425 Learning Ninjutsu in a Glance

The next day.

Shinju went to the Hokage's office and told Tsunade about the series of events he had experienced yesterday.

Tsunade nodded, feeling that Shinju had handled things well.

"Have the Anbu protect all of them."

"Also, with so many things happening lately, it doesn't feel right for me to keep sitting in this position. It's about time you officially went to work."

As she spoke, Tsunade stood up and pointed at the Hokage's desk.

Shinju's mood instantly soured.

"I can't detect that disappeared Ōtsutsuki anywhere in the shinobi world. I'm planning to check the various Kaguya ruins."

"During this period, I'll only feel at ease if you, Sensei, hold down the rear. ( ˝ᗢ̈˝ )"

This subtle bit of flattery made Tsunade quite happy.

"Well then, since you put it that way, I'll cover for you a while longer… (o´Д`o)ノ"

"Oh, right. That thing I told you to look at at the archaeological institute yesterday—did you see it?"

Shinju shook his head.

"I didn't have time to go."

"What exactly is it that has you so concerned, Tsunade-sensei?"

Tsunade rested her chin on her hand.

"I can't really describe the feeling… you'll have to go see it yourself to know…"

...

Konohagakure.

The item the archaeological team recovered from the sea had been mentioned by Tsunade-sensei several times.

Driven by curiosity, Shinju decided that before searching for the Ōtsutsuki, he would make a trip to the Konohagakure Archaeological Research Institute.

...

The Archaeological Research Institute.

The institute was located on the western side of the village and was divided into aboveground and underground sections.

The upper level was used to display cultural relics, while the lower level handled restoration research and the storage of important artifacts…

The relics recently excavated from the sea, though of unknown origin, had been placed in the underground warehouse.

At this moment, under the guidance of the staff, Shinju arrived in front of a glass display case in the underground warehouse.

Pointing at the object under the glass cover, Shinju asked curiously, "This is what you excavated from the sea?"

It was hard to believe that the thing Tsunade-sensei had repeatedly urged him to see was just a dull gray lump of mud…

The only thing that made it resemble a cultural relic was its shape—like an upside-down bowl—and the special symbols engraved on its surface.

The staff member nodded.

"This artifact has a history of over a thousand years… soaked in seawater for a millennium, yet still preserved so completely."

"The doctor says its existence may overturn history, proving to the world that ultra-ancient humans already possessed advanced chakra technology…"

Shinju was speechless.

"…Experts really like to overthink things."

Hearing this, the staff member pushed up his glasses and said seriously,

"I think the doctor has a point. Sixth Hokage-sama, you can't—"

Shinju cut him off, exasperated.

"Alright, alright… you can head out. Unless there's something urgent, don't come back in. I'll study this thing properly."

The staff member nodded and exited the underground warehouse, but not before carefully reminding him,

"Sixth Hokage-sama, please be extremely careful. This artifact has exceptionally high archaeological value…"

"Got it… (ー_ー)!!"

Finally, only Shinju remained in the warehouse.

He sighed and muttered, "Why are researchers so obsessed with details… though I guess it's precisely because of that personality that they can dedicate decades to a single field…"

With that, Shinju extended both hands and carefully lifted the glass cover over the artifact.

Next, his fingertips made contact with the relic…

Shinju's expression instantly turned strange.

He felt an extremely powerful sealing force within the artifact!

Now he was starting to believe what the staff member had said.

"Such a strong seal? Don't tell me this really is ultra-ancient chakra technology?! ⊙▽⊙"

However, after activating Dual Sage Mode and carefully sensing the residual chakra inside the relic, Shinju frowned deeply again.

"Ōtsutsuki power… this thing was left in the shinobi world by the Ōtsutsuki?! (≖╻≖;)"

After that, Shinju tried to undo the seal…

That single attempt ended up taking most of the day.

...

Evening.

"Grr~" Shinju's stomach growled.

At this point, the artifact in front of him was already covered in de-sealing formulas he had devised himself.

After yet another failed attempt, Shinju clenched his teeth.

"If this doesn't work, I'm going out to eat first and then coming back! Ծ‸ Ծ"

Immediately afterward, Shinju, just like before, tried to channel chakra to make contact with the seal inside the artifact…

Suddenly!

"Whoosh—!"

Golden light burst forth from the relic!

Within the radiance, the artifact transformed into a completely different shape!

What had once looked like an upside-down bowl turned into a turtle!!

And on the turtle's back was tied a red ribbon!

Shinju: (๑ʘ̅ д ʘ̅๑)!!!

"This is actually a living being?!"

"The Ōtsutsuki tech tree is seriously crooked!"

Just as Shinju finished those two sentences, the turtle spoke!!

[Authentication complete. Activating.]

[I am Karasuki.]

Although the voice sounded like electronic synthesis, it was undeniably coming from the turtle!

Shinju: Σ(っ °Д °;)っ

"It can even talk?!"

But thinking about all the talking ninja dogs and ninja turtles in the shinobi world, Shinju quickly accepted it.

"So you're something made by the Ōtsutsuki? Why did you appear in the shinobi world? What do you do?"

Shinju fired off several questions in a row, trying to communicate with the small green-shelled turtle.

[I am Karasuki.]

[After chakra is injected, I can take you through time traversal…]

[Strange… why is there no information about you, sir, in my database…]

Shinju: ╭(°A°`)╮

"Time traversal? That's insane."

"And don't worry about the data stuff. You're just a tool—don't tell me you also have some kind of owner-recognition system?"

The little turtle replied mechanically:

[There is no concept of 'recognizing an owner.' Once unsealed, 'Karasuki' need only execute the task of time traversal.]

[If you confirm usage, please allow me to explain the precautions during spacetime travel: First, you must not leave the time channel without authorization during traversal, as this may cause the actual arrival time to differ from the set time; second, you must not during traversal…]

After listening to a long, rambling list of precautions, Shinju said speechlessly,

"Just like a turtle—so slow and long-winded! ꐦ≖ ≖"

"Can I go back one day, to the point in time when that Ōtsutsuki existed?" Shinju asked.

He figured that since he was going to look for the Ōtsutsuki anyway, he might as well directly travel back to yesterday, to the time when that Ōtsutsuki was wreaking havoc at the One-Tail's habitat…

The little turtle replied:

[Yes. Chakra injection required…]

Shinju nodded, placed his hand on the turtle's back, and slowly began pouring chakra into it…

He originally thought time traversal would be difficult and consume a lot of chakra, so he put in a bit extra…

Unexpectedly, the moment his chakra entered the turtle's body, the turtle suddenly erupted with a blinding light!!

"Buzz—!!"

Within the radiance, the red ribbon tied to the turtle's shell came undone!

Immediately after, the turtle's carapace cracked open layer by layer!!

[Executing time traversal command!]

As soon as the turtle finished speaking, Shinju's body was already enveloped by a dazzling, flowing time tunnel!