I start my search from Uzumaki compounds. Using the seal given by Kushina, I easily bypass the barrier and start to fumble around the compounds to search for any clues.
My search is futile, even after two hours of a thorough search. I was about to give up and return when my gaze fell on a small shrine similar to the outer shrine.
I ransacked the shrine and found an Oni mask inside it. I inspect the mask to find any seals or as such. Soon, I spot a complex sealing formula near the forehead. It is very intricately designed and is hard to notice.
'This is a summoning formula.'
After careful examination, I conclude that this is the summoning mask for 'Dead Demon Consuming Seal'.
'Strange, very strange. So, there were two such masks, the other being located in the outer shrine. Perhaps this one got destroyed during the pain invasion and Orochimaru wasn't aware of it.
Also, Uzumaki would have kept some kind of replica with themselves. Only after inspecting both of them could I figure out the Original Mask.'
I pocket the mask and move out of the Uzumaki compounds to the outside of Konoha.
Soon, I reach on the outskirts of Konoha in front of Uzumaki Clan's Shrine or Uzumaki Clans Noh Mask Hall. There is a giant replica of the clan's symbol at the entrance of the Shrine.
There is another powerful barrier protecting the Shrine.
'Hmm, Strange, there shouldn't be a barrier here. Orochimaru and the rest of the Taka team easily trespassed the Shrine. Maybe, over time, the barrier got destroyed.'
The seal given by Kushina allowed me to enter inside the Shrine. Within the temple at the center is a podium of sorts where several Oni-masks hung beneath three connected symbols of the clan, under all of which are ornate, black flames.
I start to inspect these masks one by one to check for any secret. But all of them were just porcelain masks, and only one was real. I pick up the real one and compare it with the previous mask.
'Hmm…there is no difference between them. Both of them are made from the same material and at the same time. I wonder why the Uzumaki clan placed a dangerous object as this mask on the outskirts of Konoha.
Then again, not many people are insane to allow Shinigami to possess them and then slice themselves to release sealed souls.'
I pocket this mask as well.
'I will return you to your position after my journey is over.'
I flicker towards Hokage Office to inform Minato about my departure.
"Minato-san, I will be out of Konoha for a while. I have planned to visit Uzushiogakure to investigate the remains of the Uzumaki clan for clues regarding their extinction.
Also, I would like to further improve my Fuinjutsu skills. Maybe the abode of the Uzumaki clan could provide me with some inspirations."
Minato nods to me and replies,
"Kushina informed me about this. I am surprised you reached the Grandmaster level in Fuinjutsu so quickly. Your talent in Space-time Ninjutsu is higher than mine and even your Nature Transformation Skills.
Sigh… Really, Izuna-kun. Your team is still undergoing treatment from the previous mission. Tsunade-san has figured out a way to treat them. But the damage has already been done, she can only prevent further harm to their body."
I leave the Hokage-Office as I inform my parents about my departure. Mother packed lots of food for me and reminded me to stay safe. Father encouraged me to go and explore the world.
My journey towards the Land of Whirlpool starts. The Land of Whirlpool is a small island nation located in the Mist Sea. The journey to Uzushiogakure will take two days at my normal pace.
I moved at a steady pace as I looked at the 'Sin Seal'.
'Your secrets will be revealed soon. I will figure out your purpose from the remains of the Uzumaki clan. Hopefully…'
My thoughts were conflicted regarding 'Sin Seal'. This seal allowed me to learn Darkness Release. Also, I was stuck at the Master level in Fuinjutsu for the entire two years with little progress. After I got branded by this seal, somehow my understanding of Fuinjutsu increased by a lot.
The previous complex sealing formulas became easier, everything came naturally to me, and within just seven months of this seal, I reached the Grandmaster level in Fuinjutsu.
To be honest, I am really curious about the nature of this seal. From the Grimoire and the name 'Sin' and other hints, I could only relate it to 'Seven Deadly Sins'- a concept I read about in my previous life.
'This kind of power is related to Demonic beings or Demons. I wonder if there were Demons in Naruto World. I think there were Demons in Naruto World, there is a demon sealed somewhere in the Land of Demons.
Naruto defeated a demon in the movie. I should check out that place too for further clues. All kinds of strange powers exist in this world.'
The Journey lasts for two days and I finally arrive at the shore of Land of Whirlpools.
The map given by Kushina came in handy. I start to walk inside Hidden Eddy Village while looking around.
The Village seemed to have been composed of several high-rise buildings. A wide river ran through the village and it is gapped by large bridges. The surrounding countryside is dominated by steep hills.
Now only ruins remain of the once exalted village. The buildings are torn apart, the bridges are dilapidated, and not even a single building is intact.
'How ironic it is, the 'Village of Longevity' couldn't last long enough and became history.'
I start to walk among the ruins of the Village and investigate for any clues for a secret chamber or something like that.
To my disappointment, even after two hours of thorough investigation through the village, I can't find anything.
'I should have expected this much. When the village was annihilated, the invaders must have even dug out the graves of the ancestor of Uzumaki's to find any secrets or valuable.
How could they allow the treasure trove of such a powerful clan to get away scot-free? As for the rest, the village head and elders must have destroyed the important secrets to not allow them to fall in the hands of their enemies and benefit them. But still, there has to be something which can help me progress further.'
I investigate once again but couldn't find anything.
'There has to be some sort of hidden underground passage, cave or something. It usually is there in such kind of settings.'
I sat inside the remains of one of the largest buildings of the Village as I flipped the masks in my hand while contemplating. I thought of these masks as some sort of keys which will automatically direct me towards my destiny.
But reality hit me hard. There were no reactions from these masks. They didn't even budge a little, much less point out a direction.
As I was playing with the masks, one of the masks accidentally slipped from my hand and fell on the ground. I bent down to pick the mask.
Suddenly, I noticed something from the cutouts of the masks. There are various tiny Fuinjutsu seals placed all around the floor.
The eye gaps of the mask magnified them in my vision. I picked up the mask and pocketed it and activated my Sharingan.
After using the magnifying powers of Sharingan, I noticed a large numbers of Fuinjutsu seals engraved all over the floor of the building.
The Fuinjutsu seals formed one massive seal which covered a large area. To get a better view, I jumped high up in the air.
A large seal appeared in my vision. This Fuinjutsu seal is shaped in the form of the Uzumaki Clan symbol.
'This is the most complex seal I have seen so far. I wonder what level the creator of this seal was at. If I try to decipher it now, it will take me months to just study this seal and then I would have to figure out a key for this seal, which is even harder.
What kind of secrets are buried within this seal? Can't I just smash everything apart and forcefully enter my way in. But what if this seal triggered and destroyed whatever is hidden beneath it?'
My thoughts are conflicted as I look at the seal.
'This won't go anywhere. Let me try to brute force my way in.'
I start to create a 'Big Ball Rasengan' in my hand. After completing the jutsu, I smashed it on the seal as I wait for the ground to tear apart.
Silence… Utter Silence…
After coming in contact with the seal, the Rasengan just vanished without any trace. The seal absorbed the entire Chakra of the Jutsu.
'If Ninjutsu won't work, what about Taijutsu?'
'Eight Inner Gates: First Gate, Second Gate, Third Gate: Gate of Life… Open'
I activated three out of Eight gates. This is my limit for now. I have only mastered three gates in a year. My body can't handle the burden of the rest of the gates even with Hashirama cells, and I don't like the masochistic feeling of continuous pain and healing.
I jump in the air to build some momentum for my attack as I rotate in mid-air.
'Leaf Hurricane'
I smash my feet on the floor.
Crack…
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A/N:- My wifi router suck balls. Suddenly, It won't allow me to access certain websites which include webnovel and even my bank website. It was working fine a few hours ago. I have to plug in my old router to get some connectivity. Do any tech geek have any solution for my router or I have to replace it?