"Souma-kun, where did you learn about the Dance of the Larch? Could there still be surviving members of the Kaguya clan?"
Hyūga Hiashi rose to his feet.
Souma gestured for him to sit back down. "Clan Head Hiashi, please don't get agitated. There is indeed a surviving member of the Kaguya clan—but his current situation is… somewhat special."
"Can you explain in more detail?"
Hiashi frowned.
It seemed the condition of this last Kaguya survivor was far from optimistic.
"You should know that the Kaguya clan was wiped out years ago. The only surviving Kaguya was saved by Orochimaru."
"So it was him."
Hiashi immediately understood the implication.
Orochimaru was no kind soul. Anyone under his control would inevitably be indoctrinated into absolute loyalty.
Hiashi sat back down.
For several seconds, he didn't speak. Then he finally asked, "Then… how is he now?"
"He was captured by me."
Souma didn't elaborate.
Rules of confidentiality—Hiashi would understand. Saying this much was already the limit.
Sure enough, Hiashi didn't press further.
After some thought, he said, "The Kaguya clan has certain ties with the Hyūga… Please, Souma-kun, take care of him as best you can."
"He's extremely loyal to Orochimaru. All I can say is that I'll try my best. Also—he has a bloodline illness. I was wondering if you might have any solution in that regard."
"A bloodline illness?"
Hiashi paused, then searched his memory carefully before shaking his head. "I've never heard of such an illness. I'm afraid I can't offer any help there."
"I understand. Thank you for your guidance."
Souma stood up.
Hiashi knew that meant he was about to leave.
"If there's anything you need help with, you may come to me. I'll do what I can."
"Yes—but Kimimaro's stance isn't clear yet. Whether we'll even need help is still uncertain. After all, we can't save someone who's certain to remain our enemy."
Souma said this helplessly.
Hiashi nodded in understanding.
Not just Konoha—no clan would ever save a confirmed enemy. That would be foolish.
And—
He caught Souma's unspoken meaning.
This Kaguya named Kimimaro had been saved by Orochimaru as a child. He likely had no sense of belonging to the Kaguya clan at all. The Hyūga stepping in wouldn't help much.
After seeing Souma off, Hiashi felt a rare sense of melancholy.
"Father."
"Hanabi? What is it?"
"I wanted to ask you about Souma-kun's Gentle Fist ideas, but you seem preoccupied…"
Hanabi spoke hesitantly.
Hiashi glanced at her, then sighed softly. "You know of the Kaguya clan, don't you?"
"The Kaguya clan? Weren't they wiped out?"
"Yes. But many of them married out in earlier years. They weren't completely eradicated. Over the years, they should have developed somewhat—though their Shikotsumyaku is far weaker than before."
At this point, Hiashi's expression turned wistful. "For a clan to endure for generations… it's far, far more difficult than people think."
"Father, I… don't quite understand."
Hanabi hesitated for a long while before deciding to speak honestly.
"Haha, it's nothing. These matters are still too early for you. What questions do you have about Gentle Fist?"
Hiashi didn't dwell on it.
He had been wavering between change and preservation. He had gradually leaned toward change before—but after Souma brought up the Kaguya clan, hesitation resurfaced.
"Souma-kun, you…?"
"I want to see Kimimaro. Talk to him."
"So soon?"
Inoichi swallowed the complaint that almost escaped his mouth.
It hadn't even been fifteen minutes. You came back immediately—why not just handle it earlier?
He held it in.
Fine. As long as you're happy.
Inoichi led Souma to ANBU's sealing unit.
Upon arriving, Souma frowned almost instantly, an unmistakable look of discomfort crossing his face.
"Inoichi-senpai, is something wrong?"
"No… nothing. It's just that everyone's sealing techniques feel a bit too…"
Souma restrained the urge to correct them. "Too rigid."
"Rigid?"
Inoichi looked at the three shinobi currently sealing Kimimaro and couldn't see what was wrong. The three of them also turned to look over.
So this is Yagyū Souma?
Young… and quite arrogant.
They thought sourly.
"Souma-kun, our sealing specialists are all elites. It shouldn't be as you say—"
Inoichi coughed lightly, feeling his face heat up.
Even if he wasn't the captain of ANBU or the sealing unit, he was still part of ANBU.
Souma shook his head. "The three of you are all using sealing techniques, but the effect is just a simple additive stack. That's an enormous waste."
"But that's how sealing techniques work!"
The three looked utterly confused.
"Which is exactly why I say you're too rigid. I've already laid down multiple layers of seals. All you need is a single illumination array combined with my Binding Formation—and yet you're still wasting time here."
Souma sighed. "If this were combat, you could've freed up manpower to support your teammates. Being dragged down by this kind of inefficiency is practically criminal."
"We're very sorry! We understand our mistakes!"
Though his words sounded nitpicky, they also made unsettling sense.
The three immediately apologized loudly.
What followed left even Inoichi impressed—
Souma began forming seals, dismantling one layer after another. There were a total of five seals inside and out, each of high difficulty.
Even the Evil Sealing Method was among the simplest.
Blatant skill flexing.
So—
All of these seals had been placed by this child?
The three sealing shinobi stared at each other in shock.
"Your understanding of sealing techniques is far too shallow," Souma said calmly. "I'll tidy some notes for you later. Study them carefully. Sealing techniques aren't supposed to be this cumbersome."
"Thank you very much!"
They answered immediately.
Any trace of displeasure was long gone.
In the ninja world, strength trumped everything.
Souma didn't need further proof—these five seals alone completely outclassed them.
To be precise—
No one in the sealing unit could compare to him. Their unit leader was among the three, and had just been thoroughly scolded.
Inoichi didn't point that out, merely observing quietly.
Once the Evil Sealing Method and the other seals restricting movement and perception were removed, Kimimaro slowly regained consciousness.
In the next instant, he sprang up, eyes sharp and alert.
The surroundings were unfamiliar—but the person before him was not.
"This is… Konoha?"
"That's right. I'm glad you didn't try to attack immediately. Seems you still have some rationality left."
Souma pointed to the floor. "If you don't mind, let's sit and talk. There aren't really any chairs here."
"No problem. As a shinobi, I've endured far worse environments."
Kimimaro's tone was flat.
Souma nodded. "Your side's conditions really are terrible."
"..."
Kimimaro didn't know how to refute that.
Orochimaru's human experiments were fact. He didn't oppose them—but he wouldn't whitewash them either.
Inoichi coughed lightly. "While you were sealed, we examined your physical condition. To be honest, it's not optimistic. At your current state, you have at most half a year to live. If you use Shikotsumyaku and the Curse Mark a few more times… possibly even less."
"I know."
Kimimaro nodded calmly.
Inoichi gave a small nod and said no more.
But he confirmed one thing—
There was a medical specialist by Orochimaru's side, and one of very high level. Even with inferior conditions, that person had managed to assess Kimimaro accurately and extend his life.
Such skill…
Rare indeed.
"So if I hadn't captured you, you'd sell your life to Orochimaru for at most another six months. Maybe not even that. Is that about right?"
Souma asked.
"I will not betray Lord Orochimaru."
Kimimaro's gaze was icy.
"Things in this world aren't always black or white. You don't have to betray Orochimaru, and you don't have to serve me. I only need you to refrain from acting—remain neutral."
"Impossible."
Kimimaro frowned.
He didn't believe Konoha could offer such generous terms.
This had to be rhetoric.
In fact, even Inoichi twitched at the side.
Even the Third Hokage couldn't promise that, let alone Souma.
Was this kid lying to Kimimaro?
But—
If it was a tactical deception, Kimimaro would find out sooner or later.
What was the point?
"Of course, there will be restrictions. Seals, limitations… Oh, and I suggest you stop using the Curse Mark entirely."
Souma continued.
"Why?"
Kimimaro didn't want to agree—but he wanted to know the reason.
Souma thought for a moment. "Do you know the Hyūga clan?"
"Yes."
"They have good relations with your clan. Hiashi-senpai said he's never heard of any bloodline illness among the Kaguya. So I've been wondering—could it be a special reaction between Shikotsumyaku and the Curse Mark?"
Souma laid out his reasoning.
Kimimaro froze.
He thought back carefully.
His illness had begun after receiving the Earth Curse Mark. And every time he used it, his condition worsened.
So it wasn't simply that his body was defective?
Kimimaro didn't say it aloud—but inwardly, he believed Souma's words by several degrees.
"If you keep using that power, I guarantee you won't survive more than two times."
Two Curse Mark activations combined with Shikotsumyaku.
That was Souma's conclusion.
Kimimaro fell silent.
"Alright. We're done talking. I'll seal you again. Take your time and think it over."
Souma spoke, then layered the seals back on.
Soon, Kimimaro was placed back into the cloth sack, another seal added on top.
Souma then engraved a composite barrier combining perception and defense around the cell, and inscribed a Binding Formation inside.
The moment Kimimaro made a move, the sealing unit would know.
Watching Souma's practiced motions, Inoichi couldn't help asking, "That's it?"
"What else would there be? He won't agree immediately, and I won't trust him enough to let him out yet. So this is fine for now."
Souma shrugged. "We'll have to trouble you for a while longer. As compensation, I'll send over my notes."
"Thank you very much."
One of the sealing shinobi bowed deeply.
Souma nodded, then left with Inoichi.
Instead of heading to the Intelligence Division, Inoichi escorted Souma out of ANBU first, then asked, "About the notes you're giving the sealing unit… ahem, could you perhaps also prepare something suitable for the intelligence department?"
"That's not really something you can call 'perhaps,' is it?"
Souma laughed despite himself.
Inoichi's face reddened.
He knew it—calling this "on the side" was a stretch.
One was the sealing unit, the other the intelligence division. Completely different disciplines, completely different bodies of knowledge.
But—
He was certain Souma would have unconventional ideas—precisely what seasoned jōnin like them lacked.
"How about this," Inoichi said. "Once you finish the notes for the sealing unit, let me take a look. If they're suitable, we can discuss things in more depth afterward."
"That works."
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