Kiyohara spoke.
When it came to insights into Yin Release secret techniques, Kiyohara was actually stronger than many others.
The Uchiha clan's Sharingan was a classic representative of Yin Release power.
However, Yin Release secret techniques came in countless forms, and many ninja clans had developed them in different directions.
In this area, Kiyohara needed to build up his foundation and broaden his understanding.
By the same logic, Yang Release secret techniques were similar.
"Hokage-sama… why are you collecting these secret techniques?"
"I need Yang Release secret techniques to strengthen my foundation."
Kiyohara spoke.
He looked at Akimichi Chōza.
"That is all. I will not pass them on to outsiders."
Chōza fell silent.
He knew Kiyohara was telling the truth.
With Kiyohara's current strength and status, there was no need for him to covet the Akimichi clan's secret techniques.
If he wanted them, he had plenty of ways to get them.
Yet he had still chosen to offer an exchange.
"Hokage-sama."
Akimichi Chōza carefully chose his words.
"The Akimichi clan's share in Konoha Hospital…"
"It can be increased appropriately."
Kiyohara nodded.
There was nothing wrong with giving the Akimichi clan a portion.
"As for exactly how much, we can discuss it in detail after the exchange is complete."
Akimichi Chōza nodded and said,
"I need to go back and think it over."
Kiyohara nodded.
"Fine. Tell me the result before tonight."
Kiyohara gave Chōza a deadline.
Akimichi Chōza bowed slightly, then turned and walked toward the door.
The door closed.
The office fell quiet.
"Kiyohara, why are you collecting these secret techniques?"
Yūhi Kurenai, who had been quietly listening the whole time, asked curiously.
Kiyohara leaned back in his chair.
"Yin-Yang Release."
Kiyohara said.
"If I can combine the powers of Yin Release and Yang Release, maybe I can develop something new."
That wasn't a lie.
Kiyohara really did have that idea.
Yin-Yang Release could create life, grant will to inorganic objects, and create physical matter out of nothing.
If one mastered that kind of power, they would essentially be no different from a creator.
Legend said the Sage of Six Paths created the world.
Of course, that claim was false. The world had existed long before the Sage of Six Paths was born.
But if the Sage of Six Paths had wanted to do it, he might not have been unable.
The moon itself had been created by the Sage of Six Paths. Inside the moon, there was even a complete ecological cycle, with an environment similar to Earth's.
If the branch and main families of the Ōtsutsuki descended from Hamura had not fought among themselves, they probably could have lived there for a very, very long time.
Of course, the most important thing was still fulfilling the final wish.
At present, aside from the Senju clan, the clan in Konoha that understood Yang Release secret techniques the best was probably the Akimichi clan.
Kiyohara felt that collecting their clan's secret techniques should be enough to satisfy Mangekyō Kiyohara's final wish.
At that time, he would be able to inherit a portion of Ōtsutsuki bloodline.
Then Kiyohara pulled back his thoughts and looked at Kurenai.
"Are you free this afternoon?"
"What is it?"
"Come with me to Ryūchi Cave."
Kurenai blinked.
"Ryūchi Cave?"
"Mm."
Kiyohara stood up.
"There are some things I need to handle."
The White Snake Sage had been asking Kiyohara to visit for some time, but Kiyohara had rarely gone.
This time, he was bringing Kurenai there because he intended to plant a cursed seal on her.
Kiyohara's original cursed seal was the Cursed Seal of Earth, but after deepening his mastery of senjutsu, he could now develop cursed seals on his own.
What he wanted to implant in Kurenai now was the Cursed Seal of Yin.
In other words, a cursed seal that enhanced Yin Release chakra. It could allow senjutsu chakra to further strengthen the effects of Yin Release ninjutsu.
Of course, its enhancement of other chakra natures would be fairly ordinary. It was a cursed seal with very obvious strengths and weaknesses.
"Okay."
Kurenai agreed.
She also wanted to see what one of the legendary sacred lands looked like.
......
A few minutes later.
Ryūchi Cave.
Kiyohara had left a Flying Thunder God kunai here before, so he could teleport directly to this place.
Even without the Flying Thunder God Technique, Kiyohara could also use the Reverse Summoning Technique to come here directly.
"So this is Ryūchi Cave?"
It was Kurenai's first time here.
"That's right. This is Ryūchi Cave."
Kiyohara nodded.
Ryūchi Cave was dim and deeply secluded.
But in Kiyohara's eyes, it was no different from daylight.
Kurenai glanced at Kiyohara and noticed that his pupils had turned vertical, just like a snake's.
"Kiyohara, your eyes…"
"Probably an effect of the White Snake's power."
Kiyohara said casually.
"I see."
Kurenai understood.
Kiyohara had also given her a bit of the White Snake's power, but not much, so Kurenai felt only that her vitality and chakra reserves had increased somewhat.
"Follow me."
Kiyohara took Kurenai's hand.
The two walked into the cave.
The passage was narrow, and the stone walls on both sides were covered in moss.
After walking for about a minute, light appeared ahead.
It was an enormous stone gate. On its lintel were carved reliefs of three snakes, their scales distinct and lifelike.
Two figures stood on either side of the stone gate: Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime.
Tagorihime wore a long white robe, her long hair falling over her shoulders. A faint smile rested on her delicate face.
She bowed slightly.
"Kiyohara-sama."
Tagitsuhime stood beside her, her red hair tied behind her waist.
"The White Snake Sage is waiting for you."
The two snake princesses had sensed Kiyohara's chakra the moment he arrived at Ryūchi Cave.
That was why they had come here specifically to wait.
Kiyohara nodded and stepped through the stone gate.
Soon, everyone arrived before a massive temple.
The White Snake Sage, coiled upon a huge throne, slowly opened her eyes. Her golden vertical pupils stared at Kiyohara.
"You've come?"
Kiyohara walked up to her.
"White Snake Sage."
Kiyohara said.
The White Snake Sage nodded.
"I've already prepared what you wanted to learn."
She opened her mouth and tossed a scroll to Kiyohara.
"This is…"
Kiyohara caught it.
"Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation."
The White Snake Sage said.
"It can grant vitality to lifeless objects, allowing them to move according to your will."
Hearing this, Kiyohara examined it.
He found that its contents really did explain how to inject chakra into inorganic matter and grant life to inanimate objects.
However, Kiyohara noticed that this technique was not very complete.
He guessed that Kabuto Yakushi had later further improved and perfected this technique.
"Thank you, White Snake Sage."
Kiyohara said.
A short while later, Kiyohara looked toward a stalactite in the corner of the temple.
Sage markings appeared around his eyes, and green chakra swirled around his body.
Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation!
Kiyohara used the technique on the stalactite.
The next moment, the stalactite began to tremble.
It pulled itself from the ground and rose up like a snake, its tip bending slightly.
Kurenai stood behind Kiyohara, staring wide-eyed at the moving stalactite.
She had clearly sensed that the stalactite was a dead object, but now it suddenly carried a kind of life force.
Likewise, Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime, who were watching from the side, looked incredulous.
Kiyohara had only looked at it for a short while, and he could already use this technique?
One had to know, even they had not learned this technique.
"Your talent is indeed excellent."
A trace of joy flashed through the White Snake Sage's eyes.
At the same time, she keenly noticed that Kiyohara seemed somewhat different from before.
At first, she had asked Kiyohara to come here because she valued his talent, as well as his bloodline as a descendant of Indra.
But now, she discovered that Kiyohara's originally cold chakra had become much warmer and gentler.
It was as if he had gained some kind of power that had neutralized it.
That felt familiar to the White Snake Sage.
It was somewhat like Senju Hashirama back then.
Only, Senju Hashirama's chakra temperature was like a blazing sun.
Kiyohara's was more like the rising morning sun, still climbing higher.
'What changed in this brat's body?'
The White Snake Sage thought.
The reason Senju Hashirama had been so powerful back then was because of the Asura bloodline inside him.
If Kiyohara could draw out the potential of his own bloodline to the limit, perhaps he could also reach that level, achieving Senju Hashirama's height.
But now, in the unseen depths of her intuition, the White Snake Sage had a feeling that Kiyohara would surpass Senju Hashirama.
Naturally, that was excellent.
Thinking of this, the White Snake Sage's gaze could not help becoming a little greedy.
But on the surface, she grew even more benevolent.
She even transformed into human form, appearing as a gentle old woman.
"You can spend more time familiarizing yourself with this technique. Ryūchi Cave's natural energy is much denser than the outside world's, which will help you practice this technique. You can stay here for a few days."
The White Snake Sage said.
Kiyohara nodded and withdrew his chakra.
The stalactite fell back to the ground and returned to its original state.
The green chakra swirling around him also withdrew into his body, ending Sage Mode.
"Then I'll stay here for tonight."
Kiyohara said.
Being able to inject life into inorganic matter gave this technique enormous development potential.
When evening came, he could go to Konoha, obtain the Akimichi clan's Yang Release secret techniques, then return without delaying anything.
"If you need anything else in the future, you can come to me."
"Okay."
Kiyohara looked at the White Snake Sage and vaguely felt that she had some kind of intention toward him.
But Kiyohara didn't care much.
As long as he was strong enough, whatever intentions she had would not be able to harm him.
On the contrary, Kiyohara could take the opportunity to fleece all of the White Snake Sage's good things from her.
"That's enough for today."
The White Snake Sage signaled that Tagitsuhime could lead Kiyohara and Kurenai away.
As they left, Kiyohara said to Kurenai,
"I'll give you my cursed seal later. The natural energy here is dense, so if the cursed seal is planted here, the side effects will be very small."
Kiyohara said.
The Sage Transformation Cursed Seal was not something just anyone could withstand. Among Orochimaru's many test subjects, only a handful had successfully mastered it.
Most people easily lost control and could not freely use that power.
But Kiyohara's understanding of cursed seals was now very deep. He had already gone ahead of Orochimaru. Add in the dense natural energy here, and Kurenai's chances of success would be very high.
Even if she failed, Kiyohara would be watching at her side, so nothing would happen.
…
Tagitsuhime walked at the front, her footsteps silent.
Today, she wore that long white robe. The fabric was light and thin, fluttering slightly as she walked.
The sash around her waist was tied tightly, outlining her slender figure.
"We're here."
Tagitsuhime stopped in front of a wooden door and stepped aside.
"This is my residence in Ryūchi Cave. It is simple, but better than the caves outside."
Kiyohara pushed the door open and walked in.
"I need an empty room."
Kiyohara turned and looked at Tagitsuhime.
"There's one next door."
Tagitsuhime pointed to the wall on the left.
"No one usually stays there. I'll have someone clean it."
"No need. I'll do it myself."
Kiyohara shook his head, walked to that door, and pushed it open.
The room was slightly smaller than the main room. It also had a stone bed, but nothing had been laid on it. It was completely bare.
Kiyohara raised his hand and formed a seal.
"Fire Release."
A tiny flame drifted from his fingertip, circled once through the air, burned away the cobwebs, then floated to the corner and dried the damp walls.
The musty smell dispersed, replaced by a dry warmth in the air.
"That's enough."
Kiyohara withdrew his hand and looked at Kurenai.
"Come in."
Kurenai took a deep breath and stepped into the room.
Kiyohara closed the door.
"This cursed seal… will it hurt?"
"A little."
Kiyohara reached out and gently lifted her chin.
"But I'll be watching you. Nothing will happen."
Kurenai bit her lower lip, then slowly nodded.
"I'm ready."
Kiyohara formed seals, then opened his mouth.
He slowly bit down on Kurenai's neck.
In that instant, Kurenai's body stiffened.
She could feel something piercing her skin.
A stream of cursed seal chakra began flowing into her body.
The process came with a burst of pain.
Kurenai's breathing grew faster and faster, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
"Hold on."
Kiyohara had already released her.
Just now, he had merely transmitted the cursed seal chakra through his teeth.
"The cursed seal chakra will draw natural energy into your body. Don't resist. Let it merge with your chakra."
Kurenai bit her lower lip and tried hard to relax.
Kiyohara observed her. Whenever he saw that her condition wasn't good, he would take the initiative to send in a stream of chakra to ease her situation.
The cursed seal Kiyohara gave Kurenai was much safer than an ordinary cursed seal, which was why the process was so complicated.
After about half an hour, Kiyohara sensed that the condition inside Kurenai's body had gradually stabilized.
A cursed seal pattern had also appeared on her neck.
"So this is… the cursed seal?"
Kurenai touched her neck.
The skin was smooth, and the markings had already fused with her body. It neither hurt nor itched.
"Mm."
Kiyohara nodded.
"The Cursed Seal of Yin. It can strengthen the effects of Yin Release ninjutsu and gives a decent boost to genjutsu."
"And it will make you more sensitive to natural energy, laying the foundation for future training in Sage Mode."
Kiyohara explained to Kurenai.
"So amazing…"
Kurenai couldn't help saying.
"Do you feel anything wrong right now?"
"A little hot."
Kurenai said.
"It feels like there's a ball of fire burning inside me, but it doesn't really hurt. It's just… swollen."
Kiyohara nodded.
"That's a normal reaction. Natural energy is transforming your body. It'll be fine after a while."
"Put on your clothes. I'll send you back first."
Kurenai nodded.
The next moment, Kiyohara brought Kurenai back.
"Rest well tonight. Don't train. Let your body adapt to the cursed seal's power."
Kurenai nodded.
"I know."
She stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you, Kiyohara."
Kiyohara smiled.
"Go inside."
Kurenai pushed open the door and walked in. She looked back at him once more before closing the door.
…
Ryūchi Cave.
Tagitsuhime's residence.
When Kiyohara's figure appeared in the main room, Tagitsuhime was sitting beside the stone table, holding a cup of tea.
Her collar was slightly open, revealing a fair line at her chest.
She was kneeling on the tatami, her legs pressed together, her hips resting on her heels.
From this angle, the lower hem of her white robe was pulled taut, outlining the rounded curve of her hips.
Hearing the movement, she raised her head.
Kiyohara walked over and sat down across from her.
Tagitsuhime set down her teacup, picked up the teapot, and poured Kiyohara a cup of tea.
She held the cup in both hands and offered it to him.
Kiyohara accepted it and took a sip.
"Good skill."
The corners of Tagitsuhime's mouth lifted slightly.
"Ryūchi Cave's tea leaves cannot be tasted outside."
Kiyohara set down the cup and looked at her.
There was still some time before evening, so Kiyohara had returned here.
"Have you considered going a step further?"
Kiyohara said.
He intended to support Tagitsuhime in becoming the master of Ryūchi Cave. That way, Ryūchi Cave would be under his control.
Tagitsuhime's brow lifted slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Kiyohara raised his right hand and lightly drew his index finger across his thumbnail.
A tiny wound appeared on his fingertip, and a drop of blood seeped out.
He held that drop of blood in front of Tagitsuhime.
"My blood should help you increase your chakra."
Tagitsuhime's pupils contracted slightly.
She lowered her head and looked at that drop of blood.
After hesitating for a moment, she opened her mouth and gently took his fingertip between her lips.
The instant her tongue touched the wound, that drop of blood merged into her body.
A warm power spread from her throat to her limbs and bones, like a current of warmth flowing through her body.
She could feel her chakra rising.
Not by much, but it was definitely rising.
Moreover, she could feel a familiar aura in Kiyohara's blood.
The aura of one of her kind.
Tagitsuhime released his finger and raised her head.
"That kind of feeling… Orochimaru's experiments shouldn't be able to produce it."
Tagitsuhime was puzzled.
Kiyohara had previously transplanted the White Snake's power, so having some white snake cells was normal.
But after tasting Kiyohara's blood, she realized that his blood was not that simple.
That white snake bloodline was incredibly authentic.
It was even purer than hers.
The orthodox white snake bloodline was in Konoha?
At this moment, Tagitsuhime found it absurd.
"It was passed down from my ancestors."
Kiyohara withdrew his hand.
In that future of White Snake Kiyohara, he should have been a white snake with an extremely pure bloodline.
That was why Kiyohara had inherited this bloodline as well.
However, Kiyohara also felt that because of other bloodlines, his blood had become increasingly unusual.
After all, just in terms of various kekkei genkai and bloodlines, Kiyohara already had quite a lot inside him.
Once he inherited the Ōtsutsuki bloodline, it would only go even further.
"Legend says one of my ancestors was named Koizumi Kotaro. He married a snake spirit, so I probably have some of that bloodline."
Kiyohara casually came up with an excuse.
Tagitsuhime froze.
"Koizumi Kotaro?"
Tagitsuhime murmured.
"That's right."
Kiyohara nodded.
He looked at Tagitsuhime's seductive face. In truth, carrying on a kimono and becoming a hero didn't sound bad either.
Tagitsuhime had never heard that name before. She thought carefully for a while, but still couldn't figure out who that was.
There had actually been a white snake who had offspring with an Uchiha?
Although Tagitsuhime also felt Kiyohara sounded like he was talking nonsense, his pure bloodline could not be faked.
Tagitsuhime lowered her head and looked at her hand.
That hand was trembling slightly.
She could feel Kiyohara's blood slowly merging inside her body.
There was a vast vitality in his blood that made her cells more active and her chakra flow more smoothly.
"No wonder I always felt the aura of one of my kind from you."
Tagitsuhime raised her eyes.
"So you really are half one of us."
Kiyohara took a sip of tea and said,
"That's right. I've long been half a member of the white snake clan."
Kiyohara's meaning was clear: they were all family here, so they should talk things over nicely.