Rōran's Dragon Vein, a vision beyond eras! "Bonus update for Loves Stir-Fried Clams"

The Dragon Vein of Rōran possessed an immense reserve of Chakra rivaling that of a Tailed Beast, so why had none of the nations coveted it?

The reason... lay in the "seal" that Minato, the Fourth Hokage, had placed on the Dragon Vein years earlier.

In his previous life, a rogue ninja from Sunagakure named Mukade had tried to forcibly devour the Dragon Vein's seal and exploit its power, but through an unexpected turn of events, Minato had ultimately sealed the Dragon Vein anyway.

Setting aside his previous life and returning to this one, Orochimaru had beaten Mukade to it three years before the Sunagakure ninja would defect and set his sights on the Dragon Vein.

As for the "seal" Minato had placed on the Dragon Vein, it posed no obstacle to Orochimaru.

At the Rōran Ruins, Sasuke and his three companions stood before the abandoned Temple where the Dragon Vein was sealed.

Orochimaru's expression was grave. "Sasuke-kun, the Mangekyō Sharingan causes blindness because its ocular power gradually becomes sealed away with use. The way to break that seal is to transplant another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan from a direct blood relative within three generations, merging them into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. This is a choice you'll have to face sooner or later. It's time you told me where you stand. Will you still choose Itachi's eyes for your Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan this time?"

Sasuke revealed his plan. "This time, I won't use Itachi's eyes."

"I was young and ignorant before, but if Itachi is still alive, I don't want to take either his life or his sight!"

"Just as I expected."

Orochimaru nodded. "Then what is your choice?"

Sasuke recalled the past. "Itachi once showed me his memories of the night of the massacre through genjutsu. My father, Fugaku, had also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, but his eyes vanished after that night. I'll find those eyes and use them to create a new Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan..."

Orochimaru approved. "Indeed, Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan isn't your best option. Both of you possess the same ocular power, Amaterasu, which limits the possibilities considerably. My plan was the same: to have you inherit your father's eyes this time!"

Sasuke asked, "Do you know where my Father's eyes are?"

Orochimaru said, "At the very least, I can confirm that Danzo doesn't have them. To use Izanagi, he obtained an arm made with Hashirama cells through me. I know exactly how many eyes he has and all the details about them..."

Sasuke lightly clenched his fist. "If Danzo doesn't have them, then Obito must. Getting my Father's eyes from Obito will be many times harder than getting them from Danzo..."

Orochimaru said, "That's why, both now and in the long term, this technique to extend how long you can use your Mangekyō Sharingan is absolutely necessary..."

Sasuke said, "It's about time you told me what that technique actually is."

Orochimaru asked, "Do you know of the Yin Seal?"

Sasuke paused briefly. "Of course... It was the medical Forbidden Technique Sakura excelled at back then, taught to her by Tsunade. The Strength of a Hundred she used through it granted overwhelming strength and regenerative abilities. Supposedly, it's an ancient technique that has existed since the time of the Sage of Six Paths!"

Orochimaru smiled. "Then have you noticed something interesting? That immense strength and regeneration both match the power of the Senju, whose essence is Yang Release. Despite being called the Yin Seal, its focus is the power of Yang Release!"

Sasuke said, "Now that I think about it, that's true..."

Orochimaru said, "Then the Yin Seal's opposite, the Yang Seal, focuses on the power of Yin Release!"

"The Yang Seal...?"

Even with all his experience, Sasuke had never heard of this technique before.

After all, it dated back far too long, and its user had long since left the stage of history.

Orochimaru's expression grew solemn. "It existed alongside the Yin Seal during the era of the Sage of Six Paths. The last user of the Yang Seal was Lady Mito Uzumaki, the eldest princess of the Uzumaki Clan, the First Hokage's wife, and the first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"

"In my previous life, I collected a great deal of literature from the Uzumaki Clan, found the formula for the Yang Seal, and improved it. Lady Mito's Yang Seal was similar to the Yin Seal: it required years of refining one's own Yin Release chakra before it would manifest. But my improved Yang Seal can draw in nature chakra from an external source, refine it into Yin Release chakra, and quickly form the seal!"

At that, Sasuke understood why they had come all this way. He looked up at the Temple before him.

"So... the Dragon Vein is that external source of Chakra."

Orochimaru smiled. "Yes, exactly!"

He and Sasuke climbed the Temple steps side by side, with Kabuto Yakushi and Karin following close behind, quietly listening to their conversation.

"In fact, I began researching ways to extend the Mangekyō Sharingan's lifespan long ago. Hashirama's Yang Release power can eliminate the risk of blindness in a single Mangekyō Sharingan, but for a pair, especially a pair that has unlocked Susanoo, Hashirama's Yang Release alone has very little effect. To solve the problem, you need Yin Release, which shares the Sharingan's origin."

As they walked, Sasuke lowered his gaze. "Then what about Itachi's eyes? He didn't have Hashirama's power, and he certainly didn't seem to know the Yang Seal, yet he kept the sight in those eyes for so long..."

Orochimaru sank into thought. "That's one of the few gaps in my intelligence. Still, I do have a tentative theory..."

Sasuke's eyes suddenly lit up. "Let's hear it!"

Orochimaru said, "Shikkotsu Forest's slug sage power. Unlike Ryūchi Cave's White Snake Sage Power, that senjutsu power focuses on spiritual energy. In theory, it could also effectively delay the sealing of the Mangekyō Sharingan!"

Tap!

Sasuke stopped walking. "Did Itachi... have some connection to Shikkotsu Forest?"

Orochimaru said, "Perhaps he did, and we simply didn't know. Itachi may have deliberately kept it hidden..."

Sasuke recalled his previous life. When he had fought alongside Itachi, who had been brought back through Impure World Reincarnation, against Kabuto Yakushi and his White Snake Sage Art, Itachi had indeed mentioned Shikkotsu Forest!

Looking back now, the knowledge of senjutsu power Itachi had displayed then had probably been more than mere broad learning!

Sasuke clenched his fist, feeling both stunned and delighted. It seems... even now, I still don't know everything about Itachi.

He started walking again.

Orochimaru said, "I did consider taking you to Shikkotsu Forest, but unfortunately, the Slug Sage doesn't think much of me. Unless it's absolutely necessary, I really don't want to swallow my pride and beg for help. So I solved it my own way..."

Sasuke said, "This is fine. How long can the Yang Seal formed from the Dragon Vein preserve my sight?"

Orochimaru considered it. "At the very least, getting you through the Ten Battles won't be a problem..."

Sasuke declared firmly, "That's enough. A year from now, I'll recover the eyes of my Father, Uchiha Fugaku, from Obito!"

Tap! The four stopped before the great altar that sealed the Dragon Vein.

"Let's begin..."