After listening to Shinju's explanation, the high-ranking officers in the Allied Shinobi Forces headquarters exchanged glances.
The Raikage spoke first.
"Coincidentally, the Third Division has already encountered the advance Edo Tensei unit from Akatsuki. Let's send this sealing technique over and test its effect."
"Should I use the Flying Thunder God Technique to deliver it?"
Shinju asked.
The Great Toad Sage had said he couldn't participate directly in the Fourth Great Ninja War.
But just sending an item and offering a bit of technical support shouldn't count as participating, right? (◔◡◔)
The Raikage waved his hand after hearing Shinju's words.
"You've already helped us more than enough. I've got another method to send it."
As his words fell, a tall, dark-skinned woman with white hair and a professional outfit stepped forward.
"My Heavenly Transfer Technique is ready. ʘᴗʘ"
Shinju blinked in surprise.
"Heavenly Transfer Technique?"
Mabui smiled and explained,
"It's also a kind of space-time ninjutsu. It can transmit an object at the speed of light to a designated location."
Shinju was taken aback.
"No need for a marker?"
Mabui shook her head.
"No. As long as I know the exact coordinates."
Shinju: (⊙o⊙)
That's even more convenient than my Flying Thunder God Technique.
He continued to ask,
"Can it transmit people?"
Mabui shook her head again.
"The Heavenly Transfer Technique propels the target at light speed. The friction with the air is too intense. A normal human body couldn't endure it—it would be torn apart."
Shinju nodded.
"I see."
Technically, his delivery task was done—he could've left already.
But instead, he stood nearby, watching closely as Mabui prepared to use her technique…
Shinju's reputation for learning quickly was well-known, and being watched by him made Mabui a little nervous.
Until the Raikage ordered,
"Mabui, don't hesitate—just start."
Receiving the command, Mabui took the sealing scroll engraved with sealing patterns from Shinju, formed the necessary hand seals, and activated the Heavenly Transfer Technique!
...
Forest Battlefield.
Whoosh!!
A streak of light shot down, landing right in front of Kakashi!
The Communications Unit had already informed him about the incoming sealing scroll, so when it appeared, Kakashi wasn't surprised at all. He raised his hand and caught it smoothly!
Just then, the Explosion Release ninja beside him lunged with a punch!
Kakashi reacted instantly—whoosh!—and unfurled the half-man-tall scroll!
The next second, the Explosion Release ninja's fist came into contact with the runes inscribed on the scroll!
Immediately, the Netherworld Seal symbols etched on it came alive, vibrating violently!
Hula!
In the blink of an eye, those black runes spread like a beast opening its jaws, biting down on the Explosion Release ninja's arm!
Huff—!
As the symbols continued to shift, Kakashi saw the man's soul being forcibly ripped from his body!
A few seconds later, the soul was completely devoured by the seal, and the body itself crumbled away into Edo Tensei ashes...
"As expected of a technique created by Shinju—what terrifying power! (๑ʘ̅ д ʘ̅๑)!!!" Kakashi exclaimed.
Just as he finished speaking, he felt heat on his palm. Looking down, he realized the scroll in his hand had suddenly caught fire!
...
The battle's situation was being relayed in real time back to the Kumogakure command headquarters.
After hearing that the sealing scroll had ignited, the Tsuchikage asked,
"Is the technique still flawed? Why did it suddenly catch fire?"
Shinju shrugged.
"Nope. I made it do that on purpose. ┐(´-｀)┌"
"Any Edo Tensei ninja sealed by this scroll will have a mark engraved within their soul. Once sent back to the Netherworld, they can never again be summoned by Edo Tensei."
"And since the incantation on every Netherworld Seal scroll is unique, it self-destructs after use. That prevents anyone from recovering the scroll and using it to recall those sealed souls…"
Everyone in the room had their eyes light up: (´◊ω◊｀)
The Raikage even gave a thumbs up.
"As expected of Konoha's genius—you even accounted for the aftermath."
"It's just a pity these scrolls are single-use… How many more of them do you have?"
Shinju shook his head.
"Just that one. I'd only just finished designing it and gave it to you for testing. ¯\(ツ)/¯"
The Raikage frowned.
"Then what now…"
Shinju waved his hand.
"It's fine. Gather all the sealing specialists still stationed here at headquarters. I'll teach them the concept behind the seal, including how to craft each scroll's unique inscription."
The Tsuchikage blinked.
"You're really willing to share this sealing technique? Σ( ° △ °|||)︴"
After all, powerful sealing arts were often guarded as clan secrets. Yet Shinju's technique was not only practical but a perfect counter to Edo Tensei itself!
Shinju smirked.
"What's there to 'be willing' about? It's not that hard. Even if I didn't invent it, someone else would within a few years. No need to hide it. ㄟ(▔,▔)ㄏ"
"Besides, it's wartime. This isn't the time for hoarding secrets. (๑❛ᴗ❛๑)"
The Tsuchikage lowered his head and muttered,
"Seems I've been too narrow-minded…"
When he'd first heard Shinju had learned his Dust Release, he'd actually been angry about it for a while.
But now, watching Shinju share a freshly developed sealing art without hesitation, he realized how small his own thinking was.
No wonder this boy had grown to such heights...
The Raikage walked over and clapped the old man on the shoulder.
"We've gotten old… The new generation of shinobi has surpassed us by far."
The Tsuchikage scowled.
"What do you mean 'we'? I'm decades older than you! Don't lump us together! (ꐦ ಠ 皿 ಠ)"
The Raikage just grinned.
"Eh, same difference. Don't take it so seriously! (๑ت๑)"
After that, the Raikage gathered the sealing specialists of the Fourth Division who remained at headquarters. Under Shinju's guidance, they began learning the Netherworld Seal.
...
Half a day later.
Inside a small classroom, Shinju took a sip of tea and rubbed his temples. ~(* ﹏ *)~
"Seriously? It's such a simple incantation—how do you still not get it?!"
"The binary-cubic structure of the seal combined with the entanglement formula—just add a small variable in the middle! How hard can it be?! (ー_ー)!!"
"You're supposed to be elite ninja fighting in the Fourth Great Ninja War! How can you not grasp such a basic sealing foundation?! (′д｀σ)σ"
The sealing ninja being scolded below looked miserable but didn't dare speak.
The technique Shinju was teaching them felt like he'd first taught them 1 + 1, and then immediately asked them to do calculus! (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)
"Fine, fine… I'll go over it again." Shinju sighed, tapping the chalkboard with his pointer.
"First, we start by identifying the base seal formation, and then—"
The sealing specialists straightened in their seats, not daring to miss a single word Shinju said!