The Perfect Curse Mark

Time passed, a lot of it spent in Yomi where to minimize the real world time spent and the Curse Mark was nearing completion, just a few final touches and it would be ready.

'Too bad I can only use Yomi for the theoretical aspect since there isn't a speck of the required nature energy for the various tests . . . Oh well, at least I cran still save real world time on the theoretical research part.' Shiki thought as he finally completed his work of art.

"Let's call it simply, the Perfect Curse Mark. Because no other word can define its utter perfection better." Shiki narcissistically said to himself.

Since it drew its power from Shiki's Perfect Sage State, it was naturally much better that the original Curse Mark and one of the main changes was that even when not in use, it still benefited its possessor.

The Perfect Curse Mark automatically absorbs nature energy from the surroundings, this effect was from both Jugo's kekkei genkai and the Tsuchigumo Style: Forbidden Life Technique Release: Creation of Heaven and Earth.

To prevent the problems that brought Jugo, his rampages in particular, the mark regulated the absorbed nature energy and safely stored it, only releasing minute amounts that gradually strengthened the user.

Not only that, but just like an animal that constantly absorbs nature energy, the user's lifespan would also increase.

When one activated the mark though, it flooded the user with nature energy and blended it with the user's chakra, creating sage chakra with a perfect ratio and allowing the user to access Sage Mode with no sage training at all.

This however, only lasted while the accumulated energy from the mark was not fully used but, with a special hand seal, the user could speed up the gathering process by entering a trance, just like an actual sage would meditate in stillness to gather nature energy.

The second stage unlocked the powers of Sage Transformation and blended them with the powers of Sage Mode. This allowed a much better control over the transformation than the original curse mark but while favoring snake like and/or draconic characteristics.

Perfect Curse Marks also contained a specially made, partial soul clone of Shiki as well as a single Pure Soul within them. These two things accomplished several purposes.

It would make communication between Shiki and the bearers much easier, Shiki would always know their condition, in dangerous situations power could be channeled through the mark and finally, the Pure Soul could be used as a Soul Substitution Jutsu, saving the user from certain death just once.

On the other hand, by having the mark, Shiki would have an unprecedented amount of control and access to the user's mind and body so it could also me placed on less trustworthy people at no danger. Shiki could even use it to slowly brainwash less loyal individuals.

Immensely satisfied, Shiki went to apply his newly developed Perfect Curse mark onto his subordinates. Meanwhile, a soul clone would adapt the enhancement chambers to automatically apply them to future members.

Shiki then sent out a summons to every member's tablets and waited in the meeting room for them to arrive at the agreed time. He welcomed them as they arrived and in about 30 minutes, they were all in the room, ready to hear his announcement.

'Everyone, I have succeeded in a recent endeavour to create a perfected Curse Mark since I have mastered the art of Senjutsu, as well as Sage Mode and Sage Transformation.'

'Now, I wish to give each and everyone of you the opportunity to be branded by the mark right now since the earlier the better . . .'

He then explained all of its features and what benefits were there to enjoy for all those who took the mark. Those more intimately familiar with the marks such as Orochimaru's group and Anko were extremely surprised.

'This boy . . . I already had the opportunity to examine Anko's Curse Mark and see how greatly he had improved upon my design but this . . . It is beyond anything I could ever hope to make . . .'

Orochimaru thought to himself.

'His talent, his mastery, his understanding of this world and its various powers, his seemingly endless knowledge and power . . . The day may yet come when I shall willingly serve him, not due to our contract but my sheer admiration for him instead . . .' He considered.

Kabuto was also very impressed, everything Shiki showed seemed to make him realized Kabuto himself was still underestimating him and Orochimaru's hones servitude towards his cause was starting to make Kabuto think that serving Shiki was indeed a great way to live.

Tayuya and Kidomaru, two of the very few successful Curse Mark bearer were even more surprised. How much did they have to suffer to be able to properly draw upon the power of their marks?

And now, not only would they receive even more powerful ones that despite being so much better in terms of strength, were actually still safe for even non shinobi to bear them and speed their training to boot . . .

It was truly mind numbing for them. To think that just being loyal to Shiki could allow them to get so much.

Sure, he demanded absolute obedience but what they received in return was far more than enough compensation. As such, they started to hold an extremely good opinion of their new master.

Anko on the other hand was already thinking this was only a matter of time. Being around Shiki for longer and what he had previously done with her Curse Mark, led her to believe this day would come and now that it did, she merely thought that indeed, Shiki never disappointed.

Some of the other girls took this chance to ask Shiki to place their marks privately so they could "thank" him for his efforts.

Shiki, instantly recognising their intentions, immediately agree with no regard as to how awkward it would be to the people waiting, specially taking his endurance in the bedroom into account.

Alas, the allure of hot girls who earnestly loved and were eager to please him was enough for him to push aside such considerations.

After a good few hours of applying the Perfect Curse Marks on his subordinates, Shiki finally returned to work as did those he called.

They wanted to complain about how screwed up the situation became but since Shiki was actually giving them a pretty hefty gift so the felt it was wrong to do so, even if said gift had strings attached for those who were not his lovers . . .

Shiki's next goal was to try and improve some of his stolen hijutsu as well as make his own new jutsu entirely. After all, the jutsu he created took into account his abilities and thus were the best for fully exhibiting them.

The increase in his spiritual and sensory powers gave him a few ideas and possibilities to improve the Yamanaka hijutsu. His increasing mastery over the Yin nature transformation also increased his options with the Nara shadow manipulation.

As for his Akimichi and Inuzuka hijutsu, Shiki had physically integrated them completely. the only thing left was to upgrade Inugami and make him powerful and smart enough to actually be effective to team up with him rather than detrimental.

By placing a modified Perfect Curse Mark on him, Shiki was hoping to make him powerful and smart like other sage animals. After that, he would seal the wolf beast Roen into Inugami and only then, if it all worked out, would he train in combination jutsu with the hound.

For the mark to take its effects however, would take time so for now, Shiki turned his attention to the Nara, Yamanaka and finally, his Aburame hijutsu.

After his transformation in Yomi, all the insects Shiki raised inside of his died. He never really used them so it's not like he felt it was a shame but it did give him ideas.

Maybe he could adapt the Aburame techniques to his physiology and give rise to some nasty Yomi insects that could actually be powerful enough for him to use at his level of combat. It was pretty far fetched but he could always try . . .

And so, he began his work, starting with the shadow manipulation. Yomi was an inherently Yin place so Shiki felt that trying to channel its powers into his shadow manipulation would produce good results and so it did.

The first boon was the restriction on the shadow's size being eliminated, just like Shikadai in the Boruto series but as Shiki got better and started to use his doujutsu to further channel Yomi's energy into his shadow, further changes occurred.

He could now easily make his shadow materialize and possess powerful strength. With some practice, he started being able to detach pieces from his shadow completely and have them move around independently.

The shadows would touch anything he wanted while everything else passed thought them and eventually, he could even manifest semi sentient shadow beasts.

Unfortunately, this was only within Yomi itself, to reach that level in the real world would take more time but was definitely possible.

Leaving a soul clone to practice shadow manipulation, Shiki moved on . . .

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P.a.t.r.e.o.n is officially up!

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You'll get to read up to FOUR week ahead, a full month, but I'll still post here.

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