Water Colliding Wave!

After class that afternoon, Shita Genichi found Futaki Ryusei again and got a detailed explanation of the Nine Syllables Hand Seals.

After reading it carefully, Shita Genichi couldn't help thinking, As expected, the Nine Syllables Hand Seals are much more profound. Even their annotations are so cryptic. They're hard to understand.

For example, the Rin Hand Seal granted the power to keep the body and mind unmoving.

The Pyo Hand Seal held the life force of longevity and rejuvenation, and could also make a person move quickly.

The Toh Hand Seal granted courage and determination. When faced with hardship, it could awaken one's fighting spirit and the power to overcome any obstacle.

The Sha Hand Seal granted the power to freely control one's own body and the bodies of others. The spiritual power of all things was at one's disposal.

Looking at the annotation for the Sha Hand Seal, Shita Genichi immediately thought of the hand seals Might Guy formed when using Daytime Tiger.

This must be the one. It lets you freely control your whole body's power and unleash your strongest attack.

Shita Genichi couldn't help glancing up at Might Guy, who was listening to the lesson with rapt attention.

The more he studied the Nine Syllables Hand Seals, the more fascinating he found them. They were far more interesting than the Twelve Basic Hand Seals.

He just didn't know whether, in the world of Naruto, the Nine Syllables Hand Seals were created by Indra or were an ancient power that had existed from the beginning.

Sage Power, for example.

Putting his wandering thoughts aside, Shita Genichi continued studying.

The Kai Hand Seal: Know and control people's hearts, and dispel all troubles.

Looking at the annotation, Shita Genichi immediately thought of Genjutsu and dispelling it.

Among the Twelve Basic Hand Seals, the Tiger Seal was often used to dispel Genjutsu.

Shita Genichi felt that "people's hearts" could be extended to mental power, which often represented Genjutsu.

This seal should be useful for both dispelling and casting Genjutsu.

Next was the Jin Hand Seal: See through things and discern people's hearts.

Once again, it had to do with people's hearts.

The Retsu Hand Seal: The power to advance without hesitation and ignore all obstacles.

"The power to ignore all obstacles... Space-time?"

Shita Genichi silently shook his head and continued reading.

The Zai Hand Seal: Freely use all supernatural powers.

Shita Genichi raised an eyebrow. "Senju Tobirama must have used this seal for his Water Release, right? Going by that interpretation, it shouldn't be limited to Water Release. It could also be used for Lightning Release, Earth Release, Fire Release, and Wind Release."

He recalled the battle between Senju Tobirama and Sarutobi Hiruzen during Impure World Reincarnation.

Senju Tobirama had indeed wielded Water Release with effortless control.

Even when Sarutobi Hiruzen hid behind a wall formed with Earth Release, Tobirama could still control the water and send it surging back.

That wasn't something an ordinary ninja could do.

No, it was something even most ninjas skilled in Water Release would struggle to do.

After all, water that had spilled was hard to recover!

Finally—

The Zen Hand Seal: A realm beyond all things, Wanhuaminghe.

Looking at the annotation for the "Zen" Hand Seal, Shita Genichi wished its author would explain it in plain language.

After going over the Nine Syllables Hand Seals and writing down his own interpretations, Shita Genichi returned to studying the Twelve Basic Hand Seals.

Shizune occasionally watched Shita Genichi. When she saw the Nine Syllables Hand Seals, she looked puzzled.

After school, Shizune went to Tsunade's house. Seeing that Tsunade hadn't gotten drunk yet, she asked, "Lady Tsunade, do you know what the nine hand seals—Rin, Pyo, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, and Zen—are used for?"

Tsunade looked up from her drink and said, slightly tipsy, "The Nine Syllables Hand Seals?"

"When did the Ninja Academy start teaching those?"

Shizune hurriedly explained, "The teacher hasn't taught them yet, and the textbook doesn't explain what the nine seals do, either."

Tsunade smiled faintly. "Grandpa added them when he was putting together the textbooks. You don't need to worry about them. You won't have any use for those seals."

She hadn't used them herself or bothered to study them.

The Twelve Basic Hand Seals were enough.

Shizune nodded, but seemed to want to say more.

Tsunade noticed. She took another sip, then burped before continuing. "You've mastered the Twelve Basic Hand Seals well enough that you'll naturally be able to use them however you like, or even form them in whatever way suits your habits."

"That's how one-handed hand seals and the like work."

"As for the Nine Syllables Hand Seals, Grandpa said they do have unusual powers, but they're extremely difficult to master. Even he only learned how to use a few of them."

"As long as you master the Twelve Basic Hand Seals, they'll work easily with your chakra. But the Nine Syllables Hand Seals aren't like that."

At this point, Tsunade waved her hand impatiently. "Don't bother with those seals. Just practice the Twelve Basic Hand Seals properly."

Shizune didn't dare ask any more. "Yes, Lady Tsunade!"

The sun sank below the horizon.

Shita Genichi dragged his exhausted body home.

Even though he was going to school, he hadn't let up on his Draw-Sword Strike—that was, Iaijutsu—or his Rasengan.

After soaking comfortably in the bathtub for half an hour, all his fatigue disappeared.

After dinner, Shita Genichi went straight back to his room and sat down at his desk. He opened an old scroll.

It had been left behind by his grandfather.

He hadn't been lying to Futaki Ryusei when he said that his grandfather's notes mentioned nature transformation and shape transformation.

In fact, his grandfather had left behind only one ninjutsu.

Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!

This was also the only offensive ninjutsu Shita Genichi would master over the next ten years.

He knew this technique like the back of his hand.

Tiger—Snake—Ox—Goat—Rooster—Rat.

Six seals in total—not too many.

If he formed them fast enough, it would only take a second.

Still, Shita Genichi thought it was too many.

"I'll start simplifying hand seals with this technique."

"And I'll start using the Nine Syllables Hand Seals with this technique, too."

As for the hand seals for the Three Body Technique, they were already simple enough.

Time flew by.

Before he knew it, two months had passed.

That day, as Shita Genichi walked out of the school gates after class, he heard a familiar, fiery voice. "Kakashi, let's have a youthful showdown!"

"If I lose, I'll do another 500 handstand laps today!"

Shita Genichi looked over and saw Might Guy blocking Kakashi's way.

Kakashi nodded, his face expressionless. "No problem."

"How should we compete?"

Just as Might Guy was about to speak, a voice came from behind him. "How about adding me to the contest?"

Shita Genichi stepped forward.

After two months, they were all familiar with one another, though they weren't quite friends yet.

Seeing the class's genius, Might Guy flashed his white teeth. "Of course. You don't mind, do you, Kakashi?"

Kakashi glanced at Shita Genichi, then nodded. "No problem."

Shita Genichi suggested with a smile, "Then let's start here and see who reaches the village entrance first."

Might Guy was brimming with energy. He slapped his fist into his palm. "Great! It's settled!"

Kakashi nodded in agreement.

Just then, Nohara Rin stepped forward with a smile. "I'll give the signal!"

Shita Genichi smiled. "Sorry for the trouble, Rin!"

Uchiha Obito, standing beside Nohara Rin, wanted to join the race too. But seeing that the three of them were already getting ready, he felt too awkward to speak up.

"Three, two, one..."

Nohara Rin counted down, then shouted, "Go!"

As soon as she finished speaking, three figures shot forward, kicking up three clouds of dust.