The scroll kept unrolling. One forbidden technique after another—each name and short description, vetted and conserved by Kirigakure's successive Mizukage—passed before Kyoichi's eyes. He realized that the reward he'd been given wasn't merely the chance to learn one forbidden art; even being permitted to skim the Book in its entirety was itself a rare honor.
—Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!
—Water Release: Cutting Rain Technique!
—Water Release: Bubble Technique!
—Ninjutsu: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!
—Water Release: Bleeding-Ink Technique!
—Ninjutsu: Sealing Barrier Technique!
…
Familiar names and unfamiliar ones flowed into his head. Even without access to the step-by-step training methods, just knowing what these forbidden arts do and why they were barred greatly broadened his horizons and enriched his understanding.
"Kyoichi," Yagura said when it looked like Kyoichi had nearly reached the end of the scroll, "remember: do not leak what you've seen here."
"I understand." Kyoichi nodded.
Keeping it secret was only natural—anyone with half a brain would know a book labeled forbidden shouldn't be casually discussed. That said, discretion didn't mean absolute silence forever; one could share cautiously with trusted people when appropriate.
"So, Kyoichi—have you decided which forbidden ninjutsu you want to study?" Yagura asked again.
Beside them, the veteran Oniyuzu and Jūzō watched. Both had read the Book before and had experience with forbidden arts; they were keenly curious which choice Kyoichi would make.
"…The Coral Palm Technique. Is that allowed?" Kyoichi asked.
"Eh?" Yagura's face registered surprise.
"Hey, Kyoichi—did you misspeak?" Jūzō blurted out.
Oniyuzu, who'd seen a lot in his time, wore a puzzled look too. Kyoichi's choice struck them as odd.
"What's wrong? Is the Coral Palm not selectable?" Kyoichi asked.
"No, it's not that," Yagura said, regaining his composure and shaking his head lightly. "It's just… unexpected. But I must ask again: are you sure about this? Once you choose, there's no changing your mind. Even if you fail to master the Coral Palm, you won't be permitted to switch and learn a different forbidden technique."
"Think carefully," Jūzō urged, stepping in before Kyoichi could answer.
Jūzō remembered the Coral Palm well. In the Book, most forbidden technique were Water-Release based; of the non-water forbidden techniques, many were sealing arts. Only a handful of forbidden non-water techniques remained—and the Coral Palm was one of them.
The Coral Palm was a secret technique created by Kirigakure's first Three-Tails jinchūriki. The user strikes an opponent with the palm; wherever the blow lands, coral erupts and rapidly grows by siphoning the body energy—the physical chakra—out of the struck area. The coral's growth is ravenous, and its lethality is terrifying. Against taijutsu specialists—fighters who shape their chakra into raw physical power—this art is especially devastating.
Chakra composition matters: taijutsu users primarily refine their bodily energy, which grants massive fortification of physical capabilities; genjutsu users use mental energy to manipulate perceptions. The Coral Palm draws on and consumes the target's bodily energy—making it a taijutsu killer.
Yagura recalled what the fat shinobi—Hobukawa Fuguo—from the Seven Swords had sighed about when they discussed that crushing defeat: if even one of them had wielded the Coral Palm, they might not have been routed so humiliatingly by Konoha's taijutsu prodigy.
But the reason the technique sat in the Book was obvious. Its training is supremely difficult. Because it originated from a jinchūriki and relies on Three-Tails chakra to stabilize the process, anyone attempting to cultivate it without the Three-Tails' assistance risks failure. And the specific failure mode is ghastly: the practitioner's own palms can sprout coral—permanently.
It won't kill you, but hands are everything to a ninja. Utterly ruined hands are effectively the end of a shinobi's career.
During the Second Mizukage's era, seven or eight prodigies tried and failed to master the Coral Palm; their hands were ruined for life. For that reason the Second recorded the technique as forbidden and forbade non-Three-Tails jinchūriki from reckless practice.
"Don't worry—I'm not planning to train this forbidden technique" Kyoichi said, which only made everyone more baffled.
"You're not planning to learn it? Then what are you planning to do?" Jūzō exploded. "Kyoichi, listen—I need to warn you: you're forbidden from teaching any technique you learn from the Book to others. Even if you can't master it yourself, you cannot let others experiment with it."
"Relax, Jūzō-senpai. I'd never let my clan risk their hands turning to coral and becoming crippled," Kyoichi replied with a smile. "I'm not about to do anything that stupid."
"Then what is your plan?" Jūzō scratched his head. "If you're not going to pick a Water technique, you could at least try Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death. Fuguo knows that one well—super useful in combat. If you can't learn it yourself, I could take you to him for training."
"Thanks for the concern," Kyoichi said, still smiling. "But I'm not going to practice a forbidden technique. I'm currently developing a technique of my own. Its concept and effects share some similarities with the Coral Palm—so I thought, why not study the Coral Palm's mechanics and see if I can borrow ideas to shape my method? In short: use another mountain's stone to polish my jade."
His determination was plain as day.
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