Nintaijutsu!

"Nintaijutsu exists in every village, but the ones most proficient in this art are Kumogakure and Konoha, represented respectively by the successive Raikage and the Might family." On the boundless rocky terrain, Orochimaru spoke to me slowly, his tone entirely different from the impatient teachers at the Ninja Academy.

He was gentle and measured, yet possessed an air of effortless mastery.

"The Might family?" I paused, startled. "Do you mean Might Guy-senpai and his father... Might Duy?"

"Yes," Orochimaru's gaze held a hint of admiration. "The Nintaijutsu of the Might family relies on using chakra to force open the pressure points, breaking through the limits of the human body in a short time to achieve faster and stronger physical prowess. This is the Eight Inner Gates."

My heart skipped a beat.

He even knows about this!

"In terms of raw power and effect, the Eight Inner Gates is undoubtedly superior." Orochimaru grabbed my arm, squeezed it, and offered a disdainful smile. "But a body like yours? Forget about opening the gates; you wouldn't even survive the preliminary physical conditioning."

I pouted and lowered my head. Even though he was right, I felt deeply unconvinced!

"As for the rest, there is the Nintaijutsu of Kumogakure."

Hearing this, I looked up again, full of anticipation!

"The Nintaijutsu of Kumogakure involves condensing chakra on the outer layer of the body to create an effect similar to armor."

"This is a technique Kumogakure ninjas train in from childhood. Living on high plateaus, exposed to wind and sun, they are naturally thick-skinned and sturdy, already possessing a physical advantage. The Lightning Release Armor naturally makes their physical arts even more formidable." At this point, Orochimaru suddenly gripped my wrist and critiqued, "But your body is soft, slender, and young... incredibly fragile. Even if you had the protection of Lightning Release, you couldn't withstand the inherent weakness within. You would crumble in a single blow."

Damn it!

My teeth ground together with a sharp click. Have you said enough? I thought. This won't work, that won't work—are you going to teach me or not!

"Don't be impatient, Akatsuki." Orochimaru sensed my agitation and chuckled. "The truly good things are never shown to the masses."

He then took a scroll from his robes, gently tore the seal, and spread it out before me.

"The Second Hokage once recorded a technique. It is a method that integrates Lightning Release into the interior of the body. The moment you exert force, it gathers in your muscles and bones to support your frame, activate your cells, and use lightning-attribute chakra to assist your flesh, breaking through your physical limits in a short burst."

The Second... Hokage? My heart skipped a beat, and I immediately caught the keyword: "interior of the body."

I swallowed hard, instinctively sensing danger.

Chakra is a high-energy substance, not to mention the most explosive and difficult-to-control lightning-attribute chakra. If it were to circulate inside the body, wouldn't... wouldn't it harm oneself?

"Yes, this technique is dangerous. The training process is extremely likely to cause massive damage to the body—at best, disability; at worst, death. Therefore—" Orochimaru looked at me, not shying away from the technique's origins.

"It is also classified as a forbidden technique."

It really is a forbidden technique! I furrowed my brows.

"But unlike the Eight Inner Gates, it does not require long, arduous physical prerequisites. In other words, even a child can attempt it."

"It is just significantly more dangerous."

Orochimaru looked at me and suddenly asked, "Akatsuki, your father told me to do my best to ensure your safety on the battlefield, but he also told me to guide your training with everything I have."

"But if the training process could potentially be fatal, what would you choose?"

My face stiffened and my heart hammered twice, but I made my choice after only a moment's hesitation.

"I trust my teacher, and I trust myself." I looked at him, affirming myself once more.

The reason a forbidden technique is classified as such is because it is a technique that most people cannot master!

But if most people cannot master it, that is a problem with the majority! It is absolutely not a problem with the forbidden technique itself!

Just like how Sasuke could easily replicate the "Hidden Lotus" that Rock Lee had spent years learning, and even create his own finishing move, the "Lion Combo"—what they lacked was simply an opportunity to learn.

Thinking of my achievements from childhood to now, a sense of inevitable success surged within me, accompanied by a pride that welled up from deep inside.

I will definitely be able to learn it.

Because, after all, I am a genius!

"Teacher, I want to learn."

"I want to learn this ninjutsu."

Orochimaru was not surprised by my answer; instead, he showed a hint of appreciation. He had always favored those with courage.

"Of course, once the training is successful, the benefits it brings are by no means comparable to ordinary physical arts," he added, confirming the value of the technique without hesitation.

As expected, the risk and the value are equal!

"Especially for a ninja like you, who has abundant chakra but weak bones and muscles, it can be said to be a perfect fit—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was tailor-made for you."

Orochimaru smiled, his eyes narrowing like a fox.

"It is quite miraculous, though. The Second Hokage, who didn't even use Lightning Release, had such a profound study of this technique, as if he had observed the practitioner in minute detail for many years." Orochimaru paused, and under my puzzled gaze, he said, "This person must have been a peerless master of physical arts for the Second Hokage to value him so highly, even going so far as to meticulously decipher his Nintaijutsu and record it for future generations."

"Who was he, Teacher?" My curiosity was piqued. If he was someone the Second Hokage studied so intensely, he must have been an equal match for him!

"I don't know. That is a record from the Warring States period."

"The Warring States period..." I pondered for a moment, and suddenly, a person from the original story came to mind—a person described as: [A genius of flawless swordsmanship, a master of physical arts enhanced by Lightning Release.]

And that person's name was: Uchiha Izuna!

Could it really be Izuna? My heart leaped. It felt remarkably close! Combined with what the teacher said—"observed the practitioner in minute detail for many years"—the possibility increased significantly.

After all, Senju Tobirama and Uchiha Izuna were lifelong enemies. They had fought since they were youths, always trying to kill each other! Many of the techniques Senju Tobirama developed were specifically aimed at the Uchiha clan, such as the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, various large-scale Water Release techniques, and so on! Therefore, the Second Hokage must have had a theory for studying Uchiha Izuna's techniques!

Could this technique really have been left behind by my ancestor, Uchiha Izuna?

"Come, Akatsuki." At this moment, Orochimaru unrolled a scroll before me, revealing a vast expanse of handwriting. It looked like a hand-copied transcript, even featuring human anatomical diagrams as precise as those in a medical textbook.

This made me frown again.

It was as if it had been written after dissecting a person.

He called me over to sit down, put an arm around me, and said, "This technique is quite complex, so learning is generally done in stages. You are too young, so I am only teaching you the first stage. Once your body can withstand more, I will continue to teach you."

"The first stage?" I was stunned, suddenly curious. "How many stages are there in total?"

"There are four stages in total." Orochimaru pointed at the handwriting, incredibly patient. "Generally speaking, the first stage of Nintaijutsu only condenses lightning-attribute chakra into the bones, forming pillars to support the human body and helping those with frail bodies like yours to practice taijutsu."

"In the second stage, the lightning-attribute chakra will permeate the meridians, blood, and muscles, making the body agile and powerful, with a significant improvement in physical fitness."

"In the third stage, the lightning-attribute chakra will overflow from the body, forming a protective layer on the surface while also being able to attach to objects, providing powerful offensive and defensive effects."

"And what about the fourth stage?" I asked.

"In the fourth stage, the lightning-attribute chakra undergoes a qualitative change, transforming into a lightning effect, possessing both close-range and mid-range combat capabilities." He narrowed his eyes, as if recalling something. "The fourth stage is the most difficult and dangerous, the hardest to master, but it is also the stage with the greatest power."

"Wow... a lightning effect..." My eyes were practically sparkling.

Isn't that the same as Kakashi's Chidori or Sasuke's Chidori!

That's so cool!!!

"Heh, but this ninjutsu is incomplete; there should be a fifth stage." Orochimaru's gaze went vacant as he began to ponder.

"Theoretically speaking, in the final stage of this technique, the user can freely control lightning, arbitrarily changing its form, shape, and even its sound and color. Whether used for slaughter or to do anything one desires, it can be achieved." He paused, his voice deepening. "This is a level that can only be reached by the limits of talent and hard work. So far, I have never seen such a person."

"Did this person not achieve it? Wasn't he the creator of this technique?" I pointed at the person on the scroll, catching a different implication. "Teacher, have you been researching this ninjutsu all along?"

"No, he was not the creator of this technique," Orochimaru did not answer directly, instead saying, "So he did not achieve it. At least in the records of the Second Hokage, he did not."

"What?" Uchiha Izuna wasn't the creator? I was even more confused. "Then who is the creator of this technique? Did he reach the fifth stage? Is he someone who could freely control lightning?"

"Heh, perhaps. But even if he could reach it, it has no research value for us. Because he has been dead for many years, so long that there is no useful data left; it was basically all burned in the flames of war."

"Oh..." I felt a bit dejected, yet I was extremely curious about this person, as if there were some fated connection that made me unable to stop myself from wanting to understand him.

Seeing my sad expression, Orochimaru smiled instead, coaxing me, "No need to envy others. The achievements of predecessors are there for you to surpass. I believe Akatsuki definitely has that ability."

Feeding me empty promises, are you? You make it sound so easy!

I rolled my eyes, noncommittal.

Why don't you try having me surpass Uchiha Madara? Try having me surpass Senju Hashirama?

I can barely keep my own life safe right now!

Seeing my dejection, Orochimaru didn't seem to mind my attitude; instead, he leaned in close and comforted me gently, "Don't be anxious, Akatsuki."

"Since you have become my student, all my knowledge and skills—as long as you want to learn them—I will teach you bit by bit."

"One day, you will reach a height that no one else can attain."

"Before then, Teacher will always be here to help you."

I looked into his eyes, and my heart gave a sudden twitch.

Is it real or fake?

His words left me stunned, and I didn't know what to feel, but this sentence acted like a sedative, slowly suppressing the restlessness I felt upon first arriving at the military department and turning it into something stable.

As our eyes met, I could not see any trace of pretense in his gaze, and my mood was incredibly complex.

Could a villain be a good teacher?

Or is it that the Orochimaru of this life is different?

This time, his cold hand rested on my cheek, close to my ear. Even though he was so close, I didn't feel like pulling away.

On the vast earth, the sunset slowly sank, and a child was learning a new ninjutsu, one hand seal at a time.

His memory was excellent, and his hand seals were fast. Over a dozen complex, non-repeating hand seals—he had only done them once, and he could already replicate them perfectly.

"Very good, do it again." Orochimaru patted my shoulder while correcting my fingers.

"Hand seals are meant to better mobilize the chakra within the body, but some highly talented children can shorten the seals, or even perform ninjutsu without them."

"Akatsuki, have you ever had such an experience?"

I thought about it and shook my head.

Those are geniuses; I'm not that capable.

"Good," Orochimaru didn't mind, instead moving behind me, holding my arms, and straightening my posture.

"You have mastered it; you can begin your first attempt."

"Yes, Teacher."

He looked at me and repeated, "Remember, this ninjutsu is very dangerous. You must be careful; do not be careless."

"Yes, Teacher!"

I was incredibly excited, just like when I first performed the Great Fireball Technique, unable to suppress my thrill.

Lightning Style, this is the first Lightning Style ninjutsu I have ever learned!

If my primary affinity is lightning, then... what kind of ninjutsu will I be able to unleash?

On the eve of activating the ninjutsu, I looked up at the sky. It was already afternoon; the sun was crimson and scorching, casting a blood-colored radiance that bathed the entire earth in a vibrant red.

"Right, Akatsuki."

Just before I began, my shoulder was suddenly pressed down by my teacher.

Following that, he handed me something. I took a look and saw it was a pill, shimmering with a brownish luster, unlike any I had taken before.

"This is a type of stabilizer; it can calm the mind and provide a certain degree of protection for your body," Orochimaru said. "In case you encounter a critical situation, take it now."

"Yes, Teacher." Just as I was about to take it, he brought his hand to my lips and commanded me, "Swallow it directly; do not bite into it."

"Yes."

I gave a nod, swallowed the pill from his hand, closed my eyes to steady myself for a moment, and then sat back down.

"Then, I shall begin!"