“So it’s the ‘Water’ Seal.”
The moment Kuroda Ren received the scroll copied by Imai Nobuyuki, he immediately understood the meaning behind the interlocked-fingers gesture Senju Tobirama used when performing Water Formation Wall.
Simply put, the “Water” Seal had no specific requirements regarding the shape of the hand gesture.
In theory, it could replace any other hand seal.
But having no requirements was actually the most demanding requirement of all.
One needed to completely understand a ninjutsu, as well as the essence of every hand seal that constituted that ninjutsu, before being able to replace all those seals with the simple “Water” Seal.
Senju Tobirama’s version of Water Release: Water Formation Wall simplified the five seals—Tiger, Snake, Rat, Snake, Tiger—into just two: Front and Water.
As for the specific principle behind it, Kuroda Ren couldn’t make a definite judgment because he hadn’t mastered Water Release: Water Formation Wall himself.
However, based on the description of the “Water” Seal, Senju Tobirama had most likely used a single “Water” Seal to directly replace the five seals of Tiger—Snake—Rat—Snake—Tiger.
As for the function of the “Front” Seal, it was essentially “transcending the self,” allowing the user to enter a special state.
It sounded extremely profound and mysterious.
But put in the simplest possible terms, it meant increasing the efficiency of releasing and transforming chakra to an extremely high level in an instant, while simultaneously granting the user an exceptionally high degree of control over the ninjutsu being released.
The reason Senju Tobirama’s Water Release: Water Formation Wall was far larger than ordinary versions and possessed that unique rotating vortex structure was precisely because of the effect of this seal.
Understanding it was one thing.
Actually mastering the two seals was another matter entirely.
The threshold for entering the world of the Nine-Syllable True Word Seals was countless times higher than that of the twelve Earthly Branch seals.
“But this ‘Front’ Seal can maximize the efficiency of chakra release and transformation.
It should be extremely useful for increasing the scale of ninjutsu.”
A scene appeared in Kuroda Ren’s mind.
He would form the “Front” Seal, instantly channel a massive amount of chakra into a ninjutsu, and cause its scale to increase tenfold—or even a hundredfold.
For a ninja like Kuroda Ren, who possessed an enormous amount of chakra, mastering the “Front” Seal would bring an immediate and substantial increase in combat power.
Especially as he grew stronger in the later stages, this hand seal would become increasingly valuable to him.
As for the “Water” Seal, although it was also important, its priority was still below that of the “Front” Seal.
However, mastering the “Front” Seal was by no means easy.
Kuroda Ren asked Imai Nobuyuki to find him a large amount of information concerning basic hand seals.
Combining that information, he began deeply studying the principles behind hand seals while simultaneously attempting to master the “Front” Seal.
But by the end of the semester, he had made essentially no progress.
On the other hand, through continuous training, Kuroda Ren’s proficiency in taijutsu and Water Release: Wild Water Wave had increased considerably.
The latter had improved especially well.
He could directly generate water outside his body and form high-pressure water jets that shot toward his enemies.
The time required to release Water Wave had also been compressed to roughly one second, which was a tremendous improvement.
During a taijutsu exchange, finding a two-second opening was difficult.
But one second was much easier.
This meant that Water Release: Wild Water Wave, which had once been merely a ranged technique that could only be used under specific circumstances, had now become a powerful weapon that Kuroda Ren could also use in close combat to find an opening and deliver a lethal strike.
At close range, naturally, it was much harder for an enemy to dodge or block a ninjutsu.
And the threat it posed was consequently much greater.
…
Konoha Training Ground.
After Kuroda Ren blocked Hatake Kakashi’s slash, he immediately threw the kunai in his hand toward Kakashi’s chest.
At the same time, his hands rapidly formed seals.
“Water Release: Wild Water Wave!”
Three high-pressure water jets instantly took shape beside Kuroda Ren and surged toward Hatake Kakashi.
Bang!
Kakashi’s body was struck by the water.
In an instant, it transformed into a section of wood.
It was clearly a substitution.
“Your ninjutsu can be as powerful as you want, but if it doesn’t hit, it’s completely meaningless!”
Hatake Kakashi’s voice came from behind Kuroda Ren.
At some point, Kakashi had already circled behind him and launched a surprise attack.
He leapt down from the treetop.
Using the force of his descent, he swung the wooden short sword in his hand toward Kuroda Ren’s shoulder.
Even though the wooden sword had no blade, taking a hit from it would definitely result in an injury.
However, for the two of them, this level of combat had long since become commonplace.
“I’ve known for a long time that you’re good at Substitution and Clone Techniques.
How could I possibly not be prepared for that?”
The corners of Kuroda Ren’s mouth curled upward.
His hands changed position.
He raised two fingers and formed the “Goat” Seal with one hand, drawing upon the chakra that had already dispersed outside his body.
In an instant, two more high-pressure water jets erupted from the puddle of water remaining beneath Kuroda Ren’s feet.
However, just before the water jets struck Kakashi, Kuroda Ren deliberately dispersed his chakra, preventing the technique from actually crashing into him.
It was only a spar.
There was no need to seriously injure his opponent.
“I lost again.”
Hatake Kakashi landed on the ground and openly put away his short sword.
He looked at Kuroda Ren and asked:
“How did you manage to make Water Wave release a second stage?”
“When I released the ninjutsu, I only transformed part of the chakra I released outside my body.”
Kuroda Ren gave a simple explanation.
“I hid the remaining chakra in the puddle beneath my feet.”
“However, I can only delay it for a few seconds at the moment.
If I don’t transform that chakra into a second attack within those few seconds, it will disperse and be wasted.”
“That’s already very impressive.”
Kakashi nodded slightly.
“After an enemy dodges your first attack, you can release the second one just as they try to counterattack.
Caught completely off guard, it’s very easy for them to get hit.”
After a pause, Kakashi added:
“Just like what happened to me.”
“If you had chosen to use Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall to block my first attack, then used ninjutsu to attack me from medium range, my second stage wouldn’t have been very useful.”
“At that distance, you would have had plenty of time to react.”
Kuroda Ren pointed out the problem with Kakashi’s strategy.
“I don’t have as much chakra as you, you freak.”
Kakashi’s expression darkened.
“After training for an entire day, I don’t have enough chakra left to use many ninjutsu.”
Of course, Kakashi knew that using ninjutsu to respond was the safest and most reliable option.
But because of his limited chakra reserves, he could only adopt a riskier strategy.
In fact, Kakashi’s chakra reserves weren’t particularly poor.
He already possessed chakra comparable to that of an experienced chūnin.
It was just that, compared with the freak known as Kuroda Ren, he came up short.
If he didn’t transplant a Sharingan in the future, then with his natural physical talent, he wouldn’t become the walking “chakra measuring unit” that he was in the original story.
◇ Bonus Chapter Goals ◇