The journey back was brief.
He didn't dawdle or linger in reflection; his thoughts spiraled between power and the multi-faceted layers of transformation he was about to undertake.
Once he arrived back in the safety of his own territory, he wasted no time.
Arthur was nothing if not practical in his endeavours. He needed to perform the transplant surgery immediately—there was no room for error with this delicate procedure, nor could he afford any interruptions.
Settling himself in an empty room, he prepared his instruments. The meticulous process began.
As he opened himself up, he merged the cells with his body. Focus was paramount, and he concentrated on the delicate threads of both her chakra and his to weave them seamlessly together, binding his essence to hers.
He was hyper-aware, tapping into the knowledge of past surgeries interweaving with chakra manipulation. Be it Yukimi Iburi, Ranmaru, or Haku, he was no stranger to being one of the best transplant surgeons in this world.
The procedure commenced swiftly. Ever so carefully, he guided the cells, channeling his chakra to facilitate the joining of their water, inorganic ions, and carbon-containing molecules.
He felt the union occurring—the foreign essence melding with his own in a manner that would leave earth's physicians speechless.
No more than an hour passed, and the throbbing beneath his skin felt like a second heartbeat. He had done it—he'd successfully incorporated Karin's cells, and now it coursed through him and added a new reservoir that promised growth.
When he finished, he took a moment to breathe. The transformation felt complete, yet the tasks that lay ahead demanded more focus.
He searched his body for the newly acquired chakra, probing gently within the folds of his inner self.
There it was: a distinct new layer added to his pool of chakra, the signature unmistakably that of an Uzumaki. The yellow light from the Gift of the Hermit chakra flickered brightly as it blended with Karin's essence.
It felt almost as if the waters were trying to break free. His chakra was larger, pulsing with even more potential—a vessel rejuvenated.
With the Uzumaki techniques closer than they'd ever been, he pondered the next steps. Balancing the chakras would be fundamental; flourishing would depend on his control over them.
He latched onto the patterns of his new chakra, exploring the dormant abilities that lay just beyond the surface.
Arthur knew that the journey before him involved more than amassing power; it would require finesse—control, to be exact.
What this newly expanded chakra pool allowed was for the better use of performing sealing techniques.
It was time for practice.
Arthur ventured into the wooded area behind his home, where the trees made an ideal setting for his training.
A clearing opened up before him, allowing sunlight to filter through the leaves overhead. It was here, far from prying eyes or unwanted distractions, that he could explore his potential.
He took a relaxed breath, centering himself in the tranquil surroundings. In the depths of his mind, he recalled the moments that shaped Karin's ability to summon special "Adamantine Chains."
The Adamantine Chains are a unique and powerful sealing technique, primarily associated with the Uzumaki clan. These same chains were emblematic of the clan's sealing prowess and are intricately connected to their chakra.
Users can summon them from their torso (and other body parts), allowing them not only to restrict and immobilize targets but also to neutralize their chakra, making them vital for subduing stubborn opponents.
At their core, the Adamantine Chains are made of a user's chakra, which gives them remarkable durability. This extraordinary resilience is illustrated by the fact that even the Nine-Tails, one of the most powerful Tailed Beasts, found it challenging to destroy them.
The chains' strength makes them suitable for engaging with immensely powerful entities and handling high-stakes situations, showcasing the potential of Uzumaki clan members' abilities as experienced sealers.
The primary function of the chains lies in their ability to physically bind and restrain targets. However, the technique goes beyond mere physical restraint.
From what Arthur recalled, the chains were shown to have the capability to nullify the chakras of the beings they bind, rendering them incapacitated. This dual functionality—both physical and chakra-based—adds a layer of tactical versatility to the technique, making it effective in a wide array of combat scenarios.
One interesting aspect of utilizing the Adamantine Chains is the user's flexibility in their deployment.
Instead of summoning a full array of chains all at once, experienced users may choose to create only a few, allowing them to extend and spread underground to cover a broader area.
That tactic helps maintain a clutter-free environment while enabling users to establish a significant range and control in battle, catching adversaries off guard by springing traps or restraining them from unexpected angles.
Another noteworthy application of the chains is the ability to erect barriers.
Kushina Uzumaki, during her time as the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, showcased this skill by creating an impermeable barrier to prevent the Nine-Tails from escaping and simultaneously keeping other ninjas at bay, such as Hiruzen Sarutobi.
This demonstrated the strategic importance of the chains, allowing not only offensive capabilities but also defensive maneuvers.
Karin also highlighted them through her unique manifestation of a similar ability.
Described as a glimpse of Kushina's original technique, Karin used what's known as the "Golden Chain: Bonding" technique, which allows her to produce chains for offensive purposes.
Despite being labeled as an incomplete version of the Adamantine Sealing Chains, her technique proved formidable when she effectively used it to destroy parts of a giant wood statue created from Hashirama's wood style Kekkei Genkai.
That alone was enough to showcase their raw potential behind this clan's sealing techniques.
Additionally, Karin's ability to manipulate the size and functionality of her chains reflects an evolution of the clan's technique. However, they were only used during emotional traumas she had faced.
Her visions of pain morphed into empowering moments of transformation; that was never Arthur's route.
Emotion was not something he indulged in, nor was he interested in courting chaos to summon power. Still, the Uzumaki techniques, especially the chains, beckoned to him.
What he desired to do was summon these trademark chains, not through an emotional upheaval but through the sheer will of his chakra.
He focused his mind, feeling the new Uzumaki chakra intertwining with his existing chakra, like vines climbing a sturdy tree. Extending his palm forward, he channeled that energy, envisioning the chains coiling and manifesting from his chakra.
Channels of chakra twisted and pulsed, building pressure that surged like a small wave, desperate to burst forth. Then it happened.
A swirl of pale chakra exploded from his palm, manifesting as a golden, slender, gleaming chain. It shot forth and coiled around a nearby tree, snaking around the trunk with surprising speed and precision.
Yet it was not the massive, reinforced adamantine chains he remembered them to be. It was light, almost frail, a shadow of its intended form. Though it held the tree firmly, he could feel its limits.
Kushina's chains were both sturdy, long, and large enough to bind a three-hundred-foot behemoth. Karin's was no different. But Arthur's was weak!
"Interesting," he murmured, perusing the chain as it shimmered and faded back into his chakra reserve. "More practice is needed."
Not at all troubled by their size, he continued his training.
He worked on the techniques until dusk began to scorch the horizon with shades of orange and purple. Again and again, he summoned the chains, pushing out bursts of chakra that sent them spiraling to encircle trees, boulders, and even small animals that sometimes fled too swiftly for the chains to catch.
They tethered them into place, but they always reverted to their ethereal state before he could harness more than a fleeting grasp of power.
Over the course of that long afternoon, he found pace in the movements; he began to unlock deeper nuances of control. The chains no longer felt like a stranger tearing at his essence but rather an extension of himself.
To his surprise, although his early attempts had produced only small, flimsy constructs, his persistence led to subtle changes. The chains began to thicken and grow longer, gaining a sparkle that suggested strength.
They dug into the earth, wrapping around rocks and uneven ground with a different style.
As the final rays of sunlight began to fade into twilight, Arthur felt exhausted from overusing his chakra. But it was coupled with overwhelming satisfaction.
He had managed to bind a large stone, nearly the size of a boulder, for the first time, holding it in place as if it were a child's toy.
The golden chain glimmered fiercely, reflecting shades of his chakra.
'To think that Uzumaki characters had something this potent,' he thought to himself, watching as the chains sparked. 'Light but usable. This, I can refine.'
Taking into account the Uzumaki characters, only one other player had the potential to use these chains: William.
His character, much like the main character, had an insane amount of chakra. And while he never outrightly showed Arthur that he could summon the chains, that did not mean that he wasn't capable of drawing out their power.
Arthur pulled his chain back toward himself, feeling its weight and, more importantly, the sense that this was only the beginning. Because the chains had strengthened, the chakra felt heavier—much to his content.
He glanced at the tree line surrounding him. It was still—no lingering signs that he had been present here, discounting the occasional rustle in the bushes.
There was only himself, his burgeoning power, and the moon slowly moving overhead.
After a few moments of rest and having his chakra restored, he centered his focus again, ready to take on a final challenge before ending his training session.
He extended his palm, channeling a greater reserve of chakra than before, summoning forth the chains anew. They erupted with more vigour and potency than ever, rapidly extending before him in a dazzling show of gold lights.
Yet he didn't just focus on reaching outward; he purposed his chakra sinking deeper, enhancing those chains beyond their original spectrum. As it pooled, he forced it forward, feeling the shifting in his command.
The chains, by no means flimsy, began to thicken and darken. They enveloped an entire tree, causing it to splinter under the tremendous pressure of his chakra's hold. They felt as though they had gained solidity.
Remembering the tales of past wielders, he summoned every ounce of conviction, aligning his intentions with the output of the chains. Finally, just as moonlight cascaded through the treetops, he released them—expanding them like a vine searching for the sky.
A sturdy, mammoth chain—still smaller but undeniably potent—surged forth. The summoning impact resounded through the clearing with an audible crack, as he felt the pressure they exerted.
He had done it; he had learned the "Golden Chain: Barrier" technique. It was the same technique Kushina had used to erect a barrier that could even stop the Nine-Tails.
This was a technique he could build upon, build into something worthy of the legacy he was tapping into. Not merely a shadow of Uzumaki power, he was recreating the annals of all types of seals.
"We're not done yet," he whispered hoarsely.
With the moon illuminating his clearing like an oracle, he knew that he had to dare himself to reach even greater heights.
He took a moment to soak in the progress he had made. The chains—his chains—lay as symbols of what could one day bind even a Tailed Beast. With more training, more focus, and a deeper understanding of the chakra's flow, he was confident that he could surpass both Karin and Kushina in his own way, redefining what it meant to channel the power of the Uzumaki clan.
As he surveyed the night sky, he did not at all feel a sense of satisfaction; he was merely content. This journey was only just beginning, but Arthur had taken substantial steps that no others could compare to.