"Here, I found it. Take a look for yourself."
The Yellow Hermit rummaged through his belongings and pulled out a tattered, almost disintegrating book. The cover, yellowed and cracked with age, bore worm-eaten marks and six archaic characters written in bold strokes: "Lost Ancient Techniques Anthology"?
The title made it sound like some kind of miscellaneous compilation.
"This book is incredibly ancient. Legend has it that it was written by an outsider during the late period of the Sage of Six Paths. Be careful with it. Don't you dare ruin it."
The Yellow Hermit gingerly handed over the book.
The term "outsider" naturally referred to sects and practices distinct from the Ninja Creed established by the Sage of Six Paths. Over time, most of these sects had faded into the annals of history. For instance, the Jashin Cult, which Hidan once belonged to, was a typical example of such an outsider sect.
Jinghang cautiously opened the book, only to find its text convoluted, obscure, and difficult to comprehend. He had no choice but to consult the Yellow Hermit.
"Ah, such ignorance. Look here."
The Yellow Hermit pointed to a note on one of the pages.
"This part mentions the sealing technique you were affected by."
Even so, Jinghang still couldn't make sense of it and had to sheepishly ask for an explanation. The Yellow Hermit sighed deeply.
"This passage explains that to perform this technique, you first need a boy who is one year old. Then, using the blood of a black python, you must tattoo a circular pattern from the left hand to the right. Next, a strong individual must inject their life force into the tattoo. Once completed, the technique is activated by clasping both hands together. Not even a dragon or tiger could break free from its grasp."
"A strong individual? How strong are we talking?"
The Yellow Hermit pondered for a moment before replying.
"At least Kage-level."
"Then wouldn't this technique be invincible?!"
Jinghang exclaimed in astonishment.
"Invincible? Hah! This kind of forbidden technique comes with great costs, minimal effects, and significant flaws. It's hardly worth mentioning. It might fool ignorant fools like you, but that's about it."
The Yellow Hermit scoffed dismissively.
"Ah? Please, enlighten me further, Godfather."
The Yellow Hermit stroked his whiskers and began to explain slowly.
"First, when the text mentions 'injecting life force,' it generally refers to all of it. In other words, the Kage-level individual performing the technique would inevitably die from exhaustion after completing it."
"Oh?!"
Jinghang was deep in thought. Back then, Kazama Xu had said that the seal he encountered was created by the First Tsuchikage, Ishikawa. So that means...
"Second, the technique is highly specialized. It can only be used for binding and nothing else, which is why its effect is limited."
"Still, it stops chakra flow and prevents the use of ninjutsu, doesn't it?"
"Idiot!"
The Yellow Hermit shook his head.
"Can't you just break free?"
"That fool was ridiculously strong. I couldn't break free no matter how hard I tried."
"Ugh, come here. Lock me up the way you were held."
The Yellow Hermit was a head shorter than Jinghang. After crouching slightly, Jinghang tightly locked him in place.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
"Now, watch this."
The Yellow Hermit suddenly dropped his body, using inertia to slide downward. Despite the movement, Jinghang's hold remained unbroken.
"Still can't break free."
"Hmph! How about this?"
The Yellow Hermit's forearm was now free. He raised his hand and twisted Jinghang's pinky finger backward with a swift motion.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! That hurts!"
Jinghang yelped in pain and immediately released his grip.
"There, it's that simple. And you still won't admit you're an idiot."
The Yellow Hermit sneered.
Jinghang, rubbing his sore pinky, asked, "What if I encounter a similar technique?"
"That's a different story. There are countless kinds of sealing techniques, and the methods to break them vary greatly. It depends on the specific situation."
The Yellow Hermit explained.
"I mean similar life-force-based seals."
"Such techniques are rare. That said, our Yellow Weasel Clan has a set of unlocking techniques you can study."
With that, he rummaged through his bookshelf and pulled out a thin white booklet, handing it to Jinghang.
"Unlocking techniques? The Yellow Weasels know how to unlock seals?"
Jinghang took the booklet and flipped through it briefly. It contained various methods for escaping bindings, complete with illustrations. The content was straightforward and easy to understand.
"Alright, this will do. Thank you, Godfather."
"Mm, now get lost. I'm tired and need some rest. If you want to train, go find Bark and the others."
"Godfather, may I take a look at your bookshelf?"
Jinghang gestured toward the shelves.
"Suit yourself. Just don't mess it up."
The Yellow Hermit yawned and headed straight to his bedroom.
After bowing respectfully, Jinghang watched the Yellow Hermit leave. Then, his gaze locked onto the bookshelf.
Since he was already here, he might as well make the most of it.
He walked straight to the section on sealing techniques and pulled out the first book.
"Adamantine Sealing Technique! Damn! Even this is here? Isn't this the Uzumaki Clan's signature sealing technique? Where did the old man steal this from?"
Don't be too surprised. The book was most likely stolen. After all, theft was a basic survival skill for the Yellow Weasel Clan. Without it, the countless weasels, big and small, wouldn't be able to sustain themselves solely through hunting.
However, the Yellow Weasel Clan had mostly stopped stealing within Sunagakure. For one, they adhered to the principle of not harming their own. Since the First Kazekage, Reto, signed a pact with the clan, relations between the two had been amicable.
Secondly, Jinghang had reached an agreement with the Yellow Weasel Clan: his poultry farm would supply a batch of live chickens to the Xuanyuan Tomb every month.
This arrangement prevented misunderstandings and resentment among villagers. After all, if a villager killed a weasel, the clan's retaliation would be relentless and brutal. As a result, Sunagakure's villagers refrained from driving away weasels. Instead, they often offered food as a gesture of goodwill. Relations between the two had never been better.
But that didn't stop the Yellow Weasel Clan from stealing elsewhere. Their thefts weren't limited to food; they also targeted gold, jewelry, household items, daily necessities—you name it.
For a cultured and ambitious weasel like the Yellow Hermit, stealing a few ancient texts was only natural. Over time, his collection of books grew. His bookshelf, which occupied nearly 90% of his study, was filled with texts he had pilfered from various places. Its scale rivaled that of Sunagakure's archives.
This was practically a treasure trove of knowledge. Jinghang realized he needed to arrange for copies of these texts to be made and stored in the village archives. This would undoubtedly enhance the village's intellectual resources in the future.
But that was a matter for another time. For now, Jinghang eagerly delved into the Adamantine Sealing Technique.
What he discovered was astonishing. It turned out that the Adamantine Sealing Technique was, in a way, another life-force-consuming sealing technique! No wonder even a mighty Tailed Beast like Kurama had to bow to Uzumaki Mito and Uzumaki Kushina, direct descendants of the Uzumaki Clan.
It seemed that only a unique clan like the Uzumakis, blessed with extraordinary life force, could wield such a technique. Someone like him, on the other hand, would probably die after a few uses, leaving Tsunade a widow.
"Sigh, such is fate! To have it is a blessing; to lose it is destiny! What can I do?"
With a resigned sigh, Jinghang put the book back and picked up another one.
"Damn it! Are you kidding me? Was the Yellow Hermit a master thief in his youth?"
The title of the book read in bold: "Phantom Dragon: Nine Seals of Extinction"!
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