In a secluded location within the Land of Rice.
Ryun had a black cloth tied over his eyes, temporarily blocking his vision. He sat casually on the ground, surrounded by three shadow clones. The four figures remained completely still, while the invisible natural energy around them was sucked into their bodies like a vortex.
To be precise, it wasn't Ryun's main body currently using sage art to absorb natural energy, but the other three shadow clones.
Ryun's main body was now in a special state of tranquility and stability. A strange circular mark on his forehead emitted a faint white glow.
Poof!
As one shadow clone dispelled, the senjutsu chakra it had accumulated over a long period returned to the main body at the same time.
Ryun's main body instantly entered Sage Mode. However, that powerful senjutsu chakra wasn't used. Instead, it was all channeled into the circular mark on his forehead.
This circular mark possessed the exact same chakra-storing function as the 'Yin Seal'. After understanding the principles of the 'Yin Seal', he developed this 'Yang Seal' by borrowing from that secret sealing technique!
The principle and function of the 'Yang Seal' were similar to the 'Yin Seal', but the 'Yang Seal's chakra storage capacity was even greater than the 'Yin Seal's. Furthermore, this technique successfully achieved compatibility with sage art. Vast amounts of senjutsu chakra could be stored within it while maintaining a stable state.
This 'Yang Seal' was Ryun's biggest trump card at his current stage. In terms of pure power, it far surpassed the Mangekyō Sharingan. This was also the result of Ryun's continuous training and exploration using shadow clones over the past six months.
He had thoroughly mastered the knowledge of Uzumaki sealing techniques passed down to him by Mito Uzumaki and Kushina. At his current stage, he already had the capital to modify seals, even create sealing jutsu.
After developing the 'Yang Seal' by studying the 'Yin Seal', Ryun also spent a great deal of time and effort developing a sealing jutsu with a very special function.
This sealing jutsu was named the 'Nine Revolutions Seal' by him. This technique would be his greatest reliance for obtaining power at the next stage!
Poof! Poof!
The two remaining shadow clones beside him dispelled one after another. The senjutsu chakra obtained from today's arduous training was successfully stored away by him, to be used in future major battles.
The capacity of the Yin Seal was very large. It was said that after Tsunade mastered it, she poured chakra into it for several years without ever filling it completely.
The capacity of the Yang Seal was twice that of the Yin Seal. Even if Ryun continuously used shadow clones to help, filling it completely with senjutsu chakra in a short time wouldn't be easy.
Of course, if one day he managed to fill the entire Yang Seal with chakra, the power released in an instant when he needed to use it would absolutely be terrifying!
"Shadow-sama, we have found the whereabouts of Kisame Hoshigaki. However, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist seem to be gathered together, apparently protecting some important person..."
Itō, one of the Five Tigers (five jonin) of Otogakure, knelt on one knee, reporting the mission to Ryun.
The Daimyo of the Land of Rice had strongly wanted Ryun to become the founding Sound Shadow of this small ninja village.
After all, this teenager single-handedly challenged nearly half of Konoha and managed to retreat unscathed. Such a god-like figure, who defeated a demigod and challenged the number one ninja village in the world, would make the Daimyo of the Land of Rice laugh in his dreams if he were willing to become the Shadow of their village...
Unfortunately, Ryun directly refused the proposal.
He only helped the Daimyo of the Land of Rice establish this village on the orders of his teacher, Orochimaru, and had no desire to become any Sound Shadow.
Even though he refused the Daimyo's appointment, the other still instructed his subordinates to treat Ryun as the 'Shadow', stating that in the future, Orochimaru would become the First Sound Shadow, and if Ryun couldn't be bothered with management, he could also serve as a Shadow.
Ryun felt that being this so-called Shadow didn't require expending energy on management and also came with the authority to mobilize a group of Otogakure lackeys, so he reluctantly accepted the title...
"He probably isn't within Kirigakure right now, is he?" Ryun said as he stood up from the ground.
"No, he is near the capital of the Land of Water..." Jonin Itō replied.
"Good, that's fine. You lead the way. We are going to the Land of Water." Ryun spoke calmly, giving the order. He planned to go to the Land of Water before heading to the Lightning-Fire battlefield.
"Yes!"
Jonin Itō nodded heavily, not daring to ask about Ryun's purpose. Whatever Shadow-sama ordered, he only needed to obey unconditionally.
Not long after, Ryun set off for the Land of Water with Itō, heading straight for the target's location without stopping.
"Sir, according to the latest information from our intelligence personnel, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist seem to be protecting a certain son of the Land of Water's Daimyo..." Itō reported another piece of latest intelligence to Ryun.
Hearing Jonin Itō's words, not a trace of emotion flickered on Ryun's face, as if he didn't take this intelligence to heart at all. He was actually only concerned with Kisame Hoshigaki's specific location at the moment.
Ryun needed the greatsword Samehada. That weapon was crucial for his next step.
"Eat something first, then rest a bit. After nightfall, you can take me directly there!"
They had traveled from the Land of Rice to the Land of Water without resting for a moment. Ryun thought it better to rest and recuperate a little before taking action. The target probably wasn't going anywhere.
"Hai!"
Nightfall.
In a small town near the capital of the Land of Water, a young nobleman of high status, a little fat boy, arrived at a large manor with seven ninja guards and several attendants, beginning a debauched and extremely perverted nightlife.
However, before the little fat boy could enjoy himself in the manor for long, unusual noises and commotion soon came from outside.
"Where did this blind guy come from? If you don't want to die, get lost quickly!"
Outside the manor, a ninja responsible for guarding the manor raised his hand to stop a 'blind person' attempting to enter.
The newcomer's figure appeared relatively thin and small, with a black cloth strip tied over his eyes, and a white long sword worn at his waist. The guard ninja wouldn't allow such a stranger to enter the manor and disturb the important person inside.
However, his warning was utterly ineffective and cost him his life.
After the warning was issued, the unfamiliar youth gripped his sword hilt. A flash of blade light, too fast to see, appeared, and the guard ninja's neck was instantly slashed.
"Who is it!"
Seeing the stranger who suddenly appeared killing so recklessly, as someone screamed in alarm, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist quickly gathered around.
"Who are you!"
Tōnojīn (owner of the Blunt Sword: Kabutowari), the eldest among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, questioned sharply.
Hearing this question, the 'little blind guy' suddenly raised his hand and pulled down the black cloth covering his eyes. Then, he suddenly turned his body, facing his visage towards a portly young man.
"I came to kill you!"
The youth pointed at the person before him. As these words were spoken, his previously closed eyes suddenly snapped open. A pair of bizarre and peculiar eyes coldly stared at Kisame Hoshigaki, and a stream of crimson bloody tears flowed from his right eye.
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