Chapter 5: The Kuji-kiri Hand Seals!
The third period began quickly.
Futagi Ryusei continued where the last class left off, but after half a period, he moved from theory to practice.
It was time for chakra molding!
Futagi Ryusei's explanation was extremely detailed. Molding chakra begins with concentrating one's spirit. The method was to place a leaf on one's forehead.
Kinoshita Genichi knew this method; it was how Iruka had taught Naruto and the others. The "future ten years" he had acquired also began its chakra training from this very step.
Genichi followed the steps as instructed, but unlike the other students from non-ninja families, he succeeded as soon as he was taught.
And just like that, Genichi became the most dazzling kid in the class.
When the class ended, Shizune looked at Genichi with undisguised amazement. "Genichi, you're incredible!"
"It took me three whole days to mold chakra for the first time."
Genichi smiled. "It doesn't really mean anything. I'm just able to concentrate my mind more easily."
"The two most crucial components of chakra are physical energy and spiritual energy."
"I just have a tiny advantage on the spiritual side, that's all."
This wasn't false modesty. If he hadn't overdrafted his future ten years, Genichi felt he might not have been able to rely on his so-called past-life knowledge to quickly master chakra molding. Although he was working hard to build his "genius" persona, he didn't truly believe he was a genius and hadn't lost himself in the act.
For the next week, Futagi Ryusei taught the art of chakra molding, and only when every student in the class was able to mold chakra did he consider that lesson complete.
During this time, however, Genichi focused his attention on hand seals.
Under Shizune's watchful eyes, he went from clumsy to proficient, improving dramatically almost every day. Within a week, Genichi had fully "released" the hand seal experience and skills he had obtained from his future ten years.
Of course, this was only on the surface, a performance for Shizune to see.
Most of his time was actually spent pondering and researching things on a deeper level. For instance, simplifying hand seals. If he was just going to compete with hand speed like everyone else, what was the point of being reincarnated? While he wouldn't go to the absurd lengths of Jiraiya, who could form seals with his feet, simplifying hand seals was a very necessary and feasible research topic.
Then there were one-handed seals.
Genichi remembered Haku of the Ice Release and Minato both demonstrating the ability to use one-handed seals. Itachi, Kakashi, and Asuma also likely used them during their battle. Haku could do it under normal conditions, while Minato was forced to do it during his Edo Tensei state when he was missing an arm.
Furthermore, although he could perform hand seals proficiently due to overdrafting his future, his actual understanding of the twelve basic seals was superficial; he knew how they worked, but not why.
And besides the twelve basic seals, there were the Kuji-kiri, the Nine Syllable Seals: Rin, Pyo, To, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen.
Genichi remembered that the hand seal Might Guy used for his Hirudora (Daytime Tiger) technique was suspected to be one of them, and the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, had used the "Zai" seal when casting a Water Release jutsu during his fight against Hiruzen.
Unfortunately, the textbook mainly focused on the twelve basic seals. The Kuji-kiri were only listed at the very end of the book with their formations, unlike the basic seals, which each had detailed annotations.
On the day the chakra molding lessons concluded, Genichi caught up with his teacher after class. "Ryusei-sensei!"
Futagi Ryusei stopped and turned. A smile appeared when he saw it was Genichi. "Ah, Genichi. Do you have another question?"
Genichi walked up with his notebook, bowed respectfully, and then spoke. "Yes, sorry to trouble you!"
Ryusei glanced at the notebook in Genichi's hand. "Is it about hand seals?" He was naturally aware that Genichi had already been practicing his seals and seemed to have become quite skilled. He was very optimistic about the smart and hardworking Genichi, so he was always patient and enthusiastic with him.
"Yes, Ryusei-sensei." Genichi nodded. "I was reading ahead in the Detailed Explanation of Hand Seals, and the book says that seals exist to better cast ninjutsu, to mobilize chakra and convert it into a jutsu."
"So, Ryusei-sensei, does the deeper meaning of 'better casting ninjutsu' refer to allowing a ninja to better perform nature and shape transformation?"
Ryusei was very surprised to hear this. "You even know about nature and shape transformation?"
Genichi smiled slightly. "Ryusei-sensei, my grandfather was also a ninja. He left behind some notes that mentioned them."
So that's how it is. Ryusei had a moment of realization, then said, "Knowledge like shape and nature transformation is beyond the scope of what the Academy teaches."
"However, your understanding is perfectly correct."
"Ninjutsu is formed from the nature and shape transformation of chakra. All ninjutsu is inseparable from these two. Or rather, chakra becomes ninjutsu through nature and shape transformation."
"And hand seals exist to allow a ninja to perform nature and shape transformation better and faster."
Genichi pondered this. "Ryusei-sensei, does that mean if one masters nature and shape transformation proficiently, it's possible to reduce the number of hand seals or even eliminate them entirely?"
Ryusei chuckled at his words. "Genichi, you're not wrong to think that way, but it is very, very difficult."
"Even the Third Hokage cannot perform ninjutsu without hand seals."
"Of course, reducing the number of seals is something many Jonin can do."
He then said to Genichi in a heartfelt tone, "Genichi, I know you are very smart, but you haven't even started learning ninjutsu yet. Focus on practicing your hand seals for now. Once you become a Chunin, you can consider trying to shorten your seals."
Genichi nodded obediently, then used his notebook to ask Ryusei about the deeper meanings hidden within the twelve basic hand seals.
After Futagi Ryusei flipped through Genichi's notes, his expression was quite complicated. "Mm, your understanding is all correct."
"Very good, just like this."
He truly had nothing more to say.
Genichi nodded. It seemed he wasn't on the wrong path.
At that moment, Ryusei noticed Genichi also had notes on the Kuji-kiri. He said, "Genichi, you only need a basic understanding of these seals. They are almost never used in ninjutsu."
Genichi scratched his head. "Sensei, I'm very curious about these nine seals, but the textbook has no annotations for them."
Ryusei thought for a moment, then said, "Come see me after the first period this afternoon. I'll get you something." He didn't actually have any notes on the Kuji-kiri himself, nor did he know much about them, precisely because they were so rarely used. However, considering the intelligence Genichi had shown, he decided to help him out.
Genichi was overjoyed. "Thank you, Ryusei-sensei!"
Ryusei smiled encouragingly. "Keep it up, Genichi. Don't waste your talent!"
"Yes!"
(End of Chapter)