For Mitarashi Anko, the power of the Cursed Seal held no real appeal anymore. Her own strength was no longer weak, and she had no desire to seek out overwhelming power. To her, the curse seal brought little benefit—only danger. When it activated, the toll on her body and mind was immense.
Now, as the transformed Anko stirred, her consciousness seemed unclear. Her body wouldn't respond—only the occasional futile twitch. Her vision blurred and darkened until she gave up trying to see at all.
"It shouldn't be a big problem," Mizuki said, turning to Yamashiro Aoba. "Wait a bit. Once her chakra is drained and the barrier dissolves, call for a medical-nin."
"Thanks, Mizuki," Aoba replied.
"I'll head out. I'll leave the rest to you."
With that, Mizuki left the chamber alongside Hatake Kakashi.
"So, what's going on, Kakashi?" Mizuki asked.
Kakashi's students were nowhere in sight. This was a temporary stronghold, and frankly, there wasn't a strong reason for Kakashi to be here unless something important was up. The war was over—he had plenty of responsibilities elsewhere. So why was he lingering?
"…You're sharp as ever," Kakashi admitted. "There's something I need to talk to you about. The village council—Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane—they want to see you."
"Me?" Mizuki raised an eyebrow. "What for? I don't exactly have ties with them. After my return, I've barely seen them at all."
"It's about the Third Hokage's death—and your so-called 'omnipotent potion,'" Kakashi said seriously. "I haven't seen it up close myself, but the rumors are… intense. Something like that would obviously catch the higher-ups' attention."
"That potion… and the Third…" Mizuki muttered, suddenly reminded of the battle between Hiruzen and Orochimaru. Aside from a few ANBU, perhaps only his clone had witnessed the fight up close. But…
"When?" Mizuki asked, a little unsettled. He generally knew the outcome—his chakra-linked clone had likely witnessed it—but they hadn't met yet to exchange memories. He only knew the clone was still active… but not what it saw.
"Later," Kakashi said. "Too much going on right now."
"Fine. I'll head there before dinner." Mizuki sighed in relief. At least he didn't have to rush. "By the way, did you happen to see where my clone went?"
"Last I saw, it was near the Academy, helping Ebisu with something."
"What the hell is it doing there…? Never mind," Mizuki said, rubbing his temple. "Anyway, you didn't just come to deliver a message, did you? If you've got something else, just say it."
"…Actually, yes. A personal request." Kakashi hesitated, then asked, "Is there anything you can do about Sasuke's curse mark?"
Mizuki's expression soured.
He could guess why Kakashi came to him—his recent research on sealing techniques had gained attention. But this felt desperate.
"…Didn't Jiraiya return recently? Has he looked into it?"
"He did," Kakashi said with a bitter smile. "Didn't say much, but from the look on his face, it's complicated."
That was troubling. If Jiraiya of the Sannin couldn't resolve it, that said a lot. Maybe the toads at Mount Myōboku could help, but…
Mizuki sighed. "Kakashi, the Curse Mark isn't a simple matter. It's rooted in the Senjutsu of the Ryūchi Cave. The 'Evil Sealing Method' you're using now—it's only temporary, and it depends heavily on Sasuke's willpower."
"And Sasuke…?"
Mizuki shook his head. "He's driven by vengeance and ambition. That kind of mindset makes him a perfect host for the seal's influence. The more he uses its power, the deeper the corruption—both physical and mental."
"Is it hopeless?"
"No. Nothing's truly impossible in a world with chakra," Mizuki replied. "But interference could alert Orochimaru—or worse, provoke a reaction from the source of the curse seal. If Sasuke doesn't develop properly under Orochimaru, it could delay or even derail key events—like the sealing of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, for example. The future is fragile."
"...Still, you have something in mind?"
"There's a workaround," Mizuki admitted. "I can't remove the seal—but I can construct a mental barrier to protect Sasuke's psyche. It would suppress the psychological corrosion and keep his emotions stable, making him more resistant to the seal's influence."
Kakashi blinked. "That sounds… promising."
"There's a downside," Mizuki added. "It'll slow the development of his Sharingan. Emotional turbulence is key to awakening the Mangekyō. If Sasuke's spirit becomes too stable, his evolution might stall."
"…That's a tough trade-off," Kakashi murmured. "But I'd rather have him safe than consumed."
"Exactly," Mizuki nodded. "I'll let you decide. But I'll need three days to prepare the necessary seals."
"Understood," Kakashi said. "But… how do you know so much about the Sharingan anyway?"
Mizuki smirked. "It's legendary. Who hasn't done some private research?"
Kakashi let it slide. "Alright. I'll speak to Sasuke first, but I don't think he'll refuse."
"Good," Mizuki replied. "But this won't come free. This kind of trouble deserves some compensation."
"Ah—right…" Kakashi scratched his cheek. "I didn't think that far. I have some ninjutsu scrolls—interested?"
"Nah," Mizuki waved him off. "But I do have a personal favor I'll ask of you later… something that might require your Sharingan."
"…Deal," Kakashi said with a nod. "When do we start?"
"Three days from now. I've got a few things to put together first."
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