Minato's creation, the Rasengan, stands as an A-rank attributeless Ninjutsu with a unique twist. According to its inventor, the Rasengan is inherently incomplete, leaving room for improvement through the incorporation of other Chakra Nature Transformations.
Naruto Uzumaki, the prophesied child of the ninja world and the Seventh Hokage, has proven this notion beyond doubt. Displaying a myriad of Rasengan variations, to the point that he has surpassed the options available in variations for dango in the village, showcasing the versatility and adaptability of this formidable Ninjutsu.
Furthermore, Minato's insights reveal that the Rasengan serves as an exemplary model for deconstructing the learning process of Ninjutsu.
Exploring the Rasengan involves navigating through three distinctive stages—popping a regular balloon, bursting a water-filled balloon, and finally, breaking through a leather balloon. These stages serve as valuable aids in Rasengan practice, gradually reducing the complexity of learning.
Moreover, Rasengan itself represents a stepwise advancement in training. Once Rasengan is mastered as a shape-changing Ninjutsu, practitioners can delve into the intricacies of Chakra Nature Transformation. The fusion of these skills gives rise to the creation of an entirely new Ninjutsu.
With the meal now served, Tatsuma settled into his seat. However, the anticipation hung in the air, and neither of them was in a hurry to commence their meal. Excitement laced Tatsuma's exclamation, "In fact, these two Ninjutsu can be broken down into several stages."
"The initial phase revolves around infusing Chakra into individual hair strands, a direct test of one's Chakra control prowess. To elevate this stage, we can integrate the tree-climbing and water-walking exercises I mentioned earlier, providing an additional challenge to further refine Chakra mastery."
Minato nodded in agreement and injected a touch of enthusiasm, "Moving on to the second stage, it entails activating Chakra throughout the entire body. Channeling Chakra to stimulate the scalp and hair follicles results in rapid hair growth under its influence.
This principle aligns seamlessly with Atoma-sensei's teachings—much like applying Chakra to muscles for muscle activation, swiftly enhancing muscle fiber elasticity and hardness, thereby fortifying defense or explosive power."
Tatsuma smoothly pressed on, "Moving into the third stage, we delve into the transformation of Chakra's form, allowing both Chakra and hair to adopt characteristics akin to the hardness of Senbon needles or the flexibility of whips.
While I haven't devised a specific practice method for this aspect yet, we can leverage the meticulous Chakra control honed in the first stage to alleviate the complexities associated with mastering form transformations in the future."
"Onto the fourth stage, where we seamlessly integrate the first three stages, harmonizing them with hand seals to bring the Ninjutsu to fruition. It's only in the fifth stage that we apply Ninjutsu in tactical exercises," he concluded.
Amidst their conversation, the intricacies of the Needle Jizo and Wild Lion's Mane Jutsus were meticulously dissected. The once elusive Ninjutsu, now unraveling, prompted Tatsuma to express his awe:
"Truly remarkable, Minato. Your ingenuity in devising such a learning method for Ninjutsu is impressive."
Minato humbly deflected the praise, "No, the credit belongs to you. If you hadn't introduced the idea that Chakra control could be honed through tree-climbing and water-walking, I wouldn't have been able to figure this out."
Amidst the mutual commendation exchanged in their dialogue, even though Tatsuma wasn't seeking a formal reward, the joy he derived from the discussion was palpable.
Suppressing the joy swelling in his heart, Tatsuma remarked, "Coincidentally, the next month is all vacation time. It's the perfect opportunity to slot in tree-climbing and water-walking training and put our ideas to the test."
"Shall we head out right after dinner?"
"Yes, right after dinner."
It was only then that the two recalled the well-prepared dinner awaiting them. They picked up their bowls and delved into the enjoyable meal.
In the ensuing month, alongside their regular training, the duo seamlessly integrated tree-climbing and water-walking exercises into their routine. Naturally, sparring matches were a vital accompaniment.
Tatsuma found immense joy in the training, driven by the tangible progress that fueled his motivation. Engaging in tree-climbing and water-walking allowed him to tap into one to two points of his innate talent in both Ninjutsu and Spirit every day.
Consistent training also unveiled his proficiency in other areas, particularly in Speed. Surpassing the Chunin lower limit standard of 1000, his talent allowed him to manifest 2-3 points each day instead of just 1.
Simultaneously, winning daily sparring matches expanded his upper limit, instilling Tatsuma with a sense of a particularly bright future. The lower limit fortified his present self, while the expanding upper limit promised a formidable future.
As the vacation of over a month concluded, Tatsuma achieved his second talent, reaching the Chunin lower limit in "Stamina." Simultaneously, the realization levels of "Ninjutsu" and "Spirit" also surpassed a hundred, elevating him to the ranks of Genin.
However, the talent of "Illusion" remained an exception. Despite seeking advice from fellow ninjas training at the practice field and even willingly serving as their "target" for Genjutsu practice, improvement remained limited.
Throughout the month, Jiraiya only returned to Konoha once. Despite observing their proficiency in walking on water, he left without the opportunity to learn about the split learning method they had developed.
During the vacation, Tatsuma marked his first New Year in the ninja world alongside Minato. The realization that the new year had arrived only struck them when they received a New Year's greeting card and a monetary gift from Hiruzen.
As the vacation drew to a close and the first day of the new semester beckoned, Tatsuma packed his belongings. Before heading out, he stole a glance at his system panel.
"Host: Sakamoto Tatsuma
Talents:
Strength: 161/543
Speed: 256/1132
Stamina: 237/1024
Wisdom: 255/363
Ninjutsu: 107/312
Illusions: 39/209
Spirit: 151/406"
Seals: 221/427
Special Talents:
Space-Time: 30%
Ninjutsu Development: 20%
Ninja Tool Throwing (Minato Limited Edition): 40%
Sensory: 10%"
While still grappling with the intricacies of Genjutsu, Tatsuma believed he was on the brink of beaing able to graduate to become a Genin. However, the thought of advancing too quickly didn't appeal to him, especially not before Minato. Tatsuma aimed to make the most of Minato's presence at the Academy. As long as Minato remained, Tatsuma had no intention of departing. He even harbored hopes of being assigned to the same team in the future, ensuring continued benefits from training alongside Minato.
Among the individuals Tatsuma regularly interacted with, Minato stood out for his exceptional talent and amiable personality. Even though Tatsuma rarely found himself on the losing end of their matches, Minato accepted the outcomes with a calm demeanor, always prepared for the next challenge.
However, the prospect of being on the same team lay beyond Tatsuma's control. He could only hope that Hiruzen, given his friendship with Minato, would consider placing them together. But it was still early days, and there was no need to fret about it at the moment.
Tatsuma eagerly anticipated the second semester, having heard from the young Genin at the practice field that Ninjutsu would be on the curriculum in the second semester of the first year.
Although labeled as E-rank Ninjutsu, these seemingly simple techniques were precisely what Tatsuma needed to enhance his talents.
The E-rank Ninjutsu covered in the Ninja Academy curriculum included the Escape Technique, Cloak of Invisibility Technique, and the trio of fundamental techniques known as the Three Basic Jutsu: Clone Jutsu, Substitution Jutsu, and Transformation Jutsu.
Considering the generally modest Chakra control of first-year students, the two E-rank Ninjutsu emphasized in the initial year were the Escape Technique and Cloak of Invisibility Technique—both techniques requiring minimal to no Chakra.
The Escape Technique carried considerable significance, not only imparting various rope tying and untying methods but also instructing Ninjas on the art of dislocating and reassembling their joints. While it might sound like a painful technique, Ninjas had to endure what ordinary people couldn't. Early exposure to pain and building resilience was deemed preferable to entering the Ninja profession and being unable to withstand even minor injuries.
With everything set, Tatsuma left his house and jogged to Minato's place. Minato was already waiting with a smile. Tatsuma waved and remarked, "Impressive, Minato! Rising so early. Let's see who can reach the school faster!"
"Sure thing!"
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