can make you wish you were dead at any moment. Behave well, and you may have a chance to live—and even get what you want."

Shinnō understood.

The things he'd stolen were now in Akashi's hands too.

Weighing his options, he saw that cooperation was practically his only choice. He had no way out.