Hashirama Senju looked serious, his gaze showing his profound understanding of Ninjutsu as he continued, "Outside the clan, the Middle-Grade Chakra Refining Technique is also called the Advanced Chakra Refining Technique. You must be wondering what exactly sets it apart from the Basic Chakra Refining Technique." He deliberately paused, a hint of mystery flashing in his eyes, as though keeping Tsubasa in suspense.
"The biggest difference is that the Advanced Chakra Refining Technique incorporates an attribute." Hashirama Senju's tone grew serious as he began to explain patiently. "You should know that Chakra refined with the Basic Chakra Refining Technique has no attribute. After students graduate from the Ninja Academy, they have to find a way to incorporate an attribute into that unattributed Chakra through training. That's where the gap between them and people who cultivate an Advanced Chakra Refining Technique appears. There are three main differences."
"First, there's the difference in cultivation speed." Hashirama Senju raised a finger and pointed into the air. "Say there are two people with similar talent. I cultivate an Advanced Chakra Refining Technique, and you cultivate the Basic Chakra Refining Technique. Suppose we refine the same amount of Chakra. When we fight, you throw an unattributed energy ball at me, while mine deals fire or lightning damage. The result is obvious: I can only crush you. Then you'll have to go back and cultivate an attribute from scratch, starting with comprehending it and then incorporating it into your Chakra. Even someone talented would need about three years. That opens up the gap, doesn't it? In those two or three years, other people might have learned plenty of more powerful skills."
"Second, there's the difference in attribute comprehension." Hashirama Senju raised a second finger, his expression growing even more solemn. "An Advanced Chakra Refining Technique incorporates an attribute from the very beginning, so the person cultivating it has an innate affinity for that attribute and can comprehend its higher-level transformations more easily. That widens the gap even further."
"Third, there's the difference in Chakra control." Hashirama Senju raised a third finger and spoke louder. "Because an attribute is incorporated from the start, a cultivator becomes more proficient at controlling Chakra and can release Ninjutsu faster than others. In Ninjutsu battles between ordinary shinobi, what matters is how quickly they can release their Ninjutsu, and that speed is closely tied to Chakra control. We shinobi use Hand Seals to help us control Chakra precisely, allowing us to release Ninjutsu quickly and steadily."
Tsubasa listened intently, nodding along, his face filled with understanding. When Hashirama Senju finished, Tsubasa couldn't help asking, "I understand. Why doesn't the Ninja Academy teach Advanced Chakra Refining Techniques, then? And what is a High-Grade Chakra Refining Technique like?" Curiosity and anticipation shone in his eyes. He couldn't wait to learn what secrets even higher-level Chakra Refining Techniques held.
Hashirama looked gentle as he continued answering Tsubasa's questions. "There's a prerequisite to learning an Advanced Chakra Refining Technique. First, you have to determine which attribute suits you, so you can learn the corresponding type of Advanced Chakra Refining Technique. Everyone is born with an affinity for a certain attribute. When we refine our first wisp of Chakra, we can detect it using a tool called Chakra test paper. However, once you've refined that first wisp of Chakra, it leaves an imprint on your soul and body. If you then cultivate a Chakra Refining Technique that doesn't match the Chakra you first refined, the Chakra in your body will conflict."
After a pause, Hashirama added, "Of course, there is a solution. You can extract the first wisp of Chakra and erase the imprint on the soul and body. But there are two drawbacks. First, you'll permanently lose a portion of Yin and Yang Release. Second, it takes an expert of Jonin level to slowly erase the Chakra imprint through precise control. That's why the academy only teaches the Basic Chakra Refining Technique. Do you understand?"
Tsubasa looked utterly bewildered and couldn't help asking, "Then what kind of person is suited to cultivating an Advanced Chakra Refining Technique?"
A smile appeared on Hashirama's face as he explained patiently, "Many clan shinobi cultivate Advanced Chakra Refining Techniques. Take the Shimura Clan. They cultivate the Wind Release Chakra Refining Technique from the very beginning. After hundreds and thousands of years of reproduction and evolution, the Shimura Clan's children are born with an affinity for wind attribute transformations. Their descendants have inherited their ancestors' attribute. So they can determine which attribute suits their children without using Chakra test paper."
Seeing Tsubasa looking thoughtful, Hashirama continued, "High-Grade Chakra Refining Techniques are also known as secret arts. They go a step beyond Advanced Chakra Refining Techniques, involving advanced transformations of a particular Chakra attribute. Take Konoha's Ino-Shika-Cho clans. The Yamanaka Clan of the boar incorporates a mind secret art. They can control other people's minds and invade their brains to search for secrets. The Nara Clan of the deer incorporates a shadow secret art, allowing them to control their shadows in battle. The Akimichi Clan of the butterfly incorporates a body secret art, allowing them to enlarge their bodies, making them indestructible and giving them boundless strength. That's why clans possessing such secret arts are all major clans. Their secret arts are the core of their clans' power, and they won't tolerate anyone coveting them."
Tsubasa understood at once and nodded. "I see. Then what grade is our Senju Clan's Chakra Refining Technique?"
Hashirama smiled proudly. "Our Senju Clan's Chakra Refining Techniques are naturally among the very best in the Shinobi World, and no other clan or person can learn them. Even if we made them public, no one from another clan could master them."
"They're that amazing?" Tsubasa was stunned.
Hashirama smiled and continued explaining, "The very best Chakra Refining Techniques in the Shinobi World are called Kekkei Genkai Chakra Refining Techniques. In Konoha, three clans possess Kekkei Genkai: the Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan, and the Hyuga Clan. All three have their own unique Kekkei Genkai Chakra Refining Techniques. Outside Konoha, there are also the Uzumaki Clan and the Kaguya Clan. There used to be a Hagoromo Clan as well, but it was probably wiped out. As for Ice Release, Steel Release, Sand Release, and so on, those are merely top-grade secret arts. Of course, many people out there call them Kekkei Genkai too, but there are actually clear differences between them and true Kekkei Genkai. We won't go into that today; you only need to know that much."
Pride filled Hashirama's face as he continued, "Our Senju Clan's ancestors developed two Chakra Refining Techniques suited to our Kekkei Genkai for their descendants: the Pure Yang Art and the Lesser Yang Art. I cultivate the Pure Yang Art, as does your grandfather. Tobirama cultivates the Lesser Yang Art."
Tsubasa hurriedly asked, "Master, what's the difference between the two arts? And how do I determine which one suits me?"
Hashirama answered patiently, "The Pure Yang Art focuses on strengthening the body, while the Lesser Yang Art focuses on increasing the amount of Chakra. The Senju Clan's Kekkei Genkai is the Sage Body. The Sage Body has a characteristic: it can absorb energy from heaven and earth on its own, thereby increasing our Yang Release. Of course, it absorbs that energy very slowly. As the saying goes, when Yang flourishes, it turns into Yin, and when Yin flourishes, it turns into Yang. The human body naturally carries out this transformation. However, once a person grows old, they lose that ability. After my battle with Madara, I lost it and ended up with flourishing Yang and waning Yin. That's how I know I have only three years left to live. Most ordinary people die with flourishing Yin and waning Yang, while I'm probably the first person to die with flourishing Yang and waning Yin."
Hearing this, Tsubasa's eyes reddened, and tears welled up in them. "Master, isn't there any way to remedy it?"
Hashirama burst into hearty laughter. "Silly child, don't cry. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all part of life, especially for a shinobi like me who has seen so much of life and death. Besides, I met you at the end of my life and can pass everything I've learned on to you. My life is complete."
"Master..." Tsubasa cried, his voice choked with tears.
Hashirama interrupted him. "Enough, Tsubasa. We shinobi shed blood, not tears. From now on, I hope you won't cry easily and will face life with a smile."
Tsubasa hastily held back his tears and answered loudly, "Yes, Master!"
Hashirama continued, "The Pure Yang Art fuses an extremely small amount of Yin with as much Yang as possible, then channels the increased Yang Release back into the body, making it stronger, improving its ability to heal itself, and speeding up the recovery of stamina. But it has drawbacks too. It becomes harder to develop other attributes, and one's abilities in Yin Release are relatively weak. The smallest amount of Yin Release one can refine depends on individual talent. The smallest amount your grandfather could refine was 0.03 Yin Release, while I can control 0.012 Yin Release and fuse it with 0.988 Yang Release to form Chakra. That's why my Chakra is so abundant. When I fight, I generally attack by covering a wide area with Ninjutsu. That's also why I was able to become the God of Shinobi."
Tsubasa's eyes shone as he marveled inwardly. Isn't that like a combination of a berserker and a mage? He can't be killed or worn down, and he's good at fighting groups. Against an opponent like that, you'd probably have no choice but to raise a white flag and surrender. I'll choose the Pure Yang Art. It's ridiculously powerful.
Hashirama continued, "But after my battle with Madara, I also discovered the Pure Yang Art's weakness: its defenses against attacks on the soul are relatively poor. Once the soul is severely damaged, it can no longer regulate Yin and Yang. So although the Pure Yang Art is powerful, it isn't flawless."
"Master, I choose the Pure Yang Art," Tsubasa said without hesitation.
Hashirama smiled and advised him, "Don't rush. It won't be too late to decide after you've heard the Lesser Yang Art's advantages. Ninety-nine percent of the Senju Clan choose the Lesser Yang Art, you know."