Chapter 59: The Confidential Archives

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: The Confidential Archives

If he had to choose from among A-rank and B-rank ninjutsu, Hyuga Kagami felt that the techniques currently most useful to him would be the B-rank Shadow Clone Technique and the A-rank Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

For a taijutsu-type ninja, the Shadow Clone Technique was a technique capable of instantly multiplying one’s combat power. If used properly, it could often produce unexpectedly powerful results in battle.

And as one of Konoha’s great clans, the Hyuga Clan undoubtedly possessed the Shadow Clone

Technique in its collection—perhaps even the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

Because of that, Kagami had originally planned to first fulfill Hyuga Hizashi’s request and settle the matter of the clan members’ confidence votes for promotion to jonin. Afterward, he could use the favor he’d earned from helping with the matter to request permission from the clan to learn the technique.

But plans could never keep up with changes.

At this point, there was no longer enough time for him to make such a request to the clan.

Even so, he still didn’t want to waste the opportunity granted by the Third Hokage on learning the Shadow Clone Technique.

The opportunity the Third had given them this time was simply too precious.

In fact, this was currently Kagami’s only chance to openly and legitimately gain access to sealing techniques.

So he absolutely had to seize it.

As for the Shadow Clone Technique...

He decided he’d get it from Shisui.

After all the trouble with the Uchiha challenges, Shisui owed him quite a few favors. Asking for a mere B-rank Shadow Clone Technique as repayment was hardly excessive.

Having made up his mind, Hyuga Kagami said solemnly, "Lord Hokage, I would like to learn an advanced sealing technique."

The Third frowned slightly. "A sealing technique?"

The requirements for learning sealing techniques were extremely demanding.

Unless a ninja had specialized in sealing techniques from a young age, they generally needed to reach the level of an elite jonin before they could successfully learn advanced sealing techniques.

And the issue wasn’t merely the amount of chakra they possessed. It also involved the ninja’s ability to precisely control their own chakra.

A very small number of sealing techniques even required the user to possess a certain degree of spiritual power or a particular bloodline.

As such, the barrier to entry for learning sealing techniques was extremely high.

After hesitating for a moment, the Third ultimately agreed to Kagami’s request.

After all, the choice belonged to Kagami. Even as Hokage, the Third had little reason to interfere with such a personal decision.

Once Kagami’s request had been confirmed, the Third turned to Guy and Shisui in turn.

Citing his desire to focus entirely on taijutsu, Guy gave up this opportunity to learn an advanced ninjutsu without the slightest hesitation.

The Third nodded approvingly.

Perhaps it was precisely because of Guy’s unwavering devotion to taijutsu that he would one day shine so brilliantly in the field, becoming one of the very few ninja in the Fourth Great Ninja War capable of threatening Madara.

As a member of the prestigious Uchiha Clan, Shisui had no shortage of ordinary A-rank or B-rank ninjutsu, so he had originally intended to give up this opportunity to learn an advanced technique as well.

However, after seeing Kagami choose to learn one, Shisui realized that if both he and Guy declined the offer, it would put Kagami in a rather awkward position.

So he casually picked a B-rank Fire Release ninjutsu.

Afterward, Kagami and Shisui followed the Third toward the confidential archives located beneath the Hokage Building.

On the way there, Kagami activated his Tenseigan to its fullest, committing every detail along the route to memory.

"There are hidden sentries stationed at both corners leading from the first floor to the basement. Two at each position, four in total. Judging by their chakra reserves, they should all be special jonin."

"There are ninjutsu formulas set up throughout the passage. One, two, three... five in total. They should be sensory-type ninjutsu formulas. If whoever enters doesn’t carry the Third’s chakra—or perhaps some other identifying signature—these formulas will probably activate automatically..."

"Huh? There are actually sealing formulas on this entire flight of stairs. They look unfamiliar. They don’t resemble the sealing formulas commonly used by the Uzumaki Clan..."

As Kagami observed his surroundings, he simultaneously analyzed the possibility of infiltrating the place.

The overall security of the Hokage Building wasn’t as tight as he had imagined.

That might have had something to do with the village’s recent shortage of manpower.

Setting aside the personnel who worked inside the building, there appeared to be a little over a dozen chunin guards stationed openly, while the hidden security seemed to consist of only three or four ANBU squads.

And that number even included the Hokage Guard Platoon responsible for personally protecting the Third.

Although there weren’t many guards, with the Third personally stationed here, this level of security was more than enough to defend against the vast majority of enemies.

Kagami’s expression remained unchanged as he quietly put aside any thoughts of infiltration.

Following the stairs downward under the Third’s lead, Kagami and Shisui soon arrived at the entrance to the confidential archives in the basement.

At that moment, the Third rapidly formed a hand seal before pressing one hand against the door of the archives.

Thud...

The door let out a deep rumble before slowly swinging open.

"Come in."

With that, the Third stepped into the confidential archives first.

The moment Kagami crossed the threshold, the space before him suddenly opened up.

Only then did he realize that the underground confidential archives were far larger than he had imagined.

The Third moved expertly through row after row of shelves. Before long, he retrieved two scrolls and returned to Kagami and Shisui.

From the scroll containing Fire Style techniques, Shisui casually selected a B-rank Fire Release ninjutsu he hadn’t learned before, then silently stepped aside.

Kagami, meanwhile, carefully began examining the scroll that catalogued the available sealing techniques.

There were quite a few sealing techniques for him to choose from.

Among them were commonly seen techniques such as the Five Elements Seal, Four Symbols Seal, and Eight Trigrams Seal, as well as less common techniques like the Evil Sealing Method, Contract Seal, and several others.

After carefully comparing the various techniques, Kagami discovered that among all the sealing techniques listed, the formulas of the Four Symbols Seal most closely resembled those of the Uzumaki Clan.

After briefly weighing his options, he chose the Four Symbols Seal.

The Third gave a slight nod, then put away the scrolls introducing the sealing techniques and Fire Release ninjutsu.

He then searched through the shelves and retrieved the individual scroll containing the Four Symbols Seal, along with the scroll for the B-rank Fire Style technique Shisui had selected, handing them to Kagami and Shisui respectively.

The Third reminded them, "Ninjutsu obtained through an ANBU squad application cannot be casually passed on to others. You should have already known that when you joined the ANBU."

Kagami and Shisui both nodded.

As members of prestigious clans, the Hyuga and Uchiha respectively, they had long since been familiar with rules like these.

The Third gave them one final warning.

"Return the ninjutsu scrolls within one month. If you’re sent out on a mission, the deadline can be extended accordingly. If you encounter an emergency, destroy the scrolls. Under no circumstances can their contents be allowed to leak!"

"Yes!"

As soon as they left the Hokage Building, Kagami brought up the matter of the Shadow Clone Technique with Shisui.

Shisui froze when he heard the request.

As far as he was concerned, someone with Kagami’s strength—someone capable of killing an elite Iwagakure jonin one-on-one—should have mastered a B-rank technique like the Shadow Clone Technique long ago.

Kagami obviously couldn’t explain to Shisui that barely half a year ago, he’d still been little more than cannon fodder.

So he could only make up some random excuse and muddle his way through the question...