Practice Again

The next morning.

After successfully condensing an ice needle yesterday, Ning Xue had been thinking about how to further refine his abilities.

So, while following his mother to learn the basics of secret techniques that morning, he brought up his idea about the ice needles.

Of course, he didn't tell her everything. He was afraid of complications; sometimes, one has to play the part, just like a certain elementary schooler who always says "good grief" whenever trouble arises.

During a break in their practice, Ning Xue looked at the small, rough-edged ice flower he had just condensed in his palm. He looked up at Hyuga Yuki, feigning innocence.

"Mother, can ice only be made into these flat shapes? Could it be made... thinner and sharper? Like... a needle?"

He deserved an Oscar for this performance.

Hyuga Yuki paused slightly, looking at her son with some surprise.

"A needle? Ning Xue, what made you think of that shape?"

She was curious why Ning Xue would want to create something in the shape of a needle.

Ning Xue knew his chance had arrived, but he dared not reveal his true intentions.

If he said it out loud, it would be a disaster.

He blinked his pure white eyes, trying his best to look like an ordinary, curious child.

"Because I see Father using needles to sew clothes often, and I think they're amazing. They're so small and sharp, it feels like they could sew anything together."

Forgive me, Father; this is the last time.

Just kidding—it was nothing serious, just a convenient excuse.

Hyuga Yuki smiled gently after hearing this and patted Ning Xue on the head.

"So that's it. Ning Xue's idea is very interesting."

She didn't suspect a thing; instead, she thought her son was quite imaginative.

"Theoretically, as long as your chakra control is precise enough, shaping it into a sharper form is possible. Ninjas in our Land of Snow sometimes condense ice into shuriken or kunai to throw, but that requires strong chakra control. Furthermore, pure ice creations are usually brittle and not as sturdy as real steel."

"Condensing chakra into thinner, sharper forms is indeed a very advanced exercise in chakra shape transformation. It requires an extremely high level of control. If you want to learn, you can start by practicing with Ice Senbon."

"Senbon?"

Ning Xue tilted his head in confusion.

The truth was, he really didn't know what a senbon was.

Hyuga Yuki smiled slightly and explained patiently.

"A senbon is a ninja tool that is thinner and longer than a shuriken, a bit like an oversized needle." As she spoke, she used her fingers to gesture its length and shape.

"Oh~" He suddenly understood.

Immediately, he fell into an internal struggle. Right, why didn't I try making the needle bigger first? No, wait, I don't think I can control that much water.

After stopping his internal monologue, he asked his mother again.

"Mother, how do I condense water into that shape? Can you make one?"

Seeing her son's curious expression, Hyuga Yuki smiled gently and demonstrated for him.

"Of course. Using water to condense into shapes is the foundation of many Ice Release techniques. Watch closely, Ning Xue."

As she spoke, she condensed a drop of water in her palm.

"First, there is the guidance and shaping."

Hyuga Yuki explained softly. The water droplet in her palm began to slowly stretch and thin out as she spoke, gradually forming a slender column of water about ten centimeters long, slightly thicker than a sewing needle.

"During this process, your chakra must evenly wrap around and permeate the water, like kneading it gently with your hands, allowing it to change shape according to your will rather than forcing it. You must focus your mind and imagine it becoming exactly what you want it to be."

The water column trembled slightly in her palm but maintained an incredibly stable needle-like form, its surface smooth with no signs of dissipating.

This was countless times better than the shaky, unstable mess Ning Xue had produced during his own practice.

At this moment, Ning Xue was thrilled. After all this time, he was finally learning the real deal.

"Next, is the freezing." As Hyuga Yuki finished speaking, Ning Xue clearly saw chakra being injected into the senbon.

Tiny ice crystals spread from the inside of the entire senbon, which was completely different from his own method of covering the exterior.

Just like that, a perfect Ice Senbon was formed.

"Did you see that?" Hyuga Yuki dispersed the Ice Senbon, turning it back into a puddle of water.

"I saw it," Ning Xue nodded quickly.

Seeing him nod, she continued.

"The key to condensing a senbon lies in the precise control of chakra over the water flow. Your shaping must be steady, and the freezing must be fast. If you want to try, you can take a basin of water and give it a go."

"Mm-hmm." Ning Xue responded, already filled with anticipation.

Seeing him like this, she added a reminder.

"This requires a lot of practice to master, Ning Xue. Don't be impatient; take it one step at a time."

"I understand, Mother! I will practice hard," Ning Xue's voice was filled with enthusiasm.

After completing his mother's basic training in the morning and his taijutsu training in the afternoon, he excitedly fetched another basin of water.

With his mother's demonstration this time, his progress was evident.

He condensed the water needles faster, and their forms were more stable. Although he was still far from reaching his mother's level, and what he froze was far from as perfect as hers, it was already a huge leap compared to yesterday!

After watching his mother's demonstration, he knew exactly where his problems lay.

So, this time he condensed them more carefully, imitating his mother's technique throughout the entire process—not forcing the shape with chakra, but slowly guiding it instead.

This one looked rounder and straighter than yesterday's.

"Now!" Ning Xue suddenly injected his ice-attribute chakra, and it began to solidify into ice from the inside out.

"I did it!" Ning Xue couldn't help but let out a soft cry.

This Ice Senbon continued to emit a chill at his fingertips, maintaining its form for nearly tens of seconds before showing slight signs of melting—it was far more stable than the defective product he had frozen from water yesterday!

Just like that, under the observation of his Byakugan, he continued to condense, shape, and freeze, time and time again.

Lost in this self-forgetful practice, he gradually approached the perfection he was capable of achieving.

When his mother came to call him back for dinner, she was somewhat surprised after seeing the senbon he had condensed.

She couldn't help but ask Ning Xue.

"Ning Xue... is... is this what you just made?"

After Ning Xue confirmed it, her surprise turned into tenderness and pride.

She hadn't expected her son to have such talent; after all, although she lacked the talent to be a ninja, she had at least practiced the family's secret arts for over a decade.

She immediately crouched down, patted Ning Xue on the head, and praised him.

"You're truly amazing, much faster than Mother imagined."

However, the tone shifted.

"But, it's time to take a break. Dinner is already prepared."

And just like that, Ning Xue was led back by his mother to have dinner.