chapter 39: Reflection

More than twenty kilometers away.

In the northwest of the Bird Kingdom, at the foot of a barren mountain, in a cave, Bai Shi finally teleported here after many twists and turns.

However, he didn't look very well at this moment.

He was lying on his back on a stone platform, with the talisman still stuck on his forehead and his entire body covered with spell patterns. If his eyeballs weren't still moving, one might mistake him for a zombie.

Previously, although the panel had been showing "bound by the Seal of the Tongue," he didn't think it was a big deal because it didn't interfere with his daily activities.

But now, Bai Shi just wanted to get rid of this curse immediately.

To achieve this, he could think of roughly three methods.

The first was to kill Danzo, which was simple and direct. As long as the caster was killed, the "Seal of the Tongue" on all the Root Organization ninjas would be automatically removed.

Currently, Danzo had neither 'Kotoamatsukami' nor the Sharingan-arm, and due to years of fighting, his right arm had a hidden injury. Coupled with his age, his strength had inevitably declined.

Considering these factors, Bai Shi was confident that he could kill him.

However, the challenge was how to approach Danzo; he couldn't just break into the headquarters of the Root Organization, right? Moreover, if he did break in, Danzo would directly activate the "Seal of Tongue Trouble Root Suppression," which would turn his actions into a trap.

Therefore, this method had to be put on hold for the time being.

The second method involved studying knowledge related to sealing techniques and curse techniques in order to remove the "Seal of the Tongue" from the root.

However, any cursed technique that gained notoriety in the ninja world was not easily broken.

Bai Shi wasn't surprised that no one had successfully obtained the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan; the "bird in a cage" ensured the branch family's Byakugan remained locked away, showcasing its dominance.

By analogy, the 'Seal of the Tongue' that guarantees the loyalty of Root Ninjas wouldn't be easy to crack either.

Adopting this method would likely result in a long process that couldn't be completed overnight.

However, Bai Shi wasn't too depressed because no sealing technique or curse technique could maintain its effectiveness indefinitely.

For instance, the S-level forbidden technique—Impure World Reincarnation—despite improvements from Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi, still couldn't restrain Hashirama Senju, right? Indeed, Bai Shi was not Hashirama Senju, and his strength could not compare, but the "Seal of the Tongue" was not "Immortal Reincarnation," either.

At the very least, he had freed his mind from its constraints; as for his body...

Shiraishi took a deep breath, let out a low cry, his eyebrows bulging, his right hand trembling as he clenched it into a fist, inching closer to the talisman on his forehead.

One second, two seconds, five seconds, ten seconds. It took nearly two minutes before Bai Shi finally touched the talisman.

At this moment, blood oozed from the corners of his mouth—he had bitten his lips in exertion, holding on with only one breath.

'The last step!'

With that thought, Bai Shi shouted: "Ah——"

Then, with a "swish," the talisman on his forehead tore into two pieces.

In that instant, all the densely packed spells and seals on Bai Shi's body vanished, and the power that had restrained him dissipated.

Bai Shi sat up suddenly, breathing heavily.

This was his third approach. Though possessing 26 points in [Constitution] and 17 points in [Strength] did not grant him immunity from the physical restraints of the "Seal of the Tongue," it did provide him with a degree of resistance.

He wondered, if 26 points could help him, what about 36 points, 46 points, 56 points, or even higher? Would these increase his chances of breaking free from the shackles of the 'Seal of the Tongue'?

Of course, the answer was an undeniable yes. It had been established that all kinds of skills have limits, and the limitations of the 'Seal of the Tongue' were evident.

Thus, by focusing on improving his 'basic attributes', Bai Shi believed he would be able to free himself from its constraints in time.

Of course, Bai Shi would not abandon the study of sealing techniques and curse techniques; in fact, he would delve deeper into it.

The reasoning was simple. He viewed this knowledge as another scientific system in the ninja world, or more accurately, the true embodiment of its rules.

It was precisely based on this underlying logic that some sealing and curse techniques were so potent, relying not on human power but rather on the power of established rules.

Therefore, Bai Shi would continue studying these concepts.

However, all this was for the future. What he needed to focus on now was reflection.

Since learning the Flying Thunder God Technique, he had harbored the illusion of unbounded freedom in the vast world, and his approach to challenges had become less meticulous and cautious.

Admittedly, this resulted from a long period of suppression, which lulled him into a false sense of security, leading to carelessness.

When scrutinized, was the ninja world truly a safe place for him?

He couldn't overlook Black Zetsu, who had been running for a millennium simply to save his mother, or even Uchiha Madara, who lingered on the brink of death beneath the mountain cemetery, posing a threat.

Considering how obsessed Madara was with Hashirama Senju, if he learned that Bai Shi had inherited Hashirama's Wood Release, he might become excited to "invite" Bai Shi for a conversation.

If that scenario played out, would the Flying Thunder God Technique remain reliable?

The previous battle revealed Bai Shi's weaknesses, one of which was that his nerve reaction speed was not fast enough.

To effectively wield the Flying Thunder God Technique in combat, he needed not just sufficient chakra but also a keen reaction time.

If he found himself in a situation like the previous battle—dizzy from teleporting—it could present a severe disadvantage against experienced opponents.

If he were to teleport, only to discover his opponent could react faster, wouldn't that put him at risk of losing his life?

If his reaction speed lagged behind, the enemy would have an advantage to exploit, possibly using illusions to disrupt his perception.

This could further limit his use of the Flying Thunder God Technique, and without it, his mobility would suffer immensely.

In light of this, the Sharingan, with its insight and hypnotic abilities, posed a perfect counter to his Flying Thunder God Technique.

Given this potential, if Uchiha Madara actually sought him out, could he still escape?

Of course, this was hypothetical. Considering Madara's current state, it was nearly impossible for him to take action himself.

However, the Uchiha clan persisted, with many possessing the Sharingan, marking them as a considerable threat to Bai Shi.

Additionally, numerous ninjas skilled in physical techniques boasted fast reaction speeds and would serve as his nemeses, as well.

Given this perspective, was the ninja world still secure for him?

The attack from the Root Organization had undeniably jolted Bai Shi awake, shaking off the daze that once clouded his judgment.

One could only progress through acknowledgment of their shortcomings; Bai Shi was no exception.

With this experience, it was certain that his future path would unfold more smoothly.

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