Land of Whirlpools, Uzushiogakure.
"Oh, isn't this our busy bee? What brings you here?"
Uzumaki Chigusa sat gracefully in a chair, smiling at Orochimaru. If she hadn't been holding a terrible book, the impression would have been better.
Uzumaki Chigusa narrowed her eyes. From Orochimaru's Chakra, she could sense that she seemed to have something on her mind.
Her usual Chakra was calm, profound, and carried a hint of cheerfulness (perhaps finding it amusing to outwit the Ninja trying to assassinate her), but now it had become gloomy and anxious.
Uzumaki Chigusa's smile faded, and the book in her hand vanished as if by magic. She stood up and walked over to Orochimaru.
"Is something wrong?"
"Chigusa, I want to look at the Uzumaki Clan's library."
Orochimaru shook her head, hoping to find a way for Jinchuriki whose Tailed Beast had been extracted to survive within the Uzumaki Clan's books.
If she couldn't find one... she could only do her best to prevent it.
"It's not impossible to let you see the library, but you shouldn't think about books on Sealing Technique. You'll be 12 soon, and Grandma Mito will personally teach you Sealing Technique. I envy you so much; I also wish to be taught Sealing Technique by Grandma Mito."
Uzumaki Chigusa looked at Orochimaru, whose height was almost up to her chest, and measured with her hand, saying, "Have you grown taller recently? Your little fried eggs have also grown quite a bit."
Uzumaki Chigusa's gaze fell on Orochimaru's chest, looking at the slightly undulating small hills.
"Thank you so much for caring about whether my physical development is normal!"
Orochimaru glared at Uzumaki Chigusa, moving away from this dangerous and terrible adult. She didn't know if it was because she often drank medicinal tea, but her development seemed better than her peers.
She only hoped that she wouldn't grow to the level of the future Tsunade. It was an obstruction to look at, and in reality, an obstruction in every sense.
Such things on others were pleasing to the eye, but on oneself, they were a burden.
"Orochimaru, why do you suddenly want to look at the Uzumaki Clan's library?"
Uzumaki Chigusa guessed that the change in Orochimaru's Chakra was related to her desire to see the books in the library.
Orochimaru frowned slightly and said, "Grandma Mito has a Tailed Beast sealed inside her, Chigusa, you know that, right?"
"Of course I know. Grandma Mito uses the Uzumaki Clan's..."
Uzumaki Chigusa stopped mid-sentence. Only then did she realize how Orochimaru knew about this. "Orochimaru, how did you know?"
Normally, Orochimaru couldn't possibly know about this, and Grandma Mito certainly wouldn't tell her. So how exactly did she know?
"I'm worried that as Grandma Mito ages, the Nine-Tailed sealed inside her will harm her. What if... what if someone else has to seal the Nine-Tailed, what would happen to Grandma Mito?"
Orochimaru believed this matter could be told to Chigusa. Given their relationship, Chigusa, knowing why she wanted to look at the Uzumaki Clan's library, wouldn't tell Grandma Mito.
"No wonder your Chakra changed. So that's it."
After Uzumaki Chigusa learned why Orochimaru wanted to look at the Uzumaki Clan's library, a look of relief appeared on her face.
Grandma Mito didn't dote on her in vain... Orochimaru, this child, is very emotional.
"Come with me, I'll take you to the Uzumaki Clan's library."
Uzumaki Chigusa walked ahead, signaling Orochimaru to follow her.
The Uzumaki Clan's library is located underground in the Mask Storage Temple, hidden by a special Sealing Technique. No one can enter without someone who has mastered the technique leading the way.
These masks... Orochimaru looked at the masks displayed in the Mask Storage Temple, among which was the Shinigami mask most familiar to her.
That is, the Shinigami mask that, as is well known, the original Orochimaru exchanged for four Hokage plus a pair of hands from the Shinigami's belly using a beautiful snake skin.
Uzumaki Chigusa noticed Orochimaru looking at the masks and explained, "Since ancient times, people have believed that masks harbor mysterious power. Every mask here has a considerable history."
"Don't touch them carelessly! Be careful not to be eaten by evil spirits!"
Uzumaki Chigusa made a clawing gesture, trying to scare Orochimaru.
"..."
Orochimaru stared expressionlessly at Uzumaki Chigusa, then looked up, considering whether to pretend to be scared to humor her. In the end, she spoke truthfully: "If evil spirits were all like you, I think I'd find it very difficult to feel scared."
"Damn it, can't you just humor me a little?"
Uzumaki Chigusa, annoyed, formed hand seals, her expression stern, and whispered.
"Seal Protection Magic Circle! Release!"
Uzumaki Chigusa's vibrant red hair moved without wind, and there was no trace of playfulness on her face, as if this was her true self.
The ground trembled slightly, and Sealing Technique appeared around the Mask Storage Temple, like a giant whirlpool. The Uzumaki Clan's library slowly rose from underground.
To hide books with such secretive methods, the books in the library must be extremely precious!
Orochimaru looked with increasing anticipation at the library rising from the ground.
After the library rose from the ground, Uzumaki Chigusa let out a long breath, walked forward, and opened the library door. A large amount of dust flew out of the library, followed by a decaying smell of age.
"How long has this place not been cleaned?"
Orochimaru looked incredulously at the astonishing amount of dust. "Something's wrong. Wasn't the library sealed with that Seal Protection Magic Circle?"
"The Seal Protection Magic Circle merely seals the library underground... No one has been here for a long time. If you didn't want to see the books, I wouldn't have come."
Uzumaki Chigusa covered her mouth and glanced at Orochimaru, her eyes seeming to say, 'Would I be here if it weren't for you?'
Uzumaki Chigusa looked at the numerous books and scrolls in the library. Cleaning the library thoroughly would be quite difficult, so she gave up. Besides, there weren't any particularly important books in the library.
"Are there no books about Sealing Technique here?"
Orochimaru looked at the astonishing number of books and scrolls. Many of them used materials different from current books and scrolls.
She, who frequently dealt with books and scrolls, could tell at a glance that the materials used in the library were clearly very ancient.
"No, books related to Sealing Technique are stored elsewhere."
Uzumaki Chigusa patted Orochimaru's head and said with a smile, "Don't even think about secretly learning Sealing Technique!"
"Soon I'll be able to learn Sealing Technique from Grandma Mito."
Orochimaru gave Uzumaki Chigusa a disdainful glance and shooed her away, "You terrible adult are useless now, go, go!"
"How heartless, I'm the one who brought you here, yet you abandon me..."
Uzumaki Chigusa pretended to sob a few times, but seeing that Orochimaru didn't react at all and completely ignored her, she felt bored.
Orochimaru didn't even look at this drama queen, walked into the library, and slammed the door shut with a bang.
"Cough, cough, cough—!"
Orochimaru's coughing sounds came from the library.
How many years had this place not been cleaned?
Orochimaru felt as if she had entered an ocean of dust, completely engulfed by it.
"I forgot to tell you, there's more dust in the library than it looks."
Uzumaki Chigusa covered her mouth and nose, gloating.
"Get out! Cough, cough, cough..."
Orochimaru's angry voice came out, followed by even more violent coughing.
Uzumaki Chigusa took a few steps back, pretending to have left. She looked at the library door, recalling Orochimaru's earlier words, remained silent for a long time, and then gave up the idea of telling Grandma Mito.
Throughout history, those involved with Tailed Beasts never came to a good end, let alone those who sealed Tailed Beasts within their own bodies, known as Jinchuriki.
Uzumaki Chigusa sighed softly and turned to leave.
Several hours later... Uzumaki Chigusa brought food and water, opened the library door, and saw ten Orochimaru reading in different places.
Using a Shadow Clone to read?
Is that how Shadow Clone is used?
Uzumaki Chigusa hadn't expected that the Shadow Clone Technique developed by Second Hokage could be used for reading, in addition to intelligence gathering and combat.
"You can really stand to read all this! Many of these books are obscure and difficult ancient texts, even I find them hard to understand. I never thought you could read them."
Uzumaki Chigusa walked over, saw Orochimaru and her Shadow Clone reading with great interest, and secretly clicked her tongue.
"Just because you don't understand doesn't mean I don't."
Orochimaru glanced at Uzumaki Chigusa. In reality, she didn't understand many of the books in the library. Many of them were more like praise poems, including ones praising the Six Paths Sage, and one praising the Rabbit Goddess. She didn't know what the person who collected these books was thinking, or if they didn't know who the Rabbit Goddess was.
She didn't understand why the Uzumaki Clan collected these poems, but that didn't stop her from pretending to understand in front of Uzumaki Chigusa.
Uzumaki Chigusa placed the food and water on the table, looked around, and could see traces of the books having been moved. She casually asked, "Is Grandma Mito really that important to you?"
"She's very important to both me and Tsunade."
Orochimaru carefully rolled up the scroll in her hand, tied the string, and put it back in its original place.
"Grandma Mito has always taken good care of me. She's the best person to me in Konoha."
Teacher Sarutobi was good to her, but his kindness was mixed with other things... he had the idea of nurturing the next generation for Konoha.
Grandma Mito, however, cared for her more like another granddaughter.
The emotional investment was similar, but ultimately different.
By now, Orochimaru had read many books related to Tailed Beasts, but none of them were about Jinchuriki.
It made sense, Jinchuriki should have appeared only in recent times.
In the past, Tailed Beasts all lived in the wild. If it weren't for Senju Hashirama, that big idiot with a pair of meddling hands, there wouldn't be so many Jinchuriki.
Why the hell did you capture Tailed Beasts? And if you captured them, why did you distribute them to other countries? If it weren't for Senju Tobirama, you big idiot would have just given them away for free!
Where's your brain?
Are your brain and body only used for photosynthesis to activate Wood Release?
Orochimaru was already very dissatisfied with Senju Hashirama, and now she was even more so. If she ever had the chance, she would definitely use the worst materials for Edo Tensei to bring Senju Hashirama back to be beaten!
Look at what he did!
How much trouble he brought to future generations!
His only achievement was establishing Konoha with Uchiha Madara.
For the next period, Orochimaru almost daily set aside time to read books and scrolls in the Uzumaki Clan's library.
She had read all the books and scrolls related to Tailed Beasts but failed to find a way to preserve the lives of Jinchuriki whose Tailed Beasts had been extracted.
Having read so many books and scrolls, Orochimaru wasn't entirely without gain.
In the distant past, it wasn't that no one had sealed Tailed Beasts within their bodies, hoping to utilize their catastrophic power.
Without exception, none of them came to a good end.
Over time, Tailed Beasts became symbols of disaster, and no one dared to covet them anymore.
Tailed Beasts are essentially Chakra with self-awareness; they revive as Chakra gathers after death.
This is proven by the Three-Tails, which repeatedly 'died' in the original story. Tailed Beasts can revive after death; it's just that the time required for revival is unknown.
Since the essence of a Tailed Beast is Chakra, can it be assumed that when a Jinchuriki seals a Tailed Beast, the Jinchuriki's Chakra also intertwines with the Tailed Beast's Chakra, and once the Tailed Beast is extracted, the Jinchuriki's internal Chakra is also extracted along with it?
Then the cause of the Jinchuriki's death becomes very clear: it's highly likely due to Chakra depletion, leading to rapid organ failure and death... The essence of Chakra is energy mixed with spiritual and physical energy, so depleting Chakra means exhausting both spiritual and physical energy.
Therefore, Jinchuriki suffer organ failure and die within a very short time after the Tailed Beast is extracted.
The Sealing Technique used to seal Tailed Beasts varies, but in principle, they all utilize the Jinchuriki's Chakra to suppress the Tailed Beast, sealing it within the Jinchuriki's body.
Only the Uzumaki Clan, with their vibrant life force, can survive for a period after a Tailed Beast is extracted, not dying immediately.
Not only that, for Uzumaki Kushina to be on the brink of death and still be able to use Adamantine Sealing Chains to restrain the Nine-Tailed's movements is, no matter how you look at it, a bit too outrageous.
Only the Uzumaki Clan's special physique allows them to retain a bit of Chakra after a Tailed Beast is extracted, but it still doesn't prevent death.
It must be said that the physiques of clans possessing even a trace of Ōtsutsuki bloodline are something ordinary people cannot catch up to, even on horseback.
The explanation of dying from Chakra depletion also makes sense for the Eight-Tails and Killer Bee.
When the Eight-Tails was extracted from Killer Bee by Uchiha Madara, it voluntarily severed an octopus tentacle to ensure Killer Bee would not die as a result.
Orochimaru made the final stroke in his notebook, twirling the pen in his hand.
That is to say, as long as it's clear whether the Tailed Beast's and Jinchuriki's Chakra are intertwined, and whether the Jinchuriki's Chakra is also extracted when the Tailed Beast is removed, then the question of why Jinchuriki die after a Tailed Beast is extracted can be answered.
Truly worthy of me.
A slight curve appeared on Orochimaru's lips. He sealed the notebook into a scroll, gathered the scrolls, and stood up to leave.
"Are you going back?"
Uzumaki Chigusa looked at Orochimaru with a hint of emotion in her eyes, finally understanding why she could develop so many things; talent and ability were one aspect.
To be able to wholeheartedly devote oneself to a single task, tirelessly poring over those dry and boring books and scrolls, is something many people cannot do.
She, for one, couldn't do it.
"Yes, Chigusa, I've troubled you a lot during this time. Thank you for your care."
During Orochimaru's stay in Uzushiogakure, Uzumaki Chigusa had been looking after her.
"You, you're being too polite!"
Uzumaki Chigusa hugged Orochimaru, ruffling her hair, making her smooth black hair messy, and said with a hint of nostalgia, "I still prefer you when you were little, you were so cute then. It's not as fun now that you've grown up."
Orochimaru struggled to break free from Uzumaki Chigusa's embrace, her hair a mess, and looked at her with a reproaching gaze, "No one stays young forever, just like the crow's feet at the corner of your eyes. They don't disappear just because you ignore them!"
"Crow's feet?!"
Uzumaki Chigusa hastily found a mirror. Seeing no crow's feet, which symbolized lost youth, at the corners of her eyes in the mirror, she breathed a sigh of relief. The thought that she was still in the prime of her youth, yet in Orochimaru's mouth, she had become an old woman with crow's feet, made her angrily say, "Orochimaru, don't joke about such things!"
"Chigusa, thank you for everything during this time. Although you're a bit unconventional, you are undeniably beautiful."
Orochimaru said with a sincere smile, genuinely thanking Uzumaki Chigusa.
"Are you praising me?"
Uzumaki Chigusa felt as if Orochimaru was subtly insulting her.
"Orochimaru, don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Uzumaki Chigusa advised, believing that Lady Mito had already mentally prepared herself from the moment she sealed the Nine-Tailed and became its Jinchuriki.
Seeing all that Orochimaru was doing for Lady Mito, Uzumaki Chigusa worried that she might go to extremes.
"I've never been one to give up easily... Goodbye."
Since Orochimaru already had a direction for her research, how could she give up?
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