Even though Sasuke could endure the pain, he couldn't help but frown.
Line after line of arcane runes were inscribed onto Sasuke's back by Kakashi, yet even his body couldn't fully serve as a scroll to contain them all.
The crimson runes extended outward, reaching even the nearby weathered stone pillar.
Shiki's eyes flickered. In truth, compared to the runes themselves, he paid more attention to the flow of Kakashi's chakra and the subtle techniques involved.
Yet Shiki had forgotten something—or failed to sense that within this dark space, another pair of eyes was watching them, greedy as a serpent.
Chapter 149 Temptation
At first, Sasuke remained quite calm. But later on, likely due to Kakashi channeling more chakra, the pain intensified, and Sasuke gradually began to scream.
Standing nearby, Shiki watched without offering any comfort. For Sasuke, words of solace at this moment would have felt more like mockery.
"Just wait a bit longer. It'll be finished soon," Kakashi said, standing up and removing his fingers from Sasuke's body.
By now, Sasuke's body was completely covered with cryptic runes.
Shiki knew the critical moment was approaching.
He focused intently on Kakashi's every move. While he could always study the technique from scrolls later, witnessing it in real-time was far more intuitive.
Kakashi began by pressing his palms together. Shiki knew this wasn't any of the standard hand seals used by ninja, yet some techniques indeed started precisely like this.
Then, Kakashi's hand seals changed rapidly.
From such a close distance, with his full attention focused, Shiki could barely recognize the movements.
Yin, Mao, Si, Wu, Wei, You, Yin, Mao, Si, Wu, Wei, You, Yin, Mao, Si, Wu, Wei, You, Xu, Zi!
Shiki softly chanted the names of the hand seals—Tora, U, Mi, Uma, Tatsu, Tori, Tora, U, Mi, Uma, Tatsu, Tori, Tora, U, Mi, Uma, Tatsu, Tori, Hitsuji, Ne—which Kakashi formed with such blinding speed that even Shiki's muttering would be indecipherable to most.
Just like the runes inscribed on Sasuke's body, this Sealing Technique demanded an unusually long sequence of Hand Seals.
"Probably techniques like this exorcism-type seal always require such lengthy Hand Seals."
Shiki mused with a quiet sense of reflection. In truth, this technique wasn't suited for battle. Yet he still wanted to learn this particular Sealing Technique.
Because insights from mastering one Sealing Technique often extend to others through their interconnected nature.
Of course, that was a matter for later.
If his body couldn't recover, then everything he was thinking about now would be meaningless.
"I can only hope Lady Tsunade can cure my body," Shiki murmured thoughtfully, though in reality, he wasn't placing all his hopes solely on her.
Relying entirely on others was the way of the weak.
He was constantly studying Medical Ninjutsu. If Tsunade couldn't heal him, then only he himself—who understood this body best—could research ways to cure it.
Moreover, if given the opportunity, Shiki wanted to test whether Sage Mode's restorative abilities could help. Could his withered chakra pathways be rejuvenated by Sage Chakra, like dead wood blooming once again?
Of course, these were questions with no answers—yet.
In any case, Shiki Uzumaki—who bore the legacy of the Uzumaki Clan—would never give up any hope.
["Evil Sealing Method!"] Kakashi suddenly shouted, his right hand flashing forward to strike at Sasuke's neck.
Instantly, the blood-inscribed runes on Sasuke's back rapidly contracted, spreading outward to those drawn on the floor and pillars.
This phenomenon couldn't be explained by anything Shiki had known in his past life. If there was an explanation, he must've been going mad trying to understand it.
"All right," said Kakashi with a sigh of relief, "from now on, whenever you use chakra, this seal will suppress the cursed mark."
"But it all depends on your inner strength. If your resolve isn't firm, the cursed seal will awaken again."
After hearing these words, Sasuke collapsed onto the ground, exhausted and unconscious.
"I didn't expect this technique to drain him so much," Kakashi murmured slightly, glancing at his own hand.
"Kakashi, it's been quite a while," came a calm voice laced with chilling undertones.
Yet even that faint coldness made Kakashi widen his eyes, his body involuntarily shivering slightly.
"You seem much stronger now. I'm impressed you've even mastered a technique like the Evil Sealing Method."
A man dressed in gray Jonin attire from Otogakure approached. But now, he no longer wore someone else's face.
He made no attempt to hide his identity—his pale skin and serpentine eyes told anyone who looked exactly who he was.
"Orochimaru!"
Kakashi immediately called out his name.
But at this moment, the shock wasn't his alone—one other's expression of disbelief rivaled even his.
That person was Shiki Uzumaki.
Damn it!
Had his grasp of the storyline really deteriorated this badly?
Shiki Uzumaki felt flustered. He had only meant to observe Kakashi sealing Sasuke's cursed mark.
Never did he expect Orochimaru to appear here at this moment.
"Relax, Shiki Uzumaki. Although I don't know why you're so startled upon seeing me, my purpose today isn't about you two. It's about the person behind you."
Orochimaru stood quietly before them, a calm smile playing on his lips.
"How fascinating! Unexpectedly, Kakashi, you really are lucky. From what I remember, you weren't like this before."
A flicker passed through Orochimaru's gaze. "Ah, the Sharingan… I want it for myself, too."
"What exactly do you intend to do?" Kakashi stepped forward, firmly shielding Shiki Uzumaki behind him.
"The Otogakure village I recently founded—it's my ninja village. You should understand what I mean by now." Orochimaru spoke without a trace of tension, as though chatting casually with an old friend.
"Is it once again for your foolish ambitions?"
"One could say that. Therefore, I require numerous pawns." Orochimaru admitted openly—perhaps because revealing such intentions wouldn't affect him in the slightest.
"Actually, Shiki, I find you quite intriguing. After all, how many true ancient bloodlines remain in this world? Yours is among the rarest."
"You could say the Senju, Uzumaki, and Uchiha are all seriously tempting legacies, you know?"
"Uncle Snake, sorry to say, but I've got no plans to switch jobs anytime soon." Shiki replied just as coldly. Though he sometimes acted like a noble, self-righteous saint.
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