Chapter 111: Chapter 109: Secrets and Symbols
The early morning light filtered through the windows of the household with an Uchiha crest on its entrance. Inside, a young boy sat quietly. He glanced at his father before speaking.
"Father," Itachi began, "I witnessed something yesterday at the training grounds that I think is very important."
Fugaku looked up; his interest piqued. "What did you see?"
Itachi continued, "Akira has awakened Sharingan."
A hush fell over the table. Fugaku looked at Itachi with a serious expression and asked, "That's excellent news."
Itachi went on, "I assume she reawakened her Sharingan a few days ago, but she has not disclosed it to anyone but Kenji. I saw her and Kenji use their Sharingan in combat. She is more adept than Kenji at using it correctly. She can even cast genjutsu stealthily on her opponents."
Fugaku's brow furrowed in confusion. "But why would she keep such a major accomplishment a secret? It's a point of pride for our clan."
Itachi clarified, "It appears that she wants to defeat that kid, Ryu, without relying on her Sharingan to showcase her true skill and prove her abilities without using her bloodline limit."
Fugaku replied, "Most young Uchiha can't wait to show off their Sharingan. Even the adults among us are prone to such arrogance." He paused, stroking his chin. "This Ryu must be quite the rival to inspire such determination."
After a moment of contemplation, Fugaku said, "If she doesn't want to reveal it, then so be it. We'll respect her choice."
He continued with a slight smirk, "But I hope she understands that pride can be a double-edged sword."
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The scene shifted to the bustling halls of the Ninja Academy. It was Instructor Akane Abe's Ninjutsu class. Ryu took a seat, conscious of the glares that Kenji and Akira Uchiha occasionally shot his way.
At the front of the class, Instructor Abe's sharp eyes took in the unspoken tension between her students. She recalled her conversation with Hiroshi Tanaka, the Taijutsu instructor, about Ryu's surprising progress and affinity for lightning release.
"Today," Akane began, her voice cutting through the chatter, "we're going to discuss something that might surprise you. We're going to talk about the advantages of lower-ranked jutsu compared to their flashier, higher-ranked counterparts."
Confusion and whispers spread like a ripple through the class.
"Now, I know what you're thinking," Akane continued, a knowing smile on her face. "Why bother with C- and D-rank jutsu when you could be learning the big, impressive A- and B-rank techniques? Well, let me tell you..."
Akane explained, "C and D-class jutsu are your bread and butter in prolonged battles. They're versatile, efficient, and can be used repeatedly without exhausting your chakra reserves. A and B-class jutsu? Those are your trump cards, your finishers. Use them wisely, because they'll drain you fast."
The remainder of the day was typical, with lots of basis at the academy. Ryu secretly carried on with his lightning affinity training during the classes. Later that evening, Ryu concentrated hard on his lightning affinity training while simultaneously practicing chakra control and affinity training. A leaf was attached to his forehead as part of the training process. Small sparks danced across his fingertips, growing stronger with each passing minute.
'Multitasking really is advantageous,' he mused, his mind effortlessly juggling multiple training exercises at once. 'First, I must complete the second and third steps of lightning affinity training, then focus on mastering the lightning hand seals...'
Dan's voice calling from downstairs broke his concentration. "Ryu! Come here!"
Dan greeted him with a stack of books and scrolls, each one filled with the basics of Fuinjutsu. Ryu smiled now that he finally started his fuinjutsu training.
"Fuinjutsu is more mental than physical," Dan explained, his voice steady and patient. "Anyone with good mental ability can learn it. But mastering it is another story. However, like any other language, learning symbols and basic words comes first."
Ryu nodded, but then asked him, "If anyone can learn it, then why is it that so few can master this art?"
Dan grinned and answered, "Being able to do something is one thing, but actually doing it is quite another. Because the art form is so vast, most people can only become sealmasters by learning the fundamentals. They grow very old by the time they master the basics behind fuinjutsu."
Ryu accepted the books and said, "I will be done with this book before nighttime."
After dinner, Ryu settled down with the first book. It was a thick book with many symbols and their definitions. Some symbols were ambiguous, and many lacked proper definitions.
As he turned the pages, his pseudo-system sprang to life—a mental interface born from his extraordinary abilities like [Hyperphantasia], [Parallel Thinking], and [Eidetic Memory]. This system facilitated his memorization process, allowing him to categorize and store information with remarkable efficiency.
- Symbols learnt: 58…9…60
- Categorising symbols and sorting similar symbols for further identification
The numbers ticked up as he absorbed the information, categorising each symbol and storing it in a mental folder. He noticed that each symbol was designed to ensure the proper flow of chakra and interact with another nearby symbol.
Ryu paused, his mind racing with questions. What gave these symbols meaning when no one was around? In a computer, there was a library and units for translating instructions into binary. But what performed the same function in Fuinjutsu?
He shook his head, deciding to set aside the questions for the moment, knowing that there would be opportunities to delve into those mysteries at a later time. For now, he focused on memorising the symbols, his knowledge quickly growing to several hundred.
By nightfall, Ryu had memorised every symbol in the book, building an extensive mental database that was superior to and more flexible than the book he was holding. He stretched, feeling the satisfying ache of a day well spent.
Dan appeared in the doorway with a warm smile and asked, "How's it going, Ryu?"
Ryu grinned, holding up the book. "I am almost done."
Dan nodded, his eyes filled with pride. "Good night, kid."
As Ryu found himself alone with his thoughts, his mind a whirlwind of symbols and theories. He was at the nexus of something fantastic—a fresh perspective on Fuinjutsu that might result in a revolution and alter everything in this field.
The next morning, Ryu began his day with his usual training routine, his body moving through the familiar exercises with ease.
At breakfast, Dan said, "Continue your lightning affinity and go through the Fuinjutsu materials I have given you again. I will take a test of your memory in the evening after you return from the academy."
Ryu nodded and then left for the academy, his thoughts filled with possibilities and his ideas for Fuinjutsu running in parallel behind his mind, the seals he can bring to life.
The day passed in a blur of lectures and training, his mind absorbing information like a sponge. That evening, Dan presented him with a Fuinjutsu test, a scroll filled with random symbols.
Ryu completed the test with 100% accuracy in just 20 minutes, showcasing his exceptional memory, deep understanding of Fuinjutsu symbols, and remarkable cognitive abilities.
Dan remarked, "Your memorisation abilities are impressive. Tell me, have you noticed anything from the letterbook I gave you and these symbols?
Ryu replied, "Yes, I did notice something. The symbols were mostly curved and devoid of edges in most of the symbols, designed to ensure the proper flow of chakra. The script is vast, with more alphabets and words. Many words in Fuinjutsu script are difficult to translate, and the meanings can occasionally be unclear when compared to modern common languages and scripts. The meaning of many of the words that are already written in the letterbook in Fuinjtsu script is also left unclear. The sentence structure and grammar are also very unique. Occasionally straightforward, occasionally complex. For example, female shinobi are called kunoichi, but in Fuinjutsu there are no such words. A ninja is a ninja regardless of gender."
Dan answered, "Yes, gender-based segregation does not exist in Fuinjutsu. In fuinjutsu, a ninja is either an ally or an enemy, living or dead."
However, Ryu questioned, "Why use complicated grammar and symbols for it? Why not use simple language?"
Dan answered, "Because it doesn't work with common language. For some reason, only ancient languages can work. Fuinjutsu has been kept a forbidden knowledge since ancient times. It can be used by anyone, even those without Ninjutsu training, by simply activating chakras through understanding the symbols alone. So this language has been kept secret in this way from the general public since ancient times."
He explained, "Before the formation of Ninja villages, there were smaller tribes controlled by Ninja clans. All competing for resources. Knowledge of Ninjutsu and Fuinjutsu was not shared among common folks to keep them under their control and to prevent leaks. It was after the formation of ninja villages that the civilians started becoming ninjas."
Ryu thought, "So all these Ninja clans were local warlords in ancient times, controlling the common folks and fighting each other all the time. It wasn't just Uchiha and Senju Clan but every ninja clan."
Dan instructed, "Continue with your studies," as he handed Ryu more books and scrolls containing additional Fuinjutsu terms and definitions. "Once you have mastered enough symbols, we will move on to practical seal-making exercises."
With a nod, Ryu began reading new books as night fell.
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