Chapter 130 – Sealing and a Stronger Naruto
"Alright, Naruto, Sakura, we'll stay here. I need some time. You two guard the entrance and don't let any other ninja come in," Xia Li said as he glanced at the nearest naturally formed shelter he could find—a cave.
"Okay." Sakura nodded, looking worriedly at Sasuke. Although Xia Li kept saying it was fine, Sasuke's condition clearly didn't look normal.
"Leave it to me! I absolutely won't let anyone in!" Naruto declared confidently.
After Naruto and Sakura stepped outside, Sasuke finally spoke.
"Xia Li… is my injury really that serious?" He felt puzzled. It was just a snake bite. Was it really that bad?
"If it were an ordinary snake, your body would've recovered quickly even without medical ninjutsu," Xia Li replied. "But that was Orochimaru's snake. It's not the same."
As he spoke, he took out a scroll and formed a mirror, tossing it to Sasuke.
Sasuke stared at the three black tomoe-shaped marks on his neck in shock. So this was what had been tormenting him?
"What is this?"
"It's a Cursed Seal," Xia Li explained calmly after dispelling a small layer of suppression around it. "Those marked by it can gain extraordinary power. But it also erodes the mind, eventually driving the user into madness—and possibly death."
He looked at Sasuke seriously.
"So, what's your choice? Accept this power—or give it up? If it were you, I don't think this curse would take your life."
"Power…" Sasuke paused, then turned his head. "I don't need power gained through something so twisted. And I don't think this thing can help me defeat that person anyway."
"You've decided already?" Xia Li asked, slightly surprised at how quickly Sasuke answered.
"Hmph. Is there really anything to think about?" Sasuke said, pulling down his collar, signaling Xia Li to begin.
"Sasuke… I'm starting to believe more and more that you'll be able to defeat him someday," Xia Li sighed softly.
This Sasuke was more resolute than in the original story, and he hadn't yet been influenced by the Cursed Seal. If Sasuke hadn't been exposed to it for so long in the original timeline, perhaps his choices would have been different as well.
"Of course," Sasuke replied with a faint smirk.
"Then I'll begin."
Xia Li looked at the mark on Sasuke's neck with a heavy expression. His sealing skills were far superior to Kakashi's temporary suppression seal—but this Cursed Seal was tricky.
The main problem was that Xia Li didn't fully understand its principles. If it truly involved natural energy rather than ordinary chakra, then ordinary sealing methods might not be enough.
Evil Sealing Method? Five Elements Seal? Or… Eight Trigrams Seal?
After thinking carefully, Xia Li smiled faintly.
"I'll use the Eight Trigrams Seal. As long as it's chakra—even if it contains traces of natural energy—it won't escape."
However, Naruto's Eight Trigrams Seal was used to regulate the Nine-Tails' chakra. Xia Li only wanted to restrict the Cursed Seal's chakra. If he relied solely on the Eight Trigrams Seal, the accumulated cursed chakra would eventually become a problem.
So he would combine it with the Four Symbols Seal.
No matter how much cursed chakra accumulated, it wouldn't break through the Four Symbols Seal. Unlike sealing something as powerful as the Nine-Tails, this application would be much easier.
He would use the cursed chakra gathered within the Eight Trigrams Seal to power the Four Symbols Seal itself—forming an internal chakra spiritual space, similar to where the Nine-Tails resided.
In the future, once he mastered Sage Mode, he could resolve it completely in one go. The internal spiritual space created by the Four Symbols Seal might even prove useful to Sasuke.
With that decided, chakra gathered at Xia Li's fingertips as he began inscribing sealing formulas onto Sasuke's body.
It was just a Cursed Seal. If Orochimaru ever learned that it had been sealed with techniques of this level, he might even feel honored.
Xia Li was simply being cautious. After all, it might contain natural energy. He couldn't take it lightly.
Both seals required time.
Outside the cave, Naruto and Sakura stood guard.
Sakura's thoughts drifted. She felt useless in that battle. Even her medical skills could only relieve pain, while Xia Li could directly heal Sasuke's wounds…
If I were more skilled in medical ninjutsu, maybe I could help Naruto and Sasuke more…
She recalled the fight between Naruto and Sasuke—the level they had reached was beyond anything she had imagined. They had already grown so strong.
How long would it take her to reach that level? Half a year? A year? Several years?
A trace of loneliness crossed her face. At this rate, she would fall far behind.
Maybe it was time to make a decision. If she could master medical ninjutsu like Xia Li… perhaps she could truly become useful to the team.
Naruto, however, was thinking about something entirely different.
He had already completed Xia Li's training phase for Wind Release: Gale Palm. His method had been clumsy—some shadow clones practiced normal movement, others focused on wrapping wind around their legs, others around their torso…
In the end, he managed to piece it all together in his own way.
But Xia Li had told him to turn it into instinct—to maintain the state constantly.
How could he possibly maintain that much chakra all the time?
Well… might as well try.
"So slow. Is Xia Li done yet?" Naruto muttered, leaning against a tree with his hands behind his head.
"Naruto, be patient. You stay here. I'll go find some food and come back," Sakura said.
"No need. I'll go."
Naruto formed hand seals.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Sakura, leave the hunting to us!" Several Naruto clones grinned and scattered into the forest.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu is really useful…" Sakura murmured.
"Of course!" Naruto grinned. The more he used it, the more he appreciated how practical it was—for combat and for training. It was the perfect jutsu for him.
Suddenly, Naruto's expression changed.
"Sakura, careful! Someone's coming—my shadow clone was blown away!"
Sakura's face tightened.
"Naruto, we have to stay here. We can't let anyone interfere with Xia Li and Sasuke."
"Of course," Naruto replied with a grin.
"Naruto, follow my lead. Set up traps first."
Sakura regained her composure. This was something she could still do.
Inside the cave, Sasuke frowned at the sounds of battle outside.
"Have other ninja found this place?"
"Don't move. Trust Naruto and Sakura," Xia Li said calmly. He had already sensed the three Sound ninja outside.
They were just exam participants. Xia Li couldn't interfere directly.
But he believed Naruto could handle them.
Their abilities revolved around sound. Naruto's affinity was wind.
Even if Naruto didn't fully understand it yet, in battle he would eventually realize that Gale Palm's wind barrier could disrupt and suppress sound-based attacks.
Xia Li didn't necessarily trust Naruto's theory—but he trusted Naruto's battle instincts.
"Hmph. If that idiot loses, I'm definitely laughing at him to his face," Sasuke muttered.
Xia Li chuckled.
Unlike in the original story, Sasuke had always recognized Naruto's strength. He had never truly seen him as a loser.
They were improving together—competing, pushing each other forward.
Measuring himself against Xia Li was too distant a goal. For now, Sasuke simply didn't want to be surpassed by Naruto.
Outside, Naruto did not disappoint.
He dragged the three Sound ninja into open confrontation.
Sakura remained guarding the cave entrance. If they broke through Naruto's line, they would face her.
But as she watched Naruto fight, she felt the distance between them growing.
All her traps worked—but they were insufficient.
Naruto already bore minor injuries. At first, he had been confused by the enemy's attacks. But soon, he grasped the true value of Gale Palm.
A grin spread across his face.
It really suited him.
He formed hand seals again.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Then—
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
The three Sound ninja stared in disbelief at the dozens of clones.
How much chakra does this guy even have?!
Not only could the original maintain Gale Palm, but every clone could sustain it as well. Their sound-based attacks couldn't break through the wind barrier at all.
Their original plan had been to exhaust Naruto's stamina.
But after he created yet another wave of shadow clones, their composure shattered.
Is his chakra limitless?!
Naruto inhaled deeply, smiling with fierce determination.
"I said I won't let anyone in! And I always keep my word!!"
He charged forward again—his speed and strength showing no signs of weakening. A faint trace of red chakra even began leaking from his body.
The three Sound ninja began considering retreat.
At this rate, they might be the ones exhausted first.
As for Orochimaru's order to kill Sasuke?
Sorry, Orochimaru-sama—they couldn't even get past Naruto, let alone enter the cave.
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Chapter 131 – Konoha's Strategy Against Enemies
"Naruto's gotten really strong…" Shikamaru muttered from the shadows as he observed the battle.
In his view, the three Sound ninja weren't weak. Yet Naruto was handling them alone.
"There's some attribute advantage, sure—but his strength is undeniable," Ino added, equally surprised.
Inside the cave, Xia Li smiled faintly.
He had tailored Gale Palm specifically for Naruto. It perfectly maximized Naruto's overwhelming physical stamina.
In the original story, Naruto already had monstrous endurance. Now, he was even more extraordinary.
It would be a waste not to use it.
As for Naruto's concerns about chakra consumption—did Xia Li not know?
Naruto could already use the A-rank Rasengan.
Xia Li's enhanced Gale Palm cost more than the standard version, but even so, for Naruto it was equivalent to roughly B-rank chakra consumption.
For others, that would be enormous.
For Naruto, it was like drinking water.
If Naruto could maintain this state naturally, then at the chunin level, he would be nearly unstoppable—a true "one-move dominates all" technique.
And importantly, maintaining Gale Palm didn't interfere with using Rasengan.
Under Jiraiya's future guidance, Naruto would only grow stronger.
Sasuke, however, couldn't follow this method. Naruto had the Nine-Tails' regenerative ability.
Sasuke had once considered experimenting with a Lightning Release chakra mode himself—but it was too dangerous.
Xia Li didn't want him taking that risk.
"Alright," Xia Li said at last, finishing the final sealing touches. "Let's go outside. If we don't, Naruto might solve everything himself."
"Yeah," Sasuke replied, clenching his fists.
The pain in his neck had completely vanished.
He felt… perfectly fine.
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