At the Konoha Ninja Academy...
Yano Koji was drawing hand signs on the blackboard. There were twelve: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. He carefully explained the relationship between hand seals and ninjutsu, and how different combinations produced different effects...
Depending on a person's constitution, their body could generate different kinds of chakra: Water, Earth, Wind, Fire, and Lightning. Each hand seal corresponded to a specific gesture. By combining the right chakra flow with the appropriate hand seals, a ninja could unleash powerful techniques!
The Second had been an expert in ninjutsu and hand-seal research. Over the course of his life, he had developed many techniques, including powerful Water Release Ninjutsu, the Flying Thunder God Technique, the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, the Eight Inner Gates Formation, the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, the Living Corpse Reincarnation, the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, and many others...
Sarutobi Asuma's Lighter Technique, Kakashi Hatake's Chidori Current, and Uchiha Sasuke's Chidori Sharp Spear were also techniques their creators had devised themselves, drawing on their own chakra affinities and combining them with their knowledge of hand seals and ninjutsu.
The students listened drowsily. They were interested in flashy, powerful techniques, not these tedious theories. Sato Hideaka, however, listened with great interest. He was fascinated by the many techniques that had been developed, and this was exactly the kind of knowledge he needed to learn at this stage...
Since his cell damage the day before had prevented him from exploring and studying Lightning Style Chakra Mode, and kept him from doing strenuous exercise, he had tried combining Earth and Lightning chakra instead. The result was a new Kekkei Genkai!
He had thought it through carefully. Lava Release's devastating power gave him tremendous offensive strength, but left him sorely lacking in defense. That wasn't suitable for a well-rounded style.
If his opponent used large-scale Wind Style, Fire Style, or Lightning Release techniques, he would have trouble dodging or blocking them. In other words, he needed to develop defensive techniques to adapt to the demands of complex battles!
Fire and Lightning were both offensive chakra natures. Even when combined, they were more likely to produce an offensive or controlling Kekkei Genkai than a defensive one. Only by adding Earth chakra could he hope to create a defensive Kekkei Genkai...
Fire and Earth chakra combined to form Lava Release. So what would happen if he combined Lightning and Earth chakra?
With that question in mind, Sato Hideaka had conducted an in-depth study. Using the same six-to-four ratio, he combined six parts Earth chakra with four parts Lightning chakra. In his hands, the two types of chakra fused and crystallized into a vivid, translucent red crystal.
This was the Kekkei Genkai of Guren, one of Orochimaru's subordinates in the V version of Naruto. It could turn any non-chakra object into crystal, and had outstanding defensive, sealing, and offensive capabilities. Some even speculated that it was stronger than Ice Release!
As soon as Sato Hideaka had fused the chakra into Crystal Release, he formed a glittering red Crystal Sword in his hand. He tested its sharpness by chopping at a wooden table and confirmed that it was sharper than ordinary iron weapons.
At present, however, his abilities were limited to creating things like Crystal Swords and Crystal Kunai from chakra. He couldn't use Guren's overpowering sealing technique, which had sealed the Three-Tails Isobu, nor could he form a Crystal Wall in front of himself with hand seals to block an opponent's ninjutsu.
After all, [Lava Style: Hell Hound] only required him to gather Lava Release chakra in front of his arm and then alter its form. But large-scale techniques that could be unleashed without physical contact, like a "mage's" spells, had to be performed with hand seals.
Yano Koji taught earnestly from the front of the classroom. Sato Hideaka not only listened closely but also took out a notebook and diligently recorded the material, organizing it as he went. He planned to visit Konoha's library and look up more about chakra and hand seals.
He would bring all this knowledge together and create Crystal Release techniques of his own!
Time flew by as they studied. Before he knew it, four classes had passed, and noon had arrived. Sato Hideaka felt his stomach rumble...
Just as Sato Hideaka stood up to buy something to eat outside the school before coming back to study the theories, Yuhi Kurenai suddenly took a neat lunchbox out of her bag and said brightly, "Hideaka, I asked Mom to make enough for two today! There's bell pepper, eggplant, beef, eggs, greens, and takoyaki... Come have some with me."
Sato Hideaka gladly accepted Yuhi Kurenai's invitation. Her homemade lunch was packed with ingredients, and everything looked and smelled delicious. It was leagues better than the fast food outside.
He wasn't about to give up a feast for scraps!
The two of them enjoyed their lunch while Sarutobi Asuma watched them angrily. He had an indescribable feeling about the pretty Yuhi Kurenai. Maybe it was because they had known each other since childhood and were close, but he didn't like other boys getting near her.
Yuhi Kurenai had always been reserved, as girls tended to be, and rarely played with other boys. But ever since this transfer student had appeared—a handsome boy of only five, Sato Hideaka—everything had changed...
It was one thing for the two of them to sit together. But they were actually sharing the same lunchbox and eating from the same bowl in broad daylight, with everyone watching! It was unforgivable!
If Sato Hideaka had known what Sarutobi Asuma was thinking, he would have marveled at how mature the brats in Naruto were. They were already jealous over a girl at seven or eight! He would have said to Asuma:
"Kid, you're overthinking it. I'm not some kind of pervert. Why would I be interested in a girl who's only seven or eight? Don't be ridiculous!"
Under Sarutobi Asuma's angry gaze, Sato Hideaka and Yuhi Kurenai polished off every bite in the lunchbox. When they were done, Sato Hideaka suddenly thought of something and said to Yuhi Kurenai, "Kurenai, thanks for the meal. I'd like to give you a present!"
"What kind of present...?" Yuhi Kurenai asked, looking at Sato Hideaka with her jewel-like eyes.
Sato Hideaka cupped his hands together and raised an eyebrow. "Now it's time to witness a miracle. This miracle is my gift to you: a one-of-a-kind present, the only one in the whole world. I'm sure you'll love it."
Yuhi Kurenai watched Sato Hideaka's hands curiously, glancing from side to side. She couldn't help feeling puzzled. There was nothing in them at all.
But in the next instant, the frown of confusion smoothed from her face. Shock, delight, disbelief, and affection poured from those jewel-like eyes.
On top of Sato Hideaka's hands, transparent, sparkling, brilliant red crystal began to form. It slowly shifted and took shape. Petal after petal unfolded, reflecting a dazzling crimson glow. In the sunlight, it shimmered brilliantly—a true work of art!
Holding out the crystal flower, Sato Hideaka smiled at Yuhi Kurenai. "It's a pink lily. Lilies symbolize purity and elegance, and they also represent good fortune and success in everything. I hope you like it."
He didn't need to guess from Yuhi Kurenai's expression that she adored the pink Crystal Lily. Even though she was only about seven, there wasn't a woman alive who could resist crystals and gemstones.
In Sato Hideaka's battles to come, Crystal Release would earn him the name "Shura." If his dead enemies knew that its very first use had only been to make a beautiful Crystal Lily for a girl, they would probably be so frustrated they'd die all over again!