Senjutsu's Backlash and the Snake's Bait
Rinto spent another six full days grinding away in the underground laboratory.
The oil in the three lamps had been replaced three times. Discarded drafts piled even higher on the stone workbench, and he had worn through an entire box of charcoal pencil leads. His face was covered in stubble, and the dark circles beneath his eyes looked as though someone had punched him. Old and new cuts overlapped on his fingertips, stained with charcoal dust and iron filings that would not wash off, yet the hand holding his engraving knife remained perfectly steady.
Over those six days, he had refined the configuration for barehanded jutsu casting to its limit.
The previous one-ten-thousandth-of-a-second delay in forming chakra anchors had been completely eliminated through the rotating, nested logic of Whirlpool Sealing. A single thought formed an anchor instantly. Five-nature ninjutsu, kekkei genkai fusion, even Dust Release could all be cast instantly, consuming forty percent less chakra than when he had used ninja tools as vessels. He had even casually drawn up a simplified set of anchor-forming instructions, breaking the complex anchor structures down into the most basic principles of chakra control. Even a newly graduated Genin could cast precise basic ninjutsu barehanded after mastering those principles, without hand seals or ninja tools.
If this got out, it would be enough to overturn the entire Shinobi World's ninja training system. But after finishing, Rinto casually crumpled the scrap paper into a ball and tossed it onto the waste pile. He had no interest whatsoever in teaching others to cast ninjutsu. This was merely a byproduct of his efforts to understand chakra's essence.
All his attention had already plunged into an entirely new, even crazier field-dynamic reconstruction of senjutsu chakra.
Back in Konoha, he had already experimented with solidifying senjutsu chakra. But natural energy was too violent. If the balance between physical energy, spiritual energy, and natural energy slipped by even a fraction, either the chakra shattered or the natural energy backfired. At best, his body would go numb; at worst, it would petrify or disintegrate outright. After blowing up several test pieces back then without finding a way forward, he had temporarily set it aside.
But that half-volume of the Complete Record of Uzushio Sealing Jutsu had given him the key to opening this door. Three whole chapters covered the Land of Whirlpools' past research into senjutsu chakra-how to lock down violent natural energy with nested seals, how to maintain the balance of three energies with anchors, and even fragmentary records on solidifying senjutsu chakra inside seals so that it would not dissipate for decades.
For others, senjutsu was achieved through talent, inherited teachings, and repeated training, with the slightest carelessness inviting backlash. But to Rinto, its essence was simply the precise proportioning and dynamic balance of three energies. As long as he could create adaptive anchors that adjusted that balance in real time, he could lock violent senjutsu chakra down tight and use it however he pleased.
Just as he had previously used dynamic reconstruction to break the bloodline monopoly on kekkei genkai, this time he intended to overturn the talent monopoly on senjutsu as well.
But only when he actually started did he discover that this was more than ten times harder than kekkei tōta.
He had not dared test it on his own body at first. Instead, he used starfall iron as a vessel and engraved a set of senjutsu-stabilizing anchors based on Whirlpool Sealing, intending to first absorb natural energy and lock it into balance inside the vessel. His very first attempt exploded.
The moment natural energy entered the anchors, an imbalance in its proportion to physical energy sent it rampaging. The hard starfall iron exploded into fragments that struck him all over the face. A small cut opened at the corner of his eye, blood running down his cheek, but he paid it no attention. He merely stared at the fragments in his hand and swore, "Fuck, the balance anchors react too slowly. By the time they adjust, it's already blown up."
The Land of Whirlpools' sealing jutsu could lock down senjutsu chakra that was already balanced, but it could not adjust imbalanced energy in real time. He did not want a container to "hold" senjutsu. He wanted a fully dynamic configuration that could absorb, balance, fuse, and release energy on its own. Even if the balance slipped, the anchors had to correct it instantly, eliminating backlash at its source.
He discarded the previous fixed-seal logic and embedded adaptive triggers and the principles of dynamic reconstruction into the senjutsu anchors. Rather than locking everything into fixed proportions, he would create floating anchors that monitored the ratios of all three energies in real time. Excess natural energy would immediately be diverted and sealed; a shortage would accelerate absorption. The proportions of physical and spiritual energy would adjust in sync with the anchors' rhythm, responding to change with change, just like his earlier five-nature adaptive configuration.
The reasoning flowed smoothly, but every engraved prototype exploded when tested.
Either the anchors could not respond fast enough to the influx of natural energy and shattered outright, or the diversion seals interfered with the core anchors, causing turbulent chakra to blow the whole thing apart. During the most dangerous attempt, the anchors he had engraved inside a piece of crystal jade had barely absorbed natural energy before all three energies fell out of balance. The senjutsu chakra went berserk. As the crystal jade exploded, uncontrolled natural energy splashed onto his arm. His forearm instantly stiffened, stony patterns crawling up his skin, nearly petrifying it outright.
Gritting his teeth, he swiftly engraved sealing anchors on his arm with his fingertips, forcibly sealing the uncontrolled natural energy inside the flesh of his forearm. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead from the pain. He cursed himself for "rushing things," then turned around, sat back down at the stone workbench, and began revising the drawings.
It took him an entire night to slowly neutralize the natural energy sealed in his arm. A pale patch remained on his forearm, but he barely glanced at it. His mind was filled with ways to optimize the anchors' response speed and make diversion and reconstruction happen simultaneously.
He spent four full days revising, exploding, and revising again before finally smoothing out the framework of this dynamic senjutsu configuration. At its core, adaptive balancing anchors worked with three nested layers of diversion seals, allowing rapid absorption of natural energy while maintaining the balance of all three energies in real time. Even fluctuations could be corrected instantly, preventing rampages and backlash.
He did not rush to test it on himself. First, he engraved a vessel-based version into a piece of top-grade starfall iron and took it to the clearing outside the laboratory. Drawing a deep breath, he slowly infused spiritual and physical energy into it, activating the natural-energy absorption structure within the anchors.
Natural energy in the surrounding air was instantly drawn toward the anchors, flowing through preset channels into the core balancing anchors. The three energies rapidly circulated, adjusted their proportions, and balanced inside them. In less than a second, they fused into senjutsu chakra, perfectly stable, without the slightest disturbance or hint of a rampage.
Rinto's eyes lit up. With a twitch of his fingertips, the fused senjutsu chakra discharged through his preset Wind Release configuration. A wind blade wrapped in senjutsu power slashed out instantly and slammed into a distant reef rock. The millstone-sized rock was pulverized outright, leaving not even broken stones behind. Its power was more than three times that of ordinary Wind Release, and its chakra efficiency was absurdly high.
It worked.
Without seeking a master at Mount Myōboku or Ryūchi Cave, without spending years or decades training in senjutsu, without worrying about milestone-level backlash, he could stably generate and use senjutsu chakra with nothing but a piece of iron engraved with a configuration.
Holding the starfall iron, he stared at it for a long while, then suddenly laughed and swore again. He had thought kekkei tōta was already the ceiling. Only now did he realize how much more could be done with chakra.
But less than two minutes into his delight, he frowned.
Though the vessel-based version had succeeded, it still had limitations. The anchors were permanently engraved into the iron, fixing the absorption rate of natural energy so it could not adapt to combat situations. Moreover, the senjutsu chakra could only be used within the vessel. It could not fuse with his own chakra to unleash its greatest power.
If he was going to do this, he would take it to the limit-apply this dynamic configuration to barehanded jutsu casting, form anchors directly with his own chakra, absorb natural energy in real time, and maintain senjutsu balance. He would turn his own body into a senjutsu chakra generator. Without any vessel, a single thought would let him unleash senjutsu at will.
Once that thought surfaced, he could not suppress it. He turned and headed into the laboratory, but just as he was about to spread out scrap paper to draw the framework, the sensory anchors positioned around the island's perimeter suddenly transmitted an extremely faint vibration.
It was not an animal triggering them, but someone dismantling seals. And whoever it was knew the craft well. They were dismantling the original seals left behind by the Land of Whirlpools without touching his Explosion Release traps. They had even used sealing jutsu to suppress their chakra fluctuations to an extreme degree. Had he not embedded his own sensory anchors throughout the island's sealing patterns, he would never have noticed.
What darkened his expression further was how quickly they were dismantling the seals. Their understanding of Whirlpool Sealing was no less than his own. In just a few minutes, they had already crossed the two outer defensive lines and reached the palace ruins less than half a kilometer from the laboratory.
Only a handful of people in the entire Shinobi World possessed that ability. Kabuto was one. Another was Orochimaru.
Rinto's temper flared instantly. Damn it, I've barely crossed the threshold of senjutsu and haven't even warmed my seat, and these relentless bastards are at my door again. Driving off Kabuto and Root last time wasn't enough? Now Orochimaru's come personally?
He tucked the starfall iron into his pocket, turned, and locked all the core drawings on the stone workbench along with the half-volume of the Complete Record of Uzushio Sealing Jutsu inside a stone cabinet fitted with a self-destruct seal. Only after confirming everything was secure did he leave the laboratory. The heavy stone door slowly closed behind him, sealing everything inside.
Orochimaru stood atop a broken wall in the palace ruins.
His black kimono fluttered slightly in the sea breeze. In the dim light, his golden slit pupils were as cold as a snake's, yet filled with undisguised fervor. Kabuto stood half a step behind him, head lowered, holding a scroll. When he saw Rinto approach, he instinctively shrank back, not daring to meet his eyes.
Behind the surrounding broken walls hid more than a dozen elite Sound Ninja, their chakra tightly suppressed. All were Orochimaru's trusted subordinates. Clearly, they had come prepared.
"Rinto-kun, it's been a while." Orochimaru spoke first, licking his lips. A hiss threaded his low chuckle. "You truly surprise me. In just a few short months, you've reached this level-barehanded jutsu casting, Dust Release unleashed at will. You're far more outstanding than I expected."
"Cut the crap." Rinto stopped a dozen or so meters away, his gaze cold as ice. "Take your people and get off this island. I don't want to waste words on you, much less have anything to do with you. Don't get in the way of my research."
"Don't be so unaccommodating." Orochimaru slowly took two steps forward without the slightest hostility, his tone thoroughly enticing. "I'm not here to fight you, much less force you. I've come to bring you something."
He raised a hand, and Kabuto immediately stepped forward to hand him the scroll. With a casual flick, Orochimaru sent it onto a rock in front of Rinto. Its unfurled pages were filled with research records on senjutsu and the core teachings of Ryūchi Cave's senjutsu inheritance. There was even a sealed sample of perfect senjutsu chakra.
Rinto's gaze swept over the scroll, his eyes shifting slightly. He had only just crossed senjutsu's threshold, and complete senjutsu materials were precisely what he lacked most. After all, only half the Land of Whirlpools' fragmentary volume remained, leaving many details about natural-energy absorption missing. What Orochimaru offered filled exactly those gaps.
Orochimaru saw his reaction, and the smile on his lips deepened. "I know you're researching senjutsu chakra. The Land of Whirlpools' fragments can offer you far too little. I've studied Ryūchi Cave's senjutsu inheritance for over a decade. I can give you all the materials and samples."
He paused, then offered even more tempting terms. "I can build you the finest laboratory in the entire Shinobi World, with the purest materials and the safest environment. Konoha, Iwagakure, Kumogakure-I can fend off everyone who wants to trouble you. You won't need to concern yourself with anything. Just focus on your research in peace. No one will disturb you or force you to do anything you don't want to do."
"What are your terms?" Rinto did not touch the scroll, his voice still icy. He knew Orochimaru all too well. There was no such thing as a free lunch. The more Orochimaru offered, the more he wanted.
"My terms are simple." Orochimaru's golden eyes fixed on him, filled with undisguised greed. "I want to share in your research results. Your understanding of chakra's essence, the logic of dynamic reconstruction, the configurations for solidifying senjutsu-I want every detail. Occasionally, you'll help me solve a few small problems involving chakra solidification and immortality configurations. That will suffice."
Just as I thought.
Rinto's lips curled into a mocking smile. He had known this was what Orochimaru wanted. Orochimaru had been watching his research since his time in Konoha. The materials, resources, and protection he had provided before had all been to nurture Rinto's techniques. Now that those techniques had overturned the Shinobi World's rules, Orochimaru could finally no longer hold back and had come in person.
Share research results? Sounds nice. In the end, he'd just make me a tool in his immortality plan, squeezing everything out of my brain. No different from the people he uses for experiments.
"I refuse." Rinto answered without the slightest hesitation. "My research has nothing to do with you. I don't care for your senjutsu materials, and I don't want your laboratory. Take your people and get off this island. Stop bothering me."
"Rinto-kun, don't be so stubborn." Orochimaru's tone cooled a little, the smile fading from his face. "You should understand your current situation very well. Konoha has listed you as an S-rank missing-nin and joined forces with Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure. All four great ninja villages are searching for you like mad. Your bounty has risen to twenty million ryō. The entire Shinobi World is full of people who want to capture you."
He stepped forward, his voice beguiling. "How long can you hide? Even if you drive off wave after wave of pursuers, the Five Great Nations won't let you go. Danzo won't let you go. They'll keep sending people, perhaps even Kage-level fighters to surround and kill you. However powerful you are, how many such attacks can you withstand? You don't even have somewhere to conduct your research in peace."
"Only by working with me can you research without worry. Konoha cannot give you what I can. No ninja village can. All you need to do is focus on your experiments and leave everything else to me. Wouldn't that be better?"
Orochimaru's words struck precisely at his greatest current problem. In the two-plus months since escaping Konoha, he had constantly been hiding and moving from place to place. Whenever he settled down for a few days, pursuers would come knocking. He could not even carve out an uninterrupted stretch of time for experiments. The Land of Whirlpools seemed secure, but if Orochimaru could find him this time, Konoha and Iwagakure could find him next time. They might even send more people, and stronger ones.
But even so, he could never work with Orochimaru.
His boundaries were clear: no human experimentation, no research at the cost of human lives, and certainly no handing his techniques to a lunatic like Orochimaru for those depraved experiments. Besides, he had never been someone who depended on others. If he could use his own engraving knife to create ninja tools capable of Dust Release and achieve barehanded jutsu casting, then he could protect his research and uphold his boundaries on his own.
"My affairs are none of your business." Rinto's fingertips shifted slightly. Tiny chakra anchors were already condensing in the air. "I'll say this one last time. Get out. If you don't leave now, you won't be leaving at all."
"It seems we cannot reach an agreement." Orochimaru sighed, yet there was no disappointment on his face. Instead, he smiled with excitement. "What a shame. I hadn't wanted to use force. After all, you're the most talented person I've ever met. Far more interesting than the Uchiha's Sharingan."
The moment he finished, more than a dozen Sound Ninja rushed out from behind the surrounding broken walls. Their ninja tools were covered in sealing patterns specifically targeting chakra, clearly prepared in advance to counter his ninjutsu. Kabuto instantly retreated as well, his hands already forming the seals for a sealing jutsu. A sealing array had long since been secretly laid across the surrounding ground; it simply had not been activated.
Rinto's gaze turned cold. Of course. Orochimaru never intended to negotiate properly. He came ready to fight. If talks worked, fine. If not, he'd take me by force.
"I advise you not to fight." Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth, his golden eyes full of menace. "I know you can unleash Dust Release barehanded and drive off Konoha's Jonin. But you should understand that I'm different from those useless fools."
"So what?" Rinto laughed, his voice brimming with viciousness. "Back in Konoha, I couldn't be bothered to settle things with you. Did you really think I was afraid? If you dare cause trouble on my turf and interrupt my research, I don't mind letting you find out whether senjutsu-enhanced Dust Release can dissolve that neither-dead-nor-alive body of yours."
Before he finished speaking, chakra surged at his fingertips. Wind, earth, and fire chakra poured out simultaneously, instantly forming core anchors in the air. The translucent white glow of Dust Release was already lighting up at his fingertips.
The surrounding Sound Ninja instantly tensed, about to throw their sealing tags, but Orochimaru raised a hand to stop them. His golden eyes fixed on the white light at Rinto's fingertips, the fervor in them growing even stronger.
This was what he wanted. This power that could overturn the Shinobi World's rules. Those configuration principles in Rinto's mind that could make the impossible possible. Even if he had to take him by force today, he would bring Rinto away.
The air froze instantly. The drawn-bow tension seemed to press even the surrounding sea breeze to a halt. Sealing patterns amid the ruins had begun to glow faintly, while the white light at Rinto's fingertips grew brighter and brighter. Even facing a Kage-level monster like Orochimaru, he had not the slightest intention of retreating.
Anyone who interrupted his research had to die. Even if that person was Orochimaru, one of the Sannin.