Chapter 51: Cursed Seal Teaching
The next morning, Haruko felt completely numb.
Half of his body felt as if it had been hit by sleep paralysis; it was incredibly heavy and numb to the point of losing all sensation.
Anko was wrapped around him with zero grace, one leg boldly draped over his waist and abdomen, and a trail of glistening fluid was flowing from the corner of her mouth onto Haruko's clothes.
"...Well, I guess I've experienced it now. Sleeping while holding someone isn't as nice as it looks in the shows."
Haruko sighed and pulled his arm out from Anko's embrace.
It should have been soft and supple, but his numb arm only felt a stinging, needle-like pain.
"Ah—!"
With a short, sharp shriek, Anko sprang up and retreated to the other corner of the earth house.
"Morning, Anko," Haruko said, working his battered arm. "Sleep well? Look, you drooled all over my clothes."
"Y-you're talking nonsense! I didn't drool!" Anko hurriedly wiped the corner of her mouth.
"Sure, sure, whatever you say."
Ignoring Anko, Haruko took ingredients out of his backpack and began preparing breakfast.
"Earth Release: Griddle. Fire Release: Barbecue."
Soon, two hot, simple scallion pancakes were ready.
Anko shyly sidled over, took the pancake Haruko handed her, and ate it in small bites. She had to admit, the kid's cooking was good.
"Anko," Haruko suddenly spoke up, "that situation from last night cannot happen again."
"Cough, cough!" Anko nearly choked, her face turning red again. "I-I told you, that was an accident!"
Haruko looked at her with a serious expression. "I know it was an accident, but you can't keep relying on me to suppress the Cursed Seal. It's treating the symptoms, not the root cause."
"Then what do you suggest? This thing was planted by Orochimaru; who else can solve it besides him?"
Years of torment had long since made her lose hope of ever completely getting rid of the Cursed Seal.
"Maybe I can."
"...Huh?" Anko even suspected she had misheard him.
"I can't solve the Cursed Seal itself, but I can teach you how to control it."
After eating the last bite of the pancake, Haruko began to explain in detail.
"In my view, that Cursed Seal is just a device that automatically absorbs Natural Energy indiscriminately. Most unprocessed Natural Energy is violent and difficult to tame. The pain you feel every time it flares up is that forcibly injected Natural Energy rampaging through your body and damaging your meridians."
"Then why are you fine?"
"Perhaps my body automatically organizes the Natural Energy, or maybe it just gets assimilated by my 'lying flat' vibe as soon as it enters? I'm not sure of the specific reason, but either way, I'm fine."
"You're just cheating..." Anko said, feeling a bit indignant.
"In any case, you need to organize and guide the Natural Energy entering your body, rather than resisting it directly. Now, first, carefully try to feel the Natural Energy."
Without giving her time to react, Haruko went behind her and placed his palm on the Cursed Seal at the back of her neck.
The warm touch made Anko stiffen, and a warm current spread from the point of contact throughout her entire body.
This was the first time Anko had felt Haruko's Natural Energy while conscious. At first, her body resisted a little, but it quickly adapted, and she even found it... comfortable?
She could feel the shape of that power, feel it moving inside her body. She could even... use her will to guide it.
"Th-this, how is this possible? I... I can control it?"
Anko was incredulous. The nightmare that had plagued her for years had been solved just like that?
"This is just the beginning. To use horses as an analogy, what you're feeling now is a docile pony, while the Cursed Seal gives you a violent wild horse without reins. You need to put reins on them and turn them into warhorses that obey your commands."
Haruko withdrew his hand.
"But you have to take it one step at a time; this thing is quite dangerous. First, practice how to guide the Natural Energy I injected. Once you're proficient, we'll start practicing guiding the Natural Energy from the Cursed Seal."
'Before that, I have to resolve the hidden danger in the Cursed Seal. I remember in the original work, it was resolved using the Evil Sealing Method? What a hassle... I'll wait until we get back to the village."
Watching Haruko's calm and indifferent demeanor, Anko's worldview was severely shaken.
The Cursed Seal left behind by Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin, which even the Professor of Ninjutsu was said to be helpless against—to him, it was as simple as teaching someone to ride a horse?
Feeling the warmth that had not yet dissipated in her body, Anko involuntarily recalled the fear when the Cursed Seal flared up last night, and the sense of security she felt while holding Haruko.
Maybe... he really could...
...
Packing up their bags, the two set off again.
The atmosphere became somewhat subtle.
Although Anko was still boisterously putting her arm around Haruko's shoulder, she occasionally revealed a look mixed with awe, curiosity, and a hint of an indescribable emotion.
It felt like she had never taught Haruko anything; instead, it was Haruko teaching her about the Heaven Cursed Seal, which was comparable to an S-rank Forbidden Jutsu.
She felt that her status as a "teacher" had become nominal.
So, what kind of relationship did the two of them have now?
The two headed north and arrived at a rather lively town that afternoon.
Since there was a town, there was naturally no need to sleep in the wild, and they also needed to scout for information about Jiraiya.
Walking down the street, Haruko's gaze was suddenly drawn to a huge poster pasted on a wall.
It was a movie promotional poster. On the edge of the poster, an actress with long hime-cut hair and a cold, melancholic temperament caught his attention, with her stage name written next to her—Fujikaze Yukie.
'Fujikaze Yukie... Fukago Koyuki? So that's it. Calculating the time, she should indeed have debuted by now, just without much fame yet."
Haruko didn't stop; after all, this had nothing to do with their mission, and he had no interest in getting involved in the affairs of the Land of Snow or the entertainment industry.
Two hours later, the two met up in their hotel room without having gained any valuable information.
"So, why did you book a double room?"
"...Isn't that to save money?"
"A double room is fine, but why is it a room with one big bed? You still want to sleep while holding me?"
"...Isn't that to prevent my Cursed Seal from flaring up again?"
"So if we slept in two rooms further apart, wouldn't it not flare up..."
"Ah! Stop nagging, Haruko, are you still a man! You won't lose a piece of flesh by sleeping together! Are you wanting to do something to me or worried I'll do something to you?"
Before Haruko could get annoyed, Anko got angry first. Haruko was left completely bewildered by this unreasonable temper tantrum.
"...Anko, are you really not bothered by this?"
"We are Ninja, after all. If necessary during a mission... hmm, it's all for the sake of the mission."
As Anko tried to convince Haruko, she also seemed to be saying it to herself.
In the end, neither side convinced the other. Anko firmly refused to change rooms, and Haruko didn't sleep in the same bed as Anko, but instead made a simple bed next to the big bed using Earth Release.
In the middle of the night, Anko's Cursed Seal flared up again, and she wrapped herself around Haruko. Helpless, the two had to sleep pressed against each other once more.
Just like that, the two traveled, stopping and going, and arrived at the hot spring resort in the Land of Hot Springs a week later.
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