The Lost Traces of The Uzumaki Clan (2)

The Adamantine Sealing Chains jutsu was the oldest and most prized fuinjutsu technique of the Uzumaki Clan which forges their chakra into incredibly durable physical chains. And in addition to physically binding targets, the chains are said to neutralize their target by binding and nullifying their chakra. They could come in various sizes, as the most advanced version of it could even secure a full tailed beast. These chains can physically bind a target by wrapping around their form to restrict all movement or tear right through the target with the destructive force of their extension.

They are released from the wielder's body and the exact size, shape, and length of those chains are flexible, making them adaptable enough to suit their needs in any given situation, both against humans and beasts. The end of the chain can be tipped with a spear-like blade to pierce through an obstacle, or a hammer-like club to strike with blunt force, or a claw-like head to grab onto a target.

Being made from chakra, the chains move according to the wielder's will rather than any physical movements like a regular chain would. So they can extend over great lengths and change directions at sharp angles to better entrap the target within their clutches and they could it quite fast in fact.

It's possible for the chains to be used in other ways such as directly binding the target through physical touch and they can act as a perimeter to create an impenetrable barrier to keep enemies inside or out. Even with a fragment of the fuinjutsu's true strength, it is a truly powerful ability. However, only the most talented Uzumaki, with the strongest chakra could learn that technique.

"But, what were the exact mechanics of it? I mean, how do you create them in the first place?", They were now alone on top of the small coral island so Neji asked after listening to Karin's introduction.

"That's the most interesting part. Previously, when I learned about it from my mother, I didn't understand much of it, but now after listening to the explanation of the patriarch, it seemed that those chains were in fact full of secret sealing formulas. Sealing formulas molded into physical chains! The patriarch also claimed that the chains themselves were a product of the Yin Release. And I have a very good compatibility with the Yin Release he said.", Karin explained passionately, 'So those chains were a mix of ordinary fuinjutsu and the Yin Release, interesting...', Neji thought.

She just had to work harder on her fuinjutsu skills themselves, as they lacked because she hasn't been properly trained in them since she was young. She had a lot of basic fuinjutsu catching up to do. Her childhood wasn't exactly learning-friendly. However, her innate aptitude was very good.

She was previously worried that she would always drag Neji and Kiyomi down. However, that won't be the case anymore. If she could master everything that she wrote there, she would become pretty amazing too. Previously, she had no idea her clan was so powerful and full of mysteries. Suddenly she looked at Neji feeling extremely thankful that he recommended bringing her there.

"Not only that, the most skilled Uzumaki users of that technique in history could even use it to seal away their opponents' life forces gradually by binding them and they can even transfer it inside of themselves if they are on an even higher level of mastery. The longer the opponent stayed under their grip, the older he would become, meanwhile, the user will get younger, hehe... Neji I will soon get really strong!", Karin laughed in approval at the insidiousness of that technique while Kiyomi and Neji opened their eyes wide after listening. For Kiyomi, it sounded really powerful, she always had an appreciation for strong techniques. Whereas Neji got completely shocked by another thing. Those few short sentences that he just heard from Karin totally weren't shown in the original series.

"However, the lifeforce stealing ability can't be used against opponents of stronger life forces than your own, it's the only restriction if you manage to master it successfully.", Karin added at the end, 'Aha, so that's probably why Kushina couldn't use it against the Nine-Tails, even if she had it.', Neji now understood this question which also bugged him previously after learning of that technique.

"Karin, you've brought me such a big surprise, good job! It wasn't a mistake to include you in my team! When will you learn to use those chains? And what about that other technique you said?", Neji smiled and asked Karin. His intuition regarding Uzumakis didn't disappoint him once again.

"Well it depends, Neji, there are many versions of those chains. First are the most basic attacking chains, then those that could also restrict your enemies' chakra, then there is the highest version which could seal away your enemies' lifeforce and reseal it into yourself... I don't know how long it would take, however, the elder said that it could also happen suddenly if I experience some kind of mental disturbance, it could help display those chains even better due to the Yin Release he said..."

'So that's why Karin showcased that ability only when she was that emotionally disturbed in the original...', Neji felt like he got the whole story now. He understood very well the connections between your emotional and mental states to your spiritual energy and also Yin Release mastery. Eventually, Neji and Kiyomi turned their ears once again as they listened to Uzumaki's other most powerful technique, The Death Reaper Seal. Karin said that the two jutsu were peaks of their clan.

The Death Reaper Seal is a sealing technique developed by the Uzumaki clan to call upon the power of the imaginary Shinigami in order to seal the opponent's soul, for eternity inside the belly of the reaper, usually at the price of your own. After the hand seals are performed, the user's soul is partly separated from their body and suspended behind them. Behind their soul appears the Shinigami, which restrains their soul with its hair. Only the summoner is able to see it at this point.

After a few moments, the Shinigami wraps its left arm with prayer beads and chants unintelligibly until a cursed seal appears on its arm. It then drives its arm into the summoner's soul, thus allowing the summoner to call upon the Shinigami to seal the enemy. Thereafter, the Shinigami's arm emerges from the summoner's body and grasps the opponent's soul. The distance from which this move could be launched usually depends on the overall proficiency of the caster of the technique.

However, what Neji wasn't aware of previously, and what shocked him, what Karin told him now, was that the summoner of the Shinigami doesn't necessarily have to die if he seals a soul of a lesser powerful opponent, with less chakra and a smaller soul. He would only have to sacrifice the similar-sized part of his own soul to the belly of the Shinigami, not the entirety. Death is certain only if the technique is used against a stronger enemy. Thinking back now, it made sense to Neji, after all that technique had two appearances in the original, when old seventy-year-old Hiruzen used it against stronger Orochimaru and when Minato used it against the Nine Tails during Obito's attack on them.

"It's no wonder that the Uzumaki clan was so feared! Just think about what this technology could do to enemy forces, If all those strange masks they had got also utilized...", Neji sighed aloud. Karin also told him about those masks back at the Konoha, which could allow anyone to invoke the Shinigami, regardless of his proficiency at the technique. It could make a terrifying kamikaze force. Back then, the Uzumaki clan gave a bunch of them to Konoha as a sign of their friendship. Neji remembered that part also from the original when Orochimaru worked on it to free past Hokages.

"It is the perfect technique for your clan, Karin. You all have such large chakra reserves, barely anyone could contend with you in that department. This means that you could in theory seal anyone inside of the Shinigami without yourself dying if of course you successfully catch your enemy. I admit, your clan was much stronger than my Uchiha clan, Karin...", Kiyomi also sighed.

"And that's not even everything yet. I didn't tell you about the giant barrier ninjutsu that protected this village from the outside. They could only use some nefarious means to get in, or even the four great ninja villages couldn't do anything against us. The patriarch, I talked with, Ashina Uzumaki could even seal a whole mountain inside a small pocket dimension just with his basic Uzumaki fuinjutsu. He was also the one who first improved the Adamantine Sealing Chains.", Karin boasted.

"And, Neji, patriarch warned me not to tell this to anyone. However, you're not just anyone... The Death Reaper Seal is actually a secret fuinjutsu technique created by applying the Yang Release onto the specific sealing markings and formulas, giving it a life-like appearance like it was a real Shinigami. And, it's weird isn't it, those Adamantine Sealing Chains are mostly Yin Release with fuinjutsu, that seal away your lifeforce, and physical energy. Whereas the Death Reaper Seal is fuinjutsu with Yang Release sealing your spiritual power, or better-said soul, away.", Karin continued speaking in a teaching manner. Neji incredulously thought, 'So, that's it...? What a truly great clan!'

They talked about the rest of Karin's conversation with her Uzumaki elder for a while, before Neji suddenly got a flash of inspiration, "Karin, is this place free, can we enter now? I think this is perfect for our base...", Neji suddenly smiled and recommended while looking at the sea all around them. He doesn't think anyone could find them, moreover, Karin now gets access to that invisible barrier. And it looked quite spacious, perfect for hosting many laboratory rooms inside and they could do various pieces of training outside. Neji couldn't think of any better place for now, this one was great.

"Yes, well done, Neji! I now got the sealing commands for this whole place. Let's go in and make yourself at home!", Karin smiled full of pride, she was also happy with this place giving her a fond feeling of her own kind. She enthusiastically walked in first, after giving a command, while they followed. The place was full of Uzumaki symbols and heritage with many compartments and rooms.

At last, they all sat down in front of some kind of large table with the Uzumaki symbol on top of it. Karin quite liked this familiar atmosphere, even quiet Kiyomi now looked pleasant to her, and she smiled. It looked like she finally found her own home. She now really liked Neji even more after this.

"Karin, we will live here. We should all focus on training and developing our powers. I can't help you much with fuinjutsu or your other Uzumaki stuff. Are there any scrolls left now that could help you?", Neji looked at her and asked. Karin nodded and went to bring some from the other room.

"As you know, shinobi clans' hidden jutsu are mostly passed on verbally. The patriarch just now passed it onto me and I wrote some notes. However, here they still left some ordinary fuinjutsu scrolls. There are also some elemental jutsu writings. Barrier jutsu, medical jutsu, apparently too..."

The reason why Neji wasn't taught verbally by the Hyuga clan during his childhood was very simple. Even if someone got to know the intricacies of their advanced Gentle Fist technique, they could still not perform it without the Byakugan, which was crazily guarded instead. Other hidden jutsu clans like Nara, Akimichi, or Yamanaka, also presumably allow their techniques only to be passed verbally.

Karin carefully placed all the various scrolls on the table. Neji quickly skimmed over curiously. But, he suddenly got engrossed even in the most basic of fuinjutsu written lessons, 'This is way better than what Tenten showed me previously. I feel like even this clan's basic understanding was on another level.', Neji marveled at their mastery. Kiyomi also found some ordinary Fire Release jutsu scrolls, while Karin took a look at some basic Earth and Water Release. Those were their preferred innate chakra natures. Karin tested her attributes during her time with Orochimaru, while Kiyomi bought some test papers on the black market. And, Kiyomi only now got the chance to learn some. And Neji never even tested his attributes, not to mention learning some, it wasn't his fighting style.

The Fire Release burns anything it touches. It can turn its target into flames and, like Wind, is especially suited to offensive attacks. It consumes the Wind Release but is extinguished by the Water release.

The Wind Release is sharp as a blade and can cut and tear anything in its path. It is used for specialty ninja weapons and techniques and is most effective in short to mid-range distances. It cuts through the Lightning Release but fuels the Fire Release.

The Lighting Release electrocutes, diffuses easily, and is compatible with mid-to-long distance techniques. Adding it to metal weapons makes them more lethal and increases the electrical shock. It shatters the Earth Release but is severed by the Wind Release.

The Earth Release increases the solidity and composition of all things. It repels the Water Release but is torn apart by the Lightning Release.

The Water Release is compatible with the multiple-faceted shape transformation. As in creating fog to camouflage oneself, or a tsunami wave to obstruct something, it is effective for defensive purposes. It quenches the Fire Release but breaks against the Earth Release.

"Karin, I have an idea about a jutsu you could create!", After a while, Neji mentioned all of sudden. Karin and Kiyomi looked at him curiously, while he dropped the name, "Multiple Exploding Clones!", Neji got the idea for that technique from his previous life when he watched how Itachi used them.

"It's perfect for you, with your available chakra pool you could create hundreds of them, making them explode on your command or after getting destroyed. You just need to figure out how to integrate ordinary Explosive Tags with your clones, which could also be normal or better yet shadow clones. I think you probably have the instructions for them somewhere along these papers as well."

In fact, Explosive Tags were not fuinjutsu at all, they were jutsu shiki or jutsu formulas, something like hand signs, just in the written form instead. The Flying Raijin was also a jutsu shiki technique. Fuinjutsu is just a jutsu of sealing or unsealing something while jutsu shiki was like a programing language of Neji's past life. Jutsu shiki are those marking that create fuinjutsu, not fuinjutsu itself. Fuinjutsu was just sealing something inside of something or someone or releasing it back outside.

Explosive tags are a standard ninja tool that consists of a sealing formula applied to a slip of paper that is able to unleash an explosion. The Explosion Sealing Method is a sealing formula that stores an individual's chakra in a pattern that causes it to react violently when unsealed. Once activated, the explosive tag starts to burn, and then the chakra is released in an instantaneous burst of heat, flame, and concussive force to produce an explosion. The more chakra sealed within the formula then the greater the force of the explosion that is released. Even genin had knowledge of them.

An explosive tag can be activated in a number of ways. The standard method is for the user to channel their chakra into the tag to unlock the seal. But it can also be set to detonate on a delay so that it explodes after a specified amount of time has passed, when in proximity to another person to hurt an enemy when they get too close or when they are moved or touched to set a critical trap.

If a tag explodes in close enough proximity to another tag then it will cause that one to react and explode as well. The more tags exploding together then the greater the range and scale of the explosion unleashed. Even just setting a tag on fire will cause it to react and explode. Karin and Kiyomi also knew about those tags, however, they could not think of how to combine them with clones in the way that Neji mentioned. However, Karin, who knew more about Jutsu Shiki nodded.

"I think I can do it. I just need more time just like with everyone else I plan to learn now. Anyway, thanks for the advice Neji. What did I do to deserve such love and care from you...", Karin feigned embarrassment.

"Anyway, Kiyomi I didn't forget about you. Here is the Konoha's strongest soul technique which I used to upgrade my dojutsu powers. Familiarize yourself with it, so you can start working on expanding your Susanoo to the highest level as soon as cell transplantation is over.", Neji looked at Kiyomi suddenly and have her a scroll from his small backpack. She thanked him and took it over. Neji already explained to Kiyomi everything he knew about dojutsu evolution during the last week.

"Kiyomi see you later! I'm going to bring all of my equipment here. And you Karin, train very hard while I'm gone. I will need your help sooner than you think. Just imagine how big of a powerhouse you will become after learning all that Uzumaki stuff and hopefully awaken the Wood Release after I transplant you those Hashirama Senju cells as well...", Neji was now much more confident in doing that cell injection procedure on both after he already did it successfully once on himself back then.

Neji smiled while standing up, he also suddenly touched her hair a little. She was really the best possible 'acquisition' done by him. He also previously told her about Hashirama Senju and his legendary, one-of-a-kind, kekkei genkai. Just like himself with more cells, full of Otsutsuki genes, awakened Tenseigan, he thinks Karin could awaken the Wood Release. Albeit weaker than Hashirama's because she still lacks his legendary Sage Mode, probably coming from the Slugs.

He now planned to return to the Land of Fire and transport all of his laboratory equipment here. He wasn't sure if he would find a better place to keep it, so previously left it there, but now he found it. He obviously knew the required basic fuinjutsu techniques for transportation from way before.

Wood Release was a nature transformation kekkei genkai, a combination of Earth and Water Release. However, that combination, without Senju's DNA could only result in a much inferior Mud Release kekkei genkai. Only Senju clan members could unlock that overwhelming Wood Release.

"Alright, see you all later. Karin, I hope the procedure also manages to cure your eyesight. I predict that you would look way better without your glasses. Then maybe I could consider your advances. As for now, there is not much hope.", Neji said and suddenly disappeared toward the place, going straight for the Land of Fire. Karin remained frozen in place with a big blush while Kiyomi sighed.

Jumping on the water through the nearby sea, Neji thought of Karin once again. It was not without a reason that he gives her constant small-time attention here and there. He does that to influence her and keep her more devoted and bound to him. Then even if Kiyomi, for some reason, betrays himself in the future, he would then still have another Six Paths fighter by his side, Karin Uzumaki.

He really couldn't imagine previously that the girl has such enormous, hidden potential. He plans to constantly give her hot and cold behavior and make her even more dedicated to him than she was to Sasuke in the original. After all, Sasuke even wanted to kill her in the original and treated her like garbage. It was impossible for Sasuker to try and make her more powerful and reconnect her with her clan as he did now. Neji understood her personality and story well, she just craved some love.

After all, the Wood Release was one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful kekkei genkai in the whole Ninja World. That's why Neji valued Karin so much. It is the only known kekkei genkai that could create life. It just needed to plant the roots, and the rest of woods and plants would grow on their own thereby saving the users of this ability much chakra. It could also help them heal, it could restrict or absorb chakra, even from the tailed beasts. It could create mountain-sized attacks. Hashirama in the original could create a giant wooden golem that could slap a tailed beast bomb.

Momoshiki Otsutsuki, one of the full-blooded members of his clan, used that ability later in Boruto. Neji always speculated that the Wood Release, in fact, comes from the God Tree itself, or else how should its strange connection to the Ten-Tails, who could also use it, be explained? Why was it so overpowering overall? In fact, Neji thinks it was because it imprinted itself genetically into both the Otsutsukis and the Senjus through the God Tree itself. After eating the Chakra Fruit, they acquired the innate ability of the tree itself. The God Tree created chakra, it was obvious why it could then also restrain or absorb it. And it explained perfectly why it could control tailed beasts so perfectly.