Introduction to Basic Sealing Techniques

Inside Danzo's office at Root.

Danzo took out a new Bloodline Completion Elixir and tossed it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been somewhat dejected, immediately perked up, his face breaking into a broad smile.

Danzo snorted coldly. "This Bloodline Completion Elixir isn't free. It comes at a price."

"What do you want?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was all smiles now. He had already made up his mind—no matter what Danzo asked for, he would agree.

"The Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques!"

The moment he heard "the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques," Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile vanished.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply. "What do you want the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques for?"

Danzo replied calmly, "What do you think? Don't worry. I'm only having Menma learn them."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's furrowed brow relaxed. "It can be done, but not now. Even if I gave you the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques now, Menma wouldn't be able to learn them. Let Menma study the basics of sealing techniques first. Once his foundation is solid, I'll give the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques to Menma."

Danzo did not insist that Hiruzen Sarutobi hand over the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques immediately. He agreed, "Fine. Then that's settled. You may leave."

After Hiruzen Sarutobi left.

Danzo summoned Yamanaka Fu and Ryoma Aburame.

"Kaede, keep training Menma as brutally as usual. Once his training is over, Ryoma, you will teach Menma the basics of sealing techniques."

"Yes, Lord Danzo!"

Unaware of the grueling training awaiting him, Uzumaki Menma was currently in his room, recalling the summoning method Black Kurama had placed in his mind.

Now that Uzumaki Menma had Chakra in his body, he intended to try the summoning method in his mind and see whether he could summon them.

Uzumaki Menma formed the Tiger hand seal with both hands.

"Nine Mask Svāhā!"

"Azure? White? Vermilion? Black? Void? South? North? Three? Jade..."

Nine Chakra rings appeared above Uzumaki Menma, with the words he had recited floating at the centers of the rings.

"Nine Masked Beasts!"

At Uzumaki Menma's low shout, the five masked animals and four humanoid creatures from his previous dream emerged from the Chakra rings.

Except...

Each of the Nine Masked Beasts was only the size of an adult's fist.

Uzumaki Menma scratched his head as he looked at the tiny Nine Masked Beasts. Was it because he did not have enough Chakra?

Uzumaki Menma examined the Nine Masked Beasts. Four of them were clearly humanoid, so why were they called beasts too?

Once Uzumaki Menma had summoned the Nine Masked Beasts, their names appeared in his mind as well.

They were Azure Dragon, Byakko, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, Golden Serpent, Southern Dipper Sage, Northern Dipper Sage, Death God, and Celestial Maiden.

They corresponded respectively to Azure, White, Vermilion, Black, Void, South, North, Three, and Jade.

Uzumaki Menma beckoned to the Nine Masked Beasts.

Azure Dragon soared into the air and landed on Uzumaki Menma's hand.

Byakko jumped onto Uzumaki Menma's lap and lay down.

Vermilion Bird flew onto Uzumaki Menma's head, apparently treating it as her nest.

Black Tortoise merely shuffled over to Uzumaki Menma's feet.

Golden Serpent coiled around Uzumaki Menma's neck.

Southern Dipper Sage, Northern Dipper Sage, Death God, and Celestial Maiden each stood on Uzumaki Menma's shoulders.

Uzumaki Menma began playing with the Nine Masked Beasts in the room.

The next day.

At the training ground, Uzumaki Menma had just finished the training Yamanaka Fu required of him. As expected, he was practically half dead.

Yamanaka Fu had already left.

Uzumaki Menma was now staring in terror at the tall Ryoma Aburame.

"Uncle Ryoma, I really can't squeeze out even a drop more! Don't come any closer!" Uzumaki Menma scrambled backward on both hands and feet.

The taciturn Ryoma Aburame said nothing. He merely raised one hand.

Countless insects surged out from Ryoma Aburame's sleeve in a dark swarm.

At the sight of those insects, Uzumaki Menma felt awful all over, goosebumps rising across his body.

"Stop!"

Disgusted beyond measure, Uzumaki Menma hurriedly begged for mercy. "As long as you don't unleash the bugs, we can talk about anything!"

Ryoma Aburame withdrew the insects, walked over to Uzumaki Menma, and handed him a thick book.

Uzumaki Menma took the book and glanced at its cover.

"Introduction to Basic Sealing Techniques"

Uzumaki Menma looked at Ryoma Aburame in confusion. "Uncle Ryoma, what's this for?"

"Read it, remember it, then recite it."

Uzumaki Menma's mind went blank. He asked in disbelief, "Memorize all of it?"

Ryoma Aburame nodded.

Uzumaki Menma looked troubled as he stared at the thick book in his hands. It was such a massive volume—how could he possibly remember it all?

"You may begin."

Ryoma Aburame sat on the ground. Although he wore sunglasses, Uzumaki Menma could feel Ryoma Aburame watching him.

Uzumaki Menma could only grit his teeth and open the book.

Uzumaki Menma felt that he recognized every word in it, but once they were put together, he could not understand any of them.

After reading for only a few minutes, Uzumaki Menma felt lightheaded and drowsy.

In his groggy state, Uzumaki Menma suddenly felt itchy. It was as if something were crawling over him, while sharp pricks of pain stabbed at his skin.

Uzumaki Menma opened his eyes and looked down at himself, shuddering violently.

Bugs!

Dense swarms of insects crawled all over Uzumaki Menma's body.

"Mother of—"

Uzumaki Menma leaped to his feet, intending to swat the insects off his body.

Yet before Uzumaki Menma could make a move, all the insects retreated and returned to Ryoma Aburame.

Ryoma Aburame said, "Continue."

Uzumaki Menma sat back down, muttering nonstop, "I'm reading already. Why do you have to scare me with bugs?"

An hour later.

After enduring multiple rounds of insect bites, Uzumaki Menma finally finished reading.

But next came the recitation.

Uzumaki Menma stared blankly at Ryoma Aburame's face. How was he supposed to know what was written on the first line of the first page?

A new round of insect bites began once more.

Another two hours passed.

Uzumaki Menma barely managed to recite the contents of three pages.

Ryoma Aburame stood and told Uzumaki Menma, "Before beginning tomorrow, recite what you learned today again. Then memorize another three pages. Repeat this every day."

After saying that, countless insects covered Ryoma Aburame's entire body. When they scattered, Ryoma Aburame had vanished as well.

Uzumaki Menma looked at the Introduction to Basic Sealing Techniques in his hands, overwhelmed with sorrow. He hurled the book to the ground and vented loudly:

"Is this life even livable anymore?!"

After venting, Uzumaki Menma still dejectedly picked up the book from the ground, hunched over, and headed out of Root.

I should read while playing today. Otherwise, if I can't recite it tomorrow, I'm done for.