If you were to ask about the difference between practicing Total Concentration Breathing and regular breathing, it's like the distinction between eating meals normally, one bite at a time, to sustain continuous strength, and suddenly taking a big gulp for a brief burst of power with Total Concentration Breathing.
The difference lies in the difficulty of practicing Total Concentration Breathing, which is much harder than taking a big gulp of food. Taking a big gulp of food only requires opening your mouth wide and controlling the muscles in your mouth, while Total Concentration Breathing isn't just about opening your mouth wide and inhaling a big breath of air.
Practicing Total Concentration Breathing is somewhat akin to sprint training, strengthening explosive power bit by bit.
On Friday, when Shisui first started learning, he couldn't feel any difference compared to his usual breathing. Despite his efforts to concentrate his breath even further, he didn't notice much change.
This situation didn't change until the fifth day.
"Flame Breathing, Total Concentration Breathing, Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!"
Shisui held four Kunai in his right hand, Chakra gathered on his palm. In an instant, all four Kunai were engulfed in flames, then swiftly thrown out by Shisui.
Boom! Boom!!
The Kunai, imbued with intense burning flames, resembled small fireballs. Upon impact with the ground, they exploded, creating small craters.
"No Seal Fire release? Shisui, how did you do that?" Obito couldn't help but ask curiously.
Obito had once attacked Guy directly with flames condensed in his palm during a live combat exam. If only by the definition of Ninjutsu, that could barely be considered No Seal Ninjutsu because it also utilized Nature Transformation of Chakra.
However, in reality, Obito's technique was just a regular Nature Transformation, with ordinary flames and no additional effects. It couldn't increase power by enhancing Chakra because it would risk burning himself.
If we were to rate it using the standards of the ninja world learning level, Obito's technique would at most be D-rank, which is not on the same level as the No Seal Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson that Shisui just demonstrated.
"It's not a true No Seal release, just taking advantage of Total Concentration Breathing," Shisui replied.
"Generally, condensing Chakra in the throat to release Fire Release is safer and easier to gather. Releasing it from the hands is more dangerous and slower..."
The human body in the ninja world has a Chakra network system spread throughout the body and 360 Chakra points. However, the difficulty of condensing Chakra for Nature Transformation varies depending on the body part.
The reason why many Fire Release techniques are sprayed from the mouth is because using the hands and feet is not only inefficient but also prone to self-injury.
Different Nature Transformations also vary. For example, Lightning Release and Fire Release are different. Many Lightning Release techniques involve condensing Chakra in the hands or arms for release.
"Through Flame Breathing, I can address the issue of Nature Transformation speed. Additionally, I can reduce the number of shurikens to decrease the demand for total flame volume. Lastly, I actually formed a seal." Shisui showed his left hand to Obito, demonstrating the single-handed seal he just performed.
The essence of forming seals is to guide Ninjutsu. With a bit of weakening and the support of Flame Breathing, I managed to barely perform the Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson with a single-handed seal."
"You can form seals with just one hand?" Obito exclaimed.
Smack!
Mutsuki lightly tapped Obito's head with two fingers.
"It seems like you forgot what I told you earlier," Mutsuki said as he ruffled Obito's hair. "The essence of forming seals is to guide the release of Ninjutsu. As long as you understand Ninjutsu well enough, you can not only form seals with one hand but also reduce or even release without seals."
Mutsuki's words reminded Obito of some related memories. Mutsuki had once mentioned being able to form seals with one hand and simplify them. He even demonstrated the Great Dragon Fire with a complete seal and with just one seal.
That day, after listening to Mutsuki, Obito eagerly tried it out, only to find that not only was the speed of single-handed seals not faster, but the Ninjutsu also failed to be released.
After several days without progress, Obito stopped trying, feeling that it was not as effective as regular training. After all, he hadn't heard of any strong ninja famous for forming seals with one hand.
"Hehe, actually, I just wanted to see if Shisui had forgotten what you taught, Yumi-sensei," Obito said, pretending.
Shisui: ...
"That's a good idea. Although the power and attack range are smaller than the normal Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson, the release speed is faster. In close quarters, it might have unexpected effects," Mutsuki said.
If someone thought Shisui wouldn't have time to release Ninjutsu when faced with a knife to the face, and Shisui suddenly formed a single-handed seal to release Fire Release, it would probably be hard to dodge.
"Yumi-sensei, could you explain again how to form seals with one hand?" Obito asked eagerly, looking at Mutsuki. He wanted to be able to release Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson with just one hand like Shisui.
Obito felt it would be really cool in actual combat.
In battle, he would calmly pull out four Kunai, and before the enemy could react, he would instantly form a single-handed seal and throw out four Kunai with fire. The enemy would be pierced and blown apart by the flaming Kunai, while he would throw the Kunai, then directly insert his hands in his pockets and turn around.
"Seeing such a cool scene, Rin-chan would definitely look at me with admiration and say, 'Obito, you're amazing!'" Obito fantasized.
"I've actually already explained everything that needs to be said before. Today, I'll go over it again. But you really need to practice Ninjutsu on your own to get familiar with it. It's hard to learn just by listening," Mutsuki said.
Talking about forming seals with one hand is like asking a right-handed person to practice calligraphy with their left hand or to write with both hands. Sensei can't possess you to teach you, right?
However, forming seals with one hand does have practical value in real combat. If you're wearing a robe, you can completely hide the hand forming the seal and secretly release Ninjutsu.
It might sound sneaky, but it's extremely useful in battle. If your seals are not visible, even if a sensory ninja senses that you might use Ninjutsu, the enemy won't know what Ninjutsu you're using.
Experienced strong ninja can tell what type of Ninjutsu you're using by observing your seals because different elemental Ninjutsu have corresponding characteristics in their seals. For example, the last seal for Fire Release is generally the Tiger Seal.
"Okay, I'll practice more," Obito nodded quickly, like a chick pecking at grains of rice.
"Shisui, can you share your experience and results with me?" Obito then looked towards Shisui.
"I haven't had any success yet because I forgot what Yumi-sensei taught," Shisui replied.
"Huh?" Obito looked surprised, then remembered what he had just said.
"Haha, it's actually me who forgot, Shisui. How could you forget when you just used it?" Obito quickly admitted his mistake.
Shisui was just joking. Seeing his companion's eager expression, he certainly wouldn't refuse.
"To break through in forming seals, Ninjutsu practice is essential. Additionally, at your current level, you need the assistance of Breathing Techniques. Try to practice both simultaneously," Mutsuki began teaching.
Then Obito began his journey of forming seals with one hand.
The first attempt was a bit embarrassing. Obito formed the seals with one hand, but when he threw the Shuriken, no flames came out.
Obito and Shisui sought advanced advice.
Looking at the scattered Shuriken on the ground, Shisui seemed somewhat silent. He encountered a blind spot in his knowledge, a situation he hadn't encountered before.
At that moment, he wondered why someone would throw Shuriken for Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson without flames coming out. Usually, flames are emitted before throwing the Shuriken.
After pondering for a while, Shisui couldn't figure out where the mistake occurred in this step. So, he suggested, "How about you practice forming seals with both hands first before practicing with one hand?"
"Good idea!" Obito thought it was a good approach.
Forming seals with both hands naturally flowed smoothly, completing the Ninjutsu. Dozens of Shuriken with flames were thrown to the ground.
Recalling the memory of forming seals with both hands just now, Obito attempted to form them with one hand.
The second attempt at forming seals with one hand to execute the Ninjutsu resulted in flames bursting out, almost burning Obito himself.
"Haha, I was so fixated on you using myhands, Shisui, that I forgot the steps," Obito explained with a laugh.
Shisui seemed to have figured out why Obito had been struggling to form seals with one hand.
"Forming seals with one hand is more difficult than with both hands. It requires greater concentration, and you shouldn't let your mind wander," Mutsuki reminded.
Completing tasks that are typically done with both hands using just one naturally increases the difficulty.
After two hours, Obito's Chakra concentration became more proficient, but he still hadn't succeeded in forming seals with one hand.
After the training ended, everyone went home separately. However, only Shisui went home, as the others gathered again in the Southern Border Forest after returning home.
Entering his home and changing his shoes at the entrance, Shisui poured himself a glass of water.
He didn't have the habit of calling someone back because there would be no response; he lived alone.
Glancing at the calendar on the wall, Shisui realized it was already October 18th.
His birthday was on October 19th, which was tomorrow.
However, Shisui didn't plan to celebrate his birthday. The only person who knew about it was his uncle, but his uncle had gone out on a mission recently and didn't have time to come and celebrate with him.
He didn't want to actively tell Mutsuki and the others about his birthday. He believed that Mutsuki would help him celebrate once he knew, but Shisui didn't want to bother Mutsuki with such a small matter.
Mutsuki was already very busy, teaching the first-year class all day at the academy, taking time in the morning and at noon to teach them, and quickly heading to the Southern Border Forest after school in the afternoon. Lately, he had been injured while forging ninja tools at night.
Seeing Mutsuki so busy, Shisui couldn't bring himself to trouble him with something as insignificant as his birthday. Celebrating his birthday wouldn't enhance his abilities, so it wouldn't benefit either him or Mutsuki.
"It just means I'm another year older," Shisui said as he sat in the yard, looking up at the bright moon.
After some random thoughts, Shisui ultimately chose to practice Ninjutsu.
Perhaps because of his distracted mind, this time Shisui found that two of the four shuriken he threw didn't have flames attached to them.
"So that's how it is..." Shisui began to understand why Obito's attempts had failed during the day.
Meanwhile, Mutsuki gathered the students except Shisui.
"Do you know what tomorrow is?" Mutsuki asked.
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