A palm-sized cluster of glowing patterns drifted before Zenji.
Small as it was, the knowledge within was crucial—the technique for Cursed Energy conversion.
In the Jujutsu Kaisen world, Cursed Energy was born from human negative emotions.
Ordinary people could only passively generate trace amounts—primitive, unstable energy that couldn't be stored. It leaked away constantly, condensing in the world through curses to form Cursed Spirits.
Jujutsu Sorcerers were those who could store and control Cursed Energy. While one's upper limit was determined by innate talent, extraction efficiency could indirectly determine output capacity.
That was why learning to efficiently extract and generate Cursed Energy from even the faintest negative emotions formed the foundation of every sorcerer's training.
Zenji focused his spirit on the glowing pattern. Knowledge regarding Cursed Energy and negative emotions flooded into his mind.
"Negative emotions... Cursed Energy..."
His eyes narrowed suddenly.
Could it be treated as Yin Release Chakra?
He opened his eyes and looked at Uchiha Seisho. Leaning forward, he pressed his forehead against the captive's, eyes flashing blue as he stared directly into those crimson pupils.
The Sharingan contained that special chakra—visual prowess.
A type of Yin Release.
Blue light scattered from Zenji's pupils, gradually forming a loose, spiraling vortex.
He stared intently at the single-tomoe Sharingan. His own pupils constricted, and needle-sharp pain stabbed through them.
The chakra in his eyes fell momentarily out of balance—then was forcibly corrected by the Tiger Talisman.
The pain repeated again and again. Bloodshot lines crept through his normally azure irises.
Finally, a strand of visual prowess made contact with his blue chakra.
On the page of the Book of Ages, new words appeared:
[Sharingan Visual Prowess]
The blue light dissipated. Zenji stepped back hastily and closed his eyes.
When he opened them again a moment later, the bloodshot lines had vanished completely.
The massive chakra expenditure had left his face pale, and familiar pain radiated through his body. But after more than a month of this, he'd long since adapted. His expression didn't change.
He sat cross-legged. Information from the Book of Ages flooded his consciousness.
How the brain of a Sharingan wielder generates visual prowess. The changes in chakra. The role of spiritual energy in the process...
As profound knowledge materialized in his mind, certain connections became immediately apparent.
The methods by which Jujutsu Sorcerers condensed Cursed Energy from negative emotions shared striking similarities with this information.
Using those parallels as a breakthrough, Zenji's mind began racing.
The generation of Cursed Energy is innate. It's just that people in the Jujutsu Kaisen world can't store it—the amount produced is minuscule, and its state is primitive.
Those techniques allow for more efficient production of larger quantities of purer Cursed Energy, each bearing a strong personal signature.
Chakra has two versions in its setting. The first is original Chakra—what the Sage of Six Paths initially spread to humanity.
That spiritual energy was meant to connect people with one another. It could be shared, allowing people to undergo spiritual cultivation.
The anime showed corresponding scenes. This initial Chakra possessed no destructive power.
It wasn't until Indra developed the method of hand seals that Chakra gained offensive capability. From that point forward, Chakra entered its second stage.
These fragments of knowledge cascaded through his mind. Based on chakra's fundamental essence, a theory began to form.
If the Chakra initially spread by the Sage of Six Paths was the original form—merely granting humanity the power to use it—then this second stage is what the ninja world currently possesses.
It shifted from connecting spiritual energy between people to connecting the power within oneself.
The original setting had contained both versions of this definition.
Chakra was defined as the mixture of spiritual and physical energy. But the stamina used to fuel taijutsu was also a mixture of spiritual and physical energy.
To be precise, the Chakra used to activate ninjutsu was specifically the power generated in the meridians by mixing those two energies.
The detailed mechanics of each were completely different, and the resulting effects were entirely distinct.
Spiritual energy and physical energy existed in everyone at all times, residing within the body. That was why this power called "stamina" was always present.
However, the Chakra used to cast ninjutsu was temporarily extracted through hand seals. It possessed the same body-enhancing effects as stamina, but was extracted and consumed on the spot.
If stamina is also considered Chakra—a primitive form of it—then many of the contradictory elements in Naruto's worldbuilding suddenly make sense.
After all, the original work sometimes described Chakra as existing in everyone at all times, and other times as something that couldn't be stored and had to be extracted on demand.
A complete contradiction that made no logical sense.
My body generates massive amounts of Chakra constantly and accumulates it on my cell walls. There's no way to verify this hypothesis directly.
Zenji formed hand seals and practiced chakra extraction, paying close attention to the process.
The changes were extraordinarily subtle. If his perception hadn't sharpened dramatically over the past month, he would never have detected them.
Extract. Mix. His thoughts focused. Can I extract spiritual energy independently?
He concentrated on his brain, attempting isolated extraction.
The moment he tried, wisps of pain flared through his skull.
The Tiger Talisman in his consciousness emitted its power, balancing the chakra in his brain.
Physical energy, passing through chakra as a transit point, miraculously transformed into spiritual energy.
Zenji's eyes flew wide.
Inspiration erupted violently in his mind.
Various pieces of prior knowledge linked together. The Book of Ages flickered with light.
Densely packed words materialized on its surface, then rapidly condensed into a single sentence:
[Zenji experienced a burst of inspiration, comprehending a fraction of Chakra's essence. He created two unknown Yin-Yang Release Chakra Refinement Techniques!]
His aura transformed completely.
A tangible presence radiated outward—eerie, deathly still. The power of his chakra made the surrounding air feel like a freezing abyss.
The originally bright blue chakra now wore a shroud of dark purple.
Even from a distance, one could sense the ominous energy radiating from it.
"Cursed Energy Chakra." Zenji clenched his fist, watching the malevolent chakra condense around his hand. "Complete."
Idle Transfiguration operated smoothly now—or rather, halfway smoothly.
He stood and placed his hand on Uchiha Seisho's head.
His original intention was to alter the man's soul, making him answer any question without resistance.
But the moment his Cursed Energy-infused chakra touched the soul through Idle Transfiguration...
Something unexpected happened.
The essence of Chakra was connection. The original Chakra had been designed to connect spiritual energy between people.
"Wait." A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Zenji's face. "Wasn't I researching Idle Transfiguration? Why does this feel more like I've stumbled onto Angel Hands?"
He chuckled softly.