Dan Katō's Secret Ninjutsu

Although he had initially learned the Hemostasis Technique, Uchiha Meikyō could only be considered a beginner. At most, he could perform simple treatment on wounds after a battle.

If he wanted to use it in combat, taking several minutes just to stop the bleeding from a shallow wound was nowhere near enough.

"Not bad, all of you!"

After guiding Aburame Nami and Inuzuka Ryo, Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.

"However, this alone isn't enough to prove that you have the potential to become qualified Medical Ninja. At the very least, you need to complete the next step, Fish Revival, to show that you have sufficient Chakra control to study advanced Medical Ninjutsu. But we can discuss that later!"

After saying that, Tsunade looked toward Dan Katō, who was grilling fish.

"Right now, the most important thing is to deal with these wild chickens and Wild Rabbits first, then fill our stomachs."

Before long, Meikyō and the others had removed the entrails from the game and drained the blood. They then coated it with herbal juice and honey Tsunade had prepared, skewered it on branches whittled with kunai, and placed it on the rack Dan Katō had built.

Ordinarily, simply roasting these things over a fire would take quite a long time. However, as a Jonin who had mastered the nature transformation of Fire Style Chakra, it was no challenge for Dan Katō to control the heat while using Fire Style. In just over twenty minutes, he had finished grilling everything.

Judging from Dan Katō's practiced movements, he must have done this often during missions with Tsunade.

After all, with their strength, most missions could be completed with ease. Their remaining time was spent either training or sightseeing.

The grilled Mountain Chicken gleamed golden on the outside. When torn open, its tender white meat inside was brimming with juices. One bite revealed soft, springy meat, crisp on the outside and tender within, leaving their mouths slick with oil.

The three Genin of Kato Squad sat around the campfire, eating barbecue while casually chatting about their prospects for the future.

Tsunade sat by the little river with her arms around her knees, talking to Dan Katō about something unknown.

"If you're full, come over here."

After they finished eating, Dan Katō suddenly called his three disciples over.

Looking at the three disciples before him, whose temperaments had changed completely after being tempered by battle, a faint smile appeared on Dan Katō's handsome face.

"I've been your Jonin Instructor for so long, and aside from treating you to barbecue a few times, I haven't given you any proper gifts. So, while we have the chance, I'll teach you a unique secret technique of my own creation."

Dan Katō stretched, then took out a small Ninjutsu Scroll from the Ninja Tool Pouch at his waist.

Meikyō's heart trembled.

Could it be the one I'm thinking of?

But after thinking it over, he felt that was unlikely.

Even if Dan Katō truly wanted to teach it, three Genin probably lacked the foundation to learn a forbidden technique of that level. It had to be some other ninjutsu.

Sure enough, Dan Katō spread the scroll open before them and introduced it.

"There is a forbidden technique in the village called the Spirit Transformation Technique. It is also a forbidden technique passed down through the Kato Clan. The process of learning it is extremely dangerous, so I will not teach it to you. What I will teach you is a secret Yin Release technique I compiled from the Kato Clan's centuries of experience cultivating that technique. It can activate Mental Power and develop Mental Energy. Its name is simple: the Spirit Activation Technique."

"This technique can develop a person's Mental Energy to the greatest extent possible. How much it can improve depends on one's innate Mental Power. Because I was born with immense Mental Power and fully developed it using this technique, I was barely able to learn the Spirit Transformation Technique."

At this point, Dan Katō looked at his three disciples with his azure eyes and continued.

"Once Mental Energy reaches a certain level, it can provide a powerful positive boost to your Chakra control."

At that moment, Tsunade raised a small hand and interjected.

"Only after learning this secret technique was I able to use sufficiently precise Chakra control to perform Medical Ninjutsu that others couldn't."

"That's right."

Dan Katō nodded seriously, then continued.

"Improving Chakra control will greatly help you learn any ninjutsu, especially a type like Medical Ninjutsu, which demands the greatest degree of Chakra control. Furthermore, for Sensor Ninja like Ryo and Nami, further development and improvement of Mental Energy can vastly enhance the power of your Sensory Ninjutsu."

After speaking, Dan Katō's gaze shifted to Uchiha Meikyō.

"As for Meikyō..."

"Sensei, can you stop keeping us in suspense? Will this technique affect the Sharingan somehow?"

Uchiha Meikyō could not help asking.

He knew that if the Sharingan evolved to a certain level, it could have a major impact on a person's mind and personality. What if Dan Katō's Spirit Activation Technique conflicted with the Sharingan?

If he could not learn such a powerful forbidden technique, wouldn't that be a massive loss?

"I don't know."

Dan Katō shook his head bluntly.

"However, based on its principles, it shouldn't conflict with any bloodline limit. In fact, from my experience, the Spirit Activation Technique is highly compatible with nearly all ninjutsu. What I mean to say is, Meikyō, like me, you were born with Mental Power far beyond what ordinary people can attain."

"In other words, there's a strong chance that, like me, you can cultivate the Spirit Activation Technique to its highest level."

As he spoke, a senbon slowly floated up in front of Dan Katō.

"That is, using Yin Release through Mental Power without relying on any medium, directly affecting physical matter."

As his words fell, the senbon suspended in midair slowly descended to the ground.

It was somewhat similar to the Nara Clan's Shadow Series ninjutsu, but the Nara Clan used Yin Release and relied on shadows as a medium to perform their techniques.

"If you can also reach that level, it will mean you have gained the qualifications to learn the Spirit Transformation Technique."

Dan Katō retrieved the senbon and placed it back into his Ninja Tool Pouch.

"The same goes for you two."

He said this to Inuzuka Ryo and Aburame Nami.

Although they were both highly talented, the difficulty and danger involved in cultivating the Spirit Transformation Technique were both extraordinarily high.

In the past, countless people with exceptional talent had also attempted to learn the Spirit Transformation Technique, yet almost all of them had failed.

Without Mental Power strong enough to affect reality, one could not freely control one's soul leaving the body. This was the standard Dan Katō had set for safely learning the Spirit Transformation Technique.

Like himself, Uchiha Meikyō had been born with Mental Power far beyond what ordinary people could attain. With the development provided by the Spirit Activation Technique, he had great hope of reaching that stage.