The masked shadow clone of Raven stepped back into the hidden chamber beneath the Forest of Death, her cloak brushing the stone floor. The faint hum of Uzumaki seals echoed through the air like a heartbeat. Yumi lounged across the meditation mat, her tails swaying lazily behind her, golden eyes narrowing as Raven entered. "Report to me on your progress," the fox commanded, her tone sharp enough to cut through the stillness.
Raven drew herself upright, her long white hair flowing across her shoulders, her glowing Rinnegan focused on Yumi. "I've got a preliminary understanding of the Yin Seal," she said, voice low but firm. "I've started forming it, but it'll take a month or two before it's stable on my physical body. Aside from seal-based work like this, my infant body can't handle much yet."
Yumi nodded, her expression one of quiet approval, though her tone remained practical. "Don't dwell on your physical body's weakness. Your shadow clone is your training vessel. Every skill and drop of chakra it gains will flow back to your true self. When your body matures, you'll already stand leagues above the others." She tilted her head, gaze sharpening as if weighing Raven against the rest of the shinobi world. "You're positioning yourself to become the strongest kunoichi the world has ever seen. Remember, this shinobi world belongs to men. Female soldiers rarely leave the battlefield alive—or unscarred."
Raven's gloved hands curled into fists at her sides. "I know too well what happens to women taken prisoner," she said grimly. "I fought through the Third Shinobi World War." Her voice dropped lower, hard with memory. "I've seen what they do to women. That's why I refuse to ever be weak again."
Yumi dipped her head slightly, satisfied with the conviction in Raven's voice. "Good. Hold onto that truth."
The fox flicked her tail. "Have you been able to reestablish your Uzumaki adamantine sealing chains?"
Raven shook her head, her mask tilting faintly. "Not yet. I've begun the sealing process, but something that complex can't be mastered overnight. It'll take time."
Yumi's ears twitched as though the answer didn't surprise her. She gave no sign of impatience.
"Fine," Yumi said, her tails curling idly. "Let's return to chakra extraction. You've already managed to condense one standard Kakashi unit of chakra."
Raven's eyes narrowed beneath the mask, a faint scowl pulling at her voice. "Why in the world do we measure chakra in Kakashi-sensei units? What makes him the standard?"
Yumi leapt lightly into the air, spinning once with feline grace before landing in front of Raven. She flicked her tail sharply against Raven's head. "Don't question it. Among reincarnators, Kakashi units are the benchmark. Deal with it." Her golden eyes gleamed with quiet amusement. "One Kakashi unit is the measure of a top-tier jōnin's chakra reserves. You've stored that much in your real body already—but it's far from enough."
Raven sighed through her mask, her tone grudging. "…Fine. Then I'll build more."
Without another word, she sat cross-legged on the chamber floor, cloak draping around her as her mask glimmered faintly in the seal-light. Her Rinnegan pulsed once before settling into a steady glow. She exhaled slowly, and the chamber seemed to grow still.
Hours passed in silence. Faint wisps of natural chakra curled toward her like mist, drawn into her being with each breath. The seals etched into the walls shimmered faintly in resonance, guiding the flow of energy into her core. Her body trembled once, then steadied as she forced her will to hold the balance.
By the time the night deepened outside the Forest of Death, Raven opened her eyes again. The Rinnegan's ripples glowed brighter, sharper, alive with determination. She stood, her movements fluid and strong, her chakra reserves denser than they had been before.
Yumi rose to her feet, her golden gaze scanning Raven with approval. Her tails swayed in a rhythm that betrayed her satisfaction. "Well done," she said softly. "Let's continue to the next stage."
Join my patreon today to read up to chapter 76 in advance your support is my inspiration join for only to 3 to 5$
patreon.com/everstone