ตอน 168: Trouble in Twilight Realm
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One afternoon, as Horyu poured over a scroll detailing the Uzumaki's methods for enhancing physical objects with seals, Kenji approached him with an offer. "If you're going to learn about our sealing techniques, there are practical applications you should see."
Horyu looked up, interest piqued. "I'm listening."
Kenji led him to a training ground within the village, where various objects were lined up, each marked with intricate seals. "These are basic applications of our sealing arts. From enhancing weapons and armor to creating traps and barriers. Observing their effects firsthand will give you a better understanding than any scroll."
Horyu nodded, eager for the opportunity. As Kenji demonstrated each application, explaining the theory and chakra flow behind the seals, Horyu absorbed the information, his mind already racing with ideas on how to incorporate these techniques into his arsenal.
The practical demonstration was enlightening, bridging the gap between theory and application. Horyu was particularly impressed by a seal that Kenji showed him, which could temporarily enhance the wearer's speed. The possibilities these techniques offered were endless, limited only by one's imagination and chakra control.
As the days passed, Horyu's knowledge and understanding of Uzumaki sealing techniques grew. He spent his mornings in the library, studying scrolls and tomes, and his afternoons with Kenji, learning the practical applications of what he had read. It was a rigorous routine, but Horyu thrived under the challenge.
Kenji, for his part, began to see Horyu in a new light. The young Uchiha's dedication to mastering the Uzumaki's art, coupled with his respectful approach to their heritage, gradually eroded the older man's skepticism. While he would never fully trust an Uchiha, he could respect this one.
Like this, a few months passed by. Horyu had just mastered the basics and was about to be taught by Mito herself when Yoru appeared next to him in a puff of smoke. The owl looked distressed, a rare sight that immediately alarmed Horyu.
"What's wrong?" Horyu asked sharply, his attention fixed on Yoru's agitated state.
"The Realm Tree... It's sick," Yoru blurted out, his voice edged with panic.
Horyu frowned, concern etching his features. The Realm Tree wasn't just any tree; it was the life source of the Twilight Realm, situated in the heart of the Forest of Darkness, the home of the Kurohana Owl Tribe. It was also the essence of their realm. If the Realm Tree died, it could mean the end of the Twilight Realm itself. Horyu remembered the last quest of the Kurohana Owl Tribe Path, The Silent Guardian, which required him to assist the Owl Tribe against a looming threat by utilizing his training.
"How can that be?" Horyu demanded.
Yoru shook his head, "I don't know. Elder Aomori sent me to fetch you. He thinks your Sharingan might see what we can't."
Horyu nodded, his features set in a determined line, and in the next moment, both he and Yoru vanished, reappearing in the heart of the Forest of Darkness. The realm felt different this time, the usual vibrance of the shadows dimmed by an unseen malaise. The muscle-bound Toru, his Feather-Wing Kata instructor Elder Shizuka, Toru's father, Elder Kagehiro, and the tribe's sage, Elder Aomori, were already there, gathered in a semi-circle around the base of the Realm Tree. The tree itself looked sickly, its leaves dull and branches drooping.
"What's going on?" Horyu asked, stepping forward, his eyes scanning the tree and then the elders.
Elder Aomori, his deep blue feathers blending seamlessly into the twilight around them, turned his golden gaze upon Horyu. "The Realm Tree, the core of our land, is sick. It's losing its vitality, and with it, our realm is at risk," he explained, his voice echoing the gravity of the situation.
Horyu approached the tree, activating his Sharingan to examine it. The network of chakra that usually pulsed vibrantly within the tree was now sluggish, tainted by dark streaks that seemed to choke its life force.
"What's going on?" Horyu asked bluntly, his gaze fixed on the ailing tree.
Elder Aomori, his deep blue feathers almost merging with the shadows of the dusk, responded gravely, "We fear a sickness, one that's eating at the essence of the Realm Tree. Your Sharingan might help us see what our eyes cannot."
Without a word, Horyu activated his Sharingan, the crimson swirl of his eye intensifying as he studied the tree. The roots, trunk, and branches came into clearer focus, revealing traces of a dark, miasmic energy that seemed to be draining the tree's vitality.
Elder Shizuka, her ghostly silver-white feathers almost glowing in the dim light, nodded. "We suspected as much. But we haven't been able to identify the source or the type of poison."
Horyu turned to the elders, "Have there been any unusual visitors or happenings around the realm before this started?"
Horyu delved deeper into his investigation of the Realm Tree, his Sharingan revealing more than just the visible ailments. The deeper he looked, the more the dark, miasmic energies twisted and churned around the roots. Elder Aomori watched him closely, noting his frown.
"What is it?" Aomori asked, tension evident in his voice.
"There's an ancient seal here," Horyu replied, pointing to a nearly invisible mark at the tree's base. "It's centuries old. This might be what's causing the trouble."
The other owls gasped in surprise. Shizuka stepped forward, her eyes wide with concern. "A seal? Has it been harming the tree all this time?"
Horyu shook his head. "It doesn't seem so. The seal itself was containing something—some form of poison. It's only recently started to fail, hence the sudden sickness of the tree."
The revelation that the sickness was due to a failing seal rather than a natural disease or an attack puzzled them all. "Could it be sabotage?" Elder Kagehiro suggested, his voice rough like the bark of the trees surrounding them.
"Possibly," Horyu admitted, "or it might simply be a case of the seal's age. Whatever the cause, the seal is deteriorating, and we need to act quickly."
Aomori nodded gravely. "Then it's fortunate that you are here. Your knowledge of seals might be what saves the Realm Tree."
Horyu approached the tree cautiously, analyzing the pattern of the seal. It was complex, intertwined with the tree's own life force, which suggested that any mistake in handling the seal could be fatal to the tree. The shadows of the forest seemed to lean in closer as he worked, the atmosphere thick with the urgency of his task.
He began tracing the seal's pattern, his fingers barely touching the rugged bark, feeling the flow of corrupted chakra beneath. His Sharingan flickered, decoding layers of the seal that were invisible to the naked eye.
"The seal's design is sophisticated, and old—very old. It's tied to the tree's life force, which means breaking it without harming the tree will be delicate work," Horyu explained without looking up, his focus absolute.
Yoru, who had been quiet till now, fluttered closer. "What do you need us to do?"
Horyu shook his head, a mix of frustration and resolution in his expression. "Nothing. I can't do anything to a seal this complex without risking the entire tree." The others looked disheartened, but Horyu was already thinking of the next steps. "I'll take a sample of the poison back to Tsunade Senju. If anyone can counteract this, it's her."
The mention of Tsunade brought a flicker of hope to the group, but it was tempered with caution. "Are you sure she can help?" Elder Aomori asked, the concern evident in his voice.
"I'm confident," Horyu replied, his tone leaving no room for doubt. With careful movements, Horyu used his kunai to isolate a drop of the dark energy from the seal, making sure not to touch it directly. He sealed the drop into a scroll, ensuring it was secure. "I'll return as quickly as possible," he promised.
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