"This point in time, Shion should not have been born yet. The current priestess is her mother..."
Sora calculated based on the timeline, but his movements did not slow down in the slightest. He moved swiftly through the shadows, sensing the unique, gentle, yet faintly imposing chakra fluctuations ahead.
Finally, Sora stopped outside a palace where the guards were relatively lax, but the environment was most tranquil.
The source of that unique chakra was inside.
Taking a deep breath, Sora put on the Vermilion Bird mask, adjusted his clothing to ensure there were no traces of Konoha, and then, with a flash, slipped lightly into the room through an open window.
The room was elegantly furnished, with a faint scent of sandalwood.
A woman in her twenties, wearing a white priestess robe and possessing a dignified, elegant aura, was sitting at a desk, seemingly examining some scrolls.
She was extremely beautiful, but a trace of irresolvable melancholy and heaviness lingered between her brows.
She did not seem particularly surprised by Sora's sudden appearance. She merely slowly raised her head and looked calmly at the uninvited guest wearing the Vermilion Bird mask.
"You have come to visit late at night, sir. I wonder what business you have?"
The Priestess's voice was gentle and steady, carrying a natural power that could put people at ease.
Sora felt a slight chill in his heart. The other party's composure was too great. Either she had something to rely on, or she had already anticipated his arrival. Considering the Priestess's ability to foresee the future, the latter possibility seemed greater.
"Forgive my intrusion, Priestess." Sora deliberately altered his voice, making it sound low and hoarse. "I am Vermilion Bird. I have come to propose a transaction with you, Priestess."
"Transaction?"
The Priestess raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze sweeping over the mask on Sora's face.
"I do not seem to know you, sir, nor do I know what transaction we could make."
"The Priestess governs the Land of Demons' sealing arts, a long and illustrious heritage. I greatly admire this." Sora got straight to the point. "I need to consult some texts or materials regarding... bloodline contract seals."
Hearing the words "bloodline contract seal," the Priestess's pupils contracted slightly, and her expression became more serious.
"This is a core secret of our nation, fundamental to the sealing of the demon. How can it be easily shown to an outsider? Please leave, sir."
She refused without hesitation. Her tone remained peaceful, but carried an unyielding firmness.
Sora had anticipated this and was not discouraged. He continued, "Priestess, there is no need to refuse so quickly. I have not come empty-handed. I am willing to pay a corresponding price."
He paused, observing the Priestess's expression, and slowly said, "Money, materials, or perhaps... helping the Land of Demons resolve some 'troubles'? Given the turbulence in the ninja world today, I imagine your country cannot remain completely aloof, can it?"
The Priestess remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing something.
Seeing this, Sora's thoughts raced. He decided to add more pressure.
He took a step forward, leaning slightly, his gaze fixed on the Priestess. In a low voice tinged with a barely perceptible threat, he said, "Priestess, you surely wouldn't want... the thousand-year-old seal of the Land of Demons to encounter problems due to some 'accident,' would you? Especially during this sensitive period."
The Priestess's face changed instantly. Although she quickly regained composure, the fleeting anger and deeper worry in her eyes were keenly caught by Sora.
She clearly understood the implication in Sora's words—the seal of Mōryō! As the Priestess, her greatest vulnerability and duty was ensuring the seal of Mōryō remained flawless. Any threat involving the seal's stability was enough to command her utmost attention.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew tense.
The Priestess looked deeply at Sora, as if trying to see through the Vermilion Bird mask to discern his true intentions and background.
After a long while, she finally let out a soft sigh and spoke, "The art of the bloodline contract seal truly cannot be passed on to outsiders. This is a rule established by the First Priestess, concerning the foundation of the nation."
Sora's heart sank slightly, but then her tone shifted.
"However... regarding the basic principles of contract seals, and non-core application case records, it is not entirely beyond discussion."
"But you need to prove your 'value,' and... your sincerity."
There was a chance!
Sora's spirits lifted. He hadn't expected to obtain the core secret art anyway. Getting access to related principles and cases would be sufficient for him to find a way to break the Dragon Vein seal.
"Please clarify, Priestess," Sora said solemnly.
The Priestess pondered for a moment, carefully choosing her words. "The Land of Demons is indeed encountering some 'trouble' at the moment. There are bandits near the border who appear to be corrupted by dark chakra. Their scale is not large, but their movements are elusive. Ordinary guard units find it difficult to eradicate them, and our country has no standing ninja army..."
Sora immediately understood. She wanted him to act as the "enforcer," proving his ability and sincerity.
"Location. Characteristics," Sora said directly.
The Priestess pulled a scroll from the desk and pushed it towards Sora. "All relevant information is inside. Deal with them and bring back any 'Dark Crystals' they might be carrying. In return, you may consult the sealing arts scrolls within the permitted range for three days."
Sora took the scroll and put it away without even looking at it.
"Agreed."
The Priestess added, "Furthermore, I hope this is the first and last time we meet in this manner. The peace of the Land of Demons cannot be easily disrupted by outsiders."
Sora detected the warning in her words and nodded. "Agreed. If there is further need in the future, Priestess, you can send someone to the Land of Grass. Issue a task designated for 'Vermilion Bird' at any mercenary guild there. I will know."
He had already planned the follow-up contact method. The Land of Grass, a small country sandwiched between major powers, was a mixed bag, and mercenary guilds were hubs of information. He only needed to periodically send a Shadow Clone, using a Transformation Technique to change its appearance, to check the guilds for any tasks designated for "Vermilion Bird." This method was covert and difficult to trace.
The Priestess looked deeply at Sora, seemingly committing the name "Vermilion Bird" and his image to memory.
"Good."
With the agreement reached, Sora did not linger. He gave a slight nod to the Priestess, then his figure drifted back like a ghost, quickly merging into the night outside the window and disappearing.
The room returned to silence.
The Priestess sat alone at the desk, her brow slightly furrowed. She muttered softly to herself, "Vermilion Bird... is your appearance a variable, or... part of fate?"
A flash of confusion passed through her eyes, soon replaced by determination.
No matter what, maintaining the stability of the Land of Demons and the integrity of the seal was her inescapable responsibility.
...
Sora, having left the Priestess's palace, stopped in a hidden forest.
He removed his mask and let out a long breath.
The exchange with the Priestess had seemed calm on the surface, but was actually fraught with undercurrents. Especially when he threatened her at the end, his heart had tightened, fearing she might immediately turn hostile and call for guards. Fortunately, the outcome was not bad.
"Basic principles of contract seals and application cases... should be enough for me to study for a while. As long as I can understand their operational mechanism, combined with the Four Symbols Seal I already know, I might be able to break the Dragon Vein seal left by Namikaze Minato."
"As for those bandits corrupted by dark chakra... a good opportunity to test my skills and see what these so-called Dark Crystals are."
Sora did not rush to open the scroll to check the mission details. First, he carefully sensed his surroundings to confirm there was no tracking or surveillance. Then, he quickly changed direction and proceeded stealthily towards the border region of the Land of Demons.
He needed to find a safe place first, carefully study the contents of the scroll, and then complete this "proof of commitment" mission as quickly as possible.
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