allendalepharm Chapter 154 Dragon Vein Jinchūriki: Makoto Karatachi!
Chapter 154 Dragon Vein Jinchūriki: Makoto Karatachi!
Chapter 154 Dragon Vein Jinchūriki: Makoto Karatachi!
Nine Seals of the Illusory Dragon!
This is the ultimate sealing technique passed down from the Sage of Six Paths, contained within the Rinnegan. Its essence is to use powerful ocular power and chakra to strip the consciousness and power of the target (usually a tailed beast or a massive chakra aggregate) from its original host or sealing object, and forcibly compress and seal it into a new container.
This technique places extremely high demands on the user, requiring not only the Rinnegan as a foundation but also a profound understanding of sealing techniques.
Goji berries perfectly combine both qualities.
Nine illusory purple dragons circled and roared above the dragon vein, opening their mouths to devour the gushing torrent of golden chakra!
"What kind of magic is this?!"
Sarah stared wide-eyed at the scene before her, incredulous.
Those purple dragons seemed to have a life of their own. With each devouring, they could tear off a massive amount of chakra from the dragon vein, compress and condense it, and finally transform it into beams of purple light, which were then injected into Makoto Karimoto's body!
Meanwhile, Makoto Kojima himself sat cross-legged at the edge of the square, his eyes closed, his hands forming hand seals that kept changing, his face as calm as a deep pool.
However, upon closer inspection, one can see that his body is enveloped in a faint golden light, which is a sign that the Dragon Vein Chakra is being forcibly suppressed and sealed within his body.
"Hang in there—"
Gouju silently recited in his heart.
The consumption of the Nine Seals of the Illusionary Dragon was greater than he had anticipated.
Although the Rinnegan provided the foundation for the technique, maintaining the operation of the nine illusory dragons and compressing and sealing such a massive amount of dragon vein chakra was drawing away a large amount of his chakra and spiritual energy every second.
With his chakra reserves of only one card, he simply couldn't hold out for long.
Fortunately, he possesses the Rinnegan, and his Absorption Technique allows him to extract Dragon Vein Chakra at any time and use it for his own purposes.
Use your chakra to sustain my chakra depletion!
Sarah was not just a bystander.
As the Queen of Loulan, she had a natural contractual connection with the dragon vein.
Under her active guidance and control, the surging, violent chakra of the dragon vein gradually became more docile. Although it was still as vast as the sea, it was at least no longer in a completely out-of-control, destructive, and frenzied state.
This greatly reduced the sealing pressure on the Nine Seals of the Illusionary Dragon.
Ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye. Makoto Kujiri opened his eyes, and the purple ripples of his Rinnegan slowly faded, returning to his ordinary dark purple eyes.
The nine purple dragons also vanished, turning into countless points of light.
The gushing of the dragon vein continued, but compared to its initial devastating ferocity, it had become much milder. Sara's guidance and the initial suppression of the Nine Seals of the Illusionary Dragon had transformed the dragon vein from an out-of-control beast into a behemoth that could barely be spoken to.
"Only this much was sealed?"
Gouju Cheng sensed the state of his body and his lips twitched.
Only a ball of golden chakra floated quietly within his body.
That's part of the dragon vein, about one percent?
No, it's probably less than one percent.
"Ten minutes, one percent —"
Goji berries are used to quickly calculate in one's heart.
The Rinnegan can only be used for ten minutes, but its cooldown period is as long as an hour.
At this rate, to completely seal the entire dragon vein, it would require at least one hundred uses of the Rinnegan, which is a total sealing time of one hundred hours.
The problem is that the Rinnegan has a cooldown time of one hour, which means that he has to wait an hour before he can perform the second seal.
Using the Rinnegan a hundred times means it will take at least four days.
"wrong."
This is only a calculation under ideal conditions.
The actual situation is much more complicated.
First, the Nine Seals of the Illusionary Dragon consume a great deal of energy. Even with the Absorption Technique drawing chakra from the dragon vein to replenish it, it's impossible to maintain this high-intensity operation for ten consecutive minutes. After each seal ends, he needs time to restore the balance of his mental energy and chakra.
Secondly, dragon veins are not inanimate objects.
As the sealing process continues, it will generate an instinctive "resistance".
During the first sealing, the dragon vein had just awakened and was in a berserk state. With Sara's guidance and the suppression of the Nine Seals of the Illusionary Dragon, it had almost no power to resist.
But the problem is, Sara isn't a ninja!
Although the Queen of Loulan possessed the power to stabilize the dragon vein, Sara was just an ordinary person.
How could an ordinary person persevere for so long?
"Your Highness Sara, how are you feeling?"
Makoto Kujira glanced at the pale-faced Queen Loulan not far away, got up and walked to her side, handing her a special soldier's ration pill to restore her strength and chakra.
"I can only maintain the seal for ten minutes every hour, so this seal may take a while."
"Is that so?"
Sarah was a little dumbfounded, but after a moment she took the soldier's ration pill and ate it.
No wonder Gouju Cheng seemed to be in pretty good condition, so he stopped the seal. It seems this was quite a big project.
"I will do my best to hold on, but what about my people—"
"Your Highness need not worry, I will send a clone to provide them with sufficient supplies."
"Thanks."
Sarah said softly.
Gouju waved his hand: "Don't rush to thank me, this is just part of the deal. You help me stabilize the dragon vein, and I'll provide your people with supplies. Fair and just, no cheating the young or old."
He paused, looking at the dragon vein fissure that was still gushing golden light, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
"Over the next few days, I will seal the dragon veins at this pace. Every sixty minutes, for ten minutes each time, until the entire dragon vein is sealed."
"During this period, you may need to stay here to continuously guide and control the dragon vein. This will be a very heavy burden for you."
Sarah took a deep breath and nodded.
"I can persevere."
"very good."
Gouju nodded in satisfaction, then formed a hand seal and created a shadow clone.
"Go to the hideout of Princess Sara's people and be responsible for guarding it and supplying them with provisions."
"clear."
The shadow clone nodded and then sped off towards the cave.
After arranging everything, Makoto Goji looked at Sarah.
"Then, let's begin preparations for the second round."
The next few days were a long and arduous tug-of-war for Gouju Cheng and Sarah.
Every day, the moment his Rinnegan cools down, Makoto Kuraki activates the Nine Seals of the Illusionary Dragon for a ten-minute high-intensity seal.
Each time, the nine purple dragons would tear off a massive amount of golden chakra from the dragon veins, compress and condense it, and then inject it into Makoto's body.
Sarah, on the other hand, stayed by the dragon vein rift the entire time, using her power of contract to continuously guide and control the flow of the dragon vein.
She is not a ninja and has no chakra. Each time she guides someone, she relies on the secret techniques and willpower passed down through generations of the Loulan royal family.
On the first day, she was able to stay awake with difficulty.
The next day, she began to need soldier pills to maintain her physical and mental strength.
On the third day, her face had turned as pale as paper, and her hands were trembling, but she still gritted her teeth and persevered.
On the fourth day, she began to hallucinate, with the dragon vein before her eyes appearing as a golden ocean, and her as a small boat that could capsize at any moment.
On the fifth day, Makoto Karatachi began to use medical ninjutsu and transfer chakra to help Sara recover, and Sara's condition finally stabilized.
Day 6, Day 7 —
When Makoto Gojiba activated the Nine Seals of the Illusionary Dragon for the ninety-ninth time, compressing and sealing the last dragon vein chakra into his body, the golden light that had been surging for seven days and seven nights finally went out completely.
The entire square fell into an unprecedented silence.
Makoto Karatachi slowly opened his eyes. The purple ripples of his Rinnegan gradually faded, replaced by a deep weariness and a hint of something difficult to conceal—
Satisfy!
Within his body, a vast expanse of golden chakra, as deep as the ocean, floated silently.
That was a dragon vein, a complete dragon vein, which had now become an integral part of his power.
If Makoto Karatachi's chakra level was only around one kilo before, then at this moment—
"It must be at least four or five calories or more."
I made a rough estimate based on the information provided.
His current situation is essentially the same as that of a Jinchūriki.
Or rather, he is now the pillar of the dragon vein!
Under normal circumstances, the power of the dragon vein is basically sealed within his body, but even so, his total chakra level under normal circumstances has been increased by an extremely exaggerated amount!
If the dragon vein chakra is activated—
That can only be described in one sentence.
My energy is limitless!
I'll see who the hell can threaten me with not having enough chakra in future battles!
"Is it finally over?"
Sarah's weak voice came from the side.
Gouju Cheng turned his head and saw that the Loulan Queen was almost slumped on the edge of the stone platform, her face as pale as paper, her eyes closed, and she was swaying as if she would fall at any moment.
The seven days and seven nights of sealing were far more difficult for her than Makoto Goji had imagined.
As an ordinary person, Sara has no chakra. The reason she has been able to guide the dragon vein for so long is entirely due to the secret techniques passed down by the Loulan royal family and her indomitable willpower.
If Makoto Karatachi hadn't started using medical ninjutsu and chakra to help her recover on the fourth day, she probably wouldn't have been able to hold on much longer.
"Thank you for your hard work, Your Highness Sarah."
Makoto Kujira got up and walked to her side, placing his hand on her shoulder. Gentle chakra slowly flowed into her body, helping to soothe her tired nerves and muscles.
Sarah's body trembled slightly, she opened her eyes and glanced at him, then closed them wearily again.
"Has the dragon vein truly been sealed away by you?"
"Hmm, not a single drop is left."
Gouju Cheng nodded, a satisfied smile appearing on his face: "The dragon vein has now completely become my power."
""
Sarah was silent for a moment, then suddenly opened her eyes and looked intently at Makoto Goji.
"Lord Mizukage, may I ask you for a favor?"
"explain."
"Please—you must never let the dragon vein be used for war again."
Sarah's voice was soft, but her eyes were exceptionally firm.
"The tragedy of Loulan was because the power of the dragon vein was coveted and fought over. I don't want this power to bring disaster to more innocent people."
Goji Makoto looked at her but did not answer immediately.
After a long while, he chuckled softly.
"Your Highness Sarah, you are a kind person."
"However, the dragon vein is now inside me, and I decide how to use it."
"But you can rest assured, while I, Makoto Kuraki, am not some saint, I am not so depraved as to use this power to slaughter civilians. As for war—"
He paused, his eyes becoming deep.
"War never stops just because someone has power. But at least, with this power, I can reduce the sacrifices of my comrades and provide more security for my village."
"Consider this my promise to you."
Sarah listened, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded slightly.
"----Thanks."
Gouju Cheng withdrew his hand from her shoulder and stood up.
"Let's go, go fetch your people. Things are settled here, it's time to take you to your new home."
Sara's people have been living relatively peacefully these days.
Makoto Karatachi's shadow clones not only brought enough food and water, but also set up a warning barrier around the cave to prevent it from being discovered by wandering ninjas or Sunagakure patrols.
When Sarah and Gouju Cheng returned to the cave, the Loulan people came to greet them.
"Your Highness Sara!"
"Your Highness, you're finally back!"
"Are you alright, Your Highness?"
Sarah felt a surge of warmth in her heart as she looked at the concerned faces.
She took a deep breath, trying to look more energetic, and then looked at Makoto Goji.
"Lord Mizukage, may we leave now?"
"Anytime is fine."
Makoto Kujira nodded: "I will take you to the Land of Water and give you choices that suit you. At that time, whether you choose to join Kirigakure directly, go to an ordinary city in the Land of Water, or an island or something, it's all fine."
The seven-day seal left Sarah exhausted, but a glimmer of light still flashed in her eyes when she heard Makoto Goji's words.
"Thank you for assisting me, Mizukage."
She turned to look at the expectant faces of her people behind her, took a deep breath, and spoke in as calm a voice as possible.
"Everyone, pack your things, we're leaving."
After a brief silence, an uncontrollable cheer erupted from inside the cave.
In the past few days, the clone had already told them about the relocation to Kirigakure, and now that Makoto Karatachi and Sara had confirmed it in person, everyone present was thrilled.
They don't know what the future holds, but it can't be worse than it is now, can it?
At least they had all heard that the Land of Water was a victorious nation and that those within its borders would not be affected by the war.
Uncle Casse walked to Sarah's side, his cloudy eyes glistening with tears, but more than anything, they were filled with worry.
"Your Highness Sarah, can we really trust him?"
Sarah glanced at Makoto Goji, remained silent for a moment, and nodded slightly.
"Uncle Kase, we—have no other choice."
"Moreover, I think he's different from other people who covet the dragon vein."
Yes.
As Sarah said, they had long since run out of options.
Kase opened his mouth, but in the end he just sighed and turned to organize his people to pack their belongings.
Although it's called luggage, there's really not much to pack.
Over the years, they have taken what they could take with them, and what they could not take has long since turned to dust in these ruins.
An hour later, all the Loulan survivors gathered in a sunken valley outside the cave.
There were about fifty or sixty people in total, including men, women, and children.
They were dressed in rags and looked emaciated, but at that moment, everyone's eyes shone with a kind of light.
That is hope.
Gouju Cheng glanced at the team and shook his head inwardly.
It's quite a miracle that Sara was able to lead such a small group of people to hide in the desert of the Land of Wind for four years.
However, since he had promised, he would naturally take full responsibility.
"Is everything ready?"
Gouju Cheng looked at Sarah.
Sarah nodded, turned back for one last look at the ruins where she had lived for four years, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, before turning around and looking resolutely ahead.
"Ready."
"Alright, let's go then."
Gouju Cheng formed hand seals and created three shadow clones, one each responsible for the outpost, the other for the rearguard, and the third for carrying some of the elderly and infirm who were unable to move easily.
With the dragon vein, even getting things done became much easier for Makoto Goji.
In the past, let alone using clones to escort them, I could have simply unleashed my divine power and released them once we arrived at our destination.
But things are different now.
With the dragon vein, everything changed!
A group of fifty or sixty people, led by Gouju Cheng, slowly left this land that once belonged to Loulan and headed east—
"You mean a member of the Akatsuki organization possessed the legendary Rinnegan, and Makoto Karatachi even copied it?!"
Konoha, Hokage's office.
Acting Hokage Danzo suddenly stood up from his seat, staring at Shisui in disbelief.
Are you kidding me!
Danzo's first reaction was that it was impossible.
The Rinnegan is a legend, a myth, the eye of the Sage of Six Paths who quelled the chaos of the world.
How could such a thing possibly exist, and how could it be copied by that guy Makoto Karimoto?
But looking into Shisui's clear and determined eyes, Danzo knew that this most outstanding genius of the Uchiha clan would never lie about such a thing.
"I saw it with my own eyes."
Uchiha Shisui knelt on one knee, his voice steady, but his tone also carried an undisguised shock.
-
"In the back mountains of Amegakure, after the Akatsuki leader Yahiko was killed, an extremely terrifying ocular power erupted from the body of a red-haired boy."
Those eyes—perfectly matched the Rinnegan described in ancient texts. The wavy lines, the pale purple sclera, and the unimaginable sense of oppression they exuded.
"At the same time, Makoto Karatachi from Kirigakure suddenly appeared on the battlefield and saved Konan, another member of Akatsuki. He then revealed his Rinnegan!"
Shisui raised his head, his eyes solemn: "Two pairs of Rinnegan appeared simultaneously in the back mountains of Amegakure. I have not uttered a single falsehood."
The Hokage's office was deathly silent.
Danzo silently sat back down, his single eye flashing, his mind racing.
The information brought by Shisui was so shocking that even he, a seasoned veteran of the Dark Ninja, found it difficult to fully process it all at once.
But after the initial shock, what welled up inside me was an overwhelming feeling—
greedy.
Rinnegan!
The eyes of the Sage of Six Paths, which are ranked above the Byakugan and Sharingan!
If he could hold those eyes in his hands—
"Where is Hanzo?"
"When my subordinates withdrew, Hanzo was still confronting Makoto Karatachi," Shisui answered truthfully. "Although the Rain Ninja surrounded the scene, given the strength Makoto Karatachi displayed—Hanzo might not come out on top."
"Moreover, there's Nagato, who's awakening his Rinnegan. With two Rinnegan users present at the same time, if Hanzo insists on making a move, he'll likely be in grave danger."
Danzo narrowed his one eye slightly.
Whether Hanzo lived or died was of little concern to Danzo. Although the so-called "demigod" was quite powerful, in Danzo's eyes, he was nothing more than a pawn to be used.
If a piece dies, you can simply replace it with another.
What truly concerned him was the Rinnegan, and the variable that was Makoto Karatachi.
"Who else knows about this?"
Shisui paused slightly, then replied, "The six members of the Root team who accompanied me on the mission all witnessed the existence of the Rinnegan."
"In addition, the Rain Ninja from Amegakure and Hanzo himself also saw it."
Danzo remained silent for a moment, then slowly got up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Shisui.
Outside the window, Konoha Village appeared peaceful and serene, with ninjas bustling about and civilians living contentedly. No one knew what was happening in the distant Valley of the Wind, behind the Hidden Rain Village.
"Shisui, the Rinnegan is of utmost importance. All those involved in this operation are strictly prohibited from disclosing any information about the Rinnegan or Makoto Karatachi to anyone in any form."
"You should understand what I mean."
"yes!"
Shisui nodded emphatically. He naturally understood the importance of the Rinnegan and knew that since it concerned Makoto Karatachi and Kirigakure, this matter had to be handled with utmost care.
"Lord Danzo, what about the Third Hokage—"
"This matter concerns the safety of Konoha, and the fewer people who know about it, the better," Danzo interrupted him. "As for Hiruzen, I will inform him myself."
"However, I am still somewhat uneasy about giving orders based solely on verbal commands."
Danzo slowly turned around, his single eye staring at Shisui like a venomous snake.
Shisui felt a chill run down his spine.
"Shisui, you are a genius that the Uchiha clan sees only once in a century, and I have high hopes for you. But precisely because of this, the responsibilities you bear are heavier than those of ordinary people."
"If news of the Rinnegan were to leak, it would not only cause turmoil in the ninja world, but also bring annihilation to Konoha. I must ensure—absolutely no mistakes are made."
Shisui felt a chill run down his spine.
He had a vague idea of what Danzo was going to say.
"The seal that eradicates the root of calamity through the tongue."
Danzo slowly raised his right hand, and complex mantra patterns appeared on his palm.
"You are a Konoha ninja, and you should understand that some secrets must be protected with your life. This cursed seal will not affect your strength or interfere with your normal actions. Its only purpose is to prevent you from revealing the secrets about the Rinnegan and Makoto Karatachi to anyone."
"Even if it's the Third Hokage, even if it's your closest person, as long as you try to talk about this, the cursed seal will automatically activate and seal your words."
Zhi Shui's pupils contracted slightly.
He certainly knew the seal that could sever the root of trouble through the tongue.
This is a cursed seal used by the "Root" organization to control its members. Once implanted, it cannot be removed for life. If an attempt is made to forcibly break it, the cursed seal will directly destroy the brain, causing the victim to die on the spot.
To put it bluntly, this is Danzo's method of controlling his subordinates and ensuring their absolute loyalty.
Now, Danzo is going to plant this cursed seal on himself?
"What, you don't want to?"
Danzo's voice turned cold, and a dangerous glint flashed in his single eye.
"Shisui, you're a smart man. You should understand that this isn't a discussion, but an order. For the safety of Konoha, and for the absolute secrecy of this information, this is the only way."
"Or is it that, in your heart, Konoha's importance is far from enough?"
These words are quite malicious.
A complex and indescribable emotion welled up in Shisui's heart.
He was loyal to Konoha and loved the Uchiha clan.
But at this moment, Danzo used the big threat of "Konoha's safety" to corner him.
Refusing would be disloyal to Konoha, and given that the Uchiha clan is far too sensitive and special to Konoha right now, the consequences of accusing them of this crime at this time would be unimaginable.
If it's acceptable —
This means that from now on, his thoughts and words will be forever bound by this curse!
Even if it's just a small piece of information about the Rinnegan!
"What, still hesitating?"
Danzo's voice grew increasingly sinister.
"Shisui, I know you have your own ideas and beliefs. But you must understand that in this ninja world, beliefs can't put food on the table, and ideals need the support of reality."
"You are a genius, the future hope of the Uchiha clan. But precisely because of this, you must prove with your actions that you deserve this expectation and the trust of Konoha."
Shisui took a deep breath.
He knew he had no way out.
If I refuse today, not only will I be immediately labeled as disloyal, but the entire Uchiha clan may also be implicated.
This is what Danzo was waiting for.
A reason for an Uchiha genius to voluntarily refuse Konoha's orders; a pretext to legitimately suppress the Uchiha.
"—Understood."
Zhi Shui lowered his head, his voice low.
"For the safety of Konoha, your subordinate—is willing to accept the cursed seal."
A hint of satisfaction flashed in Danzo's eyes.
"very good."
He stopped talking and placed his right hand on Shisui's neck. Chakra surged, and the complex curse marks burrowed into Shisui's skin like living things, imprinting themselves on the roots of his tongue and deep into his brain.
A sharp pain shot through him, but Shisui stubbornly endured it without making a sound.
A moment later, the incantation seal was completed.
Danzo withdrew his hand and nodded in satisfaction.
"Very good. From this day forward, you will be Konoha's most loyal protector."
"You don't need to worry about Hanzo's affairs. Just rest well during this time. You will be in charge of the handover at Fengming Valley."
"----yes."
Shisui stood up, turned around, and left the Hokage's office.
Danzo, sitting in the Hokage's seat, revealed a sinister smile.
That cursed seal is not just a simple seal for severing the root of tongue-trouble.
With Fugaku dead, Uchiha Shisui, the most outstanding young ninja of the Uchiha clan, was destined to become the core of the Uchiha clan's future.
Even though he only had one eye left.
With this curse mark, things will be much easier to carry out in the future.
but----
That brat from the Hidden Mist Village actually copied the Rinnegan.
The legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths, a supreme eye technique surpassing even the Sharingan.
If he really mastered that power—
"Ryoma!"
"Lord Danzo."
Ryoma Aburame's voice came from the shadows.
"Effective immediately, all tracking, surveillance, and hunting missions targeting Makoto Kuraki are suspended."
"What?"
Aburame Ryoma was slightly taken aback.
"The power of the Rinnegan—" Danzo spoke slowly, his tone carrying a rare hint of apprehension, "is something we cannot contend with head-on right now. Sending more people to pursue it would only be pointless sacrifices."
"Furthermore, Konoha and Kirigakure have already signed a ceasefire agreement. At this critical juncture, any action against Makoto Karatachi could be interpreted as Konoha unilaterally breaking the agreement and triggering a new war."
"Given the current morale of Kirigakure and the ever-increasing prestige of the Karatachi clan—if war were to resume, it would be absolutely unacceptable for Konoha in its current state."
"Furthermore, Hanzo has most likely already been defeated, so Hiruzen might be in some danger."
In the previous deal, he deployed Shisui to help Hanzo deal with the Akatsuki organization, consolidate his rule over Amegakure, and promised a series of policies such as post-war cooperation and development between Amegakure and Konoha after the Third Shinobi World War.
In exchange, Hanzo would lead Amegakure to attack Iwagakure's supply lines and distract Onoki.
Now that Hanzo is very likely to be defeated by Akatsuki, the so-called attention-grabbing will definitely be impossible.
And if Hiruzen Sarutobi can't withstand the pressure on the front lines—
"How is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki recovering?"
"It's alright, there are basically no problems anymore, and we've been keeping a close eye on the situation on the front lines."
"7
"very good."
Upon hearing this, Danzo took a deep breath and rose from his Hokage seat: "Come with me and see how she is recovering."
Aburame Ryoma was taken aback: "Lord Danzo, you mean—"
"Without Hanzo's restraint, Hiruzen's pressure will only increase. In any case, Konoha absolutely cannot lose this war."
"Furthermore, there is no Kaleidoscope in Iwagakure."
There's no such thing as a Kaleidoscope on Iwagakure's side; it's mostly just head-on clashes.
This was already proven when Kushina was on the battlefield in Iwagakure. As long as we play it safe and control the situation well, Kushina's safety can be guaranteed to a great extent.
Moreover, this time, he will bring Kushina to the battlefield in person!
"Let me be the final hero to save Konoha!"