Chapter 21: Sealing Techniques

As long as the procedure is reasonable, the blame can be tossed upstairs, and no one will discuss the matter openly.

"Hearing the teacher say that puts me at ease, but now that we're about to return to Konoha, I'm actually a little nervous."

Shisui gave a silly chuckle and put on an honest, sheepish expression.

Hui's brow furrowed as if remembering something, and his face instantly went pale. "Oh no, oh no, now that you mention it I'm nervous too. My old man's definitely going to nag me about marriage again, and this time I won't have any excuse to refuse. What do I do?"

Saying this, Hui grabbed Sima Yi's arm, his face full of pleading. "Uncle Yi, you have to help me!"

"This—"

Sima Yi was in a difficult spot; he really couldn't get involved in this. As far as he was concerned, even if he were to advise anyone, it would be to tell Hui to hurry up and get married.

Being over twenty and still childless—that simply wouldn't do.

Shisui's expression grew tense and he quickly said, "Brother Hui, easy, don't hurt the teacher."

Reminded by Shisui, Hui finally came to his senses, hurriedly let go, lowered his head and apologized. "Sorry, Uncle Yi. The moment I thought about my old man nagging me about marriage, I just couldn't hold back."

"Such a great matter as marriage—why resist it so?"

Sima Yi was curious: Hui could come and go freely on the battlefield, so why was he so afraid of taking a wife? Hui's expression suddenly froze, looking somewhat dejected, and he instinctively covered his eyes.

"Teacher, you should head back to the tent to rest early. We still have to travel at first light tomorrow." Shisui suddenly spoke up. Sima Yi immediately realized something and, without pressing further, rose and left.

After Sima Yi had gone, Shisui pressed his palms together, his face full of apology. "Sorry, Brother Hui. The teacher doesn't know about those things."

"No, it has nothing to do with Uncle Yi. It's just that my strength still isn't enough."

"Brother Hui—"

"Hahaha, it's fine, Shisui. It's all in the past. We're heading back to Konoha tomorrow, so you should go rest too."

"Alright then, Brother Hui, I'll head off first." Shisui started to say something, then stopped, unsure what to say. After a moment, he could only turn and leave.

Back in the tent, Sima Yi sat quietly, dozing. When Shisui came in, he slowly opened his eyes and looked over.

"It happened three years ago. Brother Hui's fiancée was a member of his squad. That year the Third Shinobi World War broke out, and they were deployed to fight the Mist ninja, and then—"

The story wasn't complicated. The two of them were in the same squad, fighting the war, but the Mist ninja's offensive was fierce. On one mission they were ambushed, and Hui's fiancée, whose strength was lacking, died there.

Hui's Copy Wheel Eye also evolved into a three-tomoe as a result.

Hearing of the Copy Wheel Eye's evolution, Sima Yi fell into thought. This clan seemed to be growing ever more complicated.

For some reason, he had a premonition: the greatest obstacle to their success might not be the Hokage, not the Konoha high command, and certainly not those ninja clans, but the Uchiha themselves! "Swords and blades have no eyes; life and death, parting and reunion on the battlefield are commonplace—but how many can truly see through the boundary between the living and the dead?"

He had led troops for many years and was long used to life and death, but even he wouldn't claim he could be indifferent to the departure of those close to him.

Shisui nodded, sharing the feeling. The appearance of these eyes had been accompanied by the bones of countless comrades.

"Tonight, make a trip back to Konoha and deliver this to the clan head. Originally I intended to have Hui do it, but his current state really isn't suitable, so it's up to you. Go quickly and return quickly."

After his moment of reflection, Sima Yi didn't forget the real business. He pulled a booklet from his robes—this was the roster he had recompiled, recording detailed information on everyone in the army, including their families and addresses.

"I just need to hand it to the clan head?"

"Of course not. Come closer and listen. When you see the clan head, you only need to say this—"

Shisui leaned in, nodding as he listened, his eyes shining brightly.

"As expected of the teacher!"

"Be careful in all things. If it can't be done, withdraw quickly. Preserving yourself is the priority."

Sima Yi's expression was solemn. If this matter failed, at worst he'd just be disgusted tomorrow; if Shisui were discovered, that would be real trouble. "Don't worry, teacher. I'll be careful."

Shisui tucked the roster away and nodded solemnly, then vanished with the Body Flicker.

After he left, Sima Yi's mind remained calm, without the slightest worry. When it came to matters of force, he truly couldn't control them, but he never let such things weigh on his heart.

Worry only drains the spirit for nothing! Unrolling a scroll, he continued his study of sealing techniques.

"Sealing techniques are quite peculiar, vastly different from other ninjutsu—almost the exact opposite."

After much comparison, he found that the difference between sealing techniques and ninjutsu was enormous. If ninjutsu was the application of chakra, then sealing techniques were the suppression of chakra.

Still, this was only his current conjecture. The materials on sealing techniques and ninjutsu he had were too few to draw a definitive conclusion.

After a moment's thought, he formed hand seals. His movements weren't fast, but his control over the chakra within his body was extremely precise, and the jutsu continued to run steadily.

Tiger–Rabbit–Rooster–Tiger–Rabbit–Snake–Horse–Rabbit–Snake–Horse–Sheep–Rooster–Dog–Rat

After fourteen seals, a peculiar force gathered in his palm. Sima Yi moved gently and laid his hand on the brush he had prepared beforehand.

A glimmer of light appeared, and countless tadpole-like runes swiftly crawled out from his hand, extending onto the brush and encircling it. However, the runes lasted only a few breaths before vanishing.

Sima Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, gathered chakra to his eyes, and activated his Copy Wheel Eye.

"It seems to have succeeded. These runes are quite extraordinary. Sealing techniques are far more complex than I imagined."

He picked up the brush and examined it closely. Under the Copy Wheel Eye, he could directly see the traces of chakra on the brush, which made his observation much easier.

As the position of the brush changed, he could clearly sense a kind of prompt.

This was the basic application of sealing techniques—a warning!

After a moment's thought, he set down the brush and formed seals again. This time he mobilized more than half of his body's chakra.

He slapped both hands onto the ground, controlling the direction and range of the runes, and soon wrapped the entire tent.

The seal took shape, the runes concealed themselves, and Sima Yi immediately felt a wave of drowsiness. Not forcing himself, he tidied up and lay down to sleep.

In the middle of the night, his eyes snapped open and he looked toward the outside of the tent.

The tent flap was gently lifted, and Shisui walked in looking slightly weary, his movements extremely careful, afraid to make the slightest sound.

"You're back."

Gah! Shisui sucked in a cold breath, startled by the voice that suddenly rang out.

Normally he would never have been like this, but he had gradually come to know Sima Yi's routine and had assumed he would already be resting at this hour, so he hadn't probed further.

"Rare to see you with that expression." Sima Yi couldn't help teasing at the sight.

"Phew~ Teacher, why aren't you asleep yet? Did I wake you?"

Shisui calmed himself and sat down in front of Sima Yi.

"Not really. Forget that—what did the clan head say?"

"The clan head, he—"

Shisui pondered for a moment, then shook his head repeatedly at the memory of the earlier conversation.

"The clan head said we should simply follow the Third's orders in everything, and not stir up any extra trouble, so as not to displease the higher-ups of Konoha."

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(End of chapter)