Tōshirō was slightly surprised, "Are you going to teach me?"
"Is there a problem?"
"Nothing," Tōshirō replied nonchalantly, clasping his hands behind his head. "I just assumed that since Elder Itachi is teaching me personally, it must be a pretty powerful ninjutsu technique."
Elder Itachi calmly said, "I will teach you only once, so pay close attention."
Tōshirō took it seriously and entered a state of complete focus.
Uchiha Kira watched Elder Itachi with interest, curious to see what kind of ninjutsu he would teach Tōshirō.
Meanwhile, Fugaku was closely observing, determined to memorize the hand seals carefully so he could learn a new ninjutsu technique himself.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Elder Itachi began performing the hand seals. To ensure that everyone could clearly see the steps, he executed the seals relatively slowly. The technique itself wasn't overly complex.
Tōshirō observed the seals once and memorized them well.
The thumb extended upwards and intertwined, with the left thumb on top—this was the final position of the hand seals that Elder Itachi completed.
The hand seals used by ninjas generally fall into twelve types, and this position is known as the "Hand Seal."
Depending on the type of ninjutsu, the final seal often varies; for example, fire techniques usually end with the "Tiger" seal.
Typically, skilled ninjas have highly developed visual nerves, and from the final movement of the hand seals, they can almost determine the type of ninjutsu the opponent will use, allowing them to respond accordingly.
Before Elder Itachi even used the ninjutsu, Tōshirō realized from the final hand seal that the upcoming technique from Elder Itachi was likely not a fire technique.
What? Not a fire technique?
While Tōshirō was stunned by this realization, a mist began to envelop the area, as if the light was being swallowed, and nothing could be seen, as if they were under attack from an invisible enemy.
Young Fugaku, who had never witnessed such a scene, immediately panicked. "What's happening here?"
"Don't worry, this is the Water Style: Hidden in the Mist Technique."
Uchiha Kira reminded him, closing his eyes and thinking deeply.
The Uchiha clan possesses the Sharingan, which has the ability to copy. Therefore, it wasn't surprising that Elder Itachi, who had lived for many years, could use unique techniques from the Mist Village.
However, he wasn't entirely sure why the elder chose to teach Tōshirō this particular technique.
When he opened his eyes again, the mist was beginning to fade, and visibility gradually returned.
Elder Itachi calmly said, "This is the Water Style: Hidden in the Mist Technique. Using it, you can create a dense mist that confuses the enemy's vision. The density of the mist depends on the amount of chakra used."
"Additionally, the user can hide in the mist and attack the opponent. Learning this technique isn't very difficult, but it's extremely useful."
Tōshirō nodded slightly, understanding, but he didn't fully grasp why the elder chose to teach him this specific technique.
The Uchiha clan is known for its fire techniques, so why not a fire technique?
Elder Itachi anticipated that Tōshirō might be puzzled by this, so he began to explain slowly, "The Uchiha clan is born with great visual power, and it can be said that a large part of our strength relies on our eyes."
"Naturally, our eyes become a primary target for our enemies. Techniques like multiple shadow clones to confuse vision, or darkness techniques that make the eyes see nothing, are all effective against the Sharingan."
At this point, Tōshirō began to understand Elder Itachi's intentions.
No wonder he's known as a wise elder.
Tōshirō didn't interrupt, continuing to listen attentively, as interrupting others to appear smart is considered rude.
"To deal with such situations, you must be familiar with those types of techniques in advance so that you don't end up in chaos when you face them, losing your life without knowing how."
"And because you possess water nature chakra, learning the Hidden in the Mist Technique at this stage is a very suitable choice. It's true that you don't have the Sharingan, but this approach applies to any ninja."
Tōshirō strongly agreed with Elder Itachi's perspective.
Instead of merely seeking offensive techniques, these practical techniques are more beneficial.
Especially in the advanced stages, where powerful ninjutsu techniques become the only way to survive.
Elder Itachi glanced at Tōshirō without saying much, clearly wanting to test what he had learned.
Tōshirō understood and began performing the hand seals as he had learned them, feeling slightly nervous, unsure of how successful he would be on the first try.
However, despite that, he succeeded in executing the technique, covering the area with a light mist. Though it wasn't as dense as the mist created by the elder, it was a good start, and with more training, he would be ready to use it in battles.
Of course, this doesn't mean that Tōshirō would be able to use the technique at the same level as Elder Itachi in battle.
The Hidden in the Mist Technique used by professionals can be difficult even for wind techniques to disperse, while it can be easily dispersed when used by an inexperienced person.
For example, the mist technique that Kakashi copied from Zabuza was significantly less effective.
When he faced Uchiha Itachi, the mist was easily dispersed by the shockwave from the Great Fireball Technique.
But when Kakashi faced Zabuza in his reanimated form, he had to use extremely complex methods to counter his mist technique.
Elder Itachi nodded with satisfaction.
Fugaku, who had been watching, felt a bit jealous and tried to mimic the mist technique but achieved nothing...
"Why? Why can't I use the mist technique like Tōshirō? I couldn't even see the shadow of the mist."
Uchiha Kira explained, "That's normal. Learning ninjutsu isn't as easy as you think. Don't assume it's just about learning the moves."
Fugaku recalled his previous experience: "But when I learned fire techniques, I could produce fire on the first try."
Uchiha Kira shook his head, "That's different. Your quick learning of fire techniques is because you naturally possess fire chakra, making you gifted in that area. But in the water techniques field, you don't have that talent, so it will be more difficult. In contrast, Tōshirō naturally possesses water chakra, so it's easier for him to learn those techniques. That's why most people learn techniques associated with the element they naturally possess chakra for."
Fugaku felt disheartened, "If that's the case, does it mean I'll never be able to surpass Tōshirō?"
Water techniques overpower fire techniques.
And the mist produced by the mist technique can also disrupt the Sharingan.
It seemed that Tōshirō had him completely under control.
Noticing Fugaku's depressed side, Uchiha Kira guessed what he was thinking: "There's no need to feel so down. Although Tōshirō has a talent for water techniques, you have a talent for lightning techniques. Lightning techniques are not only powerful but also enhance the body and strengthen hand-to-hand combat techniques. Learning lightning will be easier for you than it would be for Tōshirō."
Upon hearing this, Fugaku felt more balanced and regained his enthusiasm.
Uchiha Kira looked at Tōshirō.
In fact, there were some things he didn't mention. Fugaku's ability to learn fire techniques quickly wasn't just because he possessed natural fire chakra but also because he belonged to the Uchiha clan.
If two people possess the same fire chakra, the Uchiha clan members will be more proficient in handling fire than an ordinary person, which is why he learned fire techniques easily.
As for Tōshirō's talent in water techniques, it cannot be compared to Fugaku's talent in lightning techniques.
Tōshirō is a ninja with a unique bloodline limit of ice, so even if water chakra is just an additional element, his talent in water techniques far exceeds that of any other ninja who uses these techniques.
Under normal circumstances, even those with natural water chakra wouldn't be able to learn the mist technique this quickly. Tōshirō's ability to master it on the first try indicates his unique talent in water techniques.
Tōshirō listened to the conversation and felt a bit envious of Fugaku, who naturally possessed lightning chakra.
Each of the main ninja techniques has unique features. Lightning techniques stand out for their versatility, not only for their great destructive power but also for their ability to enhance weapons and strengthen the body. Even when facing powerful opponents like the Otsutsuki clan, lightning techniques remain highly valuable.
After learning the mist technique, Tōshirō casually asked, "So, does this mean my next focus in training will be on facing opponents I can't see?"
Elder Itachi calmly replied, "That's just one of the reasons."
Tōshirō looked confused and laughed, saying, "Does this mean I'll be focusing on water techniques next?"
Elder Itachi nodded.
Tōshirō felt a bit puzzled, as it seemed that Elder Itachi wasn't joking.
At this moment, not only did Tōshirō not understand what was on Elder Itachi's mind, but even Uchiha Kira had no clear idea of what he was thinking.
(End of Chapter)
────────────────────────────────────
"If you're interested, please support me in my other novel [One Piece: General Blue]."
"Power stones if you like them"
"If you want an early access join my patreon:- patreon.com/BaDwYGaMeR"