Hokage's Office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the scroll bearing Tsunade's fingerprint in his hand, silently smoking his pipe.
He had actually anticipated this result long ago.
He understood better than anyone how stubborn his student was.
Hemophobia combined with the consecutive blows of losing family and loved ones had long caused Tsunade to develop a deep aversion to Konoha and the identity of being a ninja.
Sending Sora was just a slim attempt out of hope.
After all, Sora also possessed Uzumaki lineage and had been personally instructed by Tsunade in Super Strength.
Now it seemed, he had indeed thought too much.
After a long while, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly spoke,
"How is she. Is she doing well."
"Lady Tsunade's complexion is good, her strength remains formidable."
Sora stood before the desk and responded, "She clearly stated she will not return to the village and warned against sending anyone to disturb her again."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, casually placed the scroll on the table, and waved his hand.
"Enough, you've worked hard. Go and rest."
"Yes."
Sora gave a slight bow, turned, and left the Hokage's office.
...
Orphanage.
Nonō was sitting under the corridor in the courtyard, instructing Kabuto in medical ninjutsu, a gentle smile on her face.
"Sister." Sora walked forward and called out softly.
"Sora? You're back from the mission?"
Nonō turned her head at the sound, saw Sora, and the smile in her eyes deepened a little, "Did everything go smoothly?"
"Yes, it was just delivering a message, not difficult."
Sora sat down beside her, pondered for a moment, and decided to get straight to the point.
"Sister, there is something I want to confirm."
Sora's voice lowered a bit, "On your body. is there a 'Tongue Eradication Seal' planted by Danzo."
Nonō's body stiffened abruptly, the color draining slightly from her face.
"You. how do you know about this."
This seal was one of the highest secrets of Root, and the deepest shackle binding her. She had never mentioned it to anyone, including the old Director.
"Having been in Anbu for seven years, I would inevitably come into contact with some things."
Sora's tone was calm, carrying a reassuring strength, "Moreover, I have some understanding of Danzo's methods."
"Can you let me examine it carefully? Perhaps. I have a way to deal with it."
"Deal with it?"
Nonō seemed not to understand the meaning of the word, repeated it, then suddenly shook her head, whispering,
"No, Sora, you don't understand! This seal is very dangerous. If you try to break it, it will immediately trigger..."
"It will trigger, causing body paralysis, even death."
Sora finished her sentence, his eyes still calm, "I know."
Nonō was stunned. Sora's pitch black, deep eyes gave her an inexplicable sense of reassurance, but the long standing fear of Root was not so easily dispelled.
"But." Nonō hesitated.
"I will handle Danzo."
Sora interrupted her, his tone carrying strong confidence,
"Sister, you just need to trust me."
"I will not let anyone, in any way, hurt you or bind you anymore. I couldn't before, but now, I can."
Nonō stared at him blankly.
The little boy from her memories who needed her protection had truly grown up, even daring to face Konoha's deepest darkness.
After a moment of silence, Nonō took a deep breath and nodded gently.
"Okay."
...
Night, Nonō's room.
The curtains were drawn, blocking outside view.
Sora quickly set up several simple barriers around the room.
Nonō sat on the edge of the bed, watching Sora's busy back, her hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
It would be false to say she wasn't nervous.
That seal had accompanied her for many years, like a persistent parasite. Every time she felt its presence, it reminded her of those sunless days in Root, of Danzo's cold, merciless gaze, of the children from the orphanage who had died in the past.
After setting up the barriers, Sora walked to Nonō and said softly,
"Sister, relax, open your mouth."
Nonō complied as instructed, slightly tilting her head back and opening her mouth.
Sora extended his fingers, a faint glow of chakra swirling at their tips. Then he gently inserted his fingertips into Nonō's mouth, touching the deep area at the base of her tongue.
Hum
A familiar and loathsome cold chakra fluctuation was instantly triggered!
A complex black seal pattern slowly surfaced at the base of Nonō's tongue.
The structure of the pattern was identical to those Sora had seen on the Root ninja, only because it was older, it was more deeply entangled with Nonō's own chakra.
'Same as expected.' Sora's mind settled.
With the previous ten experiences, he had already mastered the essence of breaking it.
"Sister, trust me, don't resist, relax your body."
Nonō closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. She forced herself to relax, completely surrendering control of her body to Sora.
Sora held his breath, immersing all his concentration into perceiving the cursed seal.
...
Time passed minute by minute, second by second.
Sora's chakra gently teased the Yin Release energy threads that formed the "chains", using his own life energy to "soothe" and "deceive" them, making them gradually relax and become inert from their tense, restrictive state.
This was a meticulous task that could not be rushed.
Nonō's initial tension was gradually replaced by a strange sense of relief.
She could clearly feel that Sora's chakra, though powerful, was exceptionally gentle, carefully protecting her chakra pathways without causing the slightest harm.
This feeling of being cherished and protected made her eyes grow slightly warm.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
When Sora's chakra finally touched the core node of the "chain" circuit and gently "covered" it.
Pop
A sound like a bubble bursting echoed in the quiet room.
The black seal pattern at the base of Nonō's tongue flashed once fiercely, then its light rapidly dimmed and dissipated.
That cold chakra fluctuation, which had resided at the base of her tongue for years, making her constantly feel bound and threatened, also vanished into thin air!
The shackles that had bound her for many years shattered completely at this moment!
Nonō's eyes snapped open. Instinctively, she covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Gone...
That nightmare like seal that had entangled her, making her unable to speak out, unable to resist. it was really gone!
She opened her mouth, trying to make a sound.
"I."
The sound came out perfectly smooth, without any obstruction or underlying sense of threat.
The feeling of freedom was so wonderful.
She raised her head, looked at Sora whose face was slightly pale, tears instantly blurring her glasses.
"Sora..."
A thousand words choked in her throat, ultimately only becoming a sob filled call.
Looking at the tears welling in Nonō's eyes, at the complex expression on her face mixed with shock, joy, and liberation, a heavy weight lifted from Sora's heart.
He had succeeded.
From now on, his sister was completely free from Danzo's control!
"It's over, sister."
Sora showed a gentle smile and said softly, "From now on, you don't have to worry about that seal anymore."
Nonō nodded vigorously, tears flowing uncontrollably.
She knew that from this moment on, her life had truly ushered in a new dawn. And the one who brought this dawn was the young man she had watched grow up before her eyes.
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