Mercy Technique

Uchiha Mai spread out the scroll to examine it closely, comparing it against the copy of True Explanation of Fire Release he kept at home. After a few glances, he realized the true value of this scroll.

The core content of both was identical, recording the ten most versatile and cost-effective C-rank and B-rank fire ninjutsu; there was nothing much to say about that.

This section was only a little over two thousand characters long—as short and concise as most authors on Qidian.

Some might think that because there wasn't a single A-rank ninjutsu, this scroll was trash, but that was far from the truth.

Ninjutsu grading is generally unrelated to power and only concerns danger levels. It's just that most high-risk ninjutsu happen to be powerful, which gives people the illusion that A-rank and B-rank ninjutsu are incredibly formidable.

There are no invincible techniques, only invincible people.

Any random B-rank Majestic Destroyer Flame or Majestic Demolisher Flame used by Uchiha Madara could rival the S-rank forbidden techniques used by Jiraiya.

The Nintaijutsu of the Raikage lineage, such as Lariat Bomb, Lariat, and Heavy Thunder Axe, were also all C-rank or B-rank; not a single one was A-rank.

The fact that they possess the learning difficulty of C and B-rank techniques while delivering power that rivals A and S-rank ninjutsu—that is where their true brilliance lies.

As for the annotations, the copy left behind by his parents contained over nine thousand characters, while this one from Uchiha Izuna had just over eight thousand—even fewer.

A master is a master after all. Uchiha Izuna used fewer words to explain the key points of practicing each ninjutsu, giving one the feeling of parting the clouds to see the sun, or having a sudden, enlightened realization.

Furthermore, this scroll contained over ten thousand characters of content that were absent from the copy at home.

These ten thousand-plus characters recorded all of Uchiha Izuna's insights and preferences regarding fire ninjutsu, his strategies and wisdom when using fire to face enemies, and his concepts and applications of fire-attribute chakra.

The total length was over twenty thousand characters. It sounds like a lot, but converted into a Qidian novel, that's only about 7 to 10 chapters.

Uchiha Mai read with such fascination that his Sharingan activated naturally without him noticing. By the time he finished reading, he realized a long time had passed, and Fugaku had already warmed a new pot of tea.

Before Uchiha Mai could apologize, Fugaku waved his hand, pushed a cup of tea toward him, and smiled. "When I first read this scroll, I was even more intoxicated by it than you were. Did you gain anything?"

"A lot."

Uchiha Mai closed the scroll and replied, "I don't fully understand it all yet. But I have a hunch that if I can completely grasp the content within, I could master most fire ninjutsu with ease, provided my chakra reserves are sufficient."

"That is the purpose of this scroll, and what Lord Uchiha Izuna hoped for. In terms of ninjutsu, swordsmanship, and knowledge, Lord Uchiha Izuna was on par with the Second Hokage. Had he not passed away in his prime, he surely would have developed many more techniques."

Uchiha Fugaku sighed with emotion, then added, "By the way, is there any technique you particularly like? I can demonstrate it for you right now."

Fugaku had said this once before, but Mai had been too absorbed in the knowledge to hear him.

A live demonstration?

That was exactly what he needed. Uchiha Mai pondered which technique would be best to ask Fugaku to perform.

Regardless of whether Fugaku had awakened his Mangekyo yet, even setting aside the Sharingan, Fugaku was undoubtedly an elite among elite Jonin.

Of the dozen or so ninjutsu on the scroll, none exceeded B-rank, so they certainly wouldn't pose a challenge for Fugaku.

"Then, Clan Head, could you demonstrate the Great Fireball Technique? I am quite interested in that one," Uchiha Mai replied.

Mai had little interest in pure ninjutsu; he was more keen on developing Nintaijutsu that combined fire release with taijutsu, essentially bootlegging the Yagami-Style Ancient Martial Arts to the end.

However, learning a few extra tricks wouldn't hurt; who knows, he might be able to catch someone off guard with them.

The Great Fireball Technique required few hand seals and had great power, with a low learning curve. As one's chakra reserves increased, its power could be further enhanced. In the original story, Itachi's Great Fireball Technique looked like a Great Dragon Fire.

Aside from the fact that it never actually hit anyone, it was a perfect C-rank ninjutsu.

Fugaku nodded slightly, satisfied that Mai wasn't being overly ambitious by trying to learn high-level fire techniques; a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

"Come, let's go to the courtyard. Activate your Sharingan and watch closely."

Fugaku led Mai to the center of the courtyard and began to form hand seals slowly, explaining the details of the technique as he did so: the flow of chakra, the guidance of chakra...

A C-rank ninjutsu, and he took a full half-minute to perform it.

"Did you learn it?" Fugaku asked expectantly.

Uchiha Mai replayed Fugaku's demonstration and Uchiha Izuna's explanations from the scroll in his mind.

Only then did he slowly raise his hands, then formed the seals with lightning speed, his ten fingers dancing as he guided the chakra within his body.

A surge of heat rushed from his chest to his throat, and Uchiha Mai opened his mouth to exhale a meter-high fireball, which slammed into a training dummy ten meters away and exploded.

"Good!" Fugaku clapped in approval. "As expected of a genius of our Uchiha clan. To have learned the Great Fireball Technique at only eight years old, and to have such power on the first try!"

An ordinary Uchiha becomes a Genin, learns the Great Fireball, and then promotes to Chunin. A genius Uchiha learns the Great Fireball first, then becomes a Genin and a Chunin.

Mai was a bit more special; he possessed Chunin-level strength before he even learned the Great Fireball.

The dummy ten meters away was burning fiercely, as if it were an enemy struck in battle, yet Uchiha Mai frowned slightly, feeling unsatisfied.

Fugaku noticed the lack of joy on Mai's face and asked, "What is it? Are you dissatisfied with the power of the Great Fireball? Among all C-rank ninjutsu, the Great Fireball's power is among the best."

"It's not a matter of power..."

Uchiha Mai shook his head, drew upon his chakra, and took a step forward, charging toward another dummy ten meters away while changing directions multiple times.

Finally, he leaped high into the air, mimicking the movements of the Raikage's Heavy Thunder Axe and Tsunade's Heavenly Foot of Pain, and brought his foot down, smashing the dummy into pieces.

Outer Style: Bombing Axe!

In the The King of Fighters game, Iori Yagami always stands on the ground when using the Bombing Axe, but in actual combat, the variations are naturally much greater; after all, The King of Fighters is just a side-scrolling fighting game.

Ah, this...

Fugaku felt a little awkward, because he had already seen what Uchiha Mai wanted to express.

The Great Fireball Technique is too slow!

Within ten meters, it is not as fast as a punch. Attacking an enemy beyond ten meters is indeed slightly faster than Uchiha Mai's sprinting speed, but the trajectory is fixed and it is too easy to dodge.

On the contrary, rushing over to deliver a kick is more practical.

This kind of ninjutsu is only suitable for bullying weaklings or being used as a strategic ninjutsu to force an opponent to dodge.

It is the Mercy Technique, confirmed!

"In any case, study the knowledge on the scroll well, and come ask me anytime if there is anything you don't understand. It's getting a bit chilly, hurry back and get some sleep."

An awkward Fugaku shooed Uchiha Mai out of his house.

Clutching the scroll, Uchiha Mai returned home.

The Great Fireball Technique might be a bit trashy, but aren't the other ninjutsu recorded on it all very practical? The knowledge beyond those ninjutsu is even more of an invaluable treasure, possessing extraordinary value for Mai, who wants to develop Nintaijutsu.