Terado was reading very carefully, his usually calm and composed gaze gradually becoming more focused. From the way his eyes moved, Haruto Saito could tell that he was reading at an incredible speed. Haruto even suspected that this man had a photographic memory—otherwise, how could he read so quickly and still retain the information?
Before long, Terado finally spoke.
"An extraordinary technique." That was Terado's evaluation of the Barrier-Breaking Technique. He placed the scroll down, looked at Haruto, and asked, "So? You want to learn this technique?"
"Yes!" Haruto admitted directly. Then he added, "I have another question. If you, Lord Terado, were to learn this technique, how long would it take you to master it?"
Haruto wanted to confirm whether Terado had the talent to learn this technique or not.
"Me, huh…" Terado picked up the scroll again, examined it briefly, and then said after some contemplation, "If I were to follow a normal training schedule, it would probably take me about three years to master this technique, with a seventy percent chance of success. However, if I were to dedicate all my time to it—meaning, aside from eating and sleeping, focusing entirely on mastering this technique—then I might be able to learn it within a year, with a sixty percent chance of success."
It was him!
This confirmed that Terado had an extraordinary talent for learning the Barrier-Breaking Technique. Or rather, he had a remarkable ability to master strange and unique techniques in general!
If he devoted himself entirely to training and poured all his effort into mastering a powerful S-rank forbidden technique, he could learn it within a year. Though he humbly claimed only a sixty percent chance of success, it still demonstrated his confidence in his own talent!
Normally, even the most gifted ninja who could learn an S-rank forbidden technique would take several years at best, or even over a decade, to master it.
To master it in a single year? That was monstrous!
"This is a technique from the Meiji Clan?" Terado glanced at the contents of the scroll again and then looked up. "Where did you get this?"
The scroll clearly mentioned the creator of this technique, referencing the Meiji Clan, so Terado naturally knew which clan it belonged to. Given his experience, he was well aware of the Meiji Clan.
"I discovered the Meiji treasure," Haruto replied honestly.
There was no reason to hide it, because no matter what, Terado was not going to leave this place alive.
"Oh? Then you are quite lucky," Terado said with a slight smile.
"Not too bad. I can barely call myself the wealthiest man in Konoha now," Haruto replied humbly.
Terado looked at the scroll once more before rolling it up and handing it back to Haruto. However, Haruto did not take it and instead said, "Lord Terado, would you be willing to explain the contents of this technique to me? I wish to learn it, but there are many aspects I find difficult to understand."
Haruto made this direct request because, according to their prior agreement, Terado was supposed to fully cooperate with him.
"Do you think that's possible?" Terado smirked and leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "We—are enemies! You don't understand something, so you want me to teach you? Why would I do that?"
"We had a deal, didn't we?" Haruto argued confidently. "This is part of the game, Lord Terado. You're not planning to go back on your word, are you?"
"That's right. I'm going back on my word," Terado replied directly. "To be honest, being locked up here every day is boring. If you come and chat with me, I'm happy to continue playing along. But you want me to teach you ninjutsu? That's impossible!"
Haruto was speechless!
Terado went back on his word just like that, without a shred of shame. What happened to the dignity and integrity of a great man?
"However," Terado continued, changing his tone, "I'm not completely unwilling to help you. But it has to be fair. If you want to gain something from me, you have to give me something in return."
"Fine! Name your terms," Haruto responded without hesitation.
"How many techniques did you obtain from the Meiji Clan's treasure?"
"More than ten," Haruto answered.
"Does one of them include the secret manual for the 'Severance Technique'?"
"Uh…" Haruto had to think for a moment before nodding. "Yes! It's an S-rank forbidden technique. Lord Terado, you really are knowledgeable. You seem to know everything."
The Severance Technique was one of the Meiji Clan's forbidden techniques that Haruto had no intention of learning. The side effects were far too severe. Simply put, this technique allowed a user to sacrifice parts of their own body to unleash devastating attacks. It could be cast instantly, but once activated, the consequences ranged from losing a limb to outright death.
It could essentially be described as a controlled self-detonation. The caster could blow up their own hand to launch an attack comparable to an S-rank Fire Release technique.
While the technique was undeniably powerful, the cost was simply too high!
Moreover, the manual explicitly stated that the sacrificed body parts were permanently lost. The damage was irreversible, meaning no medical ninjutsu could restore them.
"Good, since you have it, then here's my deal. Give me the secret manual for the Severance Technique, and I will explain the key points of training in the Barrier-Breaking Technique to you," Terado stated his condition.
Haruto was surprised. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Lord Terado, do you intend to learn the Severance Technique? What about it interests you?"
Haruto wasn't sure, because in Terado's current state, he couldn't practice any ninjutsu at all. He couldn't even use chakra. At most, he could just read the manual.
"I'm just curious. You should know that the greater the cost of a technique, the more extreme and terrifying its effects can be. I'm simply interested in this type of jutsu," Terado said frankly.
Haruto thought for a moment—it actually made sense!
Many of the forbidden techniques Terado had mastered came with severe side effects. He had even learned the most extreme of life-draining forbidden techniques…
"Catch," Haruto said as he reached into his robe and pulled out a scroll, tossing it to Terado.
In reality, he was faking it; his hand had actually reached into his storage space.
Terado caught the scroll and opened it to read.
"This is a transcription I made. The original has already been submitted to the village," Haruto mentioned.
Terado said nothing, engrossed in reading the Severance Technique manual. His eyes moved rapidly, reading at an incredible pace!
In no time, he finished and rolled the scroll back up, tossing it back to Haruto.
"Did you memorize it all?" Haruto asked in surprise.
"Mm," Terado responded with a nasal sound.
Indeed, this man had a photographic memory!
"Now, Lord Terado, will you fulfill your promise?" Haruto pressed. "Please explain the Barrier-Breaking Technique."
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