Chapter 168: Eight Trigrams Seal, Farewell Gift
When Aburame Ryōma spoke those words, despite being in the middle of camp, the world around Tsukasa seemed to fall silent.
It wasn't until Ryōma finished speaking that the sounds of construction, shinobi conversations, and general activity flooded back in, pulling Tsukasa back to reality. He frowned.
Orochimaru had restarted the Wood Release experiments?
To save him?
But he didn't feel that badly injured.
He clenched his fists. Although somewhat weak, Tsukasa could feel a surge of power within them. If he wanted, this energy could be converted into a massive amount of chakra, unleashing devastating jutsu!
But soon, he noticed something odd:
That vast reservoir of chakra wasn't spontaneously channeling into his forbidden technique—Corpse Modification—to repair his weakened body.
Between the fibers of his muscles, black lines seemed to weave throughout, interfering with his chakra flow. These lines intertwined to form a complex sealing technique, culminating in two densely patterned spirals on his abdomen and chest—
Somewhat resembling the Eight Trigrams Seal that would one day be placed on Naruto.
This seal blocked his automatic use of the forbidden technique Corpse Modification, along with his perception of the Zero-Tails' power within him.
But it wasn't a complete seal. According to Tsukasa's perception, if he wanted to forcibly access this sealed power, he still could.
"This is the Eight Trigrams Seal that Orochimaru asked Minato to place on you."
"Don't worry too much—it's not a bad thing."
"On the contrary, it'll help you better control the power of that Tailed Beast without a tail inside you."
Ryōma patted Tsukasa's shoulder, gesturing for him to follow as he led him forward.
"I know your mind's a mess right now, but that's fine. You'll have plenty of time to sort through everything."
"Before that—go say goodbye to your comrades."
Soon, the two returned to the medical tent they'd left earlier.
Ryōma, walking ahead, lifted the tent flap, revealing the scene inside.
Rows of hospital beds covered with white sheets filled the space, silent and still.
A short figure in an Uchiha uniform stood silently before one of the beds, clutching a wakizashi.
"Shisui...?"
Seeing the figure and the row of sheet-covered beds, Tsukasa's heart trembled.
"And what are these...?"
The atmosphere was heavy with solemnity, causing Tsukasa to slow his pace and step forward quietly.
Uchiha Shisui sensed his approach and raised his head. His eyes were filled with sorrow, and in his scarlet Sharingan, three tomoe slowly rotated around his dark pupils.
"Tsukasa, you came."
Shisui's head was wrapped in bandages, one arm in a cast and sling, with traces of blood still visible on the white cloth.
But compared to the long row of sheet-covered beds before him, radiating an oppressive atmosphere of death—
"Why are you here? And what are these...?"
Tsukasa couldn't help but swallow, staring in shock at the bed in front of Shisui.
Generally speaking, when someone's entire body was covered with a white sheet like this...
Shisui was silent for a moment, then lowered his head, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
"As you can see,"
"The entire Konoha strike team is here."
"What did you say?!"
Tsukasa's head snapped up, wanting to ask more, but the words caught in his throat.
Then he watched as Shisui closed his eyes sorrowfully and, with his mobile hand, slowly grasped the white sheet covering the corpse on the bed before him.
He lifted it slowly.
A familiar face suddenly appeared before Tsukasa—
It was Uchiha Shinichi!
Tsukasa immediately recalled the scene of Shinichi standing up for him, blocking Ebizō's personal guards, and his heart skipped a beat.
His crimson Sharingan flared—
But the next moment—
Shinichi's eyes suddenly snapped open, revealing his own Sharingan!
A mischievous grin spread across his face as he took in the mixture of shock, grief, and confusion on Tsukasa's face.
Then Shinichi's expression turned mock-serious.
He grabbed Tsukasa by the collar, flipped him over, and pinned him to the hospital bed.
"Kid, you like showing off so much!"
In an instant, pristine white sheets flew through the air!
One by one, familiar shinobi sprang to their feet—the entire Konoha strike force glaring menacingly at Tsukasa.
"Did you even consider our feelings?!"
Only then did Tsukasa realize this entire group had conspired with the seemingly innocent Shisui to pull off this elaborate prank!
Looking at the hostile gazes surrounding him—especially Shisui by the bedside, whose expression had transformed into something deep and unfathomable, his pupils seeming to contain black holes—
Tsukasa couldn't help but swallow hard, shifting nervously.
"Wait—what are you planning?!"
"Shinichi, you bastard! You actually used Shisui to trick me!"
Uchiha Shinichi grinned, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"What are we going to do?"
"Hehe, of course—congratulate our squad leader on making jōnin!"
Then he turned to Uchiha Shisui, who'd proposed the plan, and asked excitedly:
"Shisui, what should we do? You decide!"
Uchiha Shisui tilted his head back, staring intently at Tsukasa, a devilish smile playing on his lips.
"Strip him first."
The next day.
In front of the Konoha camp gates, a small team preparing to return to the village was gathering.
A masked, white-haired boy idly fed the horses pulling their cart.
Hatake Kakashi frowned, looked up toward the camp, and impatiently asked the blond-haired jōnin sitting in the cart, who seemed lost in thought:
"Minato-sensei, Obito's late again!"
"There's no old lady to help across the road out here in camp, so what's his excuse this time?"
"That idiot."
Hearing this, Nohara Rin smiled gently and helplessly. "I think I saw Obito delivering messages for the wounded earlier. He should be here soon."
"Let's wait a little longer."
Just then, Obito came running out of camp carrying a large bundle full of letters, waving at the three team members from a distance.
"I'm late! Sorry, sorry!"
Minato, snapping out of his reverie, looked at the bundle on Obito's back and smiled slightly.
"Kakashi, I asked Obito to do that."
"We seem to be among the last groups approved to return to the village. Everyone else has to stay here for at least another six months. These are letters they're sending back to their families, and I thought we'd bring them along."
"Sorry." Minato scratched the back of his head with a helpless smile.
"Minato-sensei, no need to apologize."
Kakashi shook his head, watching Obito board the cart, then looking at Minato who showed no sign of departing. He asked with some surprise:
"Since Obito's here now, why aren't we leaving?"
"Hmm," Minato tilted his head slightly, looking toward the camp. "We're waiting for one more person. Ah, here he comes!"
Hearing this, the three genin immediately turned their heads—
And saw a boy half a head taller than them, wearing a loose short-collared black outfit and pants bearing the Uchiha clan crest, with a purple rope belt tied around his waist.
He walked over expressionlessly.
He jumped onto the cart expressionlessly.
Looking back at them expressionlessly—
Uchiha Tsukasa revealed the 'little turtle' drawings—inked by the entire Konoha strike squad the previous day—covering his entire face, neck, and even below his collarbone.
Meeting the amused gazes of the three children and one adult, Tsukasa retorted irritably:
"What are you all staring at?!"
"This stuff won't wash off easily—I've been trying really hard!"
"Let's just go already!"
End of Chapter 168
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