Northern border of the Land of Hot Water.
Four Konoha battalions and the Fox Squad had set up a camp.
This conflict was equivalent to a small-scale war and might not be resolved for one or two months.
A messenger hawk landed in the camp.
White Ram took the message from the hawk's leg, opened it using Anbu-specific techniques, and delivered it to Squad Leader Fox's tent.
Yōkō's eyes trembled slightly.
The Hokage himself had issued an order, demanding all Anbu be vigilant regarding Uzumaki remnants. They must kill all Uzumaki remnants and not allow them to affect Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Uzumaki Kushina.
"White Ram, designate the collection of intelligence on Uzumaki remnants as a long-term task for our squad. This is an important order from the Hokage."
"Yes, sir!"
White Ram went to relay the order.
Yōkō thought behind his desk; he had been very careful.
Orochimaru was still formidable, having deduced part of the truth from somewhere.
He himself wasn't exposed, but the Uzumaki remnants were.
Yōkō thought to himself, Aren't you afraid the Uzumaki remnants will affect the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki?
If Uzumaki Yuka is truly in danger, then I really will affect the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
No need to worry excessively.
The Uzumaki remnants were hidden deep in the rainforests southwest of the Land of Rain.
To reach the depths of the rainforest, one had to pass through the miasma-filled rainforests where the Salamander clan operated, which was fraught with difficulties.
Late at night, Yōkō took the White Ram team and left the camp to perform a reconnaissance mission.
His relationship with Hatake Sakumo was ambiguous; although they were in the same camp, they had only met once during the initial allocation of camp areas.
The conflict in the Land of Hot Water primarily involved reconnaissance. Hatake Sakumo didn't assign specific tasks to Fox; Fox decided for his squad whether to conduct reconnaissance or record battlefield events.
Arriving at the border, Yōkō activated his Byakugan, first checked the surroundings to ensure there were no surprises, then said:
"White Ram, take your team and scout three kilometers east, then return. I will scout three kilometers west. We'll regroup here."
"Understood, Squad Leader."
After the White Ram team left, Yōkō summoned the Stone Pandas Hakuji and Hakuyū.
He went to the Uzumaki remnants' hiding place and found Yuka.
"Yuka, Danzo has discovered you all. The diversion mission you three completed exposed you."
Uzumaki Yuka's eyes showed panic, then she looked at Fox and asked: "What should we do next?"
Yōkō said: "Next, do nothing. Don't panic and create chaos.
Although Orochimaru can deduce that the Uzumaki remnants are targeting Danzo, he doesn't know more details.
Strengthen the reconnaissance around your hiding place. If you encounter a small Anbu force, relocate immediately.
If you encounter a large Anbu force, use Reverse Summoning on me directly.
Don't worry, I'll make sure they don't return.
If I get intelligence in advance, I'll also notify you as soon as possible."
Yōkō raised his hand; rain fell into his palm.
In this environment, he could use Water Body Flicker without restraint. Even if Danzo came, he might not be able to do much to him.
Just like Hanzo, who was a demigod in the heavy rain of the Land of Rain.
Hanzo later became corrupt and decadent, even building a magnificent palace for himself. In an environment without water, he couldn't even use Water Body Flicker and was eventually assassinated by Nagato.
Yōkō looked at the frightened Yuka and stepped forward to hug her.
"Don't be afraid. The Uzumaki clan has passed its most difficult time. Our strength is growing; we are no longer the weak ones from the Land of Whirlpools two years ago."
Uzumaki Yuka nodded in Yōkō's embrace: "Alright, I understand."
Yōkō added: "Danzo ultimately obtained the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal; his control over Root is growing stronger.
Yuka, I need you to help me research the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, like the Summoning Technique, requires the caster's blood.
I will find a way to send you someone branded with Danzo's Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. Then, based on Danzo's sealing chakra, we can break this seal. This is crucial for me."
"Alright, I will study the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal carefully," Uzumaki Yuka said:
"Fox, let me give you the newly collected and compiled Uzumaki Sealing Scroll. I hope our sealing techniques can help you."
"Good, I'll have Hakuji return it to you in a few days."
Yuka summoned the Sealing Scroll. Yōkō took the large scroll and sealed it into his own scroll.
When he returned to the Land of Hot Water, the White Ram team hadn't returned yet.
Yōkō took off his hooded robe and used a small Fire Release to dry it.
Over ten minutes later, the White Ram team, having found nothing during their reconnaissance, returned and found Squad Leader Fox.
"Let's go, back to camp."
The group returned to the camp.
Yōkō returned to his tent, opened the scroll, and unsealed Yuka's Sealing Scroll.
Looking at the table of contents, there was no Dead Demon Consuming Seal, no Adamantine Sealing Chains, but almost everything else was there.
Especially the Four Symbols Seal, which caught Yōkō's eye.
Using the Adamantine Sealing Chains would immediately mark him as an Uzumaki, but using the Four Symbols Seal was different; this technique could be used by other ninjas too.
In terms of sealing Tailed Beasts, the Four Symbols Seal is second only to the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
Yōkō opened the scroll and began reading the records on the Four Symbols Seal.
The Four Symbols Seal requires the caster to have talent in Yin Release and Yang Release.
Making equal amounts of Yang Release chakra and Yin Release chakra form a Taiji-like pair of fish and setting them spinning creates the simplest seal, the Two Forms Seal.
The Two Forms Seal has almost no power but is the foundation of a major sealing school within the Uzumaki clan.
The Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques are divided into three major schools.
The Kekkei Genkai sealing based on the Adamantine Sealing Chains;
The Yin-Yang sealing based on the Two Forms Seal;
The Dead Demon Consuming Seal based on the Shinigami.
The Uzumaki clan truly lived up to its reputation as masters of sealing, having three schools within the clan itself.
The Four Symbols Seal, Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, Five Elements Seal, etc., are all representatives of Yin-Yang sealing.
Tsunade's Yin Seal, judging by its name, also has some connection to the Two Forms Seal.
Based on the Two Forms Seal, the complex Four Symbols Seal was developed.
Two portions of Yang Release chakra form Greater Yang;
One Yin and one Yang form Lesser Yang;
Two portions of Yin Release chakra form Greater Yin;
One Yang and one Yin form Lesser Yin.
Making these four groups of chakra rotate forms a stable seal, which is the Four Symbols Seal.
The secret lies in the Yin-Yang harmony of Yin and Yang Release chakra.
Yōkō extracted Yin Release chakra with his left hand and Yang Release chakra with his right hand, then brought his hands together, completing the simplest Two Forms Seal.
In the original story, when sealing Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, Naruto and Sasuke had symbols representing Yang and Yin, the sun and moon, on their palms.
Perhaps the Six Paths: Planetary Devastation has some connection to the Uzumaki clan's Two Forms Seal.
The Two Forms Seal was indeed simple; he mastered it after practicing a few times.
When Yōkō attempted the Four Symbols Seal, he encountered resistance.
Yin and Yang Release chakra are not as stable as the five elemental chakras; they are easily neutralized or annihilated by unknown external substances.
The difficulty of the Four Symbols Seal is extremely high.
If he could master the Four Symbols Seal, he would be considered a strong sealing technique user. Tailed Beast-level chakra, Tailed Beast-level size, all could be sealed.
***
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(End of Chapter)