Sealing ninjas were those tasked with sealing magic and sealing demon-gods—and who also sealed the "power of demon-gods" within themselves.
This was a special force established by the first Oda lord, selecting elite fighters from the natives to form a direct ninja corps. Their mission: to hunt down "otherworldly demon-gods," track "demon-spawn" hidden among mankind, and recover alien "magical artifacts." In many ways, their work overlapped with Monster Corp's. Later, when most of the demons in this world were already sealed, they also took on the side task of forming the Onmyō Clan, supervising their own kind.
Yes—this corps had been founded by the first Takamagahara traveler from another world, a legion-slayer, a hunter of elves. As history records, Takamagahara could simply deploy devices to disable the "magical sprites" (nanobots) across whole regions, then send armies to raze places like hot spring villages where elves lived.
But Earth 0791 had once been a legion colony. It wasn't just a few elf villages—it was full of test subjects, cyborgs, synthetic beasts, and all sorts of tangled "magical settings" and "magical seals."
The great fleet battles had long ended. The first Oda only had one cruiser to pursue the stragglers. He didn't have the research capacity to scan the whole Earth and annihilate every hidden remnant, nor did he want to nuke a world he had conquered.
So he used local ninjas as the base, creating the Sealing Corps to assassinate legion demons. If they found major gatherings, the army would encircle them—or the cruiser would bombard them directly.
But killing wasn't enough. This world had been deeply altered by legion tech and saturated with their "magical sprites." At any time, if the legion returned, they could seize back control of the entire planet. Thus—"sealing" was required.
In simple terms, "magical sprites" were legion-made nanobots. Just as qi was to cultivators, or fuel to vehicles, sprites powered all legion constructs—elves, demons, monsters.
Seal the sprites, and demons, dragons, monsters—became harmless, easily destroyed by bullets and shells.
The "Sealing Mark," or "curse mark that stores demon-god power," was one of the Security Council's containment methods against legion sprites.
The principle was simple. On worlds with legion remnants, after the first fleet sweep, the Scientific Ethics Council would select native subjects for gene-editing, injecting deceptive nanites to trick legion sprites into recognizing them as "authorized vessels." Thus the sprites could be stored safely inside human bodies.
The Oda ninjas went further. With special coded sequences, they could reactivate the sealed sprites, breaking the seal and using magic themselves.
Since the sprites were keyed to bloodlines, ninja families could pass their Sealing Marks down generations, safeguarding sprites for Oda, while gaining limited use of that "demon-god power" as reward—becoming watchdogs with superhuman strength.
That was what "ninja" truly meant.
But with the legion destroyed and its technology lost, these sprites could no longer be replenished. And though based on similar science, Takamagahara's ninjutsu differed genetically, never achieving the legion's full potency. Overuse carried the risk of cyberpsychosis-like breakdowns—"ghostification," "demonization."
Sealing ninjas could also be seen as genetically modified humans—Level 5 bio-mods, created under colonial suppression policy, like trained war-beasts.
When 0791 was fully subdued and Takamagahara corporatized, the Security Council banned further production of sealing ninjas.
Still, old families like Kōga and Iga survived. When heirs died, their Sealing Marks had to be passed down—to prevent "magical sprites" from leaking. This ritual, known as the genin trial, ensured new heirs could inherit.
Student trainees at Gosha Academy trained hard, but only those who obtained their own Sealing Mark could practice ninjutsu—becoming official genin.
Those who mastered their mark and demon power, with combat experience, could attempt the chūnin trials, then go study with clans like Kōga's 21 families or Iga's 48 houses. There they'd learn advanced arts—water, fire, wind—ancient "magic" adapted into ninja techniques.
Veterans who proved themselves further, recommended by their clan heads, could sit the Onmyō exams. With Oda's approval, they'd become jōnin, granted secret arts like the Yin-Yang Merging Technique—Takamagahara's classified fusion of ninjutsu and legion sprites.
But after Takamagahara's defeat, the Onmyō Clan was disbanded. The Security Council ordered every sealing ninja to seal away their marks, forbidden ever to unseal them again.
It was a gesture of disarmament—and a safeguard to keep sprites from being stolen by the legion or other corporations.
Yet the Tokugawa war proved ninjas still had power. Though most clans sealed their arts, even a portion of Iga forces—unsealing their marks—had resisted Night City's siege and bloodied Hashiba's armies.
And Kotaro's notoriety came from this: he had not only slaughtered hundreds, annihilating the Sealing Clan, but allegedly inherited all their marks—every sprite. He hoarded their magical power for himself. Even if young, a genius of his clan, with that many sprites, even a basic "Fire Style: Small Fireball Technique" might yield a mushroom cloud. Near invincible. But then…
"So why didn't you just kill him when you caught him? Did you not find the demon-god power in him? That's why you locked him away instead?"
Li Pan realized: the "lost equipment" Kotaro spoke of referred to these marks. Was he pretending to be weak? Or was he really a pawn?
Shiranui Kiri nodded.
"I've experienced it. The company's archive cabinet can erase Sealing Marks, but not the magic itself. Perhaps Kotaro sealed vast powers elsewhere before.
Many ninjas died in battle—at places like the Fountain of Youth. Their unclaimed marks could birth new aberrations.
If heirs die, no one can re-seal those powers. The seals fail—and monsters are born."
"Nanobots, doing all that? Then how was the legion defeated?"
Li Pan doubted.
Kiri replied:
"Repair, recombination, evolution. That was coded into them. A path of humanity before the Earth-0 civil war, rival to QVN. Too dangerous—banned by the Ethics Council. Like AI, too unstable.
Some say the legion was devoured by its own tech, losing strength, letting the corporations rise. That's why the Council fears such technologies.
Our history has many who sought too much power, absorbing sprites until they lost control—mutating into demon-god vessels,鬼神, monsters.
Pursuing that path is taboo. That's why Asahime exiled me. But I know the danger—I never intended it. I passed the Shiranui legacy to Hagikaze. I only tried to seal the Fountain of Youth demon to honor my fallen comrades. I never succeeded.
Now, I carry only the Water-Style Seal I obtained as a genin.
But Kotaro is different. If he really hoards the clan's sprites, he could lose control at any time, become a slaughterer. Stirring war between Night City and Takamagahara would serve him well. Remember—it was all the ninja heads, Kōga and Iga alike, who agreed to lock him away."
"So you suspect Kotaro is behind the Goldshine case? But he infiltrated after the subway incident."
Kiri shook her head.
"There's no proof it wasn't him. Maybe the incident was a cover—letting him hide and digest his stolen power. Where better to cultivate now than Goldshine Academy?"
Fair point. Whether Kotaro or another killer, the Academy would have to be searched.
Li Pan didn't stop her. Why would he? Kiri owed him nothing. She would surely try to infiltrate Goldshine.
With Uncle Chen's commission, the monster investigation, and Kotaro's disappearance—all tasks were shoved onto Shiranui Kiri.
And Li Pan? He could slack off again.
Screw ninja feuds, suicides, seals, legions. Fighting and killing were endless—just like work. Better to make money.
Surely the Security Bureau was busy with Goldshine already. Nobody would bother him.
Great. Back to the daily grind. Ten, twenty thousand a day. Small streams make a river. Steady wealth.
And then his plan was interrupted—by a call.
It was Toyama Nana.
"Hey Li, off work? Got a moment?"
"Oh, Nana. Skipping work? Want to grab a drink?"
"Actually… a friend I share an apartment with is in trouble. A gang's even blocking my door. I thought about it—and realized you're the only one I can ask…"
"Oh? How violent are they? How many killed?"
"Not that bad… well… they have driven over a dozen to suicide."
"Wow, a dozen? What about yesterday?"
"Yester—enough talk! Get over here!"
If Nana was in trouble, of course he'd help. Though honestly, Li Pan didn't see why—Nana herself could handle thugs if she wanted. As a fleet asset, once she activated her implants, no street punks could touch her.
Still—bounty work was bounty work. A gang was a gang.
So Li Pan went to the commuter district, to Nana's new apartment.
Sure enough, a man stood blocking the door. But these guys…
They looked like thugs, but NCPA showed no criminal record. Not even assault. Not members of known syndicates. Basically worthless.
Weird.
"Excuse me, thanks…"
Not worth killing. Li Pan just walked forward.
One thug tried to shoulder-check him.
Thud! The man went flying, sprawled flat.
"Sorry, excuse me, thanks."
"Hey bastard! You hurt us! Pay medical bills!"
"Don't shove!"
"Damn, this guy's like a wall!"
Li Pan ignored them, plowed through. Six were shoved aside, piled up at the door. He knocked.
"Nana, let's go drink."
"Bastard! You look down on us, trash!"
"That Nana your girl? Pay up, brat!"
Li Pan frowned. He'd never seen thugs this clueless. He drew his pistol.
"What, flashing a gun? Go ahead, shoot!"
Bang!
"Shit, he really fired!"
"Murder! Call the cops!"
They cowered, hands over heads—but didn't run. Kept shouting about police.
Li Pan realized: not gangsters. Debt collectors.
And that was worse.
Because collectors weren't illegal. They had legal contracts. Companies sold them bad debts. As long as they didn't break laws, NCPA wouldn't touch them. Their job was harassment—making life unlivable until you paid.
And unlike thugs, collectors were clean citizens. Beat them and you became the criminal. Kill one, and the system would mark you for execution.
So, beating them up wouldn't solve anything. They'd just return tomorrow.
Li Pan holstered his gun.
The door opened. Toyama Nana peeked out, holding a frying pan.
"What, Nana—you borrow loan-shark money?"
She grimaced.
"Not me…"
Another girl stepped out behind her. Shorter, in rabbit pajamas, hair dyed pink. At her feet bounced a little spherical pet drone.
"Ogawa Nana! You're three months overdue! No guarantor! Next due date's coming! Pay up or vacate the apartment!"
Another… Nana?
.
.
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⚠️ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD — I'm Not a Cyberpsycho ⚠️
The system says: Kill.Mercs obey. Corporates obey. Monsters obey.One man didn't.
🧠💀 "I'm not a cyberpsycho. I just think... differently."
💥 High-voltage cyberpunk. Urban warfare. AI paranoia.Read 30 chapters ahead, only on Patreon.
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