With Benihime's Shuigan nullifying the insight of dojutsu, Shiki's Meikyo Shisui was impossible to see through as the pair advanced into the Valley of Hell.
It was a location that truly deserved its name.
A remote canyon with barely any plant or animal life, hot water flows through the earth and pools in several places with the high iron content giving the rocky terrain and reddish tint and making the war look like blood.
A pungent, sulfur-like smell emanates from the water permeating the entire valley as well, adding to its inhospitable nature.
Benihime kept quiet as she usually did, a trait Shiki could appreciate as they advanced through the hellish terrain.
'Hard to believe anyone could actually stand to live here, especially as long as the Chinoike clan have.' The boy thought to himself.
"What are our objectives?" Beni quietly asked.
"The main one is to plant this scroll in an easily noticeable location, preferably in the house of a community leader. As for side objectives, it depends on the situation." Shiki responded, waving a scroll in the air and obtaining a nod of acknowledgement from the girl.
After walking further into the place, withstanding the increasing heat and humidity along with the thickening rotten smell, the pair finally encountered rocky residences carved and dug into the reddish earth of the canyon.
'More hidden than a "Hidden Village".' The boy internally noted.
Based on cursory sensory scans, the population of the Chinoike clan was quite low, equal to a mid-sized clan or even lower, likely a necessity so as to not strain their already scarce resources.
'Even in this terrible situation for development though . . .' Shiki trailed off in his thoughts.
Two Elite Jonin chakra signatures and a few Regular Jonin level ones.
'To show such promise even in this environment . . . The makings of a great and powerful clan indeed.' The boy acknowledged.
It was no surprise the exorbitant fees of the second greatest clan of the Warring States were paid to ensure the clan's exile. In its heyday, the Chinoike must have been quite powerful indeed.
The Elite Jonin, though likely lacking in combat experience considering their living situation, were still veritable threats which cemented Shiki's decision to not show up and talk up front.
Carefully scanning the small "village" of sorts, Shiki quickly noted a particular cave in the depths of the canyon.
A large pool of red, blood-like water sat in front of it and its entrance was carved in reminiscence of a demon's face with sharp eyes and a mouth of jagged, pointy teeth.
The surroundings of the pool seemed to have been artificially flattened while a small stone disk platform stood at the pool's center.
It looked like an area of assembly for the clan.
'If I put the scroll in the house of a conservative leader and he chooses not to reveal its existence or contents, it will be bad but . . . If I just leave it on that platform . . .'
With but a few moments of consideration, Shiki decided the location where the scroll was to be planted.
After that, all that was left was to figure out a way to collect genetic samples from the clan for the boy's personal endeavours.
'There seems to be a small clinic . . . The class produced a medical nin that set it up, there ought to be samples there.' Shiki deduced.
'Now that I think about it, the man that would've one day be known as Oyashiro En claimed to have had skill with medical jutsu. Maybe it's his place?' The boy pondered.
It was ultimately a useless bit of conjecture.
But just as Shiki was about to head off in the direction of the clinic, Beni tapped him on the shoulder.
"There is something in the cave at the back of the assembly area." The girl pointed towards the demon's face case.
The boy immediately focused his sensory abilities to the maximum, knowing Behime's Shuigan still had much better perception than him.
He couldn't tell much but there was indeed a slight disturbance in his senses caused by something in the depths of the cave.
'I should not be getting distracted by side activities and risking detection but . . .' A hidden secret capable of almost fully evading his senses?
Now that was a temptation Shiki simply could not resist.
Taking a look inside the cave, a very barren stone shrine, devoid of almost any embellishment, was the only thing of note.
A small ring-like pool of red water with a round rock at its center, redder than most of the ones found outside.
A pure white ceremonial rope was tied around it and it was this rather humble central piece that was the source of the nearly undetectable disturbance in Shiki's senses.
With a quick look towards Benihime, he received the girl's confirmation as well.
Stepping over the small ring of red, iron rich, water, Shiki more closely inspected the rock.
"And like many interesting things in this world, Fuinjutsu seems to be involved." The boy commented out loud.
The rock itself contained a sealing formula, no layered on top where it would be visible and easily detected but imbued deep within it.
The only reason he had even managed to notice a disturbance was due to a small channel with a closed entrypoint on the surface of the rock, clearly meant as a way to put something into the seal, a one way path.
Only Beni with the supreme insight of the Shuigan was able to detect the interior seal.
'I wonder if the Byakugan can do this? Otsutsuki Byakugan definitely can but are there any in the Hyuga capable of reaching this level of insight?' Shiki mentally questioned.
It was also a reminder that perhaps, Konoha still had secrets that eluded his senses. The boy could see through even Uzumaki seals but perhaps, only the obvious ones.
For fuinjutsu meant to pass unnoticed, even non Uzumaki seals seemed to have the capability to thwart him.
'This seal is of high quality but in terms of structure and resilience, it can't match Mito-sama's work.' Shiki evaluated.
This Chinoike seal might have almost evaded his senses without Beni pointing it out but the boy was still confident in messing with it now that he had discovered it.
For Mito's seals however, Shiki wouldn't mess with them, even if he had twice his current skill and thrice the courage.
Kukyo - Seven Senses were amped to the max and, in such close proximity, the boy was easily able to sense into the seal.
'I see . . . The seal has an uncanny ability to evade detection but once discovered, its ability to block my direct probing is even less than many of Konoha's seals, much less Uzumaki made ones.' He analyzed.
'As for the contents of this seal . . .'
"Jackpot." He spoke with a grin settling on his face.
Beni, hearing his expression of success, peered deeper into the seal with her Shuigan, her eyes widening at what she saw.
Eyes, dozens of pairs of red eyes, gleaming with ocular power.
"Looks like we don't need to search that clinic-looking building for genetic material after all." Shiki declared.
'I wonder if the Hyuga clan back in Konoha has a similar seal hidden somewhere . . . And the Uchiha . . .'
Dangerous ideas sprouted in the boy's mind, unable to be contained.
+++++
Hey, Author here!
To promote the novel I will be releasing BONUS CHAPTERS on SUNDAYS based on the previous week's power stone count.
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
500 Power Stones = 2 Bonus Chapters
1000 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Every earned BONUS CHAPTER on Webnovel will also be posted on Scribble.
Just a reminder that you can read up to a FULL MONTH ahead of this site on pa-treon.
I'm trying to become a full time Author now and I'm not going to be starting any new novels just so I can make sure this one is properly completed.
Find those sweet advanced chapters on pa-treon.com/lusoba without the -