Second Chance

Chapter 21

"Like what?"

"A ten percent chance of survival. Mental instability. The ability to be controlled and manipulated. Personality changes." Naruto rattled off.

"What is there to question then. It should be prevented right?" TenTen asked.

"However, it also allows the recipient to access Senjutsu without the training and get a quick power boost that could easily place an average genin on the same level as a jonin or even an ANBU." Naruto pointed out making the genin blink.

"Sasuke had mastered the seal to the point that he could pull Senjutsu through his Susanoo. It was actually a powerful tool in his arsenal. However, the Senjutsu is tainted and easily able to overcome the person using it and make them dependent on it. I have developed a seal that can remove the negative aspects of the seal and purify the Senjutsu but Sasuke and I are unsure if we want to allow this to happen or whether or not it is worth it. He could learn Senjutsu on his own so it isn't like he is cut off of it...but the seal negates the limitations of the real thing."

"Limitations?" Kakashi asked having never heard of it before.

"The time to gather the Senjutsu, the time limit to using it while moving and the fact that you can't gather the Senjutsu while moving. At least, I haven't found a way yet." Naruto sighed. Kakashi nodded. Those would be limits worth overcoming.

"I see. Add in the fact that Sasuke may die this time around and you have a very big risk."

"You have to factor in what will happen if Orochimaru fails to give him the seal this time as well." Shikamaru pointed out. The clearing went silent as the group tried to decipher the complex problem presented. All of a sudden Fu's eyes light up.

"You said that the main reason to have the seal was to keep Orochimaru from changing the plans and alleviate the constraints of Senjutsu right? If that is true, then why don't you make a seal that can isolate the heaven seal as soon as it is placed preventing its influence from spreading. Then after a preset amount of time remove the seal slowly so that if anyone is watching it they won't know until it is to late. That would also give you enough time to devise a seal that mimics the Senjutsu portion of the seal and use that to eliminate the weaknesses that you pointed out in the use of Senjutsu!"

"Brilliant..." Naruto breathed in wonder. Sasuke felt his eyes widen in wonder. How had they not thought of that? It allows them to take both courses of action and allows the dobe to use his Senjutsu more freely. It also means that he would be less reliant on the power of a madman.

"You are an absolute genius Fu!" Sasuke proclaimed in excitement. All the months of worry had instantly vanished.

"How will you convince Orochimaru that you have in fact received and are suffering the effects of the seal if it is isolated the moment you get it?" Ino asked in confusion.

"I know how it felt the first time and I am a shinobi. I can act as if it has taken root and place a very subtle genjutsu on him to make him see what he wants to see." Sasuke replied happily. The group nodded pleased that they had solved the problem and then moved back to their training.

Back in Konoha some time later...

"I see. The group has done an impressive amount of missions in the time that you were away and from your reports your genin are quite a bit more powerful." Hiruzen said after reading the reports given to him by the jonin in front of him. He had to admit that when the large group had entered his office he almost hadn't recognized them. The genin barely looked as if they had just graduated from the academy and looked more like veteran shinobi. They were alert and almost tense even though they were in friendly territory.