Nintaijutsu Development in Progress

"Master Minato's chakra nature is Wind, isn't it?

Besides, I've heard the elders in the clan say that Master Minato isn't exactly known for his ninjutsu."

Uchiha Mai felt a bit doubtful. Was Master Minato really this formidable? He had seen through his intention to develop fire-style Nintaijutsu and was even confident enough to guide him.

"My chakra nature was indeed only Wind at the beginning, but once your chakra reserves increase, you can develop new chakra natures later on.

For a Jonin, it's standard to develop a second or even third and fourth nature; that way, if you encounter an opponent who counters your element at a critical moment, you won't be left helpless.

My current chakra natures are Wind, Fire, and Lightning."

Master Minato held up three fingers to explain.

I see, Uchiha Mai nodded slightly, almost forgetting that Naruto had such a setting.

In the early stages of Shippuden, the power levels hadn't inflated yet, and ninjutsu of various natures held their value. Among the five basic natures, there was a relationship of mutual generation and restriction, much like the Five Elements.

Once various Kekkei Genkai appeared one after another and the power levels inflated, this chakra nature restriction relationship was downplayed by Kishimoto.

Water Style counters Fire Style?

That is indeed the case, but it doesn't mean a Water Style ninja automatically counters a Fire Style ninja. When a real fight breaks out, it still comes down to who acts faster, who has more chakra, and who performs better on the spot.

"As for your other question..."

Master Minato smiled slightly, spread his palms to extract chakra, and after a few breaths, two fireballs manifested in his palms.

Under Master Minato's precise control, the fireballs merged into one, then transformed into a long flame serpent that coiled around Uchiha Mai, radiating heat and baking the moisture out of the latter's clothes.

Uchiha Mai raised an eyebrow and praised, "Very strong control."

"It's just some flashy technique with no practical value in combat."

Master Minato scratched his head, looking a bit shy and modest. "Almost any Jonin in Konoha with a Fire chakra nature can do this.

On the battlefield, facing an enemy with environmental interference, standard ninjutsu like Great Fireball Technique or Phoenix Sage Fire Technique are much more practical."

"Indeed."

"In short, I do possess the Fire nature and have a modest grasp of Fire Style."

Namikaze Minato summarized, "And recently, I've been developing a new ninjutsu—the kind that doesn't require hand seals.

The Nintaijutsu you want to develop shouldn't require hand seals either, which places high demands on the route and rhythm of chakra flowing through your body.

As it happens, I've already broken through that hurdle for the technique I'm developing.

If you have any troubles, feel free to tell me. Perhaps I can clear up your confusion, or at the very least, I can help you draw inferences and rule out some wrong answers."

A new ninjutsu?

It must be the Rasengan. Master Minato has already become an elite Jonin; it is indeed time for him to start rubbing balls.

Uchiha Mai pondered for a moment, pulled Master Minato to squat on the ground, and picked up a branch to draw diagrams: "In my concept, the chakra should flow to my hand at a constant speed along this route.

Then, the moment I throw a punch, it should erupt to deal a third layer of damage to the enemy.

But the timing of the chakra eruption doesn't match my expectations. I'm not sure if it's a problem with the chakra circulation route or if my control level isn't high enough..."

"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm..."

Namikaze Minato nodded repeatedly, showing he was listening carefully. After combining it with his own experience, he replied, "I have a hypothesis, though it might not be correct.

You say, could it be a route issue? Try moving the chakra circulation route for the ninjutsu from this path to this one."

Oh?

Uchiha Mai was slightly surprised. Master Minato really knows his stuff.

I didn't even have a clear idea yet, and Master Minato had already grasped the essence and confidently offered improvement suggestions.

After all, he is a genius who developed the Rasengan and improved the Flying Thunder God. One must trust Master Minato's strength.

"Then let's give it a try." Uchiha Mai nodded, intending to perform another set of 100th Style: Demon Burner.

Knowledge from books is shallow; one must practice to truly understand. No development of a new ninjutsu is complete without practice. If you haven't blown up your lab a few times, can you even call yourself an inventor?

Two hours later, Uchiha Mai had failed four consecutive experiments. His clothes were blown to shreds, leaving only a few strips of fabric and his underwear.

If not for Uchiha Mai's lightning-fast reflexes, which allowed him to raise his arms to protect his face every time he lost control of his chakra, the ninja world would have lost a handsome young man.

Namikaze Minato sat cross-legged on the ground, rubbing his chin with his left hand, and after a long period of contemplation, said, "I have a new idea. You say, what if we change the chakra flow route to this one and slow the flow rate by another 5%..."

What would happen? People would die!

Uchiha Mai looked like he wanted to die. Master Minato, I beg you, let me go. If I hadn't listened to your suggestions, I wouldn't have been blown up so many times this afternoon.

"Haha."

Seeing Mai's mournful expression, Master Minato felt a bit embarrassed and encouraged him, "Careful verification and bold hypotheses, that's the way.

At the very least, we've already ruled out three wrong approaches, bringing us one step closer to success.

As long as we keep exploring and experimenting, I believe that one day, we will be able to develop this technique."

"I'm out of chakra." Uchiha Mai demurred.

I'm all tapped out.

Under normal circumstances, the power of a ninjutsu is not directly related to the amount of chakra consumed.

However, when Uchiha Mai was developing the 100th Style: Demon Burner, he benchmarked it against the power of a standard B-rank ninjutsu used by an average jonin, causing him to unconsciously use a bit too much chakra.

After firing off a few in a row, his chakra was already exhausted.

"Is that all?"

Minato looked slightly disappointed and sighed, "In that case, you should head home and rest. I still need to go to the hospital to visit Kakashi and Might Guy.

Same time tomorrow, we'll meet here again to continue developing your Nintaijutsu."

Uchiha Mai: "..."

I beg you, please let me go.

Of course, he couldn't actually say something like that out loud.

Even though the suggestions Master Minato offered today were completely useless, he still carried the halo of having developed the Rasengan and improved the Flying Thunder God in the original story.

Whether it was superstition or blind confidence, what if Master Minato had a sudden flash of inspiration one day and offered a truly valuable suggestion?

Over the next few days, Uchiha Mai did not break his promise, coming to the lakeside every day to join Master Minato. The two mediocre chess players put their heads together, deliberating over the Nintaijutsu.

After Kakashi and Might Guy were discharged from the hospital, Master Minato would guide the three of them in collaborative training in the morning, and spend the afternoon helping Uchiha Mai develop his Nintaijutsu.

Seeing Minato and Uchiha Mai hanging out together every day, both Kakashi and Might Guy felt a little jealous.

A disciple of the Sannin, a grand-student of the Hokage, receiving private tutoring from an elite jonin of Konoha—that kind of treatment, tsk tsk.

One can only say that one knows the temperature of the water they drink; only Uchiha Mai understood his own suffering.