Understanding Genjutsu

Just like that.

Hyuga Sho briefly chatted with Asuma.

They agreed to meet again at the Ninja Academy.

Asuma got up, dusted off his butt, and happily went home.

Though he still looked disdainful in the end.

Inside, he was already thrilled beyond measure.

Friends... ah, friends.

What a wonderful word.

"So... this is enough, right?"

Hyuga Sho returned to the corner and spoke to Yūhi Kurenai.

Poor Asuma still had no idea.

His so-called "friendship" was merely Yūhi Kurenai's request.

"Mm... I'll teach you Genjutsu now."

Yūhi Kurenai did not stand on ceremony.

She said it very calmly.

"Please excuse yourself, Hyuga Mami."

Though she was polite to Hyuga Mami, that did not mean she would teach her family's inherited Genjutsu to the latter.

Just as Hyuga Mami was about to leave.

"It's fine. She's only curious anyway, and she might not necessarily be able to learn it..."

Hyuga Sho waved his hand.

Signaling for Yūhi Kurenai to let Hyuga Mami stay.

"If I can't learn it, it's fine if Young Lady learns it in my place..."

Hyuga Sho made a gesture.

It meant the number "16."

Hyuga Mami, who had been about to leave, froze for a moment before immediately understanding.

Hyuga Sho meant... Eight Trigrams Sixteen Palms.

Back then.

Hyuga Mami had taught him a Main Family technique for free, helping him break through to 10% Doka Degree.

By both sentiment and reason...

Hyuga Sho did not like owing anyone.

After thinking for a moment, Yūhi Kurenai reluctantly nodded.

"Watch carefully. I'll demonstrate the simplest Genjutsu for you... This is how the Chakra Flow moves..."

Yūhi Kurenai formed a hand seal and explained as she did so.

The next second.

Fluttering butterflies appeared before Hyuga Sho's eyes.

So-called "Genjutsu."

Unlike Ninjutsu and Taijutsu.

It targeted an enemy's five senses, trapping them in illusion.

A skilled Genjutsu user could even freely manipulate the Chakra Flow in an enemy's Brain Nerve. It was a combat style that required high intelligence and combat aptitude.

To learn Genjutsu, one needed to possess Yin Release.

Yin and Yang existed independently of the Five Basic Attributes.

Yang Release could produce Medical Ninjutsu, as well as certain special techniques relating to physical traits.

Yin Release, most straightforwardly, allowed those who possessed it to use Genjutsu.

"Hmm?"

Hyuga Sho tried touching the butterflies. The sensation of one landing on his hand felt just like a real butterfly.

"This is only the simplest Genjutsu trick. It's E-Rank and has no intimidation or mental damage effects..."

It was just like performing magic.

Yūhi Kurenai canceled the Genjutsu, and the butterflies instantly vanished.

"I understand."

Hyuga Mami nodded.

She formed a hand seal.

Then recreated the exact same Genjutsu as Yūhi Kurenai on the spot.

Yūhi Kurenai: "!"

Hyuga Sho, already accustomed to Hyuga Mami possessing the Protagonist Template, was not particularly surprised.

"The textbook says Genjutsu cannot directly harm the human body. Is that true?"

Hyuga Sho asked.

The Yūhi surname was renowned for Genjutsu.

He could not go wrong asking her.

"It cannot 'directly' harm the human body, but it can 'indirectly' kill people."

Yūhi Kurenai nodded, recovering from her shock at Hyuga Mami's talent.

"For example, the D-Rank Hell Viewing Technique lets people see what they fear most deep down. Even if someone has no heart condition, there is still roughly a 1% chance they will be scared to death..."

"..."

Hyuga Sho thought about it briefly and understood.

He remembered news reports from his previous life about an old man being frightened to death while watching a horror movie.

When human fear reached its limit.

It could endanger one's life.

"Hyuga Sho, practice this Genjutsu first. Once you've learned it, I'll teach you others."

With that, Yūhi Kurenai ended today's exchange.

That afternoon.

Hyuga Sho chatted with Asuma for a while, and Asuma was very happy.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

Asuma gradually became close with Hyuga Sho.

They were still about two or three weeks away from becoming plastic best friends.

But regrettably.

Hyuga Sho had not learned Genjutsu.

So the plastic best friend plan request had to be forcibly suspended.

"The reason you can't learn Genjutsu is probably not an issue of talent, but because you don't have Yin Release."

Inside the classroom after school.

Yūhi Kurenai explained this to Hyuga Sho.

This.

Hyuga Sho had already anticipated.

Ever since Morino Ibiki took out Chakra Paper and the result showed that he possessed no attributes whatsoever, Hyuga Sho had understood.

The lack of Yin Release did not make Hyuga Sho too disappointed.

If he did not have it, he could just defeat an enemy who did.

Just as he had gained Earth Style from the Iwagakure Female Ninja, Kōseki.

"Still, even without Yin Release, mastering Genjutsu knowledge is a necessary part of being a ninja. Once you go to war, you'll inevitably encounter opponents who can use Genjutsu..."

Yūhi Kurenai's words reminded Hyuga Sho of something.

"Yūhi Kurenai, besides you, is there anyone else in our class who is skilled at Genjutsu?"

"Probably..."

Yūhi Kurenai pondered for a moment.

"Hatake Kakashi might be able to use it. After all, he's the son of Konoha's White Fang..."

Yūhi Kurenai reminded Hyuga Sho.

Kakashi could use Genjutsu...?

Then before defeating Kakashi, he needed to make one more preparation.

"What are the weaknesses of Genjutsu users? Or rather... how does one resist Genjutsu?"

Hyuga Sho's gaze suddenly became blazing.

For an instant, Yūhi Kurenai shuddered, though it seemed like an illusion...

"A weakness..."

Whether a Genjutsu user had weaknesses depended on the individual.

But if she had to say.

Perhaps 99% of Genjutsu users in the Shinobi World used "visual-type Genjutsu."

In other words...

"Eye contact."

Yūhi Kurenai explained.

"Look away or close your eyes, and you can become immune to visual-type Genjutsu. No matter how powerful a Genjutsu user is, if they cannot make their opponent's eyes meet theirs, they cannot make the Genjutsu take effect."

"What if you accidentally get caught in Genjutsu?"

Hyuga Sho asked again.

After all.

There were still 1% of Genjutsu users in the Shinobi World who used other types of Genjutsu, such as sound-based Genjutsu.

And no one could keep their eyes closed twenty-four hours a day.

There would always be moments when their gazes met.

"1. Make your Chakra erupt and disrupt the enemy's interference with your Chakra."

"2. Self-harm. Find a way to use real pain to wake yourself up—bite through your lip, break a finger..."

"3. A third party, meaning a companion, can help by injecting Chakra into you to break the Genjutsu."

"4. Genjutsu reflection. As long as you possess sufficient Genjutsu skill and high intelligence, you can attempt to reflect the Genjutsu."

"5. Eye Power. For example, the Uchiha Clan that Obito belongs to—their Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan, can grant immunity to many visual-type Genjutsu."

Yūhi Kurenai explained in one breath how Hyuga Sho should respond after being caught in Genjutsu.

"I see..."

Hyuga Sho nodded.

"1 and 2 suit me well..."