The Power of the Cursed Seal

Toji looked at the scroll, a faint premonition stirring within him.

"What is this?"

A happy smile bloomed on Matsumoto Waka's pale face. "The research notes you gave me—I actually mastered them all a long time ago."

"I wanted to wait until graduation to give you a surprise, so I kept it to myself."

"Inside here is the prototype Cursed Seal I developed."

She had not failed Toji's expectations; not only had she digested his research notes far beyond what he had anticipated, but she had also acted as a fraud, feigning friendship to get close to two "friends" she deceived. Under the guise of curiosity and observation, she had quietly siphoned off knowledge related to Cursed Seals from them.

In the end, Matsumoto Waka had completed the design of the prototype Cursed Seal entirely on her own.

However, she did not tell Toji about the stories of deception behind the seal.

To a teacher of such noble character, the fruits of labor gained by being a fraud were likely an unforgivable transgression. If he knew, the teacher would surely be very sad.

In Matsumoto Waka's heart, Toji was the type of person who would sacrifice his own interests without hesitation for the sake of the greater good.

So...

It was enough for the teacher to be the one people looked up to; she would shoulder all the darkness herself!

Toji's expression remained unreadable as he spoke slowly:

"Waka, you have done well."

"I did not misjudge your talent."

"I am pleased that you could design a prototype Cursed Seal for your teacher; however—"

Matsumoto Waka's heart hung in the air once more.

"You kept things from your teacher, and that, I am not pleased with."

Toji had originally held no expectations for Matsumoto Waka, yet he had not anticipated that she would complete the preliminary research on the Cursed Seal behind his back. While this surprise was unexpected, he did not like the feeling of things slipping out of his control or exceeding his plans.

A reprimand was necessary.

Matsumoto Waka's face turned pale as she bowed deeply. "I am sorry, Teacher. It was my fault for keeping it from you all this time."

"Stand up straight."

Toji's tone was calm. "I do not mean to blame you. As your teacher, I admire your talent, but I would prefer that there be honesty between master and disciple. Otherwise, even the best intentions will lose their meaning."

"Yes! I understand."

Toji nodded slightly. "Let me see your results."

He unfurled the scroll.

Dense, intricate handwriting and derivations were laid bare. In the center of the scroll was a hollow ring, surrounded by complex and dense incantations.

Toji narrowed his eyes.

The style of this Cursed Seal looked very familiar.

It shared the same lineage as the Cursed Seal style of the future Orochimaru; they were truly mother and son, for even their design philosophies were so similar.

He scrutinized the pattern on the scroll carefully.

Matsumoto Waka explained from the side, "Teacher, this prototype does not yet possess any practical function, but the basic framework is complete. From here on, as long as we fill it with the corresponding effect incantations, the Cursed Seal will be able to function..."

Toji did not blame her for not presenting a finished product immediately.

For a fourteen-year-old girl to reach this stage already proved her worth.

Toji admitted that he could not have developed such a prototype Cursed Seal himself.

This was practically a universal architectural template for Cursed Seals. As long as one continued to extend the research based on this foundation, one could develop Cursed Seals with all sorts of effects: Cursed Binding Seals, Self-Karma Binding, Imprisonment Talismans, or even the Heaven and Earth Cursed Seal that absorbed natural energy.

The applications were endless.

Just by thinking about it, Toji saw the value and potential this prototype Cursed Seal possessed.

But he also knew that potential, until it was truly realized, remained just potential and could not become tangible power. If it could not be deeply developed and its functions perfected, this prototype Cursed Seal would be completely useless.

It was foreseeable that the subsequent development of the prototype would consume a massive amount of energy, with results measured in years. For an ordinary ninja, this was almost equivalent to ruining one's own future, abandoning the ability to fight to research full-time.

And the person most suited to carry out this secondary development was standing right before him.

Yet, Toji felt not a shred of guilt in choosing to arrange for his disciple to undertake this time-consuming task.

"Good, very good, excellent," Toji praised three times in succession. "Waka, I still underestimated your potential. This prototype Cursed Seal may be even more valuable than you imagine."

"Your two years of research results have, in a sense, already surpassed the accumulation of many ninja clans over dozens or hundreds of years."

"In terms of Cursed Seal development in all of Konoha, I would call you the strongest. In this regard, your teacher is no match for you."

"Your line of thinking is entirely correct. I leave the subsequent development of the Cursed Seal to you."

Matsumoto Waka was deeply moved.

All the hardship and agony of the past two years suddenly held meaning the moment she received Toji's affirmation. A burning drive was rekindled in the depths of her heart; this was the power brought by being recognized by the one she admired.

She would develop the prototype Cursed Seal into something of true value.

Matsumoto Waka spoke up, "Teacher, what kind of Cursed Seal do you want?"

"Let me see..."

Toji did not truly intend to use Matsumoto Waka as a wish-granting machine.

He had to leave her enough personal time and consider the practical difficulty of the research. Before finding the Scales Clan, the Sage Transformation Cursed Seal was out of the question; it was simply too taxing and laborious.

After weighing his options, Toji spoke slowly:

"First, a Grafting Cursed Seal. Combine animal genes with the seal, powered by chakra, to allow a ninja to gain the characteristics of the corresponding animal for a short time."

"Second, a Control Cursed Seal. Use it to forcibly restrain a target, preventing them from doing something or compelling them to execute a specific task."

"You can attempt both, then choose the one you excel at to develop further."

The first type Toji mentioned was exactly the Tiger Cursed Seal that Mizuki would later obtain from Orochimaru. Once activated, the host would gain the enhanced traits of a tiger.

There were many animals in the Ninja World, not to mention the strongest "animals," the Tailed Beasts, making the potential applications vast.

It was perfectly suited for mass-producing foot soldiers with decent combat power.

The second type was similar to the Imprisonment Talisman that Uchiha Madara had placed on Nohara Rin. It was more covert than the manipulation of Earth Grudge Fear, allowing the marked individual to act only according to a pre-set script.

For Toji, who preferred to hide behind the scenes, such a Cursed Seal would be infinitely useful for sowing discord and creating chaos.

Matsumoto Waka was somewhat surprised.

She had assumed her teacher would have her focus on developing medical-oriented Cursed Seals. But her teacher's choices surely held deep meaning. She only needed to do her best to turn his expectations into reality.

There was no need to overthink anything.

Matsumoto Waka's gaze grew increasingly resolute:

"Leave it to me, Teacher!"

Toji took a set of keys from his drawer and handed them to Matsumoto Waka:

"These are the keys to the laboratory on the second basement level of Gospel Hospital. It is primarily used for medical research and is a hospital secret. You may use the equipment inside to conduct your Cursed Seal development."

"However, you must know your limits..."

Toji's tone was meaningful, "Often, the line between medical experimentation and touching upon forbidden taboos is but a single thought away. I would rather go without these Cursed Seals than see my student go astray."

"Waka, do you understand?"