"Lord Yoru, this really isn't compatible..."
After studying it for a long time, Kōsenshi still hadn't found a good solution.
Blocking the summoning seals while preserving the Hiramekarei twin blades' amplification ability was nearly impossible. The summoning seals and the chakra-enhancing formulas within the blades were originally designed as one system. If they sealed the summoning seals, it would inevitably weaken the blades' power.
"If we can't seal them, can we just remove the summoning seals?"
"Well… technically, yes. But I only know some low-to-mid-level sealing techniques. Removing the summoning seals without damaging the blades' power? That's way beyond my skill."
Kōsenshi gave him a look that said, "You're expecting too much from me."He was a chunin specializing in mechanical tools and puppetry—knowing any sealing jutsu at all already made him a rare talent. But modifying the seals on one of the Seven Ninja Swords? That was just unreasonable.
Yoru could only turn to Uchiha Shun, hoping he had a solution.
The Konoha Hundred were a gathering of skilled individuals, and there were several chunin among them who knew sealing techniques. Unfortunately, most only had basic knowledge—nothing advanced enough for this task. Now, their only hope was Uchiha Shun.
Uchiha Shun was a true all-rounder—proficient in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, with sealing techniques that surpassed even Kōsenshi's.
But even he shook his head. "With my current sealing skills, removing the summoning seals without damaging the amplification formulas is impossible. I can't even modify them. The best I can do is add a few more layers of sealing jutsu to completely suppress the summoning function."
"Hm… 'Add'?"Yoru's frown suddenly lifted, his eyes gleaming. "If we can't remove or modify them… can weadd new seals?"
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He quickly discussed the idea with Uchiha Shun.
"That could actually work!"
Uchiha Shun immediately agreed, impressed. He refined Yoru's idea and soon devised a plan: they would apply a low-level barrier seal to weaken the connection between the summoning seals and the Hiramekarei blades while also altering the summoning priority.
That way, if the Seven Ninja Swordsmen tried to summon the blades, they'd end up calling something else entirely.
Once the plan was set, Yoru, Uchiha Shun, and Kōsenshi began weaving hand signs, layering new seals onto the blades.
Of course, the most critical part fell to Uchiha Shun. With the precision of his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he successfully linked their new seals to the existing summoning formula.
"What a fine pair of blades!"
Yoru grinned as he admired the Hiramekarei twin swords. His smile widened when he noticed the explosive tags hidden inside the hilts.
"Too bad I don't know theMutual Exploding Tags technique. That would've been perfect."
He sighed regretfully. If he had mastered Mutual Exploding Tags, then when the Seven Ninja Swordsmen tried to summon the blades, they'd instead unleash an endless chain of explosions.
The idea of enemies unwittingly triggering their own annihilation was delicious. Even Kage-level shinobi would struggle to survive such a relentless assault.
"Honestly, even the Third Raikage with his supreme Lightning Release Armor might not withstand it."
A cunning glint flashed in Yoru's eyes.
"This technique could be refined into an assassination trump card against high-ranking shinobi."
If they could get their hands on an enemy's summoning scroll, they could modify its seals to prioritize connecting with Mutual Exploding Tags. The moment the enemy used a summoning jutsu—boom—instant fireworks.
Not only would this eliminate the risk of the user getting caught in the blast, but it would also leave the enemy with no escape.
"How many shinobi in the world could still cast jutsu to remove the seals while being bombarded by explosive tags?"
With the Hiramekarei blades now mounted on two armored puppets, their combat power skyrocketed.
"Two more elite jonin-level fighters. Our odds just got much better."
The puppets' only minor weakness was speed, but their offense and defense were flawless—solid elite jonin-tier strength, even surpassing Yoru's own abilities.
Even with his Wind Breathingenhancement and Three Heads, Six Armstechnique, he'd only be able to fight them to a standstill—and that was only because of his speed advantage.
"Still, I can't afford to get careless."
Yoru suppressed his pride. To minimize unnecessary casualties—and to sell the illusion that Konoha and Suna were cooperating—he decided to persuade Pakura of the Scorch Style to join the fight.
He had captured several Suna shinobi during the assaults on the Daimyō's palace and the coastal defense fortress. Most were genin, since the higher-ranked ones had chosen suicide over capture. But to Pakura, that didn't matter.
Yoru laid out the situation: the coastal fortress had fallen to Kirigakure's forces, and Kiri-nin were masquerading as pirates, slaughtering civilians.
"You want me to help you fight Kiri? In your dreams!"
Pakura's expression darkened. Though the atrocities troubled her, aiding Konoha shinobi was unthinkable.
Yoru smirked. "Pakura, I see you're no different from those warmongers—you don't care about innocent lives either."
"No matter what you say, I won't lift a finger for Konoha!"
Her resolve wavered, but her pride held firm.
"Pakura… you wouldn't want those Suna prisoners to die because of you, would you?"
"White Blood Demon… you're threatening me?!"
Her lips pressed into a thin line, fury burning in her eyes.
"No, no, don't misunderstand. I'm offering tosave them—along with the civilians of the Land of Rivers."
Yoru shook his head, then laid out his terms. "For every ten Kiri-nin you kill, I'll release one Suna prisoner. How's that?"
"...You'd really do that?"
The chance to save her comrades chipped away at her resistance.
"To show my sincerity, I'll release two right now."
Yoru smiled as two Suna shinobi were brought forward.
"Kuroitoha? Sabakuyama? You were captured too?!"
Pakura's eyes widened in recognition.
---