About fifteen minutes later, Seimei landed back on the island.
As expected, this remote island showed no signs of anything unusual in its surroundings.
Seimei didn't show any impatience. Standing on the massive rock at the island's center, he raised his hands, formed seals, and cast Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
With bursts of chakra smoke, one hundred fifty shadow clones appeared around him.
Glancing at them, Seimei quickly divided them into groups, a routine he was well accustomed to, and sent them off to their tasks.
Once they were gone, he didn't waste a second. He activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode and locked onto a Flying Thunder God seal near an underwater trench. With a quick cast of Flying Thunder God Jutsu, his figure vanished.
---
At the same time, near the trench, a figure appeared out of nowhere.
It was none other than Seimei.
The sudden pressure of over forty times normal atmospheric levels hit him hard, even with his Lightning Release Chakra shielding him. A wave of pain surged through him.
But he was used to it.
By immediately increasing the output of his Lightning Release Chakra, he dispersed some of the pressure and quickly adjusted.
As for the minor internal injuries he sustained? Honestly, they didn't bother him much.
Not only had he fully integrated Hashirama's cells, giving him enhanced self-healing, but his 25-point Constitution stat meant his recovery was fast enough to shrug off such damage. It would heal in minutes.
So, injuries were the least of his concerns.
After standing there for a moment to acclimate, Seimei didn't linger. He stepped forward, heading toward the trench.
Soon, he reached its edge. Descending along the cliff wall, he passed several training platforms he'd carved out previously, stopping at a depth of about forty meters.
This was roughly the halfway point of the trench—and the current limit of what his body could handle.
Pausing his descent, Seimei found a suitable spot and cast Water Release: Water Severing Wave to carve out a small platform on the cliff wall.
He cleared away the debris, attached chakra to his feet to stand firmly on the platform, and took a brief moment to settle. Then, following the principles of Lightning Release Chakra Mode, he began tempering his body.
During this, he didn't forget to activate Palm Sage Jutsu and Nin no Gyo, combining their effects to strengthen his body from the inside out.
When he'd perfected the Heart-Sealing Soul Contract: Instant Teleportation Seal, he'd estimated it would take about a week to push his body to the critical point of transformation.
Five days had already passed.
Yesterday was a rest day, so it didn't count. But even so, he'd been training for four days straight.
In other words, in just two or three more days, his body would reach that critical point.
Even now, he could clearly feel an invisible barrier holding him back—a sensation he knew well. It always appeared right before his body underwent a transformation.
And as his body drew closer to that critical point, the feeling grew stronger.
At this stage, the resistance to strengthening his body was at its peak.
But Seimei wasn't fazed. He simply followed his routine, training methodically.
---
Two days passed in a flash.
It was now the afternoon of the third day.
Still at the trench, Seimei was training on one of the platforms.
His body crackled with lightning, tiny bolts piercing his skin, weaving in and out. Combined with the constant flow of Yang Release chakra within, it tempered his physique.
Yet, despite his efforts, Seimei felt no progress.
Well, that wasn't entirely true.
Unlike previous attempts, Nin no Gyo was active during his training now, guiding his efforts. This allowed for some progress, however small.
But compared to the bottleneck he faced, these gains were negligible.
Sure, if he kept grinding slowly, he'd eventually break through.
But that could take who-knows-how-long, and he wasn't willing to wait.
Nor did he need to.
With Nin no Gyo in play, he could do what he'd done for past breakthroughs: focus all his energy, fully unleash Palm Sage Jutsu, and shatter that invisible barrier in one go.
With this in mind, Seimei stopped training.
Without lingering, he leaped upward, quickly exiting the trench.
He then moved to the nearby Flying Thunder God seal.
Confirming he was within a pressure range his body could handle, he didn't hesitate. Locking onto the seal on the island, he cast Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
His vision shifted instantly.
Seimei reappeared on the giant rock at the island's center.
Poof.
He conjured a burst of Fire Release chakra, instantly drying his soaked clothes.
Then, he dispelled Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, recalling all the shadow clones training on and around the island.
Since he was going all-in, he couldn't afford distractions. Retrieving the clones was necessary.
Closing his eyes, Seimei carefully reviewed their memories, converting the past few minutes of their training experience into skill proficiency.
Moments later, he opened his eyes again.
Inhale… exhale…
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he sat cross-legged, calming himself until he reached peak condition. Then, he began casting Palm Sage Jutsu.
Before channeling Yang Release chakra, he activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and triggered Nin no Gyo, paving the way for his breakthrough.
A dense surge of Yang Release chakra formed, flowing into his body. Guided by Nin no Gyo, it stimulated his cells, pushing them toward the mutation he envisioned.
Time ticked by.
Seimei cast Palm Sage Jutsu repeatedly, channeling Yang Release chakra to replenish what was consumed.
Finally, after more than two hours, as evening approached, he heard what sounded like something shattering in his ears.
A sense of relief washed over him.
Sensing his body again, the shackles that had restrained his physical growth were gone, replaced by a vast, open horizon.
Before he could even open his eyes, a warm current surged from deep within his cells, flooding his entire body. It felt like soaking in a hot spring—indescribably comforting.
Without hesitation, Seimei relaxed completely, immersing himself in the sensation.
Soon, the outside world faded away, leaving only a blissful feeling, like returning to the womb.
(End of Chapter)