The third lesson began quickly.
Nimura Ryusei picked up right where he had left off in the previous class. But halfway through, theory gave way to practice.
That practice was chakra refinement!
Ryusei explained everything in meticulous detail. The refinement of chakra began with concentrating one's mind.
The method? Placing a leaf on one's forehead.
Souta Kiryuu knew of this method—Iruka had taught Naruto and his classmates in the same way. And from what Souta remembered of the next ten years, chakra refinement also began from this very step.
Following the instructions, Souta kept to the process. Compared to other students who weren't born into shinobi families, however, he picked it up immediately.
And so, Souta quickly became the brightest talent in the class.
When the lesson ended, Shizune looked at him with open admiration."Souta, you're incredible!" she said in awe."It took me three whole days to refine chakra for the first time."
Souta smiled lightly."This doesn't really mean much. I just find it easier to focus my mind."
"Chakra depends on two key aspects: the body and the spirit. I only have a slight edge in the spiritual part."
It wasn't false modesty.
If not for having overdrawn from his future ten years, Souta doubted he would have mastered chakra refinement so quickly—no matter what natural "instinct" he claimed to have.
Though he was consciously shaping the image of a genius, he never truly believed himself to be one. He hadn't lost himself to arrogance.
For the following week, Nimura Ryusei continued teaching chakra refinement until every student in the class could draw out chakra. Only then did that stage come to an end.
During this time, however, Souta's focus had shifted toward hand seals.
With Shizune watching, he went from clumsy and awkward movements to increasingly fluid and precise signs, improving almost daily.
In just a week, he had released all the knowledge and experience about seals he had gained from those "borrowed" ten years of the future.
Of course, that display was only on the surface—meant for Shizune to see.
Most of his effort was actually spent on something deeper.
Simplifying seals.
If he was going to keep signing with speed alone, what was the point of transmigrating?
He didn't intend to get as absurd as Jiraiya, who once made seals with his feet, but researching ways to simplify hand seals was both necessary and practical.
There was also the matter of single-handed seals.
Souta remembered how Haku had used them with his Ice Release, and even how Deidara managed them—albeit while reanimated with a missing arm.
Then there were Uchiha Itachi, Kakashi, and Sarutobi Asuma, who had also displayed single-handed sealing during their battle.
But in truth, while Souta's experience allowed him to form seals fluidly, his actual understanding of the twelve basic hand signs was shallow. He knew how, but not always why.
And beyond those twelve, there was the more mysterious set—the Nine Syllable Seals:Rin, Pyō, Tō, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen.
Souta remembered using one of them before: the Sha seal, when forming what might have been Might Guy's Daytime Tiger. He also recalled the Zai seal, which the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had used in his water-style battle against Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Unfortunately, the textbook focused almost entirely on the twelve basics. The Nine Syllable Seals were only briefly listed in the appendix—without any explanation.
Unlike the twelve, each with detailed commentary, the nine were left as bare diagrams.
That day, after the chakra refinement course had ended, Souta chased after Nimura Ryusei.
"Ryusei-sensei!" he called.
The instructor stopped, turning with a smile."Souta, what is it this time?"
Souta stepped forward with his notebook, bowing respectfully before speaking."Yes, I have a question—thank you for your time."
Glancing at the notebook, Ryusei asked, "It's about hand seals, isn't it?"
He already knew Souta had been practicing them diligently, becoming surprisingly adept in just a short span.
Ryusei thought highly of the boy—clever, hardworking, and full of potential—so he always answered him with patience and warmth.
"Yes, Ryusei-sensei," Souta nodded."I've been previewing the Detailed Study of Hand Seals. The book explains that seals exist to better channel chakra, converting it into ninjutsu.
"So… when it says 'better channeling,' does it mean seals are meant to help with nature transformation and shape transformation?"
Ryusei blinked in surprise."You already know about nature transformation and shape transformation?"
Souta smiled faintly."My grandfather was also a shinobi. He left behind some notes. They mentioned it."
"Ah, I see."
Ryusei nodded in realization, then replied seriously:"Nature transformation and shape transformation go beyond what we normally teach at the Academy.
"But yes—you're absolutely right. The essence of ninjutsu comes from those two principles. Chakra undergoes both nature and shape changes to form a technique.
"And hand seals exist to help a shinobi perform those changes more effectively and quickly."
Souta thought deeply."So, Ryusei-sensei… does that mean if one fully mastered both nature and shape transformation, they could reduce or even eliminate the need for hand seals?"
Ryusei chuckled at the idea."You're not wrong, Souta—but that's extremely, extremely difficult.
"Even the Third Hokage himself couldn't completely perform jutsu without seals.
"That said, many jonin are capable of reducing the number of seals they need."
His tone softened into advice:"Souta, I know you're very bright. But for now, focus on building a solid foundation. Master the hand seals first. When you reach chunin level, then you can consider reducing them."
Souta nodded obediently, then flipped through his notes to ask about the deeper meanings behind the twelve basics.
After skimming them, Ryusei's expression grew complicated."…Yes. Your understanding is accurate."
"Very good. Keep going like this."
He really had no criticism to give—the boy was progressing flawlessly.
Souta nodded in relief, reassured he was on the right path.
Then Ryusei's gaze fell upon Souta's notes on the Nine Syllable Seals.
"Souta, these seals… you only need to be vaguely familiar with them. They're practically never used in ninjutsu."
Scratching his head, Souta admitted:"I'm very curious about them, Sensei. But the textbook has no commentary."
Ryusei thought for a moment, then said:"Come see me after the first class this afternoon. I'll find something for you."
Truthfully, he had no detailed notes on the Nine Syllable Seals either. They weren't useful in modern ninjutsu.
But given Souta's sharp mind, Ryusei decided it was worth helping him.
Souta's face lit up."Thank you, Ryusei-sensei!"
"Work hard, Souta," Ryusei encouraged with a smile."Don't waste your talent."
"Yes, Sensei!"