CHAPTER 14 - Side effects of the Seal

I sat in the middle of the room and watched my grandfather and the two elders carefully prepare the seal verifying each step, with their abilities they could have completed the seal in an instant using their chakra as ink but they decided to do it this was not just to be careful but also to let me observe the whole sealing process.

After they were done with the preparations with some hand signs from them the sealing technique started, as my grandfather put his hand on the back of my head all the sealing symbols started to converge there and I felt a sharp pain in my mind for a moment before it disappeared.

Sen POV

After the sealing technique was completed Grandpa looked at me and waited for me to recover and as soon as I recovered my focus he asked

"How do you feel? Do you still remember me?"(Ashina)

"I feel quiet, it is like some noise in my head that I thought was normal and was used to, suddenly disappeared.

And I still remember you grandfather."(Sen)

"Then try to recall some old memory?"(Ashina)

"It is more difficult than before, I just tried to remember about the wet bone forest and though my memories are clear.

I have to concentrate a little to remember them it is not appearing in my mind automatically like before." I replied as I opened my eyes and stopped concentrating.

"Did you lose any memory?"(Ashina)

"I don't think so. It is like I know what I know but to recall anything specific I have to concentrate on it. It is just like you said that there is a curtain in between me and my memories which stops anything from popping out by itself but doesn't prevent me from bringing out something and I can always know a silhouette of what's on the other side." that was the best description I could give.

"That's good it is working now try to control your chakra."(Ashina)

As I tried to mould my chakra it started to move slowly and I could finally control it slightly, I felt the excitement bubbling up within me but I continued to focus on my chakra.

"It is working."(Sen)

"It looks like we succeeded."(Ashina)

"Yes I will finally be able to start training." with this I can finally take my first step for I will need all the strength I can gather to accomplish my goals.

"Then why aren't you happy?" Grandfather asked me with a pensive look on his face.

'What does he mean by that, does he think I am pretending to be happy?'

"I am happy grandfather," I replied as I tilted my head in confusion.

"You certainly don't look that way to me." He said as he pointed to the mirror 

I looked at the mirror and saw my expressionless face looking back at me.

'What the-?' I looked at my expressionless face and closed my eyes and entered meditation as I felt my memories and spiritual energies I finally opened my eyes and noticed the cause,

"I think it has something to do with the seal grandfather."(Sen)

"Then let's remove It." said Ashina Uzumaki as he moved towards Sen

"Stop right there./ Wait grandfather."(Third Elder/Sen)

My voice sounded at the same time as Aunt Asahi though I don't know her thought process I don't think there is a need to be so hasty and so we discussed what to do with my situation and came to the conclusion of testing the complete extents of the side-effects.

THIRD PERSON POV

A few days had passed since Sen had the seal applied to him, after hearing that the seal had side effects Ashina wanted to remove the seal immediately but he was stopped by Sen and Asahi who argued they should first find out what the side effects are even if they want to remove it they must first understand what they are dealing with.

After two weeks of testing out all sorts of things they found out that the seal worked perfectly; except that his emotional output was dampened too.

Memories themselves are connected to emotions and the dampening seal is working for both of them, making it so that while Sen feels all the emotions in his mind, the outburst of them is reduced significantly making him appear emotionless if the emotions are not intense enough.

"Do you have a way to separate memory and emotions?"(Sen)

"No."(Ashina)

"That means that this is the best condition the seal will provide as no matter what you do once the seal is applied both memory and emotions will be dampened."(Sen)

"Correct."(Ashina)

"So that means the seal is fine?"(Sen)

"Yes."(Ashina)

"Then we don't need to change it."(Sen)

"No we will still remove the seal and put on a new one."(Ashina)

"Why?" (Sen)

"While we can't change the effect of the seal after a discussion about your physical condition the Third Elder suggested that we put in some fail safes in the seal so we decided to add two new elements to it."(Ashina)

"What?"(Sen)

"The first one is that the dampening effect of the seal will be reduced as your physical and spiritual energies balance themselves in your chakra and the second one is in case there is a dangerous surge in your chakra or your chakra gets unbalanced the seal will consume itself to reduce its harmful effects."(Ashina)

"Why not seal the chakra instead of trying to balance it with the seal?"(Sen)

"Because having your chakra sealed will leave you vulnerable and as a shinobi I don't think that is a desirable condition."(Ashina)

'Right I forgot that people killing each other was normal in this world, I think my previous world was less life-threatening but who knows I don't remember much anyway.'

 And so Sen once again entered the sealing room and after a few hours of effort, his seal was replaced with a new one.