Takumi led the way again, and he also released his hand from Hinata's waist.
She had felt a bit shy just moments ago,
But once he let go, her heart was filled with reluctance.
Soon, however, this feeling disappeared without a trace.
Because they had arrived at the secret base.
Now, even without Kiba's sense of smell, they could smell the stench of rotting corpses.
It was simply too strong.
"You okay?"
Takumi looked at Kiba. "After all, the smell is too strong."
"I'm fine, I'll get used to it."
Although Kiba's expression was unpleasant, he didn't retreat.
"Byakugan!"
Before Takumi could stop her, Hinata decisively activated her Byakugan.
This was what she should do.
Although it was roughly assumed there were no survivors inside,
As the eyes of the team, she still had to ensure there was no danger.
Takumi originally didn't plan to let her look.
After all, the situation inside was certainly too horrible to look at.
But he didn't expect Hinata to take the initiative.
Although this was indeed her job.
"Someone is still alive!"
Hinata immediately said.
Takumi and the others were startled and became alert.
Takumi frowned slightly.
He remembered that there shouldn't be any survivors here.
'Could it be that Guren hadn't left yet?'
Just then, a figure stumbled over from not too far away.
Running into the moonlight, he directly fell to the ground.
Seeing Takumi and the others, he, covered in Cursed Seals, struggled to reach out his hand. "Save... save me..."
"It's a Cursed Seal!"
Takumi immediately recognized it.
Because the event where Sasuke was given the Cursed Seal of Heaven hadn't happened, there was no subsequent plot of Sasuke defecting.
So Kiba didn't know what a Cursed Seal was.
Among those present, only Takumi recognized the Cursed Seal.
"Cursed Seal?"
Shino frowned slightly. "Sounds like it's not a good thing."
"Indeed, it's not a good thing."
Takumi nodded with a serious expression. "The Cursed Seal is one of Orochimaru's experimental products. It allows those who receive it to gain powerful strength."
"There must be side effects."
Kiba said with certainty. "Power gained for no reason definitely isn't stable. Just look at this guy's state, you can tell it's not a good thing."
At this moment, the guy on the ground had already expired.
These few steps were probably his last struggle.
Having seen hope, only to be finally engulfed by despair.
"Indeed, it's impossible to gain powerful strength without paying a price."
Takumi said this without blushing at all.
After all, the power he gained came without any cost.
Everything was obtained through the system.
The one who suffered was his simulated self, which had nothing to do with him in reality.
And he only needed to watch the simulation process to obtain all kinds of amazing powers through the evaluation after the simulation.
"Not to mention that it's very difficult for those implanted with the Cursed Seal to survive."
Takumi detailed what he knew about the Cursed Seal. "Even if they survive and gain powerful strength, their bodies will undergo strange changes, and it will subtly change their personality."
The point about changing personality wasn't something Takumi made up.
Orochimaru's Cursed Seal was inspired by Jugo.
Jugo had an extremely unique physical characteristic.
He was born able to absorb Natural Energy.
Absorbing too much Natural Energy would cause him to enter a state of Sage Transformation.
But his will and power couldn't control this situation.
So once he entered Sage Transformation, he would go into a berserk state.
Later, Jugo's Sage Transformation was studied by Orochimaru and became the current Cursed Seal.
Normally, Jugo was a very peaceful, honest person who could talk to animals.
But influenced by the Sage Transformation, he would occasionally turn into a guy with an overwhelming desire to kill.
This change also integrated into the people implanted with the Cursed Seal through the mark itself.
Of course,
Compared to Jugo, the change wouldn't be so obvious.
But the risk indeed existed.
"Regardless, the Cursed Seal itself is not a good thing."
Takumi looked at the expired body on the ground and said quietly.
"There are still many people inside with signs of life, but..."
Hinata quickly checked the interior through her Byakugan.
Although many had died, there were also survivors.
Unfortunately,
They were just like this person here, step by step moving towards death.
Their futures were already sealed.
"Let's go in and take a look."
Takumi said. "See if there are any clues."
He took the lead, and the others followed behind.
What appeared before them was clearly a base resembling a colosseum.
Looking at those who had died miserably, Kiba and Shino's expressions completely changed.
Although Hinata had seen it before with her Byakugan, the perspective of the Byakugan was different from normal vision.
Seeing it again now, she couldn't bear it either and directly turned her head away, not daring to look.
"What a miserable sight."
Kiba said through gritted teeth. "That bastard Orochimaru, we absolutely cannot forgive him!"
"Too cruel."
Shino said quietly. "It goes against the way of the Shinobi."
Takumi nodded.
But he didn't agree with Shino's thought.
At this point in time, it was hard to call Orochimaru a Shinobi anymore.
Now, he was more like a researcher of Ninjutsu.
What he did was research the mysteries of Ninjutsu.
Simply calling him a Shinobi was obviously incorrect.
Simply put, Orochimaru and them were no longer in the same lane.
Of course, this doesn't deny that Orochimaru is a damned guy.
After all, the means he used to achieve his research were just too cruel.
To achieve his goals, he didn't care about sacrificing anyone.
In fact,
How Orochimaru could be redeemed in his previous life was something Takumi could never accept.
Such an evil researcher identity could actually be redeemed…
No matter how you think about it, it's wrong.
"Those people are beyond saving."
Takumi withdrew his gaze. "Even if saved, their physical condition has been completely destroyed by the Cursed Seal. They don't have many days left."
Hearing his words, Hinata's expression immediately dimmed.
In her kindness, she wanted to save them, even though they were potential enemies.
Takumi led them inside, wanting to see if there were any left-behind materials or something.
But as soon as they walked in, the door behind them suddenly slammed shut.
"Damn! It's a trap!"
Hinata exclaimed in panic.
"Damn it!"
Kiba shouted angrily, quickly searching for an escape route.
Shino had already released his Kikaichu.
"Everyone, come to me!"
Takumi said in a deep voice.
Hinata, as if finding her pillar of support, immediately came to Takumi's side and grabbed his clothes.
Kiba held Akamaru and stood beside him, on guard against the surroundings.
Shino recalled the Kikaichu he had released.
Although Kikaichu could quickly reproduce,
It was better not to waste them if possible.