SWNOVELXO Chapter 76: [Sealing Technique]
"It seems even though you've been away, you still understand quite a bit about the history of the Uzumaki clan."
Mito smiled. There was no way Kushina could have learned her name from a textbook at the Ninja Academy, which left only one possibility—she must have been told by other members of the Uzumaki clan she had met.
Kushina's face remained stunned. Meeting Mito felt like standing face-to-face with a myth come to life from the Uzumaki clan. She was famous not just for being the wife of the First Hokage, but also for her own strength.
It was said that before she married the First Hokage, she had already been the strongest kunoichi in the Uzumaki clan, unmatched in power.
Kushina had thought Lady Mito was long gone. Earlier today, she had even asked how many years she had been in Konoha.
Konoha—the village founded together with the First Hokage!
"Um, all thanks to Auntie Sekka's teachings," Kushina replied, her expression slightly somber.
Upon hearing this, Mito didn't press further. When Kushina was first brought to Konoha, it was said she clung tightly to a wooden memorial tablet, on which the name "Uzumaki Sekka" was carved.
With the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools, the Uzumaki clan scattered across the world. Most of them, though inheriting the bloodline traits of the clan, didn't know how to use their abilities properly, becoming little more than physically stronger than ordinary people.
Like Kushina herself—if she hadn't been brought to Konoha, even with her natural physical gifts, she would have been just a bit stronger than average kids her age, never reaching the point where she could defeat a Genin at such a young age.
That's exactly why the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, established the Ninja Academy—to ensure that any child, even commoners with potential, could learn the necessary skills and become a ninja.
That way, no one would ever have to live like the children of the Warring States era again.
"In truth, I've always kept an eye on you, ever since the day you arrived in Konoha," Mito said.
Kushina still had questions lingering in her heart and quickly asked, "Lady Mito, what makes me so different?"
She wasn't sure how to clearly express her confusion, but Kushina believed Mito would understand.
After a brief pause, Mito answered, "We Uzumakis are born with chakra unlike that of ordinary people. Did you know this?"
"I didn't know, but I can kind of understand now." Although Kushina knew the history of the Uzumaki clan well, due to certain reasons, some basic facts about her own clan remained unknown to her.
Even without knowing, Kushina wasn't stupid. Not long after starting school, the amount of chakra she could generate had already surpassed Minato and Mikoto. She wouldn't naively think this meant she possessed greater talent as a ninja than them.
Compared to them, her real advantage lay in her extraordinary stamina and recovery ability.
Because chakra combines both physical and spiritual energy, differences in both naturally gave Kushina a chakra signature unlike anyone else's.
"Is it really because of this unusual chakra?"
Kushina murmured under her breath. That explanation still didn't feel thorough enough to satisfy her.
"Of course, there's more than just that," Mito said, the kind look in her eyes gradually turning serious as she continued, "But like I said earlier, there are some things I can't tell you right now. However... it won't be long before you learn the truth yourself. Don't rush into understanding everything at once."
Though questions still swirled in Kushina's mind, she trusted Mito and decided not to push further.
After speaking, Mito's expression softened again. She placed her hands over Kushina's hand back and said, "Now then, I'll be giving you the reward for passing your Chakra Aptitude Test."
Though Kushina wasn't particularly interested in rewards, curiosity got the better of her, lighting up her eyes slightly.
"Besides our naturally powerful chakra reserves, did you know the Uzumaki clan has other special traits too?" Mito asked.
Kushina shook her head. She'd only learned about her origins and some basic clan history from Auntie Sekka. Other matters—like details concerning their abnormal chakra capacity—were completely unknown to her.
Mito smiled lightly, realizing that whoever this Uzumaki clansperson was who'd taught Kushina, they hadn't revealed all the critical aspects of their clan's heritage. Perhaps they'd felt powerless to protect such knowledge—and Kushina herself.
Even that particular clan member might not have truly understood what the Uzumaki clan was best known for.
At this point, Mito removed her hand resting atop Kushina's and began forming simple hand seals.
They were just a few hand seals, but Kushina couldn't recognize any of them at all.
Then, gently, Mito placed her palm against Kushina's left chest area.
"Thump!"
In an instant, Kushina felt her heart give a sudden jolt before her body returned to normal.
"That's not right!"
As confusion clouded her thoughts, she suddenly realized her strength was rapidly fading away.
Actually, it wasn't exactly bodily weakness—it was as though the chakra she'd cultivated carefully over the past year had been locked somewhere deep inside her body, unreachable no matter how desperately she tried connecting with it, leaving her feeling like it had become stagnant water without even a ripple.
Almost immediately, she sharply turned her gaze toward Mito—the change had occurred precisely when Mito had touched her chest.
Could she possibly intend harm?
Looking down, Kushina spotted intricate dark markings extending outward from where Mito's palm had rested on her left chest.
There was something strangely familiar about these markings.
Weren't those the exact same seal formations she studied repeatedly every day?
Her reaction was exactly as Mito anticipated. As soon as she withdrew her hand from Kushina's chest, those black patterns vanished instantly.
The chakra within Kushina's body began flowing normally again.
"What kind of jutsu was that? It's amazing!" Kushina stared blankly for a moment before exclaiming belatedly in awe.
A jutsu capable of sealing someone else's chakra could be absolutely incredible in battle.
Without access to chakra, even the mightiest ninja would become like a tiger that had lost its teeth—just as fearsome looking, but powerless in combat.
Responding to Kushina's surprise, Mito smiled. "This is a unique ability of our Uzumaki clan — the 'Sealing Technique.'"
"Sealing Technique?"
Kushina had never even heard of that term before. Previously, she only knew about Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu.
"Sealing Technique is also a type of Ninjutsu. As the name suggests, it refers to techniques capable of creating sealing effects, just like what I did moments ago — I temporarily sealed your chakra. Even if theory isn't your strong suit, this should help you get the idea, right?"
Mito knew Kushina had her weak points and wanted her to have a basic understanding before diving into proper instruction.
There's no substitute for firsthand experience.
Kushina nodded slightly, able to understand Mito's good intentions.
"Why didn't Auntie Sekka ever tell me anything about it?" Kushina murmured softly.
"She didn't tell you probably because she either didn't know herself or, more likely, was trying to protect both you and the secrets of our clan," Mito explained, her expression turning serious.
"What do you mean?"
Just as Kushina was puzzled, one sentence from Mito caused her eyes to narrow involuntarily.
"Because it was precisely that technique that led to the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools and the Uzumaki clan..."
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