Chapter XXV

Ugh, I can't stand this. I've done it. Let's try to relax by working on more explosive seals—oops, I mean intricate seals.

I feel like I could blow up the Hokage Rushmore right now. Plant one a bit under the first nose, then around the second's cheek… no, no, it needs to be larger. That's not it! Damn it, I almost spilled the ink.

Everyone is staring at me like I'm a madman lost in incoherent mumbling. I sit back down, grumbling under my breath.

I couldn't care less about these plebeians, more concerned with yesterday's dinner than their own future.

Five days. Five days I've been trying to decipher the self-regenerating seal. Five days without sleep, but I've finally done it. At what cost?

Ugh, I hate numbers. I wish I could just obliterate the entire concept and bury it in a pit of flames so deep even the most devoted archaeologist couldn't unearth it.

Numbers are bad. Numbers are like gods. Pythagoras done everything wrong. To hell with that guy, I'd give anything to trap him in Tsukuyomi this very moment.

The secret lies within the numbers. A few ciphers bunched up together could form a coalition of numbers. It's not just a philosophical class; it's more like a form of superstition where certain hidden numbers behind a word, when added together in a cluster, form symbolic terms like 666, which foretell ominous things or prophecies.

But it's not that simple; otherwise, I could just play a guessing game instead of chasing nonsensical formulas and deciphering their meaning.

Why should I be happy about this discovery anyway? I don't know...

Turns out, there's only so much an ink and an ignorant mind can do to exploit Natural Energy (NE). The yield is small, and the absorption rate is as slow as a snail. Though I should be glad I can utilize it just fine, but the most it could do is probably power up a C-rank jutsu.

I need specialized ink or material that can attract NE, but where can I even get it? Does such a thing even exist?

I slap an absorption seal onto Ranmaru, and at least it can operate for almost twice as long and drastic increase in term of endurance and durability. Making various offensive tags out of them is fun too, I must admit.

But it's far from the final solution I've sought, and I'm not satisfied with just this. As expected, you still need to become a sage to truly advance, after all.

On the other hand, I can create as many absorption seals as I wish. That's a win.

I need to sleep. Yawning, I try to rest my head on the table.

"Class is beginning! Nobuyuki, don't sleep!"

Ugh....

.

Once again, I found myself in the dark corridor. This strange sight had become a common occurrence over the past few months whenever I drifted off to sleep or meditated. Maybe it was because I had been trying to decipher the hidden seal on Naruto's stomach. I knew it was a crime, but the ANBU unit stationed to guard him didn't raise much of a fuss about it, or else Naruto would have been taken away from my care.

It was odd, but I seemed to be lucid in this dream—well, if it could even be called a dream at this point. It felt more like spirit projection, and I had to admit, maybe I had a talent for it. I puffed up my chest at this non-existent feat.

Anyway, I knew what I had to do. I just needed to walk. No matter which direction I took, I always ended up beholding the same sight again and again—a cage.

The cage rattled as if sensing my presence. "Yo, Kurama. How are you doing today?" I greeted the fox inside. Speaking with him was the one thing I looked forward to. Unlike with others, I didn't talk with stutter or anxiety. There was something liberating about conversing with him.

"Stop talking to me so casually, prey," Kurama's voice came, filled with as much hostility as he could muster. But no matter how hard he tried to claw outside; my projection form remained untouched. It was merely a harmless apparition after all.

"But you're the only one I can talk to," I replied, sitting down. "Just listen to my story."

"You and your drivel! Every day, and every day I have to listen to this! I was in peace the last five days and finally thought you kicked the bucket, now you're here! Are you trying to make me go mad?" Kurama retorted.

"You're not already mad?" I shook my head. "That's not important. But today, you know I made a great breakthrough. Yet, no one recognizes it, or rather, I can't even bring myself to show it to anyone. You know, I've always wanted to puff my chest and exclaim, 'I did this!' while everyone clapped like a castle clown, showering me with praise and offering their daughters."

"Kurama, humans are fickle creatures—" he tried to interject, but I continued to drone on, pouring my frustrations. It was like talking to a wall that could respond, and oddly, it felt refreshing. Even if my message didn't fully come across, I could freely pour the contents of my heart.

"How many times has it..." Kurama said in despair, but I promptly ignored his remark.

"And then there's Naruto and Izuna..." I continued, not giving him a chance to speak.

"There's never been a time I wished to escape this seal more than ever," Kurama finally lamented.

"I find myself in a bind," I shrugged, shaking my head. "By the way, do you happen to know anything about the various seals the Sage used in his time?"

He scoffed dismissively. "Like hell I paid any attention to that."

"Nevertheless, after living for so long, you must have acquired some knowledge," I persisted.

"And if I do have knowledge, what makes you think I'll freely share it with you?" he retorted.

"So, you're suggesting an exchange? That's a rational proposition," I remarked.

"Hmph. Undo this seal, and we may have a deal," he proposed.

"And what would you do if I were to comply?" I inquired.

"Isn't it obvious? I'd wreck Konoha, exact revenge on that asshole, and... well, then..."

"Then what?" I pressed for more information.

"Like hell I know, maybe I'll go to sleep," he grumbled.

"Just like you're doing now?" I couldn't help but taunt.

"Tch... I'll kill you the moment I'm free from here," he threatened.

"How about pursuing world domination instead?" I suggested, adding a touch of mischief. "Perhaps sprinkled with a touch of total genocide for good measure."

"Huh?" he responded, taken aback.

"Consider this: Even if you were to achieve all that, the moment you let your guard down, humans would find a way to seal you once again, wouldn't they?" I posed.

"Oh, damn right! Just the thought of it infuriates me," he admitted.

"But can you actually do it?" I challenged.

"Are you doubting me, kid?! Huh!" he growled.

"Of course. It only took a single eye to control you. Perhaps you should learn ninjutsu while you're at it," I provoked.

"Resorting to the weapons of my enemy? Talk about stooping low," he sneered.

"Kurama, listen to me!" I shook his cage, trying to get through to him. "You have no other choice. Humans are constantly progressing, leaving you—a mighty tailed beast—treated like a random feral mongrel, just like your siblings."

"You want to pick a fight with me, you damn kid!" he retorted.

"See? A little push and you're already rattled. Think calmly, Kurama. Even the Sage of Six Paths had to use the power granted by his mother to defeat her. There's nothing wrong with it; it's not about pride, but survival!" I reasoned.

"You act as if you witnessed the event firsthand. How presumptuous!" he scoffed.

"But I did witness it, Kurama," I asserted.

"Hmph." His eyes then shifted to me. "So, what should I do?"

"I'm glad to see you finally emerging from your shell. Congratulations," I praised.

"Just get on with it, you fool!" he urged impatiently. The cage's bar rattled.

"You just need to learn from me, although I may require some assistance from you in the future," I explained.

"Typical. It all comes down to this in the end," he grumbled.

"Well, at least think it over. I'm your only friend and the only one who truly understands you, Kurama. I won't betray my friend," I assured him.

"Lies. Lies. And more lies," he responded cynically.

"That's the essence of a transaction. I scratched your back, and then it's your turn to scratch mine," I clarified.

"There's nothing stopping you from going back on your word. That's what I despise about humans," he remarked.

"That's where you're wrong, Kurama. Unlike you, I wouldn't threaten my friend with murder after they help me," I pointed out.

"Feh. All I need to do is accept, and you'll finally stop that incessant chatter, right?" he mused.

"That's right! Not necessarily, but you get the idea," I replied with a smirk.

The tailed beast stood up, then sat back down, looking at me intently. "Alright then, what can you teach me?"

"How about starting with the basic transformation jutsu, and then we can move on to energy transfer?" I suggested.

"I don't get it, but fine... I have a bad feeling about this," he grumbled.

And that's how I taught a tailed beast to become a true shinobi. I wasted no time and continuously amassed greater power, even in my sleep. Tremble before me.

"One last thing," he began, "we tailed beasts do not need to mold our chakra like you humans do..."

"I see," I replied, nodding with intrigue. "I learn something new every day. So, that's how it is."

There was a pause between us, the gravity of his statement sinking in.

I instinctively kneeled on all fours, "then what's the point?!" I exclaimed, exasperation welling up inside me.