Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Advanced Training
A massive scroll unfurled, wrapping itself around Satori's body amidst the flames.
At the same time, the techniques inscribed on the scroll activated, making the scroll appear almost alive as it coiled tighter around Satori.
"Not good," Satori muttered, for the first time showing a hint of panic.
With an explosive burst of chakra, it forcibly tore the scroll apart.
However, to its surprise, destroying the scroll didn't end the technique. Instead, it triggered an unprecedented reaction.
A violent surge of chakra erupted, and from the shattered scroll emerged a twisted mass of flesh and plant-like vines.
The vines immediately ensnared Satori, forming a giant plant-like sphere around it.
"Karin, use your Adamantine Sealing Chains to buy me some time!" Sakura called out.
Karin, understanding her best friend's intent, immediately complied. She pushed her chains to their limits, interweaving them with the vines to further entangle Satori.
Meanwhile, Sakura stepped back and retrieved another large scroll.
"This creature's chakra doesn't belong to any known element. Its properties are unclear, so the Five Elements Seal may not work. Theoretically, the best option would be the Eight Trigrams Seal, but that technique is too advanced for me to use reliably.
"Moreover, the Eight Trigrams Seal requires a host. There's no way I can seal something like this into someone's body.
"Since the creature's body emerged from the Box of Ultimate Bliss, it's likely not entirely physical. I'll try using a Multiple Evil Sealing Barrier to cover its body and completely restrict its chakra flow."
With that thought, Sakura unfurled her scroll, bit her finger, and used her blood to activate the technique inscribed on it.
"Multiple Evil Sealing Barrier!"
At this point, Satori could feel its restraints weakening. The vines seemed unable to last much longer, gradually falling away until only Karin's Adamantine Sealing Chains remained.
But then, Satori suddenly felt its movements slow down, feeling a sluggish, sticky sensation, as though trapped in a viscous space filled with glue.
It quickly realized its chakra flow was being disrupted.
Looking down, it saw countless black, tadpole-like symbols crawling across its body.
The Evil Sealing Barrier was designed to restrict abnormal chakra. In the original story, Kakashi used this technique to suppress the chakra of the Cursed Seal of Heaven. In reality, Aoba had also used this technique to seal the curse mark on Sasuke.
For Satori, whose entire being was composed of chakra, this was devastating.
Satori tried to spread its wings to take flight but found they wouldn't fully extend. Some invisible force seemed to be holding them back.
Not just its wing, its arms and legs were also restrained.
Its entire body began to shrink, gradually compressing into a sphere of chakra.
By now, Sakura had activated her chakra cloak, amplifying her reserves several times over to sustain the powerful sealing technique.
Aoba descended slowly from the sky, watching Sakura's actions with a surprised expression. Her performance had genuinely impressed him.
Seeing that Sakura was struggling to hold on, Karin rushed forward, transferring her chakra to Sakura. Naruto and Sasuke joined in, and together, the four managed to maintain the seal.
From start to finish, Aoba didn't intervene. He simply observed the teamwork of his students.
Though Team 7 hadn't endured the heart-wrenching struggles of the original story, the four children had built strong bonds through daily life through training together, completing missions together, and even sharing meals at Aoba's house.
In these small, everyday moments, they had forged an unshakable camaraderie.
Satori was ultimately sealed, its form reduced to a strange black sphere about the height of a person. It didn't return to the Box of Ultimate Bliss, but instead condensed into this peculiar state.
"Well done," Aoba praised his students with a smile.
"Especially you, Sakura. Your tactical choices were excellent, and your execution was spot on."
"Thank you, sensei. The moment I saw that creature, I started preparing. It took some time to complete everything," Sakura replied earnestly.
Aoba nodded. Sakura wasn't the type of ninja who excelled at improvisation. She lacked the instinctive adaptability of Naruto and Sasuke. While she might not excel in combat, she was exceptional when it came to preparation and strategy.
Throughout the battles, whether Team 7 versus the guards or Aoba against Satori, she hadn't made a move. Clearly, she had been gathering information in secret, waiting for the right moment to strike and subdue Satori in one fell swoop.
This strategic approach marked her as a research-oriented ninja, a rarity in the ninja world. Apart from Orochimaru, there were no true research-focused ninjas.
Even Orochimaru maintained a traditional combat style. Sakura might be the first of her kind. How far she could go on this path remained to be seen.
"Was that wood-style sealing scroll your own creation?" Aoba asked, recalling the scroll Sakura had used earlier. When destroyed, it unleashed a mass of vines that immobilized Satori.
"Yes," Sakura replied. "It's made from the failed chakra cloaks we've been cultivating in the lab. I used sealing techniques to bind them and stored them in the scroll. Once unsealed, the failed cloaks rapidly proliferate and absorb surrounding chakra.
"However, since they're failed experiments, they're not stable. After proliferating for a while, they completely collapse."
Aoba nodded in approval.
"Very clever that was an excellent use of failed materials. Did you teach yourself the Evil Sealing Barrier?"
"Yes. I noticed that the principles of sealing techniques are often interconnected. Sealing techniques targeting chakra share the same fundamental purpose: restricting chakra flow.
"Once you understand this basic principle, applying similar sealing techniques becomes much easier."
"So, does that mean you can perform the Eight Trigrams Seal now?" Aoba asked, intrigued.
"I can manage it, but it's still challenging. The technique demands a high level of chakra control and quantity, both of which I still lack. I haven't practiced enough to use it in battle."
"You're doing well. It's clear you've started to find your own path," Aoba said encouragingly.
He then turned his gaze to the other three members of Team 7.
"As for you three, your teamwork could use more polish, but your individual progress in combat is commendable. This mission is a pass. Prepare yourselves mentally, when we return, I'll be introducing you to advanced training."
Finally, Aoba walked over to the black sphere that Satori had become.
"Well? Are you ready to reconsider my proposal now?"
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