Chapter 31: The Path to "Jinchuriki"!
The usually resourceful old clan head was left somewhat dazed by Nara Keisuke's speech. After a long moment, he finally managed to react, but he still stuttered a little when he spoke.
"Keisuke, um, what you said was good, very good." Nara Shikano continuously stroked his beard, gradually sorting out his original train of thought. "In my understanding, within the Nara clan, there should be no one with a more profound understanding of the Shadow Secret Techniques than you. However, that is not the answer I was looking for."
To prevent Nara Keisuke from throwing out any more nonsense like "Shadow Secret Art is actually equivalent to genjutsu," Nara Shikano decided to cut to the chase and directly state his own idea.
"In my opinion, the greatest advantage of the Shadow Secret Techniques is that during their use, they can bypass the limits of the main body's chakra pathway system. Theoretically speaking, as long as one has enough Yin Release chakra, the strength of our family's Shadow Secret Techniques has no upper limit!"
Listening to your words is like listening to words.
Nara Keisuke pressed his lips together, not knowing how to critique the old clan head's statement. The idea that "enough strength can make a brick fly" was indeed a universal truth. The problem was, where would an ordinary person get that much "strength"?
It was like fire-based abilities. Some with insufficient energy reserves playing with fire couldn't even compare to those who played with lava. But some with explosive energy reserves could use a "Great Fire Sword" to burn through the entire world!
And coming back to the Nara clan's Yin Release secret techniques, everyone was using Yin Release, but no matter how much the Nara clan researched their shadow arts, could they surpass the Uchiha clan? Not even mentioning ultimate genjutsu like "Izanagi" or "Izanami," just consider the "little Gundam" that came standard with the Mangekyo Sharingan—the Susanoo.
Could the Nara clan compare? They couldn't! They didn't have that kind of ability (bloodline), you know?
However, setting aside that last sentence, the first half of the clan head's statement was very reasonable. And that description couldn't help but make Nara Keisuke think of the A-rank, no-hand-sign, non-elemental ninjutsu that would be developed by the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, in the future—the Rasengan.
As a special ninjutsu used by the "Child of Prophecy" from beginning to end, it was hard for Keisuke to ignore its existence. Previously, he hadn't paid any mind to practicing the Rasengan purely because his own chakra reserves were insufficient. When even the basic Three Academy Techniques were a struggle, one shouldn't fantasize about A-rank, no-hand-sign ninjutsu.
But now... 'If I have free time in the future, I could study the Rasengan,' Nara Keisuke thought to himself. 'Even if I can't integrate it into my own combat system, I can at least use this A-rank ninjutsu and its subsequent derivative techniques to increase my [Wisdom] and improve my overall strength.'
Nara Shikano looked at the distracted Nara Keisuke. "Keisuke, do you think there's anything wrong with my view?"
"No." Nara Keisuke came back to his senses, shook his head, and said frankly, "Although there's a bit of a problem with the last sentence, I still very much agree with the first half."
The last sentence... "Ahem, I did say that was just in theory," Nara Shikano recalled for a moment and coughed lightly. "But did you really understand the first part?"
"The part about the chakra pathway system?" Nara Keisuke raised an eyebrow and repeated the old clan head's words according to his own understanding.
"The cells of the human body, and even the main substances that make up the cells, are surrounded by a complex chakra pathway system. This system allows chakra to flow smoothly to every corner of the body. Generally speaking, when a ninja casts a ninjutsu, they first create chakra by mixing physical and spiritual energy, then transport the chakra to a designated part of the body via the pathway system, and release it outwards through the chakra points at that location. Um, regular ninja mainly release chakra through their fingers, toes, and mouth, with the Hyuga clan being an exception."
"The amount of chakra flowing within the body is strictly limited by the Eight Gates to prevent excessively strong chakra flow from causing internal damage. Genin and Chunin-level ninja generally don't study the human chakra pathway system to such a deep extent. But for Jonin, who are skilled in chakra nature transformation, they will retain the transformed chakra in their bodies for a while after molding it to ensure the power and effect of the ninjutsu."
"However, even Jonin cannot store too much chakra in their bodies, because the amount of chakra the pathway system can accommodate at any single time is limited. Unless... one opens the Eight Gates..."
"And the Shadow Secret Techniques, although they can be seen as a 'nature transformation of Yin Release,' their chakra is not stored inside the body, but within the shadow itself. The human chakra pathway system restricts chakra flow, but shadows contain no cellular tissue, and thus have no pathway system. Therefore, they can accommodate a limitless amount of chakra."
"This is what the Clan Head wanted to express... right?"
After listening to this long monologue from Nara Keisuke, Nara Shikano suddenly sighed with emotion.
"Keisuke."
"Hm?"
"How about... we stop being ninja?"
"Huh?"
"Let's just be pure researchers!"
"What?"
"Even I can't find a single fault in what you just said. It's just too professional and detailed!" Nara Shikano scratched his head with a complex expression. "How on earth is your brain wired, kid?"
Nara Keisuke glanced at the clan head, extended his index finger, and pushed his glasses down slightly. "Clan Head, have you forgotten how I got my eyes?"
Smack!
Nara Shikano slapped his forehead. "My fault, my fault. I still treated you like a child..."
While Nara Shikano was reflecting on his mistake, Nara Keisuke silently pushed his sunglasses back up. The long speech he had just given had also provided him with a lot of inspiration. For example, the case of the Hyuga clan.
'Because they possess the Byakugan, the Hyuga clan can see through the chakra pathway systems of both enemies and allies. That's why they have the corresponding taijutsu that can directly attack the pathway system—the Gentle Fist.' Nara Keisuke's thoughts began to wander. 'Although I can't see through the enemy's pathway system, the "Lazy System" Panel provides me with my own complete chakra pathway system model.'
'In other words, theoretically speaking, I also meet the basic conditions for using the Gentle Fist!'
'And not just the Gentle Fist, but also the Eight Inner Gates Formation...'
In the course of their conversation, Nara Keisuke and the clan head ventured deeper into the forest, the fresh scent of nature washing over them.
"Clan Head, is the Fire Temple in this forest?"
"That's right," Nara Shikano responded. "And the second special reward I mentioned earlier is also hidden in the Fire Temple."
Nara Keisuke glanced at the clan head. "So Clan Head, after all that talk, what do all those theories have to do with the second special reward you mentioned?"
"They are indeed related," Nara Shikano nodded. "Since we just mentioned the Shadow Secret Techniques, you should know the significance of a secret art that can bypass one's own chakra pathway system to store excess chakra in actual ninja combat. At the same time, there is another method that achieves a similar effect by bypassing the body's pathway system. Keisuke, have you heard the term 'Chakra Resonance'?"
"Chakra Resonance?" Nara Keisuke frowned. The term was indeed a bit obscure.
Seeing his expression, the old clan head breathed a sigh of relief internally. Finally, I've stumped the little guy! If he spouts another bunch of stuff that I can't find any fault with, where will I put my face as the Clan Head?
But just then.
"Clan Head, are you talking about... the B-rank ninjutsu [Shadow Clone Technique] developed by the Second Hokage?" Nara Keisuke said, a little unsure. "The main body and the clones will produce a chakra resonance, allowing them to transfer chakra to each other."
"You've learned the Shadow Clone Technique, Keisuke?" Nara Shikano was stunned for a moment, then recalled the scene of Keisuke's battle with Oyakata En. "No! Could it be... the Shadow Imitation Human Technique?"
The [Shadow Imitation Human Technique] was a B-rank clone jutsu developed by the Nara clan based on the Shadow Clone Technique. Its specific effect was to use one's own Yin Release chakra to create a special, materializable Yin Release clone. In terms of practical use, the [Shadow Imitation Human Technique] was similar to the [Shadow Clone Technique]. But compared to the S-rank [Shadow Doppelganger Technique], these two B-rank ninjutsu were far inferior.
"When I went to the Rokumeikan earlier, I did read quite a few research scrolls related to the [Shadow Imitation Human Technique]," Keisuke replied.
"F-Fine..." Nara Shikano's mouth twitched a few times. "But when I mentioned 'Chakra Resonance,' I wasn't referring to the Shadow Clone Technique or the Shadow Imitation Human Technique, but another kind of relationship. A Tailed Beast and its Jinchuriki."
Nara Keisuke stopped in his tracks. He looked at the old clan head, then at the Fire Temple not far ahead, and sucked in a sharp breath. "Clan Head, are you saying the second special reward... is a Tailed Beast?"
"How could that be possible!!" Nara Shikano's extremely vehement tone indicated that Keisuke had guessed completely wrong. "Where would our Nara clan get the ability to capture a Tailed Beast! Although the biggest dream in my life is to personally touch the horns of the Five-Tails..."
The what now? Nara Keisuke's face was a question mark.
"Ahem, ahem." Nara Shikano coughed lightly again. "The second special reward is not a Tailed Beast. But if used properly, it can achieve an effect similar to a Jinchuriki. Keisuke, do you know of the First Hokage-sama?"
The-The Great Pillar? This gasp from Nara Keisuke was no lighter than the last one. Hashirama Cells? In terms of practical use, that stuff really wasn't much different from a Tailed Beast!
Nara Keisuke couldn't help but lower his voice. "Clan Head, are you trying to say..."
"One of the ninja tools that the First Hokage-sama used back then," Nara Shikano said, stroking his beard with a smile. "A Chakra Crystal."
(Author's Notes:)
This chapter has a lot of theoretical information, but it's basically written in strict accordance with the manga's content.
Additionally, regarding the Chakra Resonance between [Tailed Beasts] and [Jinchuriki], I have a vague feeling I saw it somewhere, but I've forgotten which specific chapter. If there's anything wrong, everyone can point it out in comments, Thank you.
---
Also, an explanation about the timing of Minato (Fourth Hokage) developing the Rasengan.
Known 1: It took Minato three years to develop the Rasengan. (According to Jiraiya)
Known 2: Minato developed the Rasengan based on the principle of the Tailed Beast Ball. (According to Killer Bee)
Known 3: The Tailed Beasts Minato faced were only the Nine-Tails (his wife) and the Eight-Tails (his enemy). (Anything not mentioned in the original work is assumed not to have been seen).
Considering that Kushina Uzumaki couldn't just randomly release the Nine-Tails to help Minato research ninjutsu (each time he researched, she would have to transform into the Nine-Tails and spit out a Tailed Beast Ball), the conclusion is:
During the Third Great Ninja War, Minato faced the A-B Combo from Kumogakure multiple times. After personally witnessing the power of the Eight-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball and feeling that his own offensive power (against the A-B Combo) was insufficient, he spent three years developing the A-rank ninjutsu, Rasengan.
(End of Chapter)
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