"Genjutsu, put simply, is the art of using chakra to interfere with an enemy's five senses, trapping them in an illusion."
Yūhi Shinku's voice carried a rare seriousness as he began his explanation.
The five senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—could all be manipulated. Among them, visual genjutsu was the most common.
The most famous example of visual genjutsu was, of course, the Sharingan.
In the shinobi world, there was a well-known warning: when facing an Uchiha, never look into their eyes.Because even a single glance could be your undoing—no, it wouldn't literally make you explode, but you'd fall straight into their illusions.
"If two genjutsu specialists face each other, the deciding factor is their Yin Release—the strength of their spiritual power." Shinku's gaze shifted toward Hanekawa. "And your spiritual power is naturally stronger than most, which makes you well-suited for genjutsu."
"What about me?" Kurenai couldn't help but interrupt.
"Yours is also above average for your age." Shinku paused, deliberately leaving something unsaid.
If Kurenai's genjutsu talent was a solid six thousand, Hanekawa's had to be at least ten thousand.
That didn't mean Kurenai's talent was bad—in fact, before meeting Hanekawa, she was the most gifted student Shinku had ever seen when it came to genjutsu.
The Uchiha were an exception, of course. They didn't need talent in genjutsu—once their eyes awakened, the techniques came naturally.
"Alright, enough theory. Let's put it into practice." Shinku clapped his hands. "We'll start with the most basic genjutsu—the Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique."
The False Surroundings Technique was ranked D-level. It created eerie black apparitions to frighten opponents. The phantoms moved slowly, caused no real harm, but had one advantage: when struck, they split apart.
It was, in a sense, like a specialized version of the Shadow Clone Technique.
"Watch closely and pay attention to the hand seals."
Shinku deliberately slowed his movements. Moments later, a pitch-black silhouette rose from behind the sofa, its form radiating a cold, unsettling aura.
Prepared as they were, neither Hanekawa nor Kurenai were startled. Clearly, this was a jutsu best suited for ambushes.
"Your turn," Shinku dismissed the illusion and looked at them expectantly.
When he had first learned this genjutsu, it had taken him a full day to get it right. With Hanekawa and Kurenai's talent, he hoped they could pull it off within half a day.
But then—he blinked in disbelief.
Before Hanekawa, a fully formed black phantom appeared in an instant.
For a moment, Shinku himself felt like he had been caught in a genjutsu.
"This fast…?"
Kurenai's lips pressed into a thin line as frustration welled in her chest. Once again, her talent fell short compared to Hanekawa's.
But she didn't wallow. Grinding her teeth, she kept trying until at last she succeeded.
Only—her illusion wasn't quite right. Instead of a proper humanoid figure, her phantom looked… off. Crooked, twisted, like some kind of bizarre monster.
"Red, your talent is truly remarkable." Shinku offered her an encouraging smile.
But Kurenai didn't feel much joy. Comparisons cut deep, and next to Hanekawa's display, her own seemed lacking.
"Shinku-sensei, can you teach me the next genjutsu?" Hanekawa asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity as a new system entry surfaced before him.
"You may have learned the False Surroundings Technique, but you're not yet proficient." Shinku shook his head. "Practice it for two more days before moving on. Do not rush."
"Sensei, look."
Hanekawa clapped his hands. Instantly, another phantom appeared, faster than before.
"This—this is impossible!"
Shinku's eyes widened.
Even Kurenai was speechless.
Not only had he learned the technique in moments, but he had already mastered it?
Proficiency in a jutsu was measured by speed and effectiveness. Hanekawa's second casting was faster than his first—nearly at the jutsu's theoretical limit.
The reason was simple: his system had activated.
[E-Rank Jutsu Entry: Demonic Illusion – False Surroundings Technique]Trigger Condition: Successfully cast the jutsu.Effect: The jutsu automatically reaches Proficient level.Note: Has one synthesis path—three E-rank genjutsu entries can be fused into a D-rank entry: Genjutsu Adept.
The moment the entry appeared, Hanekawa's mind flooded with knowledge, as if he'd practiced thousands of times.
"Your talent is beyond anything I imagined!" Shinku exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement.
It had been years since the shinobi world had produced a true genjutsu master. Most of the glory had long been stolen by the Uchiha's Sharingan.
But now, Hanekawa gave him hope. Maybe one day, the Yūhi name would be spoken with equal weight.
Hanekawa stared at his expression, silent.What was he supposed to say? Don't worry, Sensei—I'll carry my talent into the Yūhi clan's future?
"I'll teach you the next one now," Shinku said at last, steadying his breath. "Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique."
Hanekawa's eyes lit up.
This one had real fame—even Orochimaru and Kakashi had used it in the original story. Though still D-rank, it was far more potent than the False Surroundings Technique.
It forced the victim to confront the deepest terrors of their heart, a genjutsu designed to shatter the mind.
Hanekawa cast it once and, as expected, the system rewarded him.
[E-Rank Jutsu Entry: Demonic Illusion – Hell Viewing Technique]Trigger Condition: Successfully cast the jutsu.Effect: The jutsu automatically reaches Proficient level.Note: Has one synthesis path—three E-rank genjutsu entries can be fused into a D-rank entry: Genjutsu Adept.
But his chakra reserves were nearly drained. Casting three genjutsu in quick succession had eaten through most of his energy.
That was why the Academy taught only the three basic jutsu at first—students didn't have the chakra for more.
Still, Hanekawa pressed on. He wanted Shinku to teach him a third technique immediately.
Stopping now would feel like watching an action movie freeze right before the climax—it would ruin the moment.
Shinku, by now convinced of Hanekawa's genius, relented.
[E-Rank Jutsu Entry: Genjutsu – Triple Flower Entanglement]Trigger Condition: Successfully cast the jutsu.Effect: The jutsu automatically reaches Proficient level.Note: Has one synthesis path—three E-rank genjutsu entries can be fused into a D-rank entry: Genjutsu Adept.
Triple Flower Entanglement made the target see a storm of petals swirling around them, disrupting their vision and focus. Less impactful than the Hell Viewing Technique, but still useful for confusion.
With his chakra finally spent, Hanekawa slumped down to rest.
His speed of learning came not just from talent, but from the fact that these were relatively low-level genjutsu.
Kurenai, who had witnessed the entire display, sat in silence for a long moment.
And then, suddenly, she laughed softly.
This boy was not just talented—he was a genius among geniuses, a prodigy among prodigies.
How could she ever hope to beat him?
So this was the difference. She was just… ordinary.