Choice

Before his transmigration, Kanna wasn't ordinary enough to "blend into the crowd," but he also wasn't exceptionally outstanding. He received a normal education, had good upbringing, and developed a steady disposition. However, compared to the ninjas of this world, he was rather unremarkable.

The earliest ninjas performed humble assassination missions, belonging to a shadowy group, thus requiring immense patience. Lurking, then striking with a single fatal blow – this was the earliest form of ninja.

As for current ninjas, through generations of development, the types and quantity of ninjutsu have been greatly enriched. Ninjas have also gradually abandoned close-combat equipment like armor and long weapons, developing instead into combat units akin to "magic warriors." The core foundation of this combat style is energy – chakra.

Refining chakra requires the combination of both spiritual and physical strength, so spiritual cultivation is also valued by ninjas. Buddhism and various cults – like Hidan's Jashin cult – found fertile ground to survive. For example, the Fire Temple, the largest temple in the Land of Fire, espouses Buddhist principles.

Resilience, fearlessness, tolerance, progress, loyalty, sacrifice – ninjas were instilled with many ideologies, ultimately forming their unique culture and spirit. Of course, if strictly judged by these standards, most ninjas in the ninja world are unqualified, merely thugs with ninja abilities. Truly self-disciplined ninjas are almost nonexistent, which is related to the environment in which ninjas exist.

When even survival isn't guaranteed, development is obviously premature.

Looking back through history, we can see that too many people, or ninjas, have felt lost regarding their existence and value. They join different factions, die in battle, awaken in battle, seek self, or fall into darkness.

Kanna vaguely realized that those people were pursuing something vitally important to them, much like some pursue freedom, others pursue love. As for whether he himself would become lost in these spiritual matters in the future, no one could say.

This world is cruel and heartless. As far as he could see, his own Hidden Mist Village was even colder and paler, filled with death, violence, and bloodshed, to the point where Kanna almost suffocated. He hated this place but was powerless to change it.

Sometimes, he asked himself if he could change anything. He wanted to see this world, this village, and his own family become warmer. He yearned for light, rejected combat and death, and wanted to live a normal person's life, stepping out to smell the flowers, lying down to watch the clouds drift by, lazy, leisurely, and warm.

But no matter what, the die was cast. This world was pushing everyone, including him, forward. Not advancing meant retreating, failing, or dying.

He needed to advance. Although he disliked this oppressive feeling, he didn't reject becoming stronger. Supreme martial power was a man's romance and a driving force.

Since he had arrived in this world and couldn't escape its mark, he could only accept it, adapt to it, and then decide whether to submit to it or shatter and change it.

"You can do it!" Kanna whispered to himself.

The process of refining chakra wasn't simple for Kanna, but it wasn't difficult either. It was a basic course for every ninja, a skill even children could master without obstacles. It was the foundation of this world's science. Even "idiots" like Rock Lee, who couldn't learn ninjutsu at all, could complete it, so Kanna certainly could.

He calmed his mind, sat cross-legged, clasped his hands together, forming the "Monkey" hand seal. When his mind and body were completely relaxed yet not entirely loose, chakra would naturally condense.

Kanna didn't concern himself with the underlying principles or the specific process of chakra condensation, nor did he need to. Only the Sage of Six Paths, the first to fully analyze chakra, could clearly articulate it in words. Others could only "discover" and "utilize" it, but not describe it.

The great elephant makes no sound; the great form has no shape. Kanna knew that the ultimate secret of ninjas lay hidden within chakra, but he was powerless. He could only follow the steps for refining chakra summarized by his predecessors, step by step, enriching himself.

Genin refine chakra, initially connecting "jutsu" and "chakra" to successfully perform various ninjutsu.

Chunin, building upon genin, go further, learning how to increase or decrease the amount and quality of chakra on top of "jutsu," beginning to use ninjutsu flexibly. For example, when practicing ninjutsu, they would only display the form and nature of the "jutsu," minimizing power and chakra consumption. In actual combat, they would use as much power as possible, sometimes even breaking limits to kill the enemy.

Jonin, however, represent the highest level in the ninja ranking system, a qualitative leap. They manipulate chakra's form and quality at will, moving as their hearts desire. For instance, evolving the Rasengan into the Rasenshuriken, or the Chidori into Chidori Current. The most exceptional among them can even fuse different chakra natures to develop Kekkei Genkai, multiplying their power.

When Naruto first used the Summoning Jutsu, unable to control it, he could only forcefully push the ninjutsu with a large amount of chakra, unexpectedly summoning Gamabunta. This is a typical example of a genin's inability to control their own power. Kanna is currently at this level, simply using it for the sake of "using," meaning "not seeking deep understanding." But this is a stage every ninja goes through; there's no need for excessive comprehension, it will happen naturally.

Furthermore, Kanna discovered an interesting phenomenon: during the process of refining chakra, the consumption of physical and mental energy – that is, spiritual power – is synchronized with chakra refinement. The more consumed, the more gained. When Kanna was exhausted, his chakra would be full. If he maintained this state without using chakra, slowly, the chakra would feed back into his body and brain, sustaining the body's normal consumption. This means that the total energy in everyone's body remains constant; only the form of energy changes. Physical strength, spiritual power, and chakra convert and support each other, infinitely wondrous and profound.

Kanna couldn't help but think of a concept: conservation of energy.

Currently, there are two paths before him. The first is to patiently refine chakra. In this way, physical and mental strength would be exercised through repeated consumption and conversion. With each cycle, physical and spiritual strength would naturally increase, and consequently, the amount of chakra that could be refined would also rise. With a solid foundation and accumulated experience, Water Style and Body Flicker Technique could naturally be learned, and Water Body Flicker would be within reach.

The reality is that there isn't a significant hurdle between genin and chunin. As long as one works hard, they will eventually become stronger. However, the jonin level no longer strictly adheres to the quantity and quality of chakra but rather to control and comprehension. A moment of enlightenment can lead to transformation; otherwise, one might remain a chunin for life.

As for Might Duy, Guy's father, Kanna felt he was an extreme exception. No one else was so specialized. Was it difficult to initially control chakra's increase and decrease? Not at all! It's like doing math problems. At first, you follow the teacher's tedious method, step by step. Once proficient, you can start slacking off, taking shortcuts, and using simpler methods to find the answer. Going further, you might derive your own formulas and solve problems with entirely new approaches. The former is chunin, the latter is jonin. Yet, Might Duy was stuck at the chunin threshold, training only taijutsu his entire life, to the point where he couldn't even become a chunin. (This is from a conceptual standpoint, unrelated to combat power. In reality, that guy's taijutsu alone was comparable to a chunin, and opening the Eight Inner Gates made him incredibly powerful.)

This first path is comprehensive development, with a solid foundation, truly the righteous way.

The second path is specialization.

From now on, besides the essential chakra refinement, all his time would be dedicated to comprehending Water Style and Body Flicker Technique. He would learn nothing else, just as Rock Lee solely practiced taijutsu. He would only practice these two, until he could decipher Water Body Flicker.

As for Kanna, who could unconditionally use ninjutsu, he felt it was better left for the Flying Thunder God Technique. After all, this technique is incredibly difficult. The Second Hokage left it without prohibiting others from learning it, and since it's harmless to the body, it's not a forbidden jutsu. Yet, after so many years, only the Fourth Hokage fully mastered it. His few guards barely touched the threshold, and others were far behind, unable to even begin.

The Flying Thunder God Technique, not being a one-time explosive S-rank ninjutsu, should require chakra levels achievable by a chunin. Of course, Kanna estimated that at the chunin level, he could probably only use it once or twice. To kill dozens of enemies in one go like the Fourth Hokage would require a terrifying amount of chakra, necessitating at least an elite jonin. This is also considering the Fourth Hokage's mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique and his unique skills that reduced its consumption.

"I should at least try. If I don't try, I'll always feel regretful."

With this thought, Kanna finally made up his mind to temporarily focus on learning Water Style and Body Flicker Technique. His parents were both elite jonin, so he could consult them without worrying about the "blind men touching an elephant" scenario and proceeding alone.

Perhaps his talent wasn't bad? During his genin days, Rock Lee's high-speed movement already showed hints of Body Flicker Technique. Or perhaps, after learning the "tree climbing" technique, every ninja could attach chakra to their feet for instant explosive sprints. This was originally a basic version of Body Flicker Technique. Since they could do it, he should be able to as well.

Tree climbing and water walking are both training and tests of a ninja's chakra control. After completing them, learning Water Style, and with the requirements for learning Water Body Flicker, he should be just barely capable, right?