First C-Rank Ninjutsu

"System, I &%@#@#@#..." Nebula Kotetsu expressed his opinion.

He was very angry.

System, you are playing me!

What kind of mission is this!

A full hour of fingertip massage.

Do you know how long an hour is?

60 minutes! A full sixty minutes!

In 60 minutes, Shizuka at the Konoha Hot Spring Inn can earn two thousand nine hundred and eighty ryo!

Shift!

Closing the system panel, Nebula Kotetsu simply chose to ignore it to save himself the annoyance.

As for the mission issued by the system, he naturally had no intention of accepting it.

It did not align with his principles.

He admitted that he was a scumbag, but he had his own principles.

That was, he would never actively destroy someone else's marriage.

His targets were always single and unmarried. Even if they had a boyfriend, it didn't matter; even if they had several boyfriends, it still didn't matter.

Although he was a recognized playboy, while he was being a jerk to them, he also provided them with many things—each taking what they needed, so it wasn't a one-sided exploitation.

But this current situation was different.

Mikoto Uchiha and Fugaku Uchiha were living a good life as a devoted couple, and they would eventually raise the very kind Itachi Uchiha.

He would not interfere or change any of that.

Therefore, regarding the mission issued by the system, he chose not to do it, nor would he dwell on the potential rewards that might appear in the future.

Closing the panel, Nebula Kotetsu calmed his fluctuating mood. Before long, Asuma Sarutobi finished his Q&A session, and it was Kurenai Yuhi's turn.

Judging by Asuma Sarutobi's serious expression and his muttering, he seemed to have gained something.

Nebula Kotetsu stopped thinking about other things, mentally organized the process of his failed attempts at the Great Fireball Technique, and waited for Mikoto Uchiha's guidance.

Ten minutes later, it was his turn.

"Teacher Mikoto."

"I went back and practiced the Great Fireball Technique."

"But I tried many times, and I couldn't succeed even once."

Mikoto Uchiha: "Demonstrate it for me."

Nebula Kotetsu then performed the hand seals and blew air for Mikoto Uchiha.

After the performance, Nebula Kotetsu looked at Mikoto Uchiha and noticed she had turned her head away. A few seconds later, she turned back.

"Teacher Mikoto. Are you laughing?"

"No."

"Then why did you turn your head away?"

"A shadow just drifted by."

"..."

"Teacher Mikoto, what is wrong with my technique?"

Returning to the matter at hand, Mikoto Uchiha's expression became serious again.

She said calmly: "I didn't see it clearly just now. Like this, perform it one more time."

Nebula Kotetsu had no choice but to form the seals again.

Chakra accumulated in his chest.

Blow!

"Pfft!~"

Nebula Kotetsu: "..."

"Ahem." Mikoto Uchiha coughed to hide her embarrassment; this time, she saw where the problem lay.

"Kotetsu."

"If I'm not mistaken, your total chakra volume is sufficient to perform this technique. The problem lies in your hand seals."

"Your chakra circulation isn't keeping up with the rhythm of your hand seals."

Nebula Kotetsu: "Then what should I do?"

Mikoto Uchiha held up two fingers: "Two methods."

"The first method is to strengthen your chakra practice."

"Ninjutsu is a refined and elegant art; different techniques require different rhythms of chakra mobilization. For instance, the Mystical Palm Technique requires meticulous control of chakra, whereas an emission-type ninjutsu like the Great Fireball Technique requires the timely and massive deployment of chakra."

"You must understand that the way chakra is used is not set in stone."

Nebula Kotetsu nodded.

A question suddenly popped into his mind: how does the Thousand-Hand Buddha mobilize its chakra?

However, he was still too far removed from the level of the Thousand-Hand Buddha, so it was better to honestly learn the Great Fireball Technique first.

"Teacher Mikoto, what is the second method?"

"The second method is to refine your hand seals."

Nebula Kotetsu: "Refine? What do you mean?"

Mikoto Uchiha said, "The purpose of hand seals is to better mobilize chakra."

"Every ninja, in order to seize tactical advantages and time, will try to minimize the time spent on hand seals as much as possible."

"There are two ways to save time on hand seals: practicing finger dexterity to increase speed, and simplifying the hand seal sequences of the ninjutsu."

"Generations of Uchiha ninjas have continuously researched simplifications, reducing the Great Fireball Technique to a sequence of six seals: 'Snake-Ram-Monkey-Boar-Horse-Tiger'."

"This is also the number of seals generally suitable for Uchiha genin to perform."

Nebula Kotetsu frowned.

Was she indirectly saying that his talent was inferior to an Uchiha genin?

What an evil Uchiha teacher!

"But in reality, the Great Fireball Technique is not limited to the six-seal version."

"There is also a version with nine seals."

"The nine-seal Great Fireball Technique is significantly easier to perform than the six-seal version, and it allows for more meticulous chakra mobilization."

"For ninjas who do not require high-speed ninjutsu execution, or for beginners, the nine-seal Great Fireball Technique is actually more appropriate."

"Since you find the six-seal version difficult, I will teach you the nine-seal one. Come, learn with me."

"Ram-Dragon-Rabbit-Snake-Rat-Bird-Boar-Horse-Tiger." Her fair, slender hands moved slowly to form the seals before her, and Nebula Kotetsu memorized them intently. Once he had them down, Mikoto Uchiha emphasized a few more precautions before letting Nebula Kotetsu try again.

I won't let you laugh at me this time! Nebula Kotetsu resolved fiercely.

Immediately, he faced the open ground and began forming the seals one by one.

As the nine hand seals were completed in succession, the chakra within his body began to mobilize in waves.

The moment the ninth seal was finished, he felt a surge of potent chakra accumulating in his chest, demanding to be released.

"Hoo!"

With a forceful exhale, he unleashed it.

A wave of heat rushed toward his face!

Bright flames illuminated his features.

Looking at the fireball, which stood more than half a person's height, Nebula Kotetsu's eyes shone with excitement.

It worked!

He had mastered the Great Fireball Technique!

Although it was only a C-rank ninjutsu, the sense of achievement from personally creating a large fireball still left him thrilled.

Feeling the still-abundant chakra in his body, Nebula Kotetsu seized the momentum of his recent success and, in one go, formed the seals again.

The accumulated chakra was expelled once more, and the flames ignited again.

"Teacher Mikoto, thank you." Nebula Kotetsu's gratitude was sincere.

She was his squad's jonin leader; logically, she had no obligation to teach him ninjutsu. Regardless of her motives, or whether he was merely a pawn for the Uchiha to reach the Sarutobi clan, it didn't matter.

She had gifted him a C-rank ninjutsu and taught him how to perform it; he would keep this favor in mind.

"Practice well," Mikoto Uchiha said. "Until you grow stronger, C-rank ninjutsu will be your primary means of attack."

"If you master them, they can play a significant role in combat."

Nebula Kotetsu nodded in agreement.

His joyful expression caught the eye of Asuma Sarutobi, who immediately curled his lip.

Tch.

It's just a C-rank Fire Style.

What's there to be so happy about?

He wouldn't even waste time delving into a technique of this level; if he had that time, he'd rather practice his dual blades.

In a while, as his close-quarters combat strength improved and his chakra reserves grew with his body, he would learn B-rank ninjutsu.

By then, the simultaneous improvement of his long-range and close-range capabilities would mark the true beginning of his path to power.

As for Nebula Kotetsu?

It was doubtful he would even have access to B-rank ninjutsu.

A C-rank Great Fireball.

He didn't believe the guy could do anything fancy with that!