Chapter 6: Water Shockwave!
After the first period in the afternoon, Kinoshita Genichi found Futagi Ryusei again and received the detailed explanation of the Kuji-kiri hand seals. After reading it carefully, Genichi couldn't help but marvel. "As expected, the Kuji-kiri are far more profound. Even the annotations are so abstruse and difficult to understand."
For example, the Rin (臨) seal held the power to stabilize the mind and body.
The Pyo (兵) seal held life force for longevity and rejuvenation, and could also grant swiftness.
The To (闘) seal granted valor and courage, causing one's fighting spirit to surge when faced with adversity, and the power to overcome all difficulties.
The Sha (者) seal granted the power to freely control one's own body and the bodies of others. The spiritual power of all creation, for me to command.
Reading the annotation for the Sha seal, Genichi immediately thought of the seal Guy formed when unleashing his Hirudora technique.
"This must be the one. To freely control the body's full power and unleash the strongest possible strike."
Genichi couldn't help but look up at Might Guy, who was listening intently to the lecture.
The more he studied the Kuji-kiri, the more interesting he found them—far more so than the twelve basic seals. He just didn't know if, in the world of Naruto, these nine seals were created by Indra, or if they were an ancient power that had always existed.
Like Sage Power.
Reining in his wandering thoughts, Genichi continued his study.
The Kai (皆) seal: To know and control the hearts of others, and to dispel all confusion.
Reading this, Genichi's first thought was of genjutsu, and how to release it. Among the twelve basic seals, the Tiger seal was often used to break illusions. Genichi felt that the so-called "hearts of others" could be extended to mean spiritual energy, which was often represented by genjutsu. This seal could likely be used for both casting and dispelling illusions.
Next was the Jin (陣) seal: To see through things, to have insight into the hearts of others.
Again, it was related to the heart and mind.
The Retsu (列) seal: The power to forge ahead and ignore all obstacles.
"The power to ignore all obstacles... Space-time jutsu?"
Genichi secretly shook his head and continued reading.
The Zai (在) seal: The power to freely use all supernatural abilities.
Genichi raised an eyebrow. "This must be the seal Senju Tobirama used for his Water Release, right? According to this, it shouldn't be limited to just Water Release; it could be used for Lightning, Earth, Fire, and Wind Release as well."
He recalled the battle between the reincarnated Tobirama and Hiruzen. Tobirama's control over Water Release was indeed masterful. Even when Hiruzen hid behind a high wall of Earth Release, the water from the jutsu could still be manipulated to flow back up and over. This was not something an ordinary ninja could do. No, it was something the vast majority of Water Release masters would find difficult.
After all, spilled water is hard to recover.
Finally.
The Zen (前) seal: A state that transcends all, the unity of all things with the void.
Looking at the annotation for the Zen seal, Genichi really wished the author would just speak in plain language.
After a rough study of the Kuji-kiri and writing down his own interpretations, Genichi returned to researching the twelve basic seals. Beside him, Shizune would occasionally glance at Genichi's actions, her expression turning to one of confusion when she saw the Kuji-kiri.
After school that afternoon, Shizune went to Tsunade's home. Seeing that Tsunade wasn't drunk yet, she asked, "Tsunade-sama, do you know what the nine hand seals of the Kuji-kiri are used for?"
Tsunade, who was drinking, looked up, her voice slightly slurred. "The nine-syllable seals?"
"Since when does the Academy teach those?"
Shizune quickly explained, "Sensei hasn't taught them yet, and the textbook doesn't have any annotations for them either."
Tsunade smiled faintly. "That's because my Granduncle Tobirama added them on a whim when he was compiling the teaching materials. You don't need to pay them any mind; you'll never use those seals."
She had never used them, nor had she ever bothered to study them. The twelve basic seals were more than enough.
Shizune nodded but hesitated as if she wanted to say more.
Tsunade saw this, took another gulp of sake, and let out a hiccup before continuing. "If you master the twelve basic seals well enough, you will naturally be able to use them as you please, even forming seals according to your own habits."
"Things like one-handed seals are a result of that."
"As for the Kuji-kiri, according to my granduncle, they do possess a unique power, but they are incredibly difficult to master. Even he only mastered the application of a few of them. The twelve basic seals are easy to synchronize with your chakra once you're proficient, but the Kuji-kiri are not like that."
At this point, Tsunade waved her hand with a hint of impatience. "Don't bother with those seals. Just practice the twelve basic ones properly."
Shizune didn't dare to ask any more. "Yes, Tsunade-sama!"
...
The sun began to set.
Kinoshita Genichi dragged his exhausted body home. Even with school, he had not neglected his training in the drawing cut—the iaijutsu—or the Rasengan.
A comfortable thirty-minute soak in the bathtub washed away all his fatigue.
After dinner, Genichi immediately returned to his room, sat at his desk, and unrolled a somewhat old scroll.
This was left to him by his grandfather.
He hadn't been lying when he told Futagi Ryusei that his grandfather's notes mentioned nature and shape transformation. But in terms of actual jutsu, his grandfather had only left one.
Water Release: Water Shockwave!
This was also the only offensive ninjutsu his future self had mastered in the next ten years.
Genichi was, of course, as familiar with this jutsu as he could possibly be.
Tiger -> Snake -> Ox -> Ram -> Bird -> Rat.
A total of six seals, which wasn't too many. If one's hand seals were fast enough, it would only take a second.
However, Genichi still felt it was too many.
"My research into simplifying hand seals will begin with this jutsu."
"And the application of the Kuji-kiri will also begin with this jutsu."
As for the seals for the Three Academy Jutsu, they were already simple enough.
Time flew by.
Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
One day, just as he was walking out of the school gates, Genichi heard a familiar, passionate voice. "Kakashi, let's have a duel of youth!"
"If I lose, I'll add another 500 handstand laps today!"
Genichi looked over and saw Might Guy blocking Kakashi's path.
Kakashi nodded with a blank expression. "No problem."
"What's the challenge?"
Just as Might Guy was about to speak, a voice came from behind him. "How about you add me to the mix?"
Kinoshita Genichi strode forward. After two months, everyone was familiar with each other, even if they weren't exactly friends yet.
Seeing the class "genius," Might Guy flashed his pearly white teeth. "Of course, there's no problem! Right, Kakashi?"
Kakashi glanced at Genichi, then nodded. "Fine."
Genichi smiled and proposed, "Then let's race from here and see who reaches the village gate first."
Might Guy was fired up, punching his fist into his palm. "Excellent! It's decided then!"
Kakashi nodded in agreement.
Just then, Nohara Rin stepped forward and smiled. "I can be the one to give the signal!"
Genichi grinned. "Then we'll be counting on you, Rin!"
Beside Rin, Uchiha Obito also wanted to compete, but seeing that the three of them were already prepared, he was too shy to speak up.
"3, 2, 1..."
Rin counted down, then shouted, "Start!"
As her voice fell, three figures shot forward, kicking up three clouds of dust.
(End of Chapter)