Yin Release represents spiritual energy, capable of creating form from the intangible.
Yang Release represents physical energy, capable of infusing life into form.
Combined, they form the Yin-Yang Release technique.
In ancient times, the Sage of Six Paths used Yin-Yang Release to divide the Ten-Tails into the nine Tailed Beasts.
Such a powerful technique naturally has extremely demanding cultivation requirements.
Yin-Yang Release can create life, it's a technique that defies the natural order. To learn it, the most basic requirement is a massive amount of chakra.
This "massive" refers to a chakra level comparable to that of a Tailed Beast.
For ordinary people, this requirement is more difficult than reaching the heavens.
And this is only the first requirement.
Besides massive chakra, one also needs to cultivate Yin and Yang Release to their utmost limits.
For Yin Release, one needs to at least reach the level of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
For Yang Release, one needs to nearly achieve the Sage Mode of Hashirama Senju.
These three conditions combined make it nearly impossible.
No wonder in the original story, only Kaguya Otsutsuki and Hagoromo Otsutsuki mastered Yin-Yang Release.
Naruto's Yin-Yang Release was only a temporary ability bestowed by the Sage of Six Paths when he granted Naruto Yang power.
"These three conditions are truly harsh to the extreme."
Kimimaro sighed helplessly.
Massive chakra, with some effort, he might have hope within a few years.
The Shikotsumyaku and Byakugan bloodline limits could generate a considerable amount of chakra.
Moreover, there's the Yin Seal, a secret technique to increase chakra capacity.
The cultivation of Yin and Yang Release is more troublesome.
It's almost like needing to awaken the Tenseigan and master the All-Killing Ash Bones.
"I originally planned to use Yin-Yang Release to cure my illness, but now it seems, by the time I'm qualified to practice Yin-Yang Release, my bloodline disease should be almost cured."
Kimimaro couldn't help but complain.
Of course, this cultivation method wasn't completely useless.
At the very least, the Yin and Yang Release cultivation methods were usable.
With these two cultivation methods, the improvement speed of his Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku should increase significantly.
"Let's try the Yin Release cultivation method."
Kimimaro took a deep breath and began cultivating.
Chakra surged, entering his Byakugan.
The veins that should have appeared around his eyes didn't show up.
But Kimimaro felt his Byakugan's field of vision expand.
Originally, it was only a two-kilometer diameter, but now it had increased by about ten meters.
Kimimaro was overjoyed.
This Yin Release cultivation method was quite useful.
"Seems like this trip wasn't in vain."
After trying the Yin Release cultivation method, Kimimaro didn't dare to practice Yang Release.
If his Shikotsumyaku power surged again, his bloodline disease, which he had finally suppressed, might act up again.
"Quite a fruitful harvest."
These four words summarized Kimimaro's thoughts on the Konoha Crush plan.
Besides Yin-Yang Release, he also had a bunch of photo rewards and the Scroll of Seals.
Thinking of this, Kimimaro opened the system panel.
"Congratulations, tourist, for successfully taking a photo with the Konoha Crush plan event. You have received the reward: Courage Crest."
Courage Crest?
A sun-like pattern appeared on Kimimaro's right palm.
The crest flickered faintly, but soon disappeared again.
"Seems useless."
Kimimaro tried to activate the Courage Crest, but it didn't react at all, not even reappearing.
The Courage Crest, from "Digimon".
*Knock, knock, knock.*
Just as Kimimaro wanted to study it further, there was a knock on the door.
"Kimimaro, are you there?"
It was Tayuya's voice.
"Tayuya-senpai, what's the matter?"
Kimimaro opened the door and asked softly.
"Orochimaru-sama wants you to come over immediately."
"What's the matter?"
"In the battle with the Third Hokage, Orochimaru-sama's hands were severely injured. Both Kabuto and I have examined them, but we can't think of a way to treat them. Orochimaru-sama wants you to take a look."
"I understand."
Kimimaro immediately went to the medical room with Tayuya.
In the medical room.
Orochimaru was sitting on the bed, his face pale.
His hands were placed on the table, looking very weak.
"Kimimaro, you're here."
"Orochimaru-sama, how do your hands feel?"
"Like they're being burned by fire. That old Third Hokage, I didn't expect him to trick me one last time."
A trace of resentment flashed in Orochimaru's eyes.
"Let me see."
Kimimaro stepped forward to examine Orochimaru's hands.
He had never seen such injuries before.
It wasn't like a surface wound, but something that touched the soul.
A moment later, Kimimaro finished his examination.
He understood Orochimaru's condition very well.
The damage caused by the Reaper Death Seal was probably not something medical ninjutsu could heal.
The only way was to find the Uzumaki clan's Reaper Death Mask, summon the Reaper, and retrieve his hands.
"Kimimaro, how is it?"
Kabuto Yakushi asked.
"It's not an ordinary injury. The meridians and bones in his arms are as if they've been burned from the inside by fire, it's very strange. This shouldn't be caused by an ordinary technique. To cause such an injury, it must have touched the soul."
"Soul?"
Both Kabuto Yakushi and Tayuya were shocked.
But Orochimaru seemed to have thought of something.
"Orochimaru-sama, do you remember what technique the Third Hokage used on you?"
"Reaper Death Seal. The forbidden technique the Fourth Hokage used to seal the Nine-Tails."
"This technique likely sealed your hands, which is why it's causing this situation. If that's the case, I'm afraid it's difficult to treat with medical ninjutsu."
Kimimaro gave his answer.
"You studied with Tsunade for two years, do you think Tsunade has a way to treat it?"
Orochimaru asked.
"The possibility is low. Even Tsunade-senpai's medical ninjutsu is limited to the physical level, it can't touch the soul. Moreover, we just carried out the Konoha Crush plan and killed the Third Hokage, why would Tsunade-senpai agree to treat you?"
"As long as Tsunade has a way to heal my hands, I have a way to make her agree. I know her weaknesses very well."
Orochimaru said coldly.
For his hands, he didn't mind hurting his old teammate.
"Orochimaru-sama, if you're talking about her fear of blood, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. Tsunade-senpai's hemophobia is cured."
"Cured? She actually overcame her shadow?"
Orochimaru was quite surprised.
"Yes. I don't recommend going to Tsunade-senpai, she can't and won't treat it. There's no point in going to her."
"It seems you have another way?"
"I once read in a book that the Uzumaki clan is famous for their sealing techniques, each one extremely powerful, but they also have corresponding methods to break them.
These breaking methods exist within the twenty-seven masks passed down through the Uzumaki clan. If we can find the mask corresponding to the Reaper Death Seal, we might be able to eliminate the damage from the Reaper Death Seal."
(End of Chapter)
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