"For first-year students, the Clone Technique is the only ninjutsu we need to master at this stage. It's also the foundation of all advanced ninjutsu. The Three Body Techniques are the Transformation Technique, the Clone Technique, and the Substitution Technique. Many jōnin's signature techniques also grew out of these most basic ninjutsu."
"For example, the Wood Clone Technique used by the famed God of the Shinobi, our great First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. So you all need to practice hard."
Just like Naruto's Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, which made him famous in the original story, Konan's Paper Clone and Sai's Ink Clone also grew out of the Clone Technique. There were also the Anbu's Three Body Techniques: the Body Flicker Technique, the Immobilization Technique, and the Invisibility Technique. But those were ninjutsu only jōnin could learn.
But today's lesson wasn't the Clone Technique. It was the Transformation Technique, which Naruto would later popularize and turn into Sexy Jutsu.
As Iruka explained, Akimichi Denji's 20 points of Spirit helped him grasp the principles behind the Three Body Techniques.
He glanced at his panel. A new entry had appeared under Ninjutsu: [Transformation Technique (Uninitiated)].
Denji didn't choose to spend a point on the technique. He wanted to see the limits of what he could achieve through training alone.
After all, spending a point was instantaneous. If possible, it would be better to save his Wish Points for a more urgent situation.
Naruto leaned over and asked, "Do you know this technique?"
Denji shook his head. "I don't really understand it yet." He clumsily formed the hand seals Iruka had just taught them.
Naruto grinned, seemingly pleased with himself. "Don't worry. I ate your food, so I'll teach you."
Patiently, he went over the hand seals Iruka had just taught them.
Seeing them, Iruka nodded with satisfaction. "Helping each other, being kind and friendly. You really are my students."
The Third, watching from the shadows, nodded with satisfaction too. He really hadn't misjudged Naruto. In just one day, the lonely boy had found a friend. Though he'd come from the Land of Rain, he had an even purer Will of Fire.
Akimichi Denji glanced at Naruto in surprise. Just then, a message had popped up on his panel:
[Wish fulfilled: The dead-last's troubles] [Wish Point +1]
Denji understood. Naruto had mistaken him for a dead last, so he'd come over to make himself feel better.
He shook his head and didn't dwell on it.
This was a good thing for him!
He'd earned a Wish Point and gotten closer to Naruto.
Two birds with one stone!
He kept practicing the hand seals, honing his skills. Everything about ninjutsu was new and fascinating to him. His fingers kept getting tangled up, and he was still very clumsy.
Suddenly, he felt something click. His movements became fluid, and chakra flowed along specific pathways through his body. Inspiration struck, and he knew he was about to succeed.
The key to the Transformation Technique was imagining what you wanted to look like.
What should he transform into?
A thought flashed through Denji's mind: his goal was to strengthen his body. What would he look like if he became a ninja who specialized in physical strength?
The smoke cleared, and a figure stepped out.
He stood 1.9 meters tall, his shoulders and back broad as a mountain, blocking the entire classroom doorway. His tight black outfit strained against his muscles, threatening to burst. His pectorals were like slabs of forged iron, his abs sharply defined, and his arms thicker than an ordinary child's thighs, bulging veins coiling across them like dragons.
His red hair hung over his forehead, hard and still, like the dying embers of a blaze.
His face bore a faint resemblance to Akimichi Denji's, but his jawline was sharp as a blade, his nose straight and high, and his brow ridge jutted out like a cliff. There was a hint of Akimichi Choza in his features, but his air was nothing like that of the kind, easygoing head of the Akimichi Clan.
He looked as if he'd stepped out of Baki.
He wasn't an Akimichi. He was a Fanma.
Yamanaka Ino stared. "Is that Denji? He's so handsome! Did he turn into his future self?"
Ino couldn't help shouting, "That's so cool!"
The sweat from her practice soaked through her collar, beyond her control.
Hinata, who had been quietly watching Denji, was also stunned. Her blank Byakugan stared at Akimichi Denji, who stood 1.9 meters tall and looked like a giant.
"Just what you'd expect from someone I taught." Naruto froze for a moment, seemingly surprised that Denji had succeeded so quickly. Then he recovered, raised his thumb, and grinned broadly.
Iruka noticed the commotion and came over. "Nice work."
Based on his past experience teaching students, pulling off the Transformation Technique so quickly was impressive, especially since Denji had never practiced ninjutsu before. He certainly had talent.
But Iruka hadn't expected Denji's first transformation to be into his future self.
Most children transformed into someone familiar to them. For example, Naruto had turned into Sakura the first time he used the technique.
"Do you think your current self is too weak, and you can't wait to get stronger?"
Akimichi Denji stared blankly at his muscles. He'd only felt a surge of spirit and thought about the path he'd take as a ninja in the future, and he'd transformed into this.
He didn't look like a ninja. He looked more like a beast.
He murmured, "Maybe my ninja way doesn't have to be so ordinary?"
Then Denji deliberately dispelled the Transformation Technique and changed back.
His chakra reserves were too low to sustain the transformation for long. He wanted to practice more.
The afternoon passed. Denji successfully mastered the Transformation Technique, and also learned the hand seals for the Clone Technique and the Substitution Technique, though he still couldn't perform either one successfully.
The system displayed a notification.
[Congratulations. Transformation Technique (Uninitiated) → (Initiated)]
If he could keep practicing, his proficiency with the Transformation Technique would probably improve further. But Akimichi Denji's chakra reserves were too low. After successfully using it three times, he had to refine more chakra and wait for his reserves to recover.
His chakra reserves were still too low.
Akimichi Denji murmured to himself.
It all came down to physical strength. A ninja's chakra was built on their body, and most ninjas who made a name for themselves had plenty of chakra—and strong bodies to match.
Some ninjas even used ninjutsu specifically to enhance their physical abilities. This was called Nintaijutsu. The Third Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode was one example.
His progress was a little slow.
Uchiha Itachi had already joined the Anbu and gone on missions at this age.
A sense of urgency stirred in Akimichi Denji. The anime's official beginning was fast approaching. Next year would bring the first episode, followed by Orochimaru's joint "Konoha Crush Plan."
Then came the Akatsuki, the Third Shinobi World War...
In his previous life, he'd had no training in the Land of Rain and had already fallen behind at the starting line.
There was no time to waste. Fortunately, it wasn't too late yet. With his talent and hard work, he could surely overtake them on the bends.
Denji turned to look at his panel: [Wish Points: 3].
Ino had given him one, the old Third had given him one, and Naruto had given him one.
He'd accumulated 3 Wish Points already, far more than he'd earned in the previous month.
Asking Akimichi Choza to let him attend the Ninja Academy had definitely been the right choice.
The Naruto Achievement System panel gained the most from characters who appeared in the original Naruto story.
Wish Points couldn't improve his physical strength.
So he should prioritize improving the Chakra Refinement Technique. Chakra was the foundation of everything.
The Three Body Techniques were too basic. He should be able to improve them just by practicing.
With that in mind, Akimichi Denji temporarily set the Three Body Techniques aside and focused his thoughts on the Chakra Refinement Technique.
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