Chapter 18: Bloodline Seal
The next day, Hashirama and Masahiko declined Senju Ten'yu's offer to bring an escort, and the two of them went to the Tenbin clan compound alone.
They stated their purpose to the two guards at the gate, and one of them ran off to inform the clan head.
A few moments later, the Tenbin Clan Head came out to greet them personally. It was, as Masahiko had sensed, the man whose chakra was approaching the Peak Jonin level.
"Welcome, Lord Senju," the Tenbin Clan Head said. "This way, please." He led Masahiko and Hashirama into the main hall.
After they were seated, the Tenbin Head spoke before Hashirama could even ask his questions. "If I'm not mistaken, Lord Senju must have returned this time with an expert in Fuinjutsu." He then turned to Masahiko. "This man must be from the Uzumaki clan."
'A head full of red hair. Who else could I be? Like you even needed to guess...' Masahiko grumbled inwardly.
Hashirama looked embarrassed. After all, he had brought Masahiko here to deal with the Tenbin clan, and this situation was now rather awkward.
"Lord Senju, please don't mind," the Tenbin Head said. "We were enemies just a short time ago, after all."
"Yes," Hashirama explained. "I originally asked my Great-Uncle Masahiko to come here to... seal that transformation of yours. But now..."
"Can that transformation... truly be sealed?" the Tenbin Head interrupted.
Hashirama didn't know and looked over at Masahiko.
"Theoretically," Masahiko said, "there is nothing that cannot be sealed."
"Which means our transformation can also be sealed?" At this, the Tenbin Head's expression became agitated. "In that case... I beg you, please seal our transformation!"
Hashirama looked completely stunned. Masahiko, however, had an "as expected" look on his face.
After sensing the Tenbin clansmen up close, Masahiko had finally confirmed what the strange feeling in their chakra was.
It was, indeed, natural energy. But the Tenbin clansmen were unable to absorb and convert it into senjutsu chakra. Instead, the energy was constantly eroding their own chakra and causing their bodies to mutate. It was clear the Tenbin clan had been suffering from this for a long time.
Just as Hashirama was about to ask why, someone burst into the hall.
"Big brother, you can't let them seal it!" The man who ran in was a stout, muscular man, a rare build in the ninja world, somewhat reminiscent of the Third or Fourth Raikage.
"If they seal our transformation, what will we use to protect our clansmen?!" the man continued.
"Little brother," the Tenbin Head said, "do you really believe this transformation can truly protect our clan?"
"Setting aside all others," the Tenbin Head said, "Lord Senju is right here. Your transformation is completely useless against him!"
"Impossible!" the stout man roared. He actually activated his transformation and charged at Hashirama.
"Steel Arm Bind!" The man's right arm suddenly enlarged, swinging to grab Hashirama.
"A bit like the Akimichi clan's secret jutsu..." Hashirama muttered, dodging to the side.
"Earthquake Slam!" Seeing his first attack miss, the man slammed his giant arm into the ground.
The entire hall shook violently, and even Hashirama momentarily lost his footing.
"Super-Heavy Punch!" Seizing the opportunity, the man retracted his arm, drew it back, and unleashed a powerful blow at Hashirama.
"Wood Release: Wood Formation Wall!" Hashirama had to create five successive wooden walls to block the attack. The clan's main hall, however, was "blasted to ashes."
"That power... as expected of natural energy. It allows an Elite Jonin to briefly wield the power of a Clan Head..." Masahiko, too, looked shocked.
The commotion had drawn Tenbin clansmen from all over.
Seeing the crowd gather, Hashirama formed his seals: "Wood Release: Birth of a Dense Forest!"
Although he didn't use his full power, the area within a hundred-meter radius was instantly overgrown with massive trees. The large Tenbin man was bound by the wood. He struggled for a moment, then lost his strength, his body reverting to its normal state.
At this, the Tenbin Head stepped forward and addressed the crowd: "Did you see that? That is the power of the Senju Clan Head. In the face of such strength, our transformation is useless! And think of the pain this transformation has brought us! Ten years ago, we had over 3,000 clansmen! Now, we have fewer than 1,000!"
"Over 100 years ago, our ancestors settled here and gradually gained this transformation ability."
"At first, this power did indeed make us stronger. But as time went on, more and more of our people were turned into mindless, bloodthirsty monsters!"
"Especially in recent years, the number of rampages has only increased! This is a cursed power!"
"Therefore, as the Seventh Head of the Tenbin clan, I ask you all to agree to abandon this power, and let the Uzumaki elder seal it away!"
The crowd was silent for a moment, then, one by one, clansmen began to voice their agreement. Aside from a few individuals obsessed with power, almost everyone had come to despise this ability.
Seeing this, the Tenbin Head turned back to Masahiko.
Masahiko thought for a moment. "May I first examine the specifics of this transformation?"
The Tenbin Head agreed immediately and personally allowed Masahiko to investigate.
"Just as I thought. The mutated chakra has already fused with your bloodline," Masahiko said slowly. "If you want to seal this power, I will have to seal your bloodline itself. You will all lose the transformation ability, and your descendants will also be born without this mutation. Your clan may grow weaker, perhaps even losing your ninja abilities over time."
"Of course," Masahiko added, thinking of Jugo, "it's also possible that a descendant in the future may experience a bloodline regression, and re-awaken this power."
"Even knowing this, do you still wish for me to seal it?"
The Tenbin Head gritted his teeth. "Please, seal it! If this continues, our clan will be wiped out within a generation. We won't have any descendants, let alone worry about them losing their power."
And so, Masahiko spent half a month developing a unique bloodline sealing jutsu specifically for their mutation. He then spent another half a month applying the seal, one by one, to every member of the Tenbin clan.
After the sealing was complete, Masahiko received a familiar line of text in his mind: "Witnessed and participated in a Naruto world Side Story: Sealing the Tenbin Clan. Received 2 Witness Points."
What the hell? Only 2 points?!
Masahiko cursed internally. "All that hard work this month for almost nothing."
"And... a 'Side Story'? Is it because Jugo isn't that important to the main plot? The Kaguya clan must have been worth so many points only because their name is connected to Kaguya Otsutsuki."
"Ah, well. 2 points is better than nothing."
After the sealing was done, Hashirama came to find Masahiko, ready to return to the Senju compound. But Masahiko stopped him.
"Hashirama, aren't you curious... why the Tenbin clan gained this transformation ability in the first place?"