Chakra Nature Transformation

Today, Tobirama Senju taught them about Ninjutsu. Ninja used a wide variety of techniques, but setting aside certain special forms of Ninjutsu, what remained were elemental techniques based on the Seven Natures. These were the techniques ninja primarily used in combat.

Hand seals were the foundation of ninjutsu. Only by forming the appropriate seals could a ninja release a technique, because hand seals guided the flow of Chakra. They were said to have been developed by the founder of ninjutsu, the Sage of Six Paths, and there were twelve in total. Each seal corresponded to a particular direction of chakra Liu. The more complex a technique, the more seals it required, and the more frequently the Chakra within the body had to shift its flow. Only then could a powerful technique be unleashed.

As far as Kazemori Masaki knew, Ninjutsu consisted of two kinds of chakra transformation. The first was nature transformation, the foundation of all elemental techniques. Without transforming chakra's nature, one could not use the corresponding elemental technique. The second was shape transformation, which increased a technique's power by changing the shape of its chakra.

Broadly speaking, the greater the degree of Nature Transformation and the more refined the shape transformation, the more powerful an elemental technique would be. Every elemental technique followed this rule.

However, although the Ninja Clan knew that these two transformations determined the power of elemental techniques, each had its own ideas about how to improve them.

At this point, there were no specific training methods for elemental techniques. The scrolls handed down through the clans recorded only hand seals and their creators' experiences and insights. When clan ninja practiced Ninjutsu, they repeated the hand seals to make their chakra circulate on its own, eventually learning the technique. As a result, success depended heavily on the learner's talent.

The Chakra flow guided by hand seals was limited. Gifted individuals could grasp Chakra Nature Transformation simply by experiencing that Liu, while those with little talent struggled to understand it in a short time. Only through constant practice might they learn it at all, and improving their Chakra's Nature Transformation was an even greater challenge.

But now, Tobirama Senju told them about a method that allowed them to master Chakra Nature Transformation without practicing hand seals. In the past, ninja had practiced Nature Transformation through hand seals because the Ninja Clan did not know how to perform it directly. Only with the seals' guidance could they get a feel for Nature Transformation and learn it.

Because of constant warfare and the issues surrounding the transmission of Secret Techniques, the Ninja Clan had no time to investigate the underlying principles of nature transformation. Thus, this tradition had taken hold. Naturally, Tobirama Senju could not stand by and let things continue this way. With his keen interest in research, he had carefully studied every scroll and combined what he found with his own understanding of Ninjutsu, finally uncovering the secret of nature transformation.

"Simply put, you need to make your Chakra exhibit the corresponding properties," Tobirama Senju said. "Although the elemental techniques we use appear to be real, tangible substances, they actually just draw in matter from the outside world or imitate it. What supplies their power is still Chakra."

"Although we divide chakra into fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning, I can tell you now that the true Righteousness of chakra nature is not literal. It refers to another Righteousness." As Tobirama Senju spoke, he brought out a bowl of water. "For example, when using Water Release, what we need to do is not turn chakra into water—that is merely its outward appearance and means nothing—but make chakra exhibit the properties of water. Like this."

Tobirama Senju dipped a finger into the water and infused it with his chakra. Before everyone's eyes, the water in the bowl began flowing rapidly, swirling noisily into a small whirlpool.

Cries of surprise rose throughout the Academy. In the past, they had always performed Nature Transformation through elemental techniques. None of them had ever done so with Chakra alone. Tobirama Senju's demonstration truly astonished them.

"That is more or less how it works." Tobirama Senju withdrew his finger from the bowl, and the swirling water slowly settled. Then he addressed everyone again. "The outward appearance of our elemental techniques is merely a disguise created with Chakra, much like the Transformation Technique. What truly gives them power is still Chakra. What I just did was make my Chakra exhibit the property of Liu. Liu Chakra carries power in its own right, and that is how Chakra can be given an impact like that of water."

"Lord Tobirama, does that mean the other elemental techniques work the same way? Then why can Fire Release ignite trees or burn people?" Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly asked.

Rather than answer directly, Tobirama Senju asked him a question in return. "Sarutobi, why do you think fire can ignite trees?"

"Well..." Hiruzen Sarutobi froze for a moment, then lowered his head and pondered the question.

"Let me ask a different question. Normally, when you have no source of fire, what method would you use to light one?" Tobirama Senju asked.

"Uh, Fire Release... no, no, no!" Hiruzen Sarutobi answered instinctively, but when he saw Tobirama Senju's gaze, he quickly shook his head. "I've heard that nobles use a kind of stone that produces sparks. If those sparks catch on something flammable, they can start a fire."

Tobirama Senju said, "That answer is not wrong, but it is not what I am asking. I am asking about the underlying principle. It is said that people in the past used a wooden drill to make fire, producing sparks by drilling into wood and using them to ignite it. So what caused those sparks?"

"Heat," a voice said. Tobirama Senju raised his head and looked toward it, discovering that the speaker was Kazemori Masaki.

Kazemori Masaki looked at Tobirama Senju and said, "It's heat. Extremely high temperatures cause combustion. Lord Tobirama, I believe that is the reason."

Tobirama Senju gave Kazemori Masaki a long, searching look, then addressed the others. "I agree with Kazemori. The reason fire can ignite objects is its heat. When it comes to Fire Release, isn't our immediate impression that it is intensely hot and burns?"

"That's true," Hiruzen Sarutobi said after thinking it over.

Then Tobirama Senju asked Kazemori Masaki, "In that case, Kazemori, what do you think the Chakra nature of Wind Release should be?"

Of course, Kazemori Masaki knew. Wind Release was the first Chakra nature he had learned about—from that manga—so he answered, "Lord Tobirama, I think the Chakra nature of Wind Release is cutting."

Tobirama Senju suddenly laughed, and everyone else immediately stared at him in surprise. Tobirama Senju always presented a stern face. None of them had ever seen him laugh.

"Well said, Kazemori." Tobirama Senju clapped his hands. "I never expected you to give such an excellent answer. You've changed my opinion of you."

The others looked at Kazemori Masaki, some with surprise, some with confusion, and some with jealousy. Their impressions of him were still rooted in the past. The Kazemori Masaki before them now was far beyond anything they had imagined, and he had even earned Tobirama Senju's praise. Everyone knew that making a good impression on Tobirama Senju meant getting one step closer to becoming his student.

Kazemori Masaki let out a quiet breath. He knew Tobirama Senju's personality, which was why he had spoken up to show what he could do. His aptitude for Sage Art already made it highly likely that Tobirama would accept him as a student, but that was not his ultimate goal. His true goal was to become the Hokage's successor. To achieve that, he needed to demonstrate his qualities in other areas, and his answer had undoubtedly been just what Tobirama Senju wanted to hear.

"You really are impressive, Masaki," Kagami Uchiha whispered to Kazemori Masaki.

At that, Kazemori Masaki smiled faintly. "Not really."

Then Tobirama Senju addressed everyone present. "That is all I will explain for now. You can try practicing your own chakra nature or other natures. I believe that as long as you follow this approach, learning chakra nature transformation will become easier. But let me say this first: Liu, heat, and cutting are merely ideas that Kazemori and I have come up with. You do not necessarily have to follow those approaches. You can explore other directions and perhaps make discoveries of your own. If you have any questions, you can also come to me for advice."

Tobirama Senju led everyone to the Training Grounds. The Training Grounds within the Konoha Academy were spacious enough to accommodate all thirty-eight students. Once they arrived, everyone eagerly began trying the method Tobirama Senju had described. First, they wanted to test it with the Ninjutsu they already knew. If what Tobirama Senju said was true, and it could make Nature Transformation easier to learn, they could try developing other chakra natures—something that had previously been the exclusive privilege of geniuses.

Zhenghui also prepared to test it—even though he already knew from the manga that Wind Release Chakra really worked this way—when Kagami Uchiha hurried after him with a smile. "Masaki, don't forget our agreement. We're going to train together."

"Right." Kazemori Masaki nodded and smiled. "Then let's do it together, Kagami."

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(End of chapter)