"The Cursed Seal of Silence…"
Masahiko unrolled the scroll, committed every character to memory, then burned it to ash.
Its main purpose was to keep anyone branded from ever speaking Danzo's secrets—Danzo's leash on the Root Squad.
Right now Danzo was generous with him, but only because they were still in their 'honeymoon phase.'
Sooner or later Masahiko would be ordered to receive the Cursed Seal of Silence, and that day wouldn't be far off—he could feel it approaching.
When Danzo had brought up Anbu training earlier, he'd already been sounding out Masahiko's thoughts.
"At its core, the Cursed Seal of Silence is still a sealing technique."
He had to learn it.
Even if sealing a Tailed Beast was still a long way off, he'd still need to master using a sealing scroll or the Fire-Sealing Method.
"It links the base of the tongue to the brain, to the spirit…"
"Troublesome."
Masahiko frowned.
The jutsu's cruelty didn't quite match the Cage Bird seal, but it came close.
After a few seconds of calculation, an idea struck him—
The Cursed Seal of Silence plants its seal at the root of the tongue, then rides the nerves to control brain and spirit, influencing the victim's very thoughts.
Once the seal is set, it forms an isolated Chakra circuit inside the body to sustain itself.
Anyone else would have to break it on the level of technique alone—and even that was nearly impossible—
because it also carried a self-destruct mechanism, just not as brutal as Cage Bird.
Masahiko, however, was different.
If he could master Shikotsumyaku to a certain degree, he might use it to alter the skull bones around the brain for a moment.
Add a surge of Chakra… and he could temporarily sever the seal's Chakra link.
Once the 'power' was cut, the curse would stall, making removal far easier.
Of course.
It was still only a theory.
If the idea failed, he had the seal's full schematic; coupled with Shikotsumyaku he was confident he could force a break anyway.
Masahiko set the thought aside, lay on the bed and closed his eyes.
He re-entered the training space and went to fight "Kakashi".
Next morning.
Masahiko rose, stretched, and flashed a bright grin.
Last night he'd taken a critical step in the instance—
By applying Shikotsumyaku in a simple way, he'd pushed his taijutsu strength and speed far higher.
The blistering pace was hard to handle, but a Kakashi without Sharingan couldn't keep up.
Brute force created a miracle: for the first time he beat the instance's "Kakashi".
But.
Clearing the instance offered no reward.
Or rather… the live spar against the projected Kakashi was the reward.
Now Masahiko could fully adapt to his current body and tap part of Shikotsumyaku's power.
Thanks to that—
[Shikotsumyaku (bloodline developing): Entry level]
He'd officially entered the door.
It meant he finally had a powerful ace of his own.
"Still too taijutsu-heavy."
Masahiko surveyed his status panel.
His current kit was built around a Limit Break Body Flicker Technique; a one-shot finisher still only Collapsing Flow.
For large-scale destruction he had nothing beyond Fireball.
Such a sheet could promote him to Jonin, but it was lopsided; unless he revealed Shikotsumyaku he'd struggle to convince the brass.
Still.
Freshly promoted Special Jonin, already enjoying Research Department Jonin privileges, he wasn't in a rush to climb another rank.
Passing Naruto's house, he saw the boy had left early.
Good habits forming.
Nice!
He'd only wanted a cameo; since Naruto wasn't there he moved on.
After a few laps he passed a street—on a second-floor balcony Kurenai Yuhi stepped out to water flowers, waving at him with a radiant smile.
Masahiko stopped.
Moments later Kurenai flickered down.
She wore a casual house dress, hair draped over her shoulders, framed by the morning sun.
Masahiko smiled faintly. "Back from a long trip?"
"Yeah."
Kurenai nodded. "The mission site was distant and tough, but the outcome was good; then we got an extra assignment…"
She paused, looked him up and down, and grinned. "Heard you made quite a splash in Konoha?"
"The social-practice thing?"
Masahiko sighed. "The Konoha Military Police Force business wasn't my idea."
"I know, just… be careful from now on; don't let others use you."
Kurenai warned softly.
Masahiko nodded, helpless. "Still in the Ninja Academy—lots of things are out of my hands."
"Breakfast together? I also want to discuss some genjutsu points with you."
Kurenai smiled, then quickly added, "If you need to train we can pick another day."
Masahiko nodded. "Now's fine; I've something to ask you too."
Kurenai beamed, inclining her head. "Let's go. That problem you left me cost me some headaches."
Laughing, they headed toward Mingcha Street.
Behind them, Ino stood frozen, then scowled in frustration.
All these days she'd risen early to jog, hoping to bump into him.
And now… "Damn it!!!"
In the end she could only hang her head and plod on.
By contrast—
Naruto, jogging past, merely found her weird, glanced once and kept running.
Mingcha Street, a small breakfast shop.
Kurenai ordered a bowl of spicy stir-fried rice cakes—looked heavy, but she savored every bite.
Masahiko chose something lighter.
After a few mouthfuls Kurenai said, "Sound Genjutsu still stumps me, but motion genjutsu is taking shape."
"I consulted a genjutsu master and have some ideas; they might differ from yours—let's compare notes."
Masahiko nodded, eyes bright with anticipation.
Kurenai smiled, skipped asking who the master was, and laid out her thoughts: "In genjutsu or Ninjutsu, one thing never changes—the role of hand seals…"
She spoke at length.
Masahiko started eating while listening; halfway through he set his chopsticks down.
"So you're saying motion genjutsu replaces hand seals in an alternative way?"
Kurenai nodded.
"Yes. Casting genjutsu needs a medium; seals stabilize Chakra to create that medium. Chakra plus motion, light, sound—they're all media."
Between bites she continued,
"If you only need a fleeting illusion, the medium doesn't have to be stable—just last an instant, so the requirement drops sharply."
Masahiko couldn't help clapping.
Kurenai really knew her stuff!
Unlike Uchiha Itachi.
Having tutored before, Kurenai Yuhi understood how to explain genjutsu clearly and hit its essence.
Yet Kurenai said gratefully, "Actually, I was stuck in genjutsu until your ideas pointed the way. I should thank you."
"A matter of life and death can't be repaid with one breakfast."
Masahiko joked.
Kurenai laughed in spite herself, then nodded with a smile:
"Of course. I know an izakaya whose sake and mustard squid are great. I'll treat you there tomorrow night—tonight I'm booked at Yakumo's."
"It's a deal!"