33. Immortality is a curse to you, isn't it

Uzumaki Mito said, "The Yin Seal has extremely high requirements for its user. It requires precise chakra control to accumulate chakra daily and compress it into the diamond-shaped mark on one's forehead."

"By maintaining a continuous, low-output, and micro-regulated release of the stored chakra, the Yin Seal can achieve the effect of preserving one's youth and keeping bodily functions in a peak state for a long time..."

Mito paused, then added, "However, this sealing technique was originally created based on the female ninja's physique. Even if male ninjas know how it operates, it is very difficult for them to use."

Toji naturally knew of the Yin Seal's existence; the mark on Uzumaki Mito's brow was proof enough.

As the only secret technique in the Ninja World capable of storing chakra, its value was beyond doubt.

Toji had long desired it in his heart.

With the support of Earth Grudge Fear, he already possessed a near-immortal physique, but the issue of his limited chakra capacity had always held him back.

With the Yin Seal, this shortcoming could be greatly compensated for.

As for the restriction that male ninjas could not use it...

The Yin Seal was essentially part of the medical sealing system, and Tsunade would later even develop the Strength of a Hundred Technique based on it. Toji's greatest talent was precisely the deconstruction and reconstruction of medical ninjutsu.

Male ninjas can't use it?

Then he would just modify it until they could.

Toji put on a look that was both moved and confused: "In other words, since male ninjas can't use it, then..."

"Ahem, it's not for you to use yourself."

Hashirama spoke up from the side, "I originally intended for Mito to teach you techniques like the Four Symbols Seal, but she felt that you might need the Yin Seal more."

"A long-lived physique... for you, Toji, it must be a kind of curse, right?"

No.

I'm doing just fine.

Toji replied silently in his heart, while also understanding the intentions of Hashirama and Mito.

He looked at Mito's face. His gaze was not offensive; he simply noticed that the corners of her eyes had wrinkles similar to Hashirama's—traces left by the passage of time.

Logically speaking, someone who had mastered the Yin Seal should not have aged so quickly.

But why had she grown old?

If he couldn't even figure that out, Toji would be a fool—

Even if Hashirama was the God of Shinobi, possessing a Sage Body with invincible self-healing, he could not stop the erosion of time.

And Mito, who possessed the Yin Seal, had a much longer lifespan than Hashirama. Thus, Mito had voluntarily abandoned the youth-preserving effect of the Yin Seal, retaining only its most basic function of chakra storage.

She chose to grow old alongside Hashirama and walk toward the end of life together.

Toji's gaze flickered, and he felt a sense of emotion in his heart.

But unfortunately, he was allergic to romance; he only felt that Mito's care for Hashirama was no less than that of Madara.

Noticing Toji's gaze, Mito spoke slowly: "Not just you, but even your future descendants will be troubled by the curse of longevity. That is why I am passing the Yin Seal to you..."

"If you meet a woman you truly love in the future, pass this technique on to her."

"Then she will be able to walk with you until the very end."

Toji asked a question on a whim: "Including an Uchiha?"

"Including them."

It was Senju Hashirama who spoke, his tone open and honest, "You may dispose of the Yin Seal as you please. Whether you give it to a future wife or a disciple, I trust that you will not use it to do anything detrimental to the village."

"..."

Seeing Mito willingly give up her longevity for Hashirama, Toji felt nothing in his heart.

But the fact that Senju Hashirama had directly gifted him both the usage rights and ownership of the Yin Seal made Toji truly unable to hold back a smile.

There was an unspoken rule in Konoha, and indeed the entire Ninja World: powerful secret techniques were strictly forbidden from being passed on without permission.

This was easy to understand.

Ninjutsu was a tool for killing; if it were spread on a large scale and mastered by enemies, it would turn around and kill one's own people. Therefore, even the inheritance between master and disciple had to be handled with extreme caution.

Having ownership of the Yin Seal meant that Toji could teach it to whomever he pleased.

And although it hadn't been explicitly stated, it was implied that the Five Elements Seal Mito had taught him previously was for his use alone.

What a great boss this was~

"Toji, thank you, Lord Hashirama, Lady Mito."

Toji said from the bottom of his heart.

The Yin Seal was meant for him!

The combination of the Yin Seal and Earth Grudge Parasitism would bring about astonishing results.

"No need for thanks." Hashirama waved his hand, "Over these past two years, Mito and I have both seen your dedication, Toji. You are truly too tired; you rarely rest from the beginning of the year to the end, except for the New Year. You're even more exhausted than I am as Hokage..."

"Sometimes, you should think more about your own happiness."

"This is what Konoha owes you, and it is what you deserve."

Toji had initially assumed that Hashirama was simply a gossip who enjoyed meddling in people's love lives.

He hadn't expected the man to actually come up with a genuine solution.

After speaking seriously, Hashirama reverted to his boisterous self. "Hahaha! The Senju's gift won't be outdone by Madara's clan!"

"Madara, Madara, Madara—all you ever talk about is Madara!"

Mito struck Hashirama with a fierce punch, then turned to Toji. "Toji, since you're already here, stay for a meal. After we eat, I will hand over the scroll for the Yin Seal."

"Yes, My Lady."

The first two days of the New Year passed in this manner.

By the third day, other ninja clans in the village began sending out invitations one after another.

The Hyuga, the Ino-Shika-Cho, and various other clans all wanted to invite him to their compounds as a guest.

During a grand festival like the New Year, who wouldn't be desperate to invite the village's living saint into their home, treating him like a harbinger of good fortune?

However, Toji politely declined them all, one by one.

He was that kind of man; knowing there was a treasure mountain right in front of him, he couldn't bear to wait even a second longer, wanting only to start digging and developing it immediately.

To him, the Yin Seal was exactly that kind of treasure mountain.

The Yin Seal, Reanimation, Earth Grudge Parasitism...

Toji's time was once again shattered into fragments by these research projects.

Only when he was exhausted to the point of collapse would he stop by Ichiraku Ramen for a brief moment of relaxation.

On the final day of the New Year holiday.

While dining at Ichiraku Ramen, Toji caught an unexpected glimpse of his top student, Matsumoto Waka, walking down the street with two girls of similar age, holding an apple in her hand.

Toji was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected the reclusive Matsumoto Waka to have actually made friends.

A young scholar of the Ninja World should be focusing their energy on their studies.

Friendship? Bonds? How could she even sleep at night with such distractions?

Toji withdrew his gaze and lowered his head to eat his noodles.

Matsumoto Waka, passing by, did not notice her teacher sitting inside Ichiraku Ramen.

Once the group reached a secluded park, Waka spoke to her two "friends":

"Kotone, may I see your forehead?"

Hyuga Kotone immediately looked troubled, saying weakly, "I... can I refuse? My forehead is very ugly."

"Aren't we friends? I won't mock you." Matsumoto Waka smiled, her voice carrying a hint of imperceptible bewitchment as she whispered into the girl's ear: "I'm just a little curious. Since we're friends, it shouldn't matter if you show us, right?"

"Alright."

Hyuga Kotone removed her headband, revealing her forehead along with the Caged Bird Cursed Seal upon it.

"This is the cursed seal."

Matsumoto Waka stared at the pale green mark, her eyes gradually becoming unfocused as she whispered in her heart:

"This is the thing Teacher has always craved..."

She took her first step.