Chapter 47: New Power
"Me?"
"Stand on that?"
Naruto pointed at himself, subconsciously taking a step back.
The shaking and the spectral image from a moment ago still had him rattled. He was hesitant to stand in the center of that altar.
"Yes, you," Orochimaru said, his tone laced with regret. "If it weren't for the fact that only Uzumaki blood can accept this power, I wouldn't bear to let you have it all to yourself."
In his past life, to free his arms from the Reaper Death Seal, Orochimaru had pored over countless scrolls on sealing jutsu.
Most of them came from the Uzumaki clan. He happened to have read about the Soul-Devouring Demon Mask used to seal Hidan.
The Soul-Devouring Demon loved the power of Jashin. When the Uzumaki used the mask to seal that power, the demon would consume the evil energy but leave the pure energy untouched, returning it.
But this energy could only be absorbed by someone with Uzumaki blood. If anyone else tried, the energy backlash would cause their body to explode.
"Wait!" Kakashi stopped Naruto just as he was about to walk toward the altar.
"Orochimaru, you haven't explained what this power is!"
He knew Orochimaru's style too well. This man never did anything without profit. Being kind enough to let Naruto absorb power? There had to be a hidden agenda.
Orochimaru didn't answer directly. instead, he asked, "Kakashi, when you complete a mission, you receive payment, correct?"
Kakashi paused, confused by the sudden shift to mission payments, but nodded. "Of course. That's the reward a shinobi deserves for their work."
"Exactly." Orochimaru spread his hands. "Help the Soul-Devouring Demon obtain the power of Jashin, and naturally, you receive a reward. Unfortunately, this reward can only be enjoyed by someone of the Uzumaki clan."
"The Uzumaki have done this for a thousand years. Use the bloodline to activate the seal, receive pure energy as payment. These are the rules carved into the mask and the altar. I don't have the skill to tamper with them."
"As for why I'm being so kind to this brat..." Orochimaru pointed to his own head. "I think you know why."
Naruto stood at the edge of the altar, swallowing hard as if looking at a feast.
He looked back at Kakashi. "Um... Kakashi-sensei..."
"Don't be in such a hurry," Sasuke suddenly spoke up. "You haven't explained the side effects."
He knew too well the price of power. The evolution of the Sharingan came with intense emotional turmoil, and the Mangekyo Sharingan came with blindness.
"Side effects? Like..." Orochimaru drawled, "You might dream the memories of sealed Jashin cultists? Or occasionally hear Hidan cursing in your head?"
"What?!" Naruto nearly jumped out of his skin. "That guy's voice will be stuck in my head?!"
"Just a joke." Orochimaru waved his hand. "Relax. Like I said, you help the demon complete its task, the demon gives you a reward. Simple as that."
"As for consequences?"
"Hm... let me think."
"Maybe... a few chains will grow out of your back?"
"Chains?" Naruto touched his back, imagining dragging heavy black chains around, clanking with every step. He shivered, repulsed.
The others looked at each other, equally unable to imagine someone dragging chains around.
Except for two people: Kakashi and Sasuke, who looked thoughtful.
They had both seen Uzumaki clan members use the Adamantine Sealing Chains. They did indeed extend from the back. Was that what Orochimaru meant?
Kakashi looked at Naruto, his tone serious. "Naruto, the chains Orochimaru mentioned might be the Uzumaki clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains. That's not a side effect; it's a manifestation of your bloodline awakening. Just like Sasuke's Sharingan is the Uchiha clan's gift."
"Adamantine Sealing Chains?" Naruto blinked. He knew he had Uzumaki blood, but he never knew he had an ability like that. "What's that? Is it strong?"
"Of course it's strong," Sasuke said. "It's a power that can bind a Tailed Beast."
"Tailed Beast? What's a Tailed Beast? Sounds tough. Is it a new jutsu?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi froze. He had forgotten that Naruto at this age didn't know about the Tailed Beasts, or that the Nine-Tails was sealed inside him.
The village kept it a strict secret. Even the Third Hokage had ordered that Naruto not be told the truth yet, fearing he couldn't handle the burden or would be hurt by the way others looked at him.
Sasuke gave an awkward laugh. In the heat of the moment, he'd let "Tailed Beast" slip. How was he supposed to explain this without revealing Naruto was a Jinchuriki?
The atmosphere in the shrine grew tense. Tenten, Kiba, and the others sensed something was wrong. They looked at each other, afraid to speak.
They knew about the Tailed Beasts, but they also knew Naruto's special status and the village's gag order. They all fell silent.
Finally, Kakashi took a deep breath, stepped forward, and patted Naruto's shoulder. "A Tailed Beast... just think of it as a really powerful creature."
"A really powerful creature?" Naruto rolled his eyes in thought. "Does Boss Toad count? I feel like he's super strong."
"Exactly. Just like that." Kakashi quickly agreed, relieved Naruto didn't press further. If he had, Kakashi wouldn't have known how to spin it.
Sasuke relaxed his tense shoulders. He'd been worried his slip-up would cause a chain reaction. It seemed Naruto's understanding of "Tailed Beast" was stuck at "strong partner." He wouldn't notice anything wrong for now.
"Are you done chatting yet?" Orochimaru was getting impatient on the altar.
Getting power for free was something people would kill for, and this brat was dragging his feet.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming!"
Naruto leaped onto the altar.
Tenten, Kiba, and the others gathered around, marveling at the chakra wrapping around Naruto.
Kiba muttered, "I didn't know Naruto had that kind of talent. If I'd known, I would have checked if I had a hidden bloodline."
"Don't be stupid," Tenten smacked him. "The Uzumaki are an ancient clan famous for sealing jutsu. Hidden bloodlines don't just grow on trees."
The energy on the altar continued to pour into Naruto's body.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, shining with surprise. "I feel like... I can control more chakra! And my body feels so light... like I can jump higher and run faster!"