Uehara Soma closed his eyes, feeling earnestly.
After a short while, he opened them.
Forming seals again.
"Water Release, Water Clone Jutsu!"
A Water Clone identical to before appeared.
But this time, Uehara Soma's seals were simplified by one-third.
Using only two-thirds of the seals, he completed this Ninjutsu, Water Clone.
"Good!"
For ninjas, hand seals are a crucial part.
Most Ninjutsu requires hand seals.
However, hand seals pose two issues.
One is that they take time.
Another is that opponents can assess the Ninjutsu a ninja will use next by observing the hand seals.
A typical example is Kakashi from the original storyline.
He uses Sharingan to observe the opponent's hand seals and chakra.
Thus, he predicts what Ninjutsu the opponent will use next.
Then, relying on his faster speed and Sharingan's copying ability, he employs the same Ninjutsu as the opponent.
Even though his hand seals come later, Kakashi's Ninjutsu often appears simultaneously with the opponent's.
This is why Kakashi is called the Copy Ninja.
This is also one of the reasons why bloodline limit ninjas are generally considered stronger than ordinary ninjas.
Many bloodline limit Ninjutsu do not require hand seals and can be used directly.
Instantaneous activation.
Simplifying hand seals and shortening the speed of execution can enhance a ninja's strength.
It's very direct, with obvious effects.
After all, in battles between ninjas, apart from significant gaps in strength, fights between ninjas of similar strength often come down to details.
In this world, many ninjas have devoted research to this aspect.
Some study how to perform hand seals faster.
Some research focuses on simplifying the complexity of hand seals.
Some ninjas have achieved results.
For example, Uchiha Itachi performing six seals in one seconds.
Another example is the simplification of the forty-four hand seals for the Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu by high-level Mist ninjas.
However, achieving this among Mist ninjas requires not only exceptional Water Release talent but also a great deal of rigorous training and effort, as seen in Soma's endeavors, requiring considerable effort.
Yet, Uehara Soma has not undergone this type of training.
This is simply the effect brought about by his innate, Perfect-level Water Release talent.
"And, simplifying one-third of the hand seals is just the beginning."
"Keep practicing based on this feeling, I should be able to further simplify the hand seals for Water Clone Jutsu."
Uehara Soma imagined the application of this in his mind.
Firstly, simplified hand seals bring faster execution.
One step faster leads to continuous speed.
Secondly, even if the opponent possesses Sharingan, it's difficult to observe one's complete hand seals.
Thirdly, one can use this to create information asymmetry.
For example, pretending to need all hand seals to use Ninjutsu, then completing the Ninjutsu with only half the hand seals at a critical moment can catch the opponent off guard.
"Water Release, Hiding In Mist Jutsu."
"Water Release, Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!"
"Water Release, Water Prison Jutsu!"
"Water Release, Water Fang Bullet Jutsu!"
"Water Release, Water Wall Jutsu!"
Uehara Soma utilized all the Water Release Ninjutsu he had already learned.
The result left Uehara Soma very satisfied.
"When my Water Release talent reached the Excellent level, Juzo-senpai said that my Water Release talent was no longer inferior to his."
"Now that my Water Release talent has reached the Perfect level, there's been a qualitative improvement."
"In other words, my Water Release talent in the Hidden Mist Village should now surpass that of the vast majority of ninjas."
"As long as I strive to become a top-tier Water Release ninja, it shouldn't be too difficult."
Uehara Soma glanced at the target across from him, now in disarray from his Ninjutsu.
"However, becoming a top-tier Water Release ninja isn't just about having high talent and putting in a lot of effort; possessing a variety of Water Release Ninjutsu is also a crucial part."
"This is not an easy task."
The importance of jutsu for ninjas is self-evident.
However, in the ninja world, there's a prevalent phenomenon of clinging to one's own broom, so to speak.
It's not as simple as deciding to learn any ninjutsu you want and then doing so.
This applies to Konoha, the Hidden Cloud Village, the Hidden Rock Village, the Hidden Sand Village, and the Hidden Mist Village alike.
Minato Namikaze was able to qualify to learn Uzumaki Clan Sealing Jutsu before becoming Hokage or a Konoha Elder because he married Kushina Uzumaki.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo relied on their positions within Konoha.
There are many Water Release Ninjutsu, divided into several systems.
But truly powerful Water Release Ninjutsu are not so abundant.
We won't even mention the Water Release from the Rain Village, the Hidden Cloud Village, and the Hidden Rock Village.
In Uehara Soma's view, there are only two real top-tier Water Release systems.
One is the Water Release Ninjutsu system created by Senju Tobirama.
However, in Uehara Soma's situation, obtaining Konoha's Water Release Ninjutsu in a short time frame is impossible.
Another option is the Water Release Ninjutsu system of the Hidden Mist Village.
The Water Release Ninjutsu system of the Hidden Mist Village is further divided into several aspects.
There's the conventional Water Release represented by Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu.
There's the shark-like Water Release of the Hoshigaki Clan.
There are also the Secret Jutsu Water Release techniques of the Hozuki Clan.
...
Currently, the only Water Release techniques accessible to Uehara Soma are the conventional ones from the Hidden Mist Village, because that's all Biwa Juzo knows as well.
Uehara Soma isn't particularly interested in the shark-like Water Release of the Hoshigaki Clan.
What Uehara Soma truly desires is the Secret Jutsu Water Release of the Hozuki Clan.
However, as a non-member of the Hozuki Clan, it's very difficult, nearly impossible, to qualify to learn these Water Release techniques.
In the original storyline, even the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, and the Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei, weren't included.
Such family secret techniques are difficult to pass on to outsiders, much like the Ino-Shika-Cho family secret techniques of Konoha.
The Nara Clan's Shadow Secret Technique.
The Yamanaka Clan's mind-reading secret technique.
The Akimichi Clan's Multi-Size Jutsu.
These techniques are only passed down among their own clan members and will never be leaked to outsiders.
Uehara Soma doesn't believe that besides their clan members, no one else can learn these techniques. After all, these aren't Kekkei Genkai, they are just secret techniques.
In fact, the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu is also such a family secret technique.
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Minato Namikaze, Shimura Danzo, and even Kakashi, Jiraiya, Orochimaru... all these individuals can learn and use it.
It's just that the Ino-Shika-Cho trio still exists, while the Uzumaki Clan has been wiped out.
Uehara Soma glanced towards the direction of Hozuki Island.
"I remember, in the original storyline, the future of the Hozuki Clan declined severely."
"After the Second Mizukage, there was finally a Hozuki Clan prodigy, Hozuki Mangetsu, who could perfectly wield the Hidden Mist Seven Ninja Swords, but he passed away early."
"And Hozuki Mangetsu's brother, Hozuki Suigetsu, became one of Orochimaru's experimental subjects."
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