Mercy Technique

Uchiha Mai spread out the scroll and examined it closely, comparing it with the copy of True Explanation of Fire Release at home. After only a few glances, he realized the value of this scroll.

The core content of the two was the same. Both recorded around ten of the most broadly applicable and cost-effective C-Rank and B-Rank Fire Style ninjutsu. There was nothing more to say about that.

This section contained just over two thousand words, as short and compact as most Qidian authors.

Some might think the scroll was lousy because it did not contain even a single A-Rank ninjutsu, but that was not the case.

Ninjutsu rankings had little to do with power overall and were based only on danger. It was merely because most high-risk ninjutsu were quite powerful that people got the impression A-Rank and B-Rank techniques were amazing.

There were 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 Raikage lineage's Nintaijutsu, such as Lariat Bomb, Lariat, and Heavy Thunder Axe, were all C-Rank or B-Rank. Not one was A-Rank.

Their C-Rank and B-Rank difficulty and power could instead rival those A-Rank and S-Rank ninjutsu. That was what made them impressive.

As for the annotations, the copy his parents had left at home contained over nine thousand words, while Uchiha Izuna's copy had just over eight thousand—actually even less.

A master was a master after all. Using fewer words, Izuna's annotations explained the key points of cultivating each ninjutsu, giving him the feeling of clouds parting and sudden enlightenment.

Beyond that, this scroll contained over ten thousand additional words that the copy at home did not have.

Those ten thousand-plus words recorded all of Uchiha Izuna's understanding and preferences regarding Fire Style ninjutsu, his strategies and wisdom when using Fire Style against enemies, as well as his application and philosophy of Fire-nature chakra.

The total length was around twenty thousand words. It sounded like a lot, but converted into a Qidian novel, it was only seven to ten chapters.

Uchiha Mai became utterly absorbed in his reading. Without realizing it, his Sharingan opened on its own. By the time he finished, quite a while had passed, and Fugaku had warmed another pot of tea.

Before Uchiha Mai could apologize, Fugaku waved his hand, pushed another cup of tea toward Mai, and smiled. "The first time I read this scroll, I was absorbed in it even longer than you were.

Did you gain anything?"

"A great deal."

Uchiha Mai closed the scroll and replied, "I still do not fully understand it.

But I have the illusion that if I completely understood its contents, I could master most Fire Style ninjutsu with ease, as long as I had enough chakra."

"That is the meaning of this scroll, and what Lord Izuna hoped for.

Ninjutsu, swordsmanship, knowledge—Lord Izuna was evenly matched with the Second in every aspect. If he had not died so young, he surely would have developed many techniques as well."

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

Fugaku had already said that once earlier, but Mai had been so engrossed in the knowledge that he had not heard it.

A live demonstration?

That was exactly what he needed. Uchiha Mai pondered which technique he should ask Fugaku to teach him.

Setting aside whether Fugaku had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, even without the Sharingan, Fugaku definitely possessed the strength of an Elite Jonin. He was elite among elites.

There were around ten techniques on the scroll, the strongest no higher than B-Rank. None of them could possibly trouble Fugaku.

"Then please demonstrate the Great Fireball Technique, Clan Head. I am very interested in that technique," Uchiha Mai replied.

Mai was not particularly interested in ordinary ninjutsu. What he wanted more was to develop Nintaijutsu combining Fire Style and taijutsu, copying Yagami-Style Ancient Martial Arts to the end.

Still, learning a few more moves would not hurt. Perhaps they might even help him catch someone off guard.

The Great Fireball Technique required few hand seals, possessed great power, and was not difficult to learn. Its power could further increase along with the user's chakra reserves. In the original story, Itachi's Great Fireball was practically a Great Dragon Fire.

Other than being unable to hit anyone, it was a perfect C-Rank ninjutsu.

Fugaku nodded slightly, pleased that Mai was not aiming too high and trying to learn advanced Fire Style techniques. A bird in the hand was worth ten in the forest.

"Come on, let us go to the courtyard. Activate your Sharingan and watch carefully."

Fugaku pulled Mai to the center of the courtyard and slowly formed hand seals, explaining the technique's details as he did so: the flow of chakra, the guidance of chakra...

A C-Rank ninjutsu took a full half-minute to perform.

"Have you learned it?" Fugaku asked expectantly.

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

Only then did he slowly raise his hands, forming seals at tremendous speed. His fingers flew as he guided the chakra within his body.

A hot current surged from his chest to his throat. Uchiha Mai opened his mouth and spat out a fireball one meter tall, which struck a training dummy ten meters away and exploded.

"Good!" Fugaku clapped in praise. As expected of the Uchiha clan's genius—he had learned the Great Fireball Technique at only eight years old, and his very first use already possessed such power.

Ordinary Uchiha first became Genin, then learned the Great Fireball Technique, and afterward advanced to Chunin. Genius Uchiha first learned the Great Fireball Technique, then became Genin and Chunin.

Mai was somewhat different. He had first gained Chunin-level strength, then learned the Great Fireball Technique.

The training dummy ten meters away burned fiercely, just like an enemy that had been struck. Yet Uchiha Mai frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied.

Fugaku saw that Mai showed no joy and asked, "What is it? Are you dissatisfied with the Great Fireball's power?

Among all C-Rank ninjutsu, the Great Fireball Technique ranks among the best in power."

"It is not a matter of power..."

Uchiha Mai shook his head, drew out chakra, and stepped forward, charging toward another training dummy ten meters away while changing direction several times.

At last, he leaped high into the air and imitated the movements of the Raikage lineage's Heavy Thunder Axe and Tsunade's Heavenly Foot of Pain, bringing one leg down and smashing the dummy into pieces.

Outer Style: Bombing Axe!

In The King of Fighters, Iori Yagami used Boom Axe while standing on the ground. In actual combat, there would naturally be many more variations, since The King of Fighters was only a side-scrolling fighting game.

Ah, this...

Fugaku felt a little awkward, because he had already seen what Uchiha Mai was trying to convey.

The Great Fireball Technique was too slow!

Within ten meters, it was not as fast as a fist. Against enemies beyond ten meters, it was a little faster than Uchiha Mai's sprint, but its trajectory was fixed and it was far too easy to dodge.

Charging over and kicking someone was actually more practical.

This sort of ninjutsu was only suitable for crushing weak opponents, or for use as a strategic technique to force an opponent to evade.

Mercy Technique, confirmed!

"In any case, study the knowledge on the scroll carefully. If there is anything you do not understand, come ask me at any time. It is getting cold. Hurry back and sleep."

Awkward, Fugaku drove Uchiha Mai out of his house.

With the scroll tucked away, Uchiha Mai returned home.

The Great Fireball Technique might have been somewhat lacking, but the other ninjutsu recorded on it were all highly practical. The knowledge beyond those techniques was even more priceless, and it held extraordinary value for Mai, who wanted to develop Nintaijutsu.