Two days later,
Naraku and the others arrived in the Land of Artisans.
After asking around, they quickly found the man named Sandayu.
Perhaps Kazahana Sōsetsu had already sent someone to inform him, because Sandayu didn't seem surprised by their arrival. But when he saw the young Kazahana Koyuki, a sorrowful expression crossed his face.
"Big Brother Kakashi, Big Brother Naraku, you have to come visit me again!" Kazahana Koyuki said, waving goodbye to them with reluctance.
"All right, we will."
After handing Kazahana Koyuki over to Sandayu, the two had successfully completed their mission. They then set off to return to Konoha.
Overall, the mission had gone fairly smoothly. They hadn't encountered any major obstacles.
Three days later, two figures appeared in a forest outside Konoha. They were Naraku and Kakashi.
After several days of traveling, both looked tired, but at least the mission was over, and they could go home and rest.
Before that, though, there was one more thing they had to do.
The forest ahead was about to give way to Konoha. Naraku suddenly turned and met Kakashi's gaze. Then, as if by silent agreement, they turned and headed in another direction.
Soon, the two arrived at a secluded cave.
Inside, Naraku placed his hand on a stone. A series of unusual black markings appeared on its surface, spreading until they covered almost the entire cave.
"Phew, done." Naraku let out a quiet breath and lifted his hand from the stone. The densely packed black markings disappeared with it, concealed within the mountainside.
This was a special barrier formation Naraku had mastered. It ranked among the best of the many formations he knew. It could not only isolate everything inside it, but also provide a measure of defense.
For example, anyone trying to enter their cave now would find it impossible to get in unless they used force to break the formation. If they did, though, Naraku would sense it in advance.
After finishing his preparations, Naraku turned to Kakashi. "How about it, Kai? Ready?"
"Yeah." Kakashi nodded firmly, then lifted the Forehead Protector covering his left eye. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly spun.
"Good. In that case, I'll begin." Naraku took out a blank scroll and spread it on the ground. Then he slowly raised his hands and began forming Hand Seals.
"Watch closely, Kai."
He didn't need to say it. Kakashi was already watching his every move, his Sharingan in particular. Its three black tomoe had begun spinning rapidly.
"Four Symbols Seal."
Naraku murmured the words and pressed his hand against the scroll. A black, swirling seal appeared on it.
That was right: the Four Symbols Seal. In his previous life, Naraku had wondered if Kakashi could learn a sealing technique that could seal the Sharingan.
If so, wouldn't Kakashi be able to seal his Sharingan when he wasn't fighting, like members of the Uchiha Clan, and release the seal whenever he needed to use it?
Naraku had suggested the idea to Kakashi before, but Kakashi couldn't let go of his close friend, Uchiha Obito, and had never agreed.
But the trip to the Land of Snow had made him even more aware of the burden the Sharingan placed on him. That was why he'd finally accepted Naraku's suggestion. It was only a seal, after all—not as if he were destroying the Sharingan.
As a genius, Kakashi wasn't foolish. He understood the current situation in Konoha.
His teacher had fallen in battle, his teacher's wife was unconscious, and their child had become a Jinchuriki.
Some of the Third Hokage's actions had also left Kakashi dissatisfied. Now he understood the importance of strength. Only great strength could protect everything he cared about.
"Four Symbols Seal!"
As soon as Naraku finished demonstrating the Four Symbols Seal, Kakashi began as well. He formed the exact same Hand Seals, and another swirling seal appeared on the scroll.
Kakashi wasn't unfamiliar with sealing techniques. He had met several people in the Shinobi World who were skilled at them, and he had often seen Minato use Sealing Jutsu.
"As expected of you, Kakashi." Seeing Kakashi succeed on his first try, Naraku praised him silently. Of everyone he'd met so far, Kakashi undoubtedly had the greatest talent. Even his brother-in-law, the youngest Hokage in history, Minato Namikaze, couldn't match Kakashi in certain areas.
Of course, Kakashi was still a little behind Naraku himself.
Naraku then demonstrated how to release the Four Symbols Seal. As expected, Kakashi got it right on his first try too.
Even so, Naraku didn't let him immediately try sealing the Sharingan. Instead, he had him practice several more times. It was too important to risk damaging the Sharingan by accident.
They would need that eye, which also wielded Kamui, to deal with Uchiha Obito in the future.
Still, the odds of that happening were very low—almost nonexistent.
Before this, Naraku had tested the seal on his own eye several times, and each attempt had succeeded.
"Kai doesn't need to seal the entire Sharingan. He only needs to seal the nerves connected to it. That'll do. Like this." After Kakashi had practiced several times, Naraku demonstrated the process of sealing the Sharingan himself.
Naraku formed Hand Seals rapidly, finishing almost instantly. He placed his hand over his left eye, and a black, swirling seal appeared before slowly flowing into it.
"So that's how it works." Kakashi noticed that Naraku's left eye gradually lost its luster, like a mere ornament.
"Now I'll release the seal," Naraku said.
He placed his hand over his left eye again. The black, swirling seal gradually appeared. Then he gently turned his wrist, opening the seal like a revolving door.
His left eye returned to normal.
The whole process looked easy, but that was only because Naraku had mastered Sealing Jutsu.
He could have sealed Kakashi's Sharingan for him, but that would be a hassle. They weren't together all the time, and for now, Kakashi still relied on the Sharingan for most of his attacks.
Only if Kakashi mastered the Four Symbols Seal himself could they be absolutely sure it would work. That way, he could release the seal whenever he needed to.
"Your turn, Kai."
"All right." Kakashi nodded.
"Obito, Rin,"
"I'll protect everything I have now."
Kakashi's gaze was resolute. Then he began forming Hand Seals. "Four Symbols Seal."