Listening to Orochimaru Explain Sealing Techniques and Danzo's Invitation

Uchiha Yuan got straight to the point. Right now, his teacher Orochimaru needed him to learn Forbidden Jutsu, so surely he would not refuse such a small request.

Moreover, Sealing Techniques were the nemesis of the Spiritualisation Technique. Even for the sake of this mission alone, Uchiha Yuan believed he needed to understand them in advance.

This was simply preparing for the unexpected, only natural.

Orochimaru rubbed his forehead, his calm voice betraying no emotional fluctuation.

"Fine. All of you seem to share this same fear of death. It appears the problem is probably with me as your teacher."

Seeing that Orochimaru had not refused immediately, Uchiha Yuan said happily,

"No, Teacher, you are the most competent one. Being afraid of death is not a bad habit. Even ninjas should only consider missions and sacrifice after ensuring their own survival, shouldn't they?"

Orochimaru looked helpless.

"Even if what you said makes sense, Yuan-kun. The rocking ship is not suitable for practising the Spiritualisation Technique anyway. During our 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 around that half of the Yin Nine-Tails, Sealing Techniques were an unavoidable hurdle.

"Before Uzumaki Clan ninjas renowned for Sealing Techniques began travelling the Ninja World, legends of such techniques had already spread throughout the world.

Therefore, the origins of Sealing Techniques can no longer be accurately traced.

However, the Sealing Techniques in which the Hidden Leaf Village excels came from the Uzumaki Clan. Their last clan head, Uzumaki Ashina, was revered as the founder of the Hidden Leaf Village's Sealing Techniques.

The inheritance he left behind was carried forward by Uzumaki Mito and Kushina."

At this point, Orochimaru paused. Danger brewed in his narrow vertical pupils.

"If that Kushina had not had the Nine-Tails sealed inside her, Minato Namikaze would not have been qualified to compete with me for the position of Fourth Hokage."

Uchiha Yuan wisely said nothing and listened patiently.

Fortunately, Orochimaru soon realised he had gone off track and promptly returned to his explanation.

"Of course. Not every ninja is qualified to learn the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Techniques. Apart from Sealing 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 practising just to master one of them.

Among them, the Four Symbols Seal and Eight Trigrams Sealing Style are mostly used against Tailed Beasts, evil entities, and others with enormous amounts of chakra. As for you, Yuan-kun, once you can successfully use the Spiritualisation Technique, the Sealing Techniques you need to be most wary of are the Contract Seal and the Dead Demon Consuming Seal."

Hearing this, Uchiha Yuan said thoughtfully,

"Teacher, I know that the Contract Seal can forcibly dispel the Spiritualisation Technique, but what kind of technique is the Dead Demon Consuming Seal?"

Orochimaru's expression abruptly turned sinister. His pale face leaned forward as his long green tongue licked his lips.

"It is a technique that can drag your soul into the Death God's stomach and torment it for all eternity!"

It was rare for Teacher Orochimaru to make such a theatrical expression. Uchiha Yuan felt that he was in a good mood, so he continued asking,

"Could it be that the Uzumaki Clan's abilities were great enough to form contracts with gods and demons? Then why did they perish?"

"Gods and demons? That is not an inaccurate way to put it. They form a contract with the Death God, trading their soul for the chance to seal away their opponent's soul. It is a Sealing Technique where one risks one's life against another's. As for the Uzumaki Clan's destruction, perhaps only my teacher knows the true reason behind it."

Hearing this, Uchiha Yuan was "shocked." Only after a long while did he continue asking,

"If Teacher were struck by an Uzumaki Clan Sealing Technique, how would you survive?"

At that, Orochimaru laughed.

"You really are something."

"All Sealing Techniques have ways to counter them. Aside from the necessary sealing key, the simplest method is to reverse the technique formula and dispel it."

"Of course, if your chakra is powerful enough, you can also break free by force when facing a Sealing Technique. However, the chances of success are very low. Even Tailed Beasts can be worn down to exhaustion by ninjas, much less ordinary ninjas."

Orochimaru did not specifically explain how to counter the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, which left Uchiha Yuan somewhat disappointed.

Perhaps his teacher would only be able to devise a solution to the Dead Demon Consuming Seal after more time had passed.

Just then, Orochimaru turned to look at the bustling harbour outside the window. The ship was already close to the dock.

Their conversation had no choice but to end there.

After simply altering their appearances and changing into casual clothes, Uchiha Yuan's group disembarked.

The port of Strange Island was filled with endless streams of pedestrians and extraordinary bustle. It was difficult to identify the Kirigakure intelligence agents mixed among them.

The five of them could only pose as ordinary tourists, wandering around and listening in.

Fortunately, quite a few local guides approached them during this time. After Orochimaru's "screening," the group headed into the deep mountains at the centre of the island.

On the mountain path, once he had confirmed that no one was nearby, the guide bowed.

"Lord Orochimaru, Lord Danzo has already arrived and invites you to discuss matters at the Forest Villa."

Orochimaru, who had been looking around at the scenery, said blandly,

"Lead the way."

Uchiha Yuan's thoughts stirred. When he had first heard that a Konoha Higher-Up would personally oversee this mission, he had guessed that Danzo would come in person.

This "Darkness of the Ninja World" had been exceptionally active during the rule 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 masterminds behind the Uchiha Clan's eventual destruction.

"No way, are we actually going to cooperate with Root on this mission?"

Hyuga Ryo, who had been silent along the way, suddenly spoke. The worry on her face quickly resonated with Kurama Shion.

Lord Danzo's reputation for using his teammates as shields while ensuring that he alone survived had long been widely known among Hidden Leaf Village ninjas.

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 the Forest Villa.

Half an hour later, Uchiha Yuan's group arrived at an abandoned villa.

This had once been a tourist villa where outside visitors rested, but as the port economy of Strange Island developed, the Forest Villa had been abandoned because it was too far from the sea.

It had happened to catch the eye of Hidden Leaf Village ninjas, who used it as a base for their operations in Sea Country.

As they stood at the entrance of the dilapidated villa, before anyone could make a move, two ninjas wearing animal masks appeared before them in a body flicker.

"Please present identification."

One of them, a vigilant ninja wearing a fox mask, short in stature and with a head of silver hair, spoke.

With Orochimaru present, there was naturally no issue with verifying the group's identities.

After confirming the arrivals' identities, the short silver-haired ANBU's tone became much more courteous.

"Lord Orochimaru, Lord Danzo asks that you go to him immediately."

Orochimaru was not surprised in the slightest.

"You will lead me there. Your companion will arrange lodging for my students."