Previously, Aoba Hayashi only knew a few basic chakra control techniques, such as tree climbing and water walking.
So when Hayato Hayashi demonstrated this new method, Hayashi was genuinely astonished.
Seeing the amazement in his nephew’s eyes, Hayato Hayashi couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile.
“This is a technique that only jonin typically master,” he said with a chuckle.
“Ordinary genin aren’t usually taught this.”
The ninja world guarded its knowledge closely.
In many cases, a person’s background mattered before their talent ever did.
Members of ninja clans were usually introduced to concepts like chakra nature transformation from a very young age.
Take Uchiha Sasuke, for example.
He had already learned the Great Fireball Technique before even entering the Academy.
Meanwhile, most civilian-born ninja only knew the Three Basic Techniques by the time they graduated.
Of course, if someone had a powerful elder in a high-ranking position, they might also gain access to advanced knowledge ahead of schedule.
Just like Hayashi .
Whenever Hayato Hayashi had the time, he would personally teach him these things.
For ordinary civilian ninja, however, each rank had its own limits of understanding.
Genin knew what genin needed to know.
Jonin knew what jonin knew.
Even Naruto Uzumaki, in the original story, didn’t truly understand chakra nature transformation until much later, when he learned the Rasengan’s advanced applications.
Hayashi picked up a branch and imitated Hayato Hayashi , coating it with chakra.
But unlike Hayato Hayashi’s branch, which radiated a razor-sharp aura, his own was merely wrapped in a layer of pale blue chakra without any sense of cutting power.
Unable to figure it out, he looked at Hayato Hayashi in confusion.
Hayato Hayashi smiled.
“Mastering chakra nature transformation requires training.”
“It also requires a decent amount of chakra to support it.
Your chakra reserves are roughly on par with a genin now, which means you’ve only just reached the minimum threshold.”
“So how am I supposed to train?” Hayashi asked.
Hayato Hayashi stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“First, you need to find the feeling of cutting.”
As he spoke, he plucked a blade of grass from the ground.
Without making any visible movement, the grass suddenly split cleanly in half and drifted gently to the ground.
“Did you get it?”
After the demonstration, Hayato Hayashi looked at Hayashi with complete seriousness.
Hayashi blinked blankly before giving him a look that clearly said, Are you kidding me?
You just mentioned the feeling of cutting, sliced a blade of grass in half, and then asked if I understood?
That’s like saying, Now that you know what uranium is, go build a nuclear bomb.
“…”
Hayato Hayashi could practically read his thoughts.
He also realized his explanation had been…
rather abstract.
But he’d gone to war at the age of twelve.
Everything he knew had been learned through battlefield experience.
No master had ever taught him properly, so he wasn’t exactly sure how to teach someone else.
“A lot of these things are hard to explain,” he admitted awkwardly.
“It’s really just…
a feeling.
Try practicing with these blades of grass.
Keep searching for that cutting sensation.
If you spend enough time on it, you’ll eventually grasp it.”
“Your Sister Yugao learned it that way.”
Feeling that his explanation lacked conviction, Hayato Hayashi offered the only successful teaching example he had.
Hayashi could only sigh inwardly as he picked up another blade of grass and began experimenting.
Some things really couldn’t be put into words.
It was like the sword intent described in martial arts novels from his previous life.
Once you understood it, no explanation was necessary.
If you didn’t, no amount of teaching would help.
And so, for the entire morning, Hayashi held a single blade of grass in his hand, repeatedly infusing it with chakra while searching for that elusive sensation.
Whenever his chakra ran low, he rested until it recovered before trying again.
He continued this routine until the afternoon.
As soon as lunch was over, he ran back into the courtyard and resumed practicing.
Watching his hardworking nephew, Hayato Hayashi nodded with satisfaction.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
A sudden knock sounded at the front gate.
Curious, Hayashi looked toward the entrance.
Who would come looking for me at a time like this?
Standing outside was a familiar figure.
“Little Hayashi !
Long time no see.
I can’t believe you’re actually at home today instead of spending time with your little girlfriends.”
Fifteen-year-old Yugao Uzuki practically radiated youthful energy.
Her silky purple hair was simply tied back, adding a touch of elegance to her naturally heroic appearance.
She wore the standard flak jacket of a chunin, suggesting she had just returned from a mission.
A warm smile rested on her face, while the delight hidden in her brown eyes was impossible to conceal.
Without waiting for permission, she reached through the gate and unlatched it herself.
The waist-high iron gate around the courtyard was more for keeping honest people honest than for stopping anyone determined.
“It hasn’t been that long.
Just a few days.”
Hayashi rolled his eyes and went right back to battling the blade of grass in his hand.
“Oh…”
“Our little Hayashi’s been completely captivated by girls outside.
He’s already started neglecting his big sister.”
Seeing him ignore her, Yugao put on an exaggeratedly heartbroken expression.
She walked over to his side, curious about what he was doing.
Yugao had once saved Hayashi’s life.
During the Nine-Tails’ attack, ten-year-old Yugao had been the one to pull him from beneath a collapsed house.
Otherwise, Hayashi’s already disastrous start after transmigrating would likely have ended with another immediate transmigration.
To repay that kindness, Hayato Hayashi had accepted her as his disciple.
Ever since then, whenever Hayato Hayashi was away on missions, it was usually Yugao who looked after Hayashi .
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she had watched him grow up.
Only after graduating from the Ninja Academy—and especially after becoming a chunin and taking on missions—had they begun seeing each other less often.
“Huh?”
Yugao suddenly let out a surprised cry.
Her beautiful eyes widened as she watched Hayashi repeatedly channel chakra into the blade of grass.
“Little Hayashi , you’ve already started practicing chakra nature transformation?”
“Yeah…
I just still can’t figure out what this ‘feeling of cutting’ is supposed to be.”
Hayashi frowned.
Yugao froze.
A moment later, the corners of her mouth twitched as though she’d remembered something.
“…Did Teacher explain it to you like that?”
“Hm?
Oh, Yugao, you’re here.”
Before Hayashi could answer, Hayato Hayashi walked out of the house.
Noticing Yugao’s resentful expression, he asked in confusion,
“Did I teach him wrong?
I remember teaching you the same way.”
Yugao looked even more aggrieved.
“That’s exactly why it took me so long to learn.”
She gently pulled a single strand of silky purple hair from her head and held it before Hayashi .
“Little Hayashi , put your hand on mine and carefully feel how the chakra moves.”
Obediently, Hayashi rested his hand on her wrist.
Despite being a ninja, the skin beneath his fingertips was surprisingly soft and delicate.
He suddenly remembered that Tenten’s hands felt the same way.
She practiced shuriken throwing every day, yet her little hands remained smooth and tender.
Maybe that’s just what chakra does.
His thoughts didn’t wander for long before a razor-sharp sensation interrupted them.
The strand of hair at Yugao’s fingertips silently split in two.
“Little Hayashi , did you gain any insight?” Yugao asked gently when she noticed he was still standing there in a daze.
She had intentionally slowed her chakra transformation to the slowest speed possible.
Hayashi nodded absentmindedly.
Although he hadn’t fully grasped it yet, he finally understood, at least in broad terms, what that “feeling of cutting” meant.
Seeing his reaction, Yugao smiled, her mood visibly brightening.
“Your chakra still isn’t strong enough.
It’s better to practice with hair for now.”
“I understand.”