Yin Nature Transformation

Shikaku did not send the two children off to practice on their own right after teaching Sasuke. After all, Sasuke was someone else's child, while he knew perfectly well what his own kid was like.

"Sasuke, could I ask you to help Shikamaru with some Fire Style Chakra Nature Training?"

As long as he was not being asked to spare Sarutobi or Shimura, everything else was negotiable. He was only being a teaching assistant for a kid; there was no reason to refuse.

"No problem, but I'd like to ask something. Does Shikamaru's Chakra have a Fire Nature Transformation?"

Shikaku laughed heartily. "You didn't think the Nara clan only had Shadow Techniques, did you? Like ordinary ninja, aside from Yin Nature Transformation, we also have one or two of the basic five elements."

"Both Shikamaru's mother and I have Fire Nature Transformation, so naturally he does too."

"Fire and Yin Chakra attributes... that does sound a lot like the Uchiha. Does Shikamaru have any others?"

"Fire, Earth, and Yin. Those three."

"What a pity. He's only one short of being like me."

Having just agreed to help guide Shikamaru, Sasuke could not exactly turn around and leave.

Although Shikaku also had Fire Chakra, he had not said whether he would teach Shikamaru himself. Perhaps he wanted to observe Sasuke's training approach, or perhaps he was more likely trying to increase the interaction between Sasuke and Shikamaru.

"Has Shikamaru used Fire Style before?"

Shikamaru had not said anything himself, but his dad readily exposed his shortcomings.

"He hasn't even become proficient in the clan's secret techniques, much less practiced anything else. Feel free to start from scratch. Just give it a try."

"Dad, you're making me sound like some kind of test subject."

Sasuke recalled studying scrolls by himself. "Sigh, it can't be helped. Before you know the most efficient training method, it really is like running experiments."

"Teacher Shikaku said earlier that my Chakra instinctively incorporates Fire Nature Transformation. How about Shikamaru and I exchange Chakra first and test it out? I also want to see what normal Chakra is like."

Exchange Chakra? It was Shikamaru's first time hearing of such a method.

It made sense, though. If teachers taught ninjutsu hand-in-hand like that every time, it would clearly waste too much of their time. At least, the pay probably would not make it worthwhile. Usually, they would just give a few pointers and let the students practice on their own.

Shikamaru was a little puzzled. "What are you planning to do?"

"I haven't tried it either. If I transfer my Chakra into your body, use the Three Body Technique to expend it whenever you feel pressured. While you do, look for a chance to sense the difference between my Chakra and yours."

It was not very complicated.

Sasuke cautiously injected Chakra from an acupoint in Shikamaru's shoulder into his chakra pathway system.

Tight and narrow, as though it had never been tempered or developed.

He carefully guided Chakra in continuously, stopping only when it seemed close to the limit.

Despite the freezing weather, Shikamaru's breathing grew labored, and sweat actually began to form on his forehead.

Chakra that had been refined but not expended through ninjutsu would also dissipate directly at a relatively fast rate.

Clone Technique!

It was Shikamaru's first time using someone else's Chakra to perform a technique. The feeling of casting ninjutsu while barely consuming any of his own energy was remarkably strange. Still, every chakra pathway in his body ached faintly.

The Clone Technique succeeded, but in a class assessment, it would have been the kind that earned no points. It was basically a rough draft of Shikamaru.

Seeing it, Shikaku laughed. "Shikamaru, your Clone Technique skills have gotten rusty."

That was obviously not his usual level. Who could not even use a Clone Technique properly? "I'm just not used to Sasuke's Chakra."

After saying that, he formed the Hand Seals again.

Clone Technique!

Perfect.

Sasuke was curious as well. What was it like from Shikamaru's perspective? "How does it feel?"

Restless, restrained, indescribably fiery, with a slight pain that kept his mind alert at all times.

"It's like injecting spicy curry paste into my chakra pathways. Your Chakra is so intense. Doesn't it usually make you uncomfortable?"

Uncomfortable?

Sasuke thought for a moment, then guessed, "I don't think so. Is it possible that you really don't practice ninjutsu much?"

Shikamaru scratched his head, slightly awkward. "Yeah. You know how lazy I usually am. Why would you think otherwise?"

"I thought you were the type who worked hard in private, like with written exams, you..."

When Shikamaru's lazy gaze gained a hint of killing intent, Sasuke shut his mouth and quickly changed his wording.

"Mm. Always passing is good too."

"Your pathways are just a little too thin. Use ninjutsu more often."

"Refining Chakra is super tiring. It's exhausting and takes time."

"Practice before bed. It'll make it easier to fall asleep afterward."

"I'm the type who falls asleep instantly... I don't need that."

Shikamaru seemed completely impervious to persuasion.

Sasuke set aside the matter of urging him to train harder for now. "Then how about you give me your Chakra to try? Please."

Shikamaru did not refuse. He was also curious about Sasuke saying he was thin...

??

When the amount of Chakra entering his body stopped increasing, Sasuke asked, "Um, Shikamaru, do you have any more?"

Having experienced it once, Shikamaru smoothly transferred Chakra into Sasuke's pathways as well. There was not much technique to it, but it was like a clay ox vanishing into the sea. It was not bottomless, yet his output was still nowhere near enough compared with Sasuke's capacity.

Compared to his own Chakra, Shikamaru's was calm, gentle, light... and a little scarce.

"I'll try using your Chakra to perform Fire Style. Teacher Shikaku, is the pond in the courtyard okay?"

With things having come to this, Shikaku could hardly refuse. "Be careful not to burn the trees around it."

He moved as slowly as possible, forming the Hand Seals with textbook precision so Shikamaru could see clearly.

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique

What should have been a spherical burst now sprayed straight ahead like a flamethrower. Though it showed a tendency to concentrate, it appeared loose and weak.

"Shikamaru, that was your Chakra. Now I'll use an equal amount of Chakra refined by me."

A moment later, Sasuke cast the Great Fireball Technique again.

With a muffled boom, a fireball erupted at the end of the stream of flame. A scorching wave of air surged outward, firelight reflecting off their bodies, and its blazing heat could be felt even from afar.

Reviewing the two attempts, Sasuke summarized, "As for the difference, with Fire Nature Transformation, you need to ensure that the Chakra maintains a high level of activity. But before casting, you need to stabilize it slightly. It doesn't need to be too active in the pathways. Once the Chakra is released to its intended location, unleash that restrained vitality all at once."

"Maybe I didn't put it very precisely. Teacher Shikaku, is my understanding correct?"

Shikaku nodded, then shook his head slightly. "That's roughly what it means, but perhaps you haven't encountered enough ninjutsu yet. Not all Fire Style techniques need to be restrained before erupting. That is a characteristic of the ninjutsu, not a characteristic of Fire Nature Transformation."

"For example, if your ninjutsu releases a fire beast, it needs better endurance and stability rather than exploding the moment it is summoned."

"Sometimes, it can be simpler: active, high temperature, adhesive."

"Yes!"

Sasuke looked thoroughly instructed.

Shikaku then made another request. "Now, how about trying to make a training plan for Shikamaru's Fire Chakra Nature Transformation?"