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The Dragon Vein of Loulan held a massive amount of chakra, not inferior to a Tailed Beast. So why hadn't the various nations coveted it?
The reason… stemmed from the 'seal' placed upon the Dragon Vein years ago by the Fourth Hokage, Minato.
Sure, in the previous timeline, a Sunagakure traitor named Mukade had tried to forcibly devour the Dragon Vein seal and harness its power. But in the end, through a twist of fate, Minato had still sealed the Dragon Vein.
Forget the past; in this life, three years before Mukade the Sand traitor even defected and set his sights on the Dragon Vein, Orochimaru had gotten there first.
As for Minato's 'seal' on the Dragon Vein… it posed no real challenge for Orochimaru.
The ruins of Loulan. Sasuke and the other three stood before the abandoned shrine housing the sealed Dragon Vein.
Orochimaru's expression was serious. "Sasuke-kun. The blindness of the Mangekyō Sharingan… it occurs because that ocular power, with each use, gradually moves toward a state of permanent closure. The method to undo that closure is to transplant another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan from a direct blood relative within three generations, fusing them into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. This is a choice you will inevitably face. It's time you gave me your honest intention. For your Eternal Mangekyō this time… do you still plan to choose Itachi's eyes?"
Sasuke stated his decision. "This time… I will not use Itachi's eyes."
"I was young and ignorant back then. But Itachi is alive now. Taking his life, robbing him of his sight… I don't want either of those things."
"Just as I thought."
Orochimaru gave a slight nod. "Then… your choice is?"
Sasuke's gaze turned distant, remembering. "Itachi once showed me the memory of that night through a genjutsu. My father… Fugaku… was also an awakener of the Mangekyō Sharingan. His eyes… vanished after that night. I will find those eyes. I will forge a new Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan…"
Orochimaru affirmed this. "Indeed. Itachi's Mangekyō is not your optimal choice. You share the Amaterasu ocular power. That's akin to losing many other possibilities. My planning aligns with this. This time, you shall inherit your father's eyes."
Sasuke asked, "Do you know where my father's eyes are?"
Orochimaru replied, "I can at least confirm they are not in Danzō's possession. To use Izanagi, he obtained an arm infused with Hashirama's cells through me. I am intimately familiar with the number and details of the eyes he holds…"
Sasuke's fist tightened slightly. "Not with Danzō… then they must be with Obito. Compared to Danzō, obtaining my father's eyes through Obito… the difficulty increases exponentially."
Orochimaru said, "Therefore, whether for the present or the long term, this 'jutsu' to extend your Mangekyō's usable lifespan is absolutely necessary."
Sasuke said, "It's time you told me the details of this jutsu."
Orochimaru began, "Are you familiar with the Yin Seal?"
Sasuke blinked, slightly taken aback. "Of course… the medical kinjutsu Sakura excelled at in the past. Taught by Tsunade. The Byakugō power derived from it granted overwhelming physical strength and regenerative abilities. It's said to be an ancient technique, existing since the era of the Sage of Six Paths."
Orochimaru smiled. "I wonder if you've noticed an interesting phenomenon. Super strength and regeneration… they both align perfectly with the power of the Senju. And the essence of Senju power is Yang Release. It's named the 'Yin Seal,' yet its focus is Yang Release power."
Sasuke pondered. "Now that you mention it… that is true."
Orochimaru continued, "Then, the opposite of the Yin Seal—the Yang Seal—focuses on Yin Release power!"
"The Yang Seal…?"
Even with Sasuke's experience, this was the first he'd heard of such a technique. It was simply too ancient. Its users had long since faded from the stage of history.
Orochimaru's demeanor grew solemn. "Coexisting with the Yin Seal since the era of the Sage… the last known user of the Yang Seal was Lady Mito Uzumaki. The eldest princess of the Uzumaki clan. Wife of the First Hokage. The first Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails."
"In my past life, I collected a vast number of Uzumaki clan documents. I found the formulae for the 'Yang Seal' and… improved upon it. Lady Mito's Yang Seal, similar to the Yin Seal, required the user to refine their own Yin Release chakra over years and years. It took an immense amount of time to manifest. But the improved Yang Seal… can draw upon an external source of natural chakra, refine it, and convert it into Yin Release chakra. It allows for the rapid formation of the Yang Seal."
Sasuke understood. That was why they had come. He lifted his gaze to the shrine before them.
"So… the Dragon Vein is that external chakra source."
Orochimaru's smile widened. "Yes. Precisely."
He and Sasuke stepped onto the shrine's stone steps together. Kabuto and Karin followed silently behind, listening to their exchange.
"Actually," Orochimaru continued as they walked, "I researched methods to extend the Mangekyō's lifespan long ago. The Yang Release power of Hashirama can spare a single Mangekyō from the risk of blindness. But for a pair of Mangekyō, especially ones that have unlocked the power of Susano'o… relying solely on Hashirama's Yang Release yields diminishing returns. To truly solve the problem, one needs Yin Release… something of the same origin as the Sharingan itself."
As they walked, Sasuke's eyes grew somber. "Then… what about Itachi's eyes? He had no Hashirama cells. He didn't seem like someone who would know the 'Yang Seal.' Yet he prolonged the sight of those eyes for so long…"
Orochimaru fell into thought. "That is one of my few remaining gaps in intelligence. However… I have a hypothesis."
Sasuke's eyes sharpened. "Tell me."
Orochimaru said, "Shikkotsu Forest. The Slug Sage's power. That senjutsu force, opposite to the White Snake Sage power of Ryūchi Cave, emphasizes spiritual energy. In theory… it could also effectively slow the Mangekyō's progression toward blindness."
Tap.
Sasuke stopped walking. "Itachi… had a connection to Shikkotsu Forest?"
Orochimaru mused, "Perhaps. One we were simply unaware of. One he deliberately concealed…"
Sasuke's mind raced back. In his past life, when he fought alongside the reincarnated Itachi against Kabuto—who wielded White Snake Sage power—Itachi had mentioned 'Shikkotsu Forest'!
Now it seemed… Itachi's displayed knowledge of senjutsu back then wasn't just due to being well-read.
Sasuke clenched his fist. A wave of shock washed over him, followed by a strange, profound warmth. It seems… even now, I don't know Itachi's full story.
He resumed walking.
Orochimaru continued, "I did consider taking you to Shikkotsu Forest. But unfortunately… the Slug Sage does not look favorably upon me. Unless absolutely necessary, I have no desire to swallow my pride and beg. So… I solved the problem my own way."
Sasuke said, "This is fine. The Yang Seal from the Dragon Vein… how long can it prolong my sight?"
Orochimaru considered. "At the very least… it should see you through the Ten Matches without issue."
Sasuke's voice was firm, resolute. "That's enough. One year from now… I will retrieve my father's eyes—Uchiha Fugaku's eyes—through Obito."
Tap. The four of them came to a halt before the large altar where the Dragon Vein was sealed.
"Let's begin…"
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