Naruto: The Sarutobi Who Can't Spark

After the incredible ballet, the kunai and shuriken found their place in her bag. Haruko turned towards Raijin, "Shurikenjutsu will continue for the past four weeks. With your development on chakra control, we shall now add learning jutsus in training as well."

Raijin understood that having some jutsus in his arsenal was a big yes, so he nodded.

"Get ready we'll begin the theory of jutsus shortly… even if you have studied it previously," Haruko said while Raijin was getting ready to listen to her lecture.

"First and foremost, Jutsus is the technique that will require the shinobi to use chakra. To perform a technique, the shinobi must release chakra by molding and concentrating on the desired output. This molding of chakra can be achieved by using hand seals/signs."

"The molding of chakra by the hand signs is the essential part of the jutsus, each chakra molding produces different jutsus. Potentially there are numerous jutsus that one cannot possibly count. The hand seals vary in different combinations. There are a total of 12 hand seals/signs: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Bird, Dog, and lastly Boar. One must be proficient in hand signs to perform a technique. Hand-signs help the user to mold the chakra internally to perform ninjutsu or genjutsu other than taijutsu."

It is just a series of steps before performing any jutsu to improve concentration and chakra flow when performing a technique. These intricate hand signs can be reduced for immediate action if you can naturally mold the chakra, which requires tons of practice. 

"You must memorize them and their combination for each jutsus you learn. Although seals/signs can be complicated because of thousands of possible combinations, shinobi can reduce the number of hand signs. This is only possible if one is proficient in chakra molding and the jutsu."

"There are three basic types of Justus. Ninjutsu, Taijutsu and Genjutsu. There are also other subcategories of jutsus such as Fuinjutsu, Juinjutsu, Kenjutsu, Shurikenjutsu, Medical Ninjutsu, Bukijutsu, Senjutsu… The list goes on and you must individually study about it from the library."

"There are also ranks on jutsus as you already know which are ranged from ranked E to ranked A whereas the extreme level technique is ranked S. As we already talked about the chakra control, and you are proficient enough in chakra control for chakra molding, hand seals are must to learn right now."

"For today just learn about hand signs from the library. A ninja must be proficient in hand signs and its usage."

Raijin kept silent and nodded throughout Haruko's explanation.

"Are you clear?" Haruko asked, marking the end of the explanation and if he had any queries.

"Umm… Yes, it's understandable enough."

Haruko nodded and said, "From today you'll have access to rank-E jutsus of the library. Do learn those jutsus yourself."

Raijin stayed silent while his thoughts drifted toward the rank-E jutsu that he knew.

"Then, from this week until the fourth week, if you are able to dispel me in any way possible, then I will allow you to access the Rank-D section of the library." Haruko made a tempting offer.

Rules were simple: If Raijin dispelled her clone by inflicting any damage anywhere, he would receive permission to learn rank D jutsus from the library.

'Ohh…sweet.' Raijin attacked with a kunai towards Haruko, he mixed shuriken with succession in all directions she would dodge. But as soon as it hit the clone, shuriken and Kunai struck a log. This was substitution jutsu.

"Let me finish first" the voice reached Raijin from the tree nearby.

While he looked towards the tree, finding Haruko sitting over a branch with a leisurely attitude, he snickered, "Well worth a try…"

A sharp pain traveled from his leg, and he fell to his knees. "I didn't say I won't attack you." Haruko paused and then continued, "You'll only have the time from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. every morning. Get prepared for the upcoming four weeks." Haruko said with an evil smirk on her face, noticing Raijin's grim face.

A bruise appeared on Raijin's calf. It wasn't harmful enough, but the sudden sharp pain made him lose his balance altogether.

"Then I will be off, make sure you visit the library for hand signs, and look up the rank E jutsus." Haruko urged him to learn jutsus in a nonchalant voice.

Raijin nodded, feigning ignorance over Haruko's motive. She then dispelled herself after finishing.

In the afternoon, Raijin went to the library and began reading the 12 hand signs. He memorized and practiced them until he was proficient enough.

By the end of the day, he was able to memorize and perform all the 12 hand signs. He also browsed some of the Rank E jutsus from the library. He was even tempted to browse the elemental ninjutsu but refrained himself from it.

E-rank jutsus from the library were very simple and easy to use, requiring only proficient chakra control. Raijin selected some suitable E-rank jutsus and began reading about their uses.

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Substitution Jutsu: replaces one with a block of wood or something similar

Disguise Jutsu: concealing one's presence by seamlessly blending into the surroundings

Clone Jutsu: create one or more afterimages of themselves

Transformation Jutsu: disguise the user's appearance as another person, plant, animal, or inanimate object.

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Raijin learned about these four jutsus and their applications. He planned to learn the jutsus tomorrow with Haruko during training thinking, 'Rank E Justus are not flashy and cool but essentially important.'

After all the tasks had been completed in the library, he went to have evening ramen in Ichiraku.

…

The chakra was spinning violently in different directions at different speeds. It was contained within a sphere as big as a tennis ball in Raijin's palm. It was rather a straining process to contain the violently spinning chakra in a single place.

Finally, after months of chakra control, Raijin had completed his Rasengan to near perfection. Rasengan itself is said to be an incomplete jutsu but having one in arsenal is better than having none.

"Hah…Rasengan! Rank-A jutsu created by Minato marks my chakra proficiency from good to better. Rank-E jutsus should be fairly easy now. I should be able to breeze past through it"

Raijin created Rasengans successively till he couldn't anymore. He was now able to sustain a complete Rasengan for about 2 times with his full chakra reserve. However, squeezing the little chakra he had would allow him to make an additional one.

…

"Substitution Jutsu"

Raijin's presence was replaced by a log before the beam of shuriken hit it.

A beam of shuriken and kunai was sent towards Haruko with the maximum speed Raijin could muster. Haruko deflected all these shurikens with two kunai in her hands and dodged all the speeding kunai. "Try again kid-"

Suddenly a dodged kunai barely behind Haruko was replaced by Raijin's figure. He quickly maneuvered his body with a spin towards Haruko with a heavy fist.

On the other hand, he was gathering chakra in hand which had a kunai. He punched Haruko with one hand but threw the kunai at full speed towards his clone, the same clone that was instantly created after throwing shurikens towards Haruko where the real Raijin used transformation jutsu as a kunai.

The speed of the kunai was double the usual speed thrown by Raijin.

Haruko was impressed by this action, "When did you learn this?" She caught his kunai with a bare hand behind Raijin's clone and smiled with an intrigued face.

"Just a few days ago."

Trying Haruko's clone to dispel had been continuing for 4 weeks now. Today was the last said day. But unfortunately, Raijin couldn't dispel a single shadow clone. Haruko was a full-fledged shinobi even if as a shadow clone.

"You failed, Raijin. However, the good news is; that you are proficient enough to use these E-rank jutsus." Haruko complimented Raijin with a bright smile.

'A monster,' She had anticipated that he would be able to learn this jutsus fast, but this was not what she had expected. He completely learned these in a single day and by the end of the second week, he didn't even need to perform the hand signs. Those E-rank jutsus had become second nature for Raijin.

Raijin's chakra has also been increasing steadily. He was successfully able to incorporate these E-ranked jutsus while fighting Haruko's clone without expending it excessively.

"You channeled your chakra towards your hand to increase Kunai's speed? That is quite a big feat for your age."

Raijin wasn't good with compliments, so he stayed silent. 'Dang… the only chance to get D ranked jutsus immediately, slipped by'

Haruko recalled his development over the past 1 month and concluded, "Although the deal about D-rank jutsus has ended, this training of fighting me to dispel is very effective. So, we will continue this as it is."