Worth Nine Asumas

"Kushina, you really can't do it at all?"

Hyuga Wuye finally gave up on figuring it out himself.

Although he could understand the principles, his lousy body would never learn it without Kushina opening it up for him. Expecting himself to comprehend a sealing scroll related to space-time? That would be asking for trouble.

"Grandma Mito explained the principles to me," Kushina said, sitting beside him. "Sealing scrolls are different from ninjutsu scrolls. In terms of difficulty, they're much harder than storing ninjutsu in a scroll, because you have to find a spatial node and then seal the technique for opening that node into the scroll."

"So ordinary ninjutsu scrolls seal ninjutsu onto the scroll, while sealing scrolls, on top of that, seal a technique that opens a spatial node?" Wuye asked.

Kushina nodded repeatedly. "They each have their own difficulties. The hard part of sealing ninjutsu onto a scroll is maintaining balance, or it'll explode on its own. The technique for opening a spatial node isn't actually difficult, but the hard part is linking it to a space that can store things."

"The technique for opening a spatial node isn't difficult?" Wuye could not help asking.

In his understanding, ninjutsu involving space-time was among the hardest kinds.

"Yeah." Kushina blinked innocently. "As long as you form those 108 hand seals and circulate chakra as required, you can use it."

"108 hand seals..."

Hyuga Wuye remained expressionless.

"Grandma Mito said that especially gifted ninja can simplify the number of hand seals, or even use no hand seals at all. With a pre-set formula, they can open a spatial node and teleport themselves or objects through it." Kushina poked her cheek with one finger. "What was that technique called again...?"

"The Flying Thunder God Technique. The Second Hokage's technique." Hyuga Wuye remained expressionless.

"Mhm, mhm, mhm, that's it—the Flying Thunder God Technique! I heard the Second Hokage got the inspiration for it from sealing scrolls!" Kushina said.

Well, he could only say that the man truly deserved to be called a walking forbidden-technique factory... He could simplify all 108 hand seals away!

And he, Hyuga Wuye, could only rely on his wife... How sad.

"Kushina, can you demonstrate it for me?" he finally asked.

"Sure, sure."

Kushina was always happy to grant his requests.

"Monkey—Rabbit—Rat—Boar—Rooster—Ox—Goat—Rat—Ren—Monkey—Rooster—Dragon—Rooster—Ox—Horse—Goat—Tiger—Snake—Rat—Monkey—Rabbit—Boar—Dog—Goat—Rat—Ox—Horse—Rooster—Rat—Tiger—Dog—Tiger—Snake—Ox—Goat—Snake—Boar..."

He could have padded this out with far more words, but Hyuga Wuye forgot the earlier seals after seeing the later ones, and in the end, he only remembered these.

Of course, Kushina had not memorized them either. She formed the seals one by one according to what was written on the scroll.

In Hyuga Wuye's eyes, he could not only see the seals forming in her hands, but also clearly observe the direction and pauses of chakra flowing through her body. Every change was crystal clear.

"Spatial node, open!"

Kushina gave a low shout, but nothing happened.

She closed her eyes and remained motionless.

Hyuga Wuye watched her strangely. Slowly, he "saw" her chakra extend from her palm, probing back and forth through the empty darkness.

His analysis ability really was something else. He could even see images within the void so clearly.

Bang!

A full half hour later, Kushina opened her eyes dejectedly and dispersed her chakra. "No, I still can't find a suitable spatial node. Those places are all unstable. If you put something inside, it might be torn apart in an instant."

"So even following the scroll, you can open a spatial node. You just can't find a suitable storage space?"

Hyuga Wuye finally understood why she could not make sealing scrolls.

"Mm. Grandma said that aside from the stable space we live in, there are countless spaces of all sizes. Most of them are unstable, but quite a few are self-contained. Since they aren't large, they're very stable and suitable for use as storage spaces."

Kushina pouted. "They can all find them, but I just can't."

"I'll try."

Hyuga Wuye was intrigued as well. He directly copied what Kushina had just done, forming hand seals and circulating chakra.

"Spatial node, open!"

Before long, he successfully extended his chakra into the void through ninjutsu.

"Wow! You're amazing! I studied this for so long, and you learned it after just one look?!"

Kushina's eyes sparkled, and her gaze at Wuye was full of admiration.

Hyuga Wuye, however, was so embarrassed he nearly dug a hole in the ground with his toes...

He was an idiot when learning other techniques, but a genius when learning his wives' techniques. How awkward.

The void he had been able to "see" clearly during analysis was impossible to perceive clearly through chakra. Every spatial node he sensed gave him a violent feeling.

There was no need to say it—none of them could be used.

Sure enough, he had no talent even for learning this technique. How could he possibly have talent for sensing spatial nodes?

Bang!

Hyuga Wuye opened his eyes and spread his hands.

Kushina took his hand and comforted him. "Even among our Uzumaki Clan, only a few people have the talent to sense spatial nodes. It's perfectly normal."

"So I really can only live off a woman?"

Hyuga Wuye lay on the ground, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Wuye, how about I give you three hundred million ryo?" Kushina tugged at his sleeve.

"Thanks. One Asuma is worth thirty-five million ryo, so apparently I'm worth nine Asumas..." Wuye muttered quietly.

"No," Kushina said with a smiling squint, "I meant I'd give you three hundred million ryo to solve the problem. I'm not asking you to sell yourself."

Wuye continued lying sprawled on the floor. "Oh... So my face alone is worth three hundred million ryo..."

"It can't be helped. Neither of us has the talent to sense spatial nodes, so we can only use our savings." Kushina covered her mouth and laughed.

"Neither of us can... Wait!"

Hyuga Wuye suddenly scrambled up and moved close to Kushina's face, his breath spilling over her delicate cheeks. "Kushina, use it again."

"Oh... okay..."

Kushina went a little weak from his breath. Instinctively obeying him, she began forming hand seals and circulating chakra.

"Yes, just like that. Forward!"

Wuye "watched" her chakra extend into the void, observing carefully.

"Go downward... good, stop... farther left... right, to the left... good, stop for a moment... beneath your chakra, sense it..."

Following his instructions, Kushina's chakra accurately sensed a stable space of moderate size.

"Wow! I found it!"

In her excitement, the chakra in the void suddenly scattered.

"Uh..."

Kushina scratched her head.

"It's fine." Wuye beamed. "Once you've done it the first time, it'll be much easier from now on."

That sounded a little strange... but never mind.

"Do you have any blank scrolls? We can try making a real sealing scroll now," Wuye asked.

Kushina shook her head. "No, but the ninja tool shop sells them. I'll go buy some!"

But Wuye grabbed her hand and said with a smile, "It can't always be you making sacrifices. I'll buy the scrolls."

Kushina hesitated, then whispered, "Even blank scrolls cost five thousand ryo each..."

Wuye's smile froze.

"..."