Toji looked at the scroll, a vague premonition stirring within him.
"What is this?"
A pleased smile appeared on Matsumoto Kazuka's pale face. "The research notes you gave me—I actually mastered all of them a long time ago."
"I wanted to surprise you after graduation, so I never said anything."
"This contains the Prototype Curse Mark I developed."
She had not disappointed Toji's expectations. Not only had she grasped his research notes far beyond what he had expected.
She had also, as a fraudster of friendship, approached two "friends" whose friendship she had deceived while appearing harmless, quietly drawing knowledge related to Curse Marks from them under the guise of curiosity and observation.
In the end, Matsumoto Kazuka had completed the design of the Prototype Curse Mark all by herself.
Yet she did not tell Toji the story of deception behind the Curse Mark.
The results she had obtained by deceiving friends were probably an unforgivable mistake in the eyes of a teacher with such noble character. If he found out, he would surely be deeply disappointed.
Toji was the kind of person who, in Matsumoto Kazuka's heart, would not hesitate to sacrifice his own interests for the greater good.
So...
It was enough for her teacher to be admired by others. She would shoulder all the darkness herself!
Toji's expression revealed neither joy nor anger as he slowly spoke.
"Kazuka, you did well."
"I was right about your talent."
"I'm very happy that you were able to design the Prototype Curse Mark and give it to me. But—"
Matsumoto Kazuka's heart instantly leaped into her throat again.
"You hid this from me. I'm very unhappy about that."
Toji had originally stopped expecting much from Matsumoto Kazuka.
Yet he had not expected her to secretly complete the initial research on Curse Marks. The surprise had certainly caught him off guard, but he did not like this feeling of things slipping beyond his control and exceeding his plans.
A reprimand was necessary.
Matsumoto Kazuka's face turned pale as she bowed deeply. "I'm sorry, Teacher. It was my fault to hide it from you all this time."
"Stand up straight."
Toji's tone was calm. "I don't mean to blame you. As your teacher, I admire your talent, but I hope there can be honesty between teacher and student. Otherwise, even the best intentions can turn sour."
"Yes! I understand."
Toji gave a slight nod. "Let me see what you've accomplished."
He unfurled the Curse Mark scroll.
Dense handwriting and calculations filled the scroll. At its center was a hollow circle, surrounded by intricate, tightly packed curse scripts.
Toji narrowed his eyes.
The design of this Curse Mark looked very familiar.
It came from the same lineage as Orochimaru's future Curse Mark designs. Mother and son indeed— even their design philosophies were so alike.
He carefully examined the pattern on the scroll.
Matsumoto Kazuka explained from beside him, "Teacher, this prototype currently doesn't have any practical function yet, but its basic framework is complete. As long as the corresponding effect scripts are added, the Curse Mark will be able to function..."
Toji did not blame her for failing to present him with a finished product outright.
For a fourteen-year-old girl to reach this point had already proven her worth.
Toji knew he could not develop a Prototype Curse Mark like this.
It was practically a universal Curse Mark framework template. As long as research continued from this foundation, Curse Marks with all kinds of effects could be developed: the Binding Curse Seal, Karmic Binding, Restraining Curse Talismans, even the Heaven and Earth Curse Mark that absorbed natural energy.
Its uses were endless.
Just considering it briefly, Toji saw the value and potential contained in this Prototype Curse Mark.
But he also knew that before potential was truly realized, it remained only potential. It could not become tangible power. Without extensive development and perfected functions, this Prototype Curse Mark would be completely useless.
It was foreseeable that further development of the Prototype Curse Mark would consume immense effort, with results taking years to achieve. For ordinary shinobi, it was almost equivalent to ruining their future—abandoning their combat ability to conduct research full-time.
And the person best suited to further develop it was standing right in front of him.
Yet Toji felt no guilt whatsoever as he chose to assign this lengthy task to his disciple.
"Good. Very good. Extremely good." Toji praised her three times in succession. "Kazuka, I still underestimated your potential. This Prototype Curse Mark may be even more valuable than you imagine."
"Your two years of research have, in some respects, already surpassed the accumulated work of many shinobi clans over decades or even centuries."
"In all of Konoha, when it comes to Curse Mark development, I would call you the strongest. Your teacher is already completely inferior to you in this field."
"Your thinking is entirely correct. I'll leave the Curse Mark's further development to you as well."
Matsumoto Kazuka was deeply moved.
All the hardship and torment of the past two years gained meaning at the moment she received Toji's affirmation. Burning motivation reignited in her heart. This was the power brought by recognition from someone she admired.
She would develop the Prototype Curse Mark into a Curse Mark of genuine value.
Matsumoto Kazuka asked, "Teacher, what kind of Curse Mark do you want?"
"This..."
Toji did not truly intend to use Matsumoto Kazuka as a wish-granting machine.
He needed to leave her enough personal time and consider the practical difficulty of the research. Before finding the Libra Clan, there was no need to consider the Sage Transformation Curse Mark; it would simply waste both people and effort.
After weighing everything, Toji slowly spoke.
"First, a Grafted Curse Mark. Combine animal genes with a Curse Mark and activate it with chakra, allowing shinobi to temporarily gain the traits of the corresponding animal."
"Second, a control-type Curse Mark, used to forcibly restrain a target so he cannot do something, or must carry out something."
"You can try both and choose one you're better at to develop."
The first type Toji mentioned was precisely the Tiger Curse Mark that Mizuki would obtain from Orochimaru in the future. Once activated, the host would gain the traits of a tiger.
There were many animals in the Shinobi World, including the strongest "animals" of all—the Tailed Beasts. Its potential applications were vast.
It was perfect for mass-producing disposable troops with considerable combat strength.
The second was similar to the Restraining Curse Talisman Madara Uchiha had placed on Rin Nohara. More covert than the control of Earth Grudge Fear, it could force the marked person to act only according to a predetermined script.
For Toji, hidden behind the scenes, this kind of Curse Mark was even more useful for sowing discord and creating chaos.
Matsumoto Kazuka was somewhat surprised.
She had thought her teacher would have her focus on developing medical-oriented Curse Marks. But her teacher's choice surely had deeper meaning. She only needed to give it her all and turn his expectations into reality.
There was no need to overthink anything.
Matsumoto Kazuka's gaze grew increasingly resolute.
"Leave it to me, Teacher!"
Toji took out a ring of keys from the drawer and handed them to Matsumoto Kazuka.
"These are the keys to the laboratory on the second basement level of Gospel Hospital. It is mainly used for medical research and is classified hospital property. You may use the equipment there to develop Curse Marks."
"But be mindful of your limits..."
Toji's tone carried deeper meaning. "Many times, medical experimentation and crossing forbidden lines are separated by a single thought. I would rather have no Curse Mark than see my disciple stray down the wrong path."
"Kazuka, do you understand?"
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