"Sister Kushina, why aren't you saying anything?"
"Go study. I'm a little tired and want to rest for a while."
Kushina spoke listlessly.
*???*
What did you even do to get tired?
"Then I'll go read the sealing jutsu scrolls some more. Get some rest, Sister Kushina."
Watching Nobuhiko walk away, Kushina felt mentally drained.
She had always thought her Little Brother Nobuhiko was just like her. She had never expected them to be fundamentally different!
Could anyone really be interested in studying?
Kushina pondered that question all the way into the afternoon.
"Sister Kushina, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
Kushina agreed wearily.
"Sister Kushina, is barrier ninjutsu a type of sealing jutsu?"
Slumped on the couch, Kushina was shocked by Nobuhiko's question.
At the same time, she felt rather glad she had been fairly serious when studying sealing jutsu back then!
Kushina suddenly felt something was a little off, but she had no time to dwell on it. Answering Little Brother Nobuhiko's question was more important.
"Ahem, Little Brother Nobuhiko, what made you think that?"
"The scroll says sealing jutsu is ninjutsu that uses sealing formulas to seal an opponent's chakra, body, or soul."
"Like the Self-Exerting Curse Binding Seal you used to beat me before, Sister Kushina. It restricted my movements by sealing the flow of chakra inside my body."
"That's right."
"But the scroll also says some powerful sealing jutsu can completely seal enormous enemies inside a chosen target for a long time."
"Isn't that just building a barrier inside the chosen target and locking the enemy in it?"
"Little Brother Nobuhiko, I finally understand why Sister Tsunade said your talent far surpassed ordinary people's!"
Listening to Nobuhiko's questions, Kushina felt immense pressure.
"Sealing jutsu is a type of ninjutsu that can be used to seal an opponent's chakra, body, and soul."
"A barrier, on the other hand, is a formation used to create a defensive shield within a specific area, forming a small space isolated from the outside world. It's generally used to block outside attacks or prevent outside interference."
"If we only look at their definitions, these two kinds of jutsu actually have nothing to do with each other."
"Mm."
Nobuhiko nodded, only half understanding.
"But sealing jutsu is all about variety, with all sorts of different effects."
"Because the core of sealing jutsu is sealing or restricting an opponent."
"So, through the continuous research of our predecessors, some powerful sealing jutsu can even transport opponents to another space to seal and bind them. That space can either already exist or come with the sealing jutsu itself."
"The Four Symbols Seal on me is an advanced sealing jutsu of that type."
"I understand now, Sister Kushina."
This time, Nobuhiko truly understood.
"In other words, sealing jutsu is mainly used to seal or restrict opponents, while barriers are mainly used to protect or isolate a specific area."
"The two might overlap somewhat, but they're completely different."
"Exactly. Also, sealing jutsu mainly targets individuals or specific objects and can be cast by one person, while barriers target a space or area and generally require several people working together."
Seeing Nobuhiko understand such a complicated question under her guidance filled Kushina with a sense of accomplishment. She suddenly felt that having a little brother who loved studying might not be such a bad thing.
"Then can I start learning sealing jutsu now, Sister Kushina?"
"Yes."
After thinking for a while, Kushina agreed.
"Let's start with the One-String Light Formation. This jutsu is known as a foundational ninjutsu for learning sealing jutsu. It was the first sealing jutsu I learned back then, too!"
The One-String Light Formation, huh? Nobuhiko had some recollection of this sealing jutsu.
After this sealing jutsu was used, a formation would spread out around the enemy's feet, sealing the movements of anyone standing at its center.
Its first appearance in the original story was when Iruka used it on Naruto. After getting caught, Naruto immediately activated Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, and then the formation itself ran away.
Its second appearance was in the Unburnable Chronicles. In that era, this ninjutsu could already be learned at the Ninja Academy.
Crown Prince Boruto led his little buddies in using the Multiple One-String Light Formation to successfully "fight Kakashi to a draw," both passing the genin exam and preserving Kakashi Hatake's fifty-fifty reputation. A commendable performance.
Seen that way, although this sealing jutsu fell short in the middle and late game, it was still somewhat useful early on and qualified as a sealing jutsu for building a foundation.
"All right, Sister Kushina. I'll be counting on you to teach me this sealing jutsu!"
"Don't worry. Leave it to me!"
For the first time, Kushina experienced the joy studying could bring her.
"Sister Kushina, why do you look so happy?"
Nobuhiko didn't quite understand. How had Kushina, who had been looking so miserable just now, become this happy after answering his questions?
"You don't get it, do you, Little Brother Nobuhiko? I've experienced the joy of studying now, too!"
Kushina glanced at Nobuhiko and spoke smugly.
Well, damn. Nobuhiko really hadn't seen it coming. Kushina, this cute, violent beauty who hated studying, actually loved playing teacher!
You're really something!
Seeing Kushina's excitement, Nobuhiko decided to show off a little himself.
"Sister Kushina, congratulations! You've finally understood the long-term nature and delayed effects of education!"
"Huh?"
Since when did education have a long-term nature and delayed effects?
When had I understood the long-term nature and delayed effects of education?
What did the long-term nature and delayed effects of education have to do with me?
Back when I was being educated at the Ninja Academy, I beat anyone who wouldn't submit until they did. What long-term nature or delayed effects were there in that?
Kushina didn't understand, but simply nodded meaningfully.
*???*
You understood?
That's something you could understand?
Could a place like the Shinobi World make students understand that principle?
What the fuck. Nobuhiko felt his attempt to show off had failed.
He hadn't expected the mere Shinobi World, with its tiny Ninja Academy, to be able to teach Kushina this principle.
In the end, with both of them feeling unsure of themselves, the subject was successfully changed.
"Little Brother Nobuhiko, dinner's on me tonight. Let's go get barbecue!"
Although Kushina hadn't figured out what Nobuhiko had meant just now, that didn't stop her from forgetting those words and continuing to be happy.
"Wouldn't that be too much, Sister Kushina? Barbecue would be pretty expensive."
"Hehehe, I'll let you in on a secret. I'm actually very rich!"
Only upon hearing this did Nobuhiko remember that the girl before him was a little rich lady who had inherited the Uzumaki Clan assets Mito Uzumaki had left her, while Tsunade was a big rich lady who had inherited the Senju Clan assets!
Nobuhiko suddenly felt as though his future was developing in certain uncontrollable directions!
But that works out perfectly. My teeth are bad. I can only live off a woman.
"Long live Sister Kushina!"
Delighted, Nobuhiko blurted it out.
"Keep going, keep going! Sister Tsunade doesn't like hearing you shout that, but I do!"
Listening to Nobuhiko's chant, Kushina felt as though she had already become the village's first female Hokage, and it went to her head a little.