Uchiha Yuan got straight to the point. Right now, his teacher Orochimaru needed him to learn a Forbidden Jutsu. Surely he would not refuse such a small request.
Besides, Sealing Techniques were the natural enemy of the Spiritualisation Technique. Even for the sake of this mission, Uchiha Yuan felt it was necessary to understand them beforehand.
This was simply preparing for a rainy day. Only natural.
Orochimaru rubbed his forehead, his calm voice betraying no emotion.
"Fine. All of you have this habit of fearing death. It seems the problem is probably with me, your teacher."
Seeing that Orochimaru had not immediately refused, Uchiha Yuan rejoiced.
"No, Teacher, you are the most dedicated one. Fearing death is not a bad habit. Even as ninja, shouldn't we only consider missions and sacrifice after ensuring our own survival?"
Orochimaru looked helpless.
"Even if you do have a point, Yuan-kun. The rocking of the ship is not suitable for practicing the Spiritualisation Technique. During the journey to Strange Island, I will explain Sealing Techniques to you first."
Seeing Orochimaru finally nod, Uchiha Yuan let out a long breath.
Whether it was understanding the drawbacks of the Spiritualisation Technique or planning for that half of the Yin Nine-Tails, Sealing Techniques were an unavoidable hurdle.
"Before Uzumaki Clan ninja, skilled in Sealing Techniques, began traveling across the Ninja World, legends of Sealing Techniques had already spread throughout the world.
Therefore, their origins can no longer be accurately traced.
However, the Sealing Techniques Hidden Leaf Village excelled in did come from the Uzumaki Clan. Their last clan head, Uzumaki Ashina, was revered as the founder of Hidden Leaf Village's Sealing Techniques.
The legacy he left behind was carried forward by Uzumaki Mito and Uzumaki Kushina."
Orochimaru paused here, danger brewing in his narrow vertical pupils.
"If that woman Uzumaki Kushina had not had the Nine-Tails sealed inside her, Minato Namikaze would never have been qualified to compete with me for the position of Fourth Hokage."
Uchiha Yuan wisely did not respond and listened patiently.
Fortunately, Orochimaru quickly realized he had gone off on a tangent and returned to his explanation.
"Of course. Not every ninja is qualified to learn the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Techniques. Aside from techniques such as Adamantine Sealing Chains, Gate of the Great God, and the Tailed Beast Sealing Technique, which require special bloodlines to perform.
There are also the Four Symbols Seal, Contract Seal, Eight Trigrams Sealing Style, and Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
An ordinary ninja would need to spend a great deal of time practicing to master even one of these Sealing Techniques.
Among them, the Four Symbols Seal and Eight Trigrams Sealing Style are mostly used against beings with immense chakra, such as Tailed Beasts and evil entities. As for you, Yuan-kun, once you can smoothly perform the Spiritualisation Technique, the Sealing Techniques you need to be most wary of are the Contract Seal and Dead Demon Consuming Seal."
Hearing this, Uchiha Yuan said thoughtfully, "Teacher, I know the Contract Seal can forcibly undo the Spiritualisation Technique, but what kind of technique is the Dead Demon Consuming Seal?"
Orochimaru's expression suddenly turned grim. His pale face leaned forward, and his long green tongue licked across his lips.
"That is a technique that can drag your soul into the Death God's stomach, where you will suffer torment for all eternity!"
It was rare for Teacher Orochimaru to make such an expression. Uchiha Yuan felt he was in a good mood, so he continued asking.
"Could it be that the Uzumaki Clan's abilities had reached the point where they could form contracts with ghosts and gods? Then why did they perish?"
"Ghosts and gods? That is indeed one way to put it. They signed a contract with the Death God, trading their souls for the chance to seal their opponent's soul. It is a Sealing Technique that stakes one life against another. As for the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan, perhaps only my teacher knows the true reason behind it."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yuan was "greatly shocked." Only after a long while did he continue asking.
"If Teacher were struck by a Uzumaki Clan Sealing Technique, how would you survive?"
Orochimaru laughed.
"You brat."
"All Sealing Techniques have ways to counter them. Aside from the necessary sealing key, the simplest method is to reverse the formula and undo it."
"Of course, if your chakra is powerful enough, you can also break free by brute force when facing a Sealing Technique. However, the odds of success are very low. Even powerful Tailed Beasts can be worn down to exhaustion by ninja, let alone ordinary ninja."
Orochimaru did not specifically answer how to counter the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, leaving Uchiha Yuan somewhat disappointed.
Perhaps only after time had passed would his teacher be able to research a way to undo the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
Just then, Orochimaru turned to look at the bustling harbor outside the window. The ship was already close to the pier.
Their conversation had to end here.
After briefly changing their appearances and putting on casual clothes, Uchiha Yuan and the others disembarked.
Strange Island's harbor was packed with passersby and exceptionally lively. It was difficult to identify the Kirigakure intelligence personnel mixed among the crowd.
Uchiha Yuan and the other four could only pose as ordinary tourists, wandering about and listening.
Fortunately, several local guides approached them during this time. After Orochimaru's "screening," the group headed toward the deep mountains at the center of the island.
On the mountain road, after confirming that no one else was around, the guide bowed.
"Lord Orochimaru, Lord Danzo has arrived. He invites you to discuss matters at Forest Villa."
Orochimaru, who had been looking around at the scenery, replied indifferently.
"Lead the way."
Uchiha Yuan's heart stirred. When he had first heard that a Konoha Higher-Up would personally oversee this mission, he had guessed that Danzo himself had come.
This "Darkness of the Ninja World" had been exceptionally active during the reign of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, specifically helping the latter deal with matters that could not see the light of day.
He was also one of the culprits behind the later destruction of the Uchiha Clan.
"Seriously? We have to cooperate with Root on this mission?"
Hyuga Ryo, who had been quiet the entire way, suddenly spoke. The worry on her face quickly resonated with Kurama Shion.
Lord Danzo's reputation for "using his teammates as shields while he alone survives" had long spread widely among Hidden Leaf Village ninja.
Mitaraishi Anko froze for a moment.
"Teacher, is Lord Danzo's reputation really that bad?"
Orochimaru reminded them to watch their words before leading everyone toward Forest Villa.
Half an hour later, Uchiha Yuan and the others arrived at an abandoned villa.
It had once been a tourist lodge for visiting travelers, but as Strange Island's harbor economy developed, Forest Villa had been abandoned because it was too far from the coast.
It had happened to catch the eye of Hidden Leaf Village ninja and was now being used as a base for operations in Sea Country.
Standing at the entrance of the dilapidated villa, before the group could do anything, two ninja wearing animal masks appeared before them in a Body Flicker.
"Please present identification."
One of them, a short ninja with silver hair and a fox mask, spoke warily.
With Orochimaru present, there was naturally no issue with verifying the group's identities.
After confirming who they were, the short, silver-haired ANBU spoke much more politely.
"Lord Orochimaru, Lord Danzo requests your immediate presence."
Orochimaru was not surprised in the slightest.
"You will lead me there. Your companion will arrange lodging for my students."
Before you continue