Naruto: The Teaching System - 194 (Patreon)

Chapter 194: Testing the Power-Draining Chains

"Nyanko, resist with everything you've got!"

Sawada frowned as he observed Nyanko's massive true form trapped within the golden chains that coiled around him like serpents of pure energy.

"I want to break free from your trap! Let me go!" Nyanko's roar shook the training ground, his voice carrying the fury of a cornered beast.

Sawada's expression shifted from confidence to confusion. He closed his eyes, extending his senses to analyze what was happening. What he discovered sent a chill down his spine.

Nyanko's demonic power was rapidly draining away, and the culprit was the very chains Sawada had conjured. This wasn't supposed to happen. The technique was meant to bind, not devour.

Could it be that Yang Release acts as Nyanko's natural nemesis?

The chains grew more solid and brilliant with each passing second, as if feeding on the absorbed energy. Realizing the danger, Sawada quickly waved his hand, dissolving the binding technique.

CRASH!

Nyanko's massive form plummeted to the earth like a fallen mountain. The impact sent tremors through the training ground, spider-web cracks spreading across the hardened soil in all directions.

POOF!

In a burst of smoke, Nyanko reverted to his adorable maneki-neko form, though his once-plump figure now appeared noticeably thinner, almost skeletal.

Sawada rushed forward, scooping up the weakened cat demon in his hands. "How do you feel?"

"Meow! I'm going to kill you!" Despite his lack of strength, Nyanko's eyes burned with murderous intent.

Heaven knows how catastrophic that loss was! If Sawada hadn't stopped at the last moment, Nyanko felt certain he would have fallen from the ranks of high-level great demon lords entirely. His very essence had nearly been obliterated.

Sawada rubbed his nose awkwardly. He genuinely hadn't intended for this to happen. Who could have predicted that his sealing jutsu would prove so devastatingly effective?

However, looking at Nyanko's pitiful state, an idea formed in his mind. He extended his hand once more.

A single chain materialized, and Nyanko nearly exploded with rage at the sight.

But this time, when the chain made contact, pure demonic power flowed back into Nyanko's body like a healing stream.

After several minutes of careful energy transfer, Sawada completed the process and stood up, pinching the bridge of his nose. While the chakra cost had been minimal, he could feel his mental energy depleting rapidly from the precise control required.

"How do you feel now?" Sawada asked after returning the absorbed portion of demonic power.

"The amount is slightly less than before, but..." Nyanko's eyes widened in amazement. "My energy feels much purer somehow."

The cat demon stared at Sawada in bewilderment. Not only had his demonic power been restored, but it had been refined in the process? This back-and-forth exchange had saved him countless years of arduous cultivation. After all, the lifespan of a great demon couldn't be measured in mere human years.

"Much purer..." Sawada murmured thoughtfully, stroking his chin.

The chains possessed no consciousness of their own. This effect was simply the inherent nature of the jutsu formula itself, designed to absorb and process the bound target's energy.

Unless...

Sawada experimentally tapped the chain with his finger. Having returned all the absorbed demonic power, it had lost its earlier dazzling brilliance.

"Meow! Sawada, absorb me again!" Nyanko's eyes locked onto the chain with the intensity of someone who had discovered buried treasure.

"Get lost!" Sawada irritably stepped back several paces.

This crazy cat had completely lost his mind, acting as if he'd been exposed to supernatural catnip.

"I think I understand why your demonic power became purer," Sawada explained, maintaining his distance from the overly enthusiastic feline.

"What? What is it, meow!" Nyanko demanded eagerly. This concerned the divine realm itself. Any demon who had reached the great demon level yearned to ascend even higher. Even a demigod was still a god!

"Life force," Sawada stated bluntly, genuinely concerned about Nyanko's increasingly unhinged behavior.

"Life force?" Nyanko repeated the words with confusion.

"Exactly. Yang Release inherently contains powerful life force energy. My chains, due to the jutsu formula's construction, further refine and concentrate that Yang Release."

Nyanko's expression grew suspicious as he processed this explanation. "Doesn't that mean you're overdrawing your own life force?"

"What are you thinking? I'm not an idiot," Sawada replied with a glance at the paranoid cat.

This dead cat is completely delusional.

However, Sawada's attention turned inward to examine his own Yang Attribute Chakra (Extraordinary+). Was this phenomenon related to the system? After all, this chakra hadn't been cultivated through his own efforts, yet he could clearly sense that his life force and Yang attributes hadn't diminished in the slightest.

No, it was definitely because of the "Extraordinary" entry.

Sawada hadn't expected the system's classifications to be so valuable. And it even came with eternal attributes? Wasn't this more powerful than any instant-kill technique?

It was unfortunate that there were no rewards for achieving Sage body; otherwise, that would definitely be worthwhile.

Though what he possessed now wasn't bad either.

However, speculation remained just that. Sawada didn't dare exploit this potential loophole for Nyanko's sake. If it worked, great. But if things didn't develop as he theorized, wouldn't he be in serious trouble?

Still, looking at the chains before him, Sawada couldn't help wondering if absorbed power could be converted directly into chakra. Although his chakra reserves were substantial now, who would complain about having too much?

After all, he was still far from matching those true chakra monsters. Another day of envying that anomaly Hashirama Senju.

I need to keep working harder! Sawada thought to himself. I still seem too weak. If I'd obtained this sealing jutsu earlier, I could have drained the Eight-Tails dry like a deflated balloon!

"Alright, stop scheming against me and just train honestly," Sawada said, waving his hand to shatter Nyanko's fantasies.

The cat could clearly practice chakra techniques now. Sawada didn't understand why Nyanko continued avoiding proper training.

"No way! If my demonic power becomes contaminated by chakra, it would definitely lead to disaster," Nyanko refused with obvious disdain.

Is this guy showing off to me?

Sawada's eye twitched. This cat was becoming increasingly presumptuous.

"Fine, entertain yourself then." Sawada waved dismissively and strode away from the training ground.

He'd rather attend classes and earn system rewards than waste time dealing with Nyanko's eccentricities.

With his new understanding of the "eternal" attribute, Sawada found his teacher identity even more appealing than before.

"Meow, why do I feel like that guy seems really happy?" Nyanko observed the departing figure with bewilderment.

"However, chakra is indeed a viable training path. Setting everything else aside, what if I could learn Sawada's chain technique?"

A sly smile crept across Nyanko's features as this thought took root. Training demonic power alongside chakra... I, Teacher Cat, am a genius!

Sawada remained unaware of Nyanko's scheming, but even if he knew, he would support such efforts. After all, the entire ninja world had originated from a single Chakra Fruit.

If Nyanko could achieve such a fusion, wouldn't he indirectly become another Ten-Tails?

Sawada walked with light steps back toward the academy for afternoon classes. Originally, after the morning's lesson, many students felt they had already gained substantial knowledge.

But what was wrong with their teacher now? Why did he appear even happier than he had that morning?

Could it be that he found a girlfriend?