Konoha's Hextech Ninja

When Yagami Yoruichi returned to the classroom, Imai Nobuyuki had already arrived at the Hokage's office and recounted what had happened.

"Lord Hokage, that's how it is," Imai Nobuyuki reported. "I have given the book on the 'Nine Syllable Mantra Seal' to Yagami Yoruichi. Whether or not to give him more knowledge in this area is up to you, Lord Hokage."

“These two hand seals…” The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked puzzled, muttering to himself, “They’re definitely my master’s techniques. But where did he see those two hand seals?”

As a disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi may not have reached Tobirama's level in Water Release techniques, but he would never mistake his teacher's signature ninjutsu.

The Water Release: Water Wall technique is known to many in the ninja world.

However, the Water Wall with only two seals is Tobirama Senju's unique signature move, which even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't learn and could only obediently use the Water Wall with five seals.

Logically speaking, after Tobirama Senju's death, no one in the ninja world knew how to use the Water Barrier with two hand seals.

Where did Yagami Yoruichi see this hand seal method?

“Wait a minute…” Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly remembered that there was an 'old classmate'.

If anyone inherited the Water Release ninjutsu of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, there was one extremely low-key 'eternal genin' who was the only one to do so in their generation.

"Kosuke, is that you?"

A thought popped into Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.

"Nobuyuki, since that child has talent and ambition, let's give him a chance." Sarutobi Hiruzen called out, "Haru!"

An undercover agent suddenly appeared, seemingly out of thin air, inside the office.

"Hyou, take Shinji to copy down some information about the 'Qian' seal and the 'Ren' seal. Shinji should then give it to Yagami Yoruichi." Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered, "Shinji, I'm giving you a task. Keep an eye on Yagami Yoruichi's progress in learning these two hand seals. Once you've made any progress, report back to me immediately. I need to confirm whether this child has sufficient talent in hand seals."

Imai Nobuyuki immediately stood up straight and shouted, "Yes, Hokage-sama!"

Chapter 23 Water Rage Waves, Part Two

"So it was the 'Ren' seal."

When Yagami Yoruichi received the scroll copied by Imai Nobuyuki, she immediately understood the meaning of the gesture of interlacing her ten fingers when Senju Tobirama used the Water Wall technique.

Simply put, the 'Ren' seal has no specific requirements; any hand gesture can be made, and theoretically it can replace any hand seal.

But having no requirements is actually the most demanding requirement.

This requires a complete understanding of a ninjutsu and the essence of all the hand seals that make up that ninjutsu, in order to replace the other hand seals with a simple 'Ren' seal.

The Water Release: Water Formation Wall in Tobirama Senju's version simplifies the five seals 'Tiger-Snake-Rat-Snake-Tiger' into two seals 'Front-Ren'.

As for the specific principle, since Yagami Yoruichi did not master the Water Release: Water Wall ninjutsu, she could not make a clear judgment.

However, based on the description of the 'Ren' seal, it is likely that Senju Tobirama used a single 'Ren' seal to directly replace the five seals 'Yin-Si-Zi-Si-Yin'.

As for the function of the 'pre-' seal, it is actually the 'superego', used to allow oneself to enter a special 'state'.

It may seem mysterious, but in the simplest terms, it means that in an instant, one can release and convert chakra at an extremely high efficiency, while also having a high degree of control over the released ninjutsu.

The reason why Tobirama Senju's Water Release: Water Wall has a scale far exceeding that of ordinary people, and its special 'swirling vortex' structure, is due to the effect of this seal.

However, while understanding them is one thing, truly mastering these two seals is still very difficult.

The threshold for entering the Nine Syllable Mantra Seal is many times higher than that of the Twelve Earthly Branches Seal.

"But this 'forward' seal can maximize the efficiency of chakra release and conversion, which should be of great help in increasing the scale of ninjutsu."

A scene flashed through Yagami Yoruichi's mind: he formed the 'forward' hand seal and instantly poured a large amount of chakra into a ninjutsu, causing the ninjutsu's scale to increase tenfold or a hundredfold.

For a ninja like Yoruichi Yagami with a massive amount of chakra, mastering the 'forward' hand seal would undoubtedly have an immediate and significant impact on her combat power.

Especially in the later stages, this hand seal became increasingly helpful to Yoruichi Yagami.

As for the 'Ren' character seal, although it is also important, it is subordinate to the 'Qian' character seal.

However, mastering the seal of the character '前' is not an easy task.

Yagami Yoruichi asked Imai Nobuyuki to find her a lot of information about basic hand seals, and she combined this information to study the principles of hand seals in depth and try to master the 'front' hand seal.

But up until the end of this semester, there was practically no progress.

However, through continuous training, Yagami Yoruichi's taijutsu and proficiency in Water Release: Water Chaos Wave Ninjutsu have both improved considerably.

In particular, Yoruichi Yagami has already begun to break free from the limitation of using her mouth to 'spit' ninjutsu, and can directly generate water flow outside her body to create high-pressure water jets that shoot at the enemy.

The speed at which the water turbulence wave is released has also been reduced to about one second, which is a significant improvement.

In a physical combat exchange, it's difficult to find a two-second opening, but a one-second opening is much easier.

This means that Yagami Yoruichi's Water Release: Water Chaos Wave has transformed from a long-range technique that could only be used in specific situations into a powerful weapon that can also be used to finish off enemies in close combat.

At close range, it is naturally more difficult to dodge or block ninjutsu, and the threat to the enemy is also greater!

……

On the Konoha training ground.

After parrying Kakashi Hatake's slash, Yagami Yoruichi threw the kunai in his hand, aiming it at Kakashi Hatake's chest.

At the same time, he quickly formed hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Chaos Wave!"

Three high-pressure water jets formed directly on Yagami Yoruichi's side and surged towards Hatake Kakashi.

Bang~!

Kakashi Hatake's body was hit by the water and instantly turned into a piece of wood, clearly indicating that he had used the Substitution Jutsu to change his position.

"No matter how strong your ninjutsu is, it's meaningless if you can't hit!"

Kakashi Hatake's voice rang out from behind Yoruichi Yagami, but somehow he had already circled around to launch a surprise attack.

He leaped down from the treetops, using the force of the fall to slash at Yagami Yoruichi's shoulder with his wooden dagger.

Even an unsharpened wooden sword would definitely be injured if it were cut like that.

However, for the two of them, this level of confrontation was already commonplace.

"I knew long ago that you were good at using doubles and clones, how could I not be on guard?"

Yagami Yoruichi's lips curled slightly, and his hand gesture changed. He raised two fingers and formed the 'Mi' hand seal with one hand, mobilizing the chakra that had already spread out of his body.

In an instant, two high-pressure water jets shot out from the remaining puddle on the ground beneath Yagami Yoru's foot, crisscrossing and sweeping towards Hatake Kakashi.

However, just before the water pillar was about to hit Kakashi Hatake, Yoruichi Yagami deliberately dispersed her chakra, preventing the ninjutsu from actually hitting her.

It's just a friendly spar; there's no need to seriously injure someone.

"I lost again." Kakashi Hatake landed, casually sheathed his short sword, and asked Yoruichi Yagami, "How did you manage to unleash a second wave of the Water Rumble Wave ninjutsu?"

"When I release ninjutsu, I release chakra from outside my body, but I only convert a portion of it; the rest is hidden in the puddle at my feet," Yagami Yoruichi explained simply. "However, this method can only delay things for a few seconds now. If I don't convert that chakra into a second attack within those few seconds, it will dissipate and be wasted."

"That's already very impressive." Kakashi Hatake nodded slightly and said, "When the enemy dodges your first attack and tries to counterattack, you unleash the second attack. Caught off guard, they can easily fall into the trap."

After a pause, Kakashi Hatake added, "Just like I did just now."

“If you choose to block my first attack with Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall, and then attack with ninjutsu at mid-range, my second attack will be useless. At this distance, you can easily react,” Yagami Yoruichi pointed out the problem that Hatake Kakashi was facing.

“I’m not like you, a freak, with that much chakra.” Kakashi Hatake’s face darkened. “After a day of training, I don’t have much chakra left to unleash ninjutsu.”

He knew, of course, that using ninjutsu was the safest and most reliable option, but limited by his chakra reserves, he had no choice but to take a risky approach.

In fact, Kakashi Hatake's chakra reserves are not bad; they are comparable to those of a senior Chunin.

She's just not as good as that freak, Yoruichi Yagami.

If he doesn't transplant the Sharingan in the future, given his physical talent, he won't become the unit of chakra measurement in the original work.

Chapter 24 A Special Final Exam

For some time now, Yoruichi Yagami has been training with Kurenai Yuhi at this training ground every day after school.

Kakashi Hatake occasionally comes here to train.

At first, everyone practiced on their own.

However, after Kakashi Hatake failed to challenge Yoruichi Yagami in the previous monthly exam, he began to try to take the initiative to approach Yoruichi Yagami.

Given Kakashi Hatake's arrogance, this can be seen as an indication of his approval of Yoruichi Yagami.

The two often sparred during their spare time.

It's not the kind of rule-bound sparring like at a ninja academy, but a full-on, all-out effort.

However, Kakashi Hatake's physical strength and chakra reserves are far inferior to Yoruichi Yagami's.

Despite having the advantage in knife skills, he still lost more often than he won.

This made Kakashi Hatake increasingly acknowledge Yoruichi Yagami as his 'rival,' and their relationship gradually improved, eventually becoming good friends.

"Tomorrow is the final exam," Kakashi Hatake suddenly changed the subject, saying, "After this exam, I plan to apply for early graduation."

"You didn't even finish first grade?" Yagami Yoruichi looked at Hatake Kakashi in surprise.

Yoruichi Yagami remembers that in the original work, Kakashi Hatake graduated from the Ninja Academy after only one year, became a Chunin in less than a year, and then a few years later, before his classmates had even graduated, he was promoted to Jonin at the age that broke the Konoha record.

Now, after only one semester, Kakashi Hatake is saying he wants to apply for graduation?

However, if we calculate it by the calendar year, it's already January, so it wouldn't be wrong to say it's the second year after starting school.

It can only be said that the original work's time setting is inherently very confusing and difficult to understand.

"The Ninja Academy has nothing more to teach me. I want to graduate early and see the real world of ninjas." Kakashi Hatake looked at Yoruichi Yagami and asked, "You're stronger than me. Aren't you planning to graduate early?"

“I do think there are still things I can learn at the Ninja Academy.” Yagami Yoruichi smiled and said, “Kakashi, unlike you, I don’t have any family-inherited ninjutsu. There are many things that I can only learn from the Ninja Academy. For example, the Three Body Technique. If you hadn’t taught me, I would have had to wait until next year when the Ninja Academy teaches it.”

As a genius of the Hatake clan, Kakashi Hatake has mastered several ninjutsu, and the Three Body Technique is naturally even more beyond his grasp.

After becoming acquainted with Kakashi Hatake, Yoruichi Yagami learned the Three Bodies Technique from him.

Other ninjutsu would be difficult for Kakashi Hatake, but Yoruichi Yagami wouldn't even mention them.

However, since the Three Body Technique is something that ninja schools are supposed to teach, there is no issue of 'private teaching'. It doesn't matter whether it's taught sooner or later, and no one will investigate.

Although the Three-Body Technique is of a low level, it does not fundamentally improve combat power.

However, as a means of 'causing confusion', it still has considerable value in enriching tactics.

In this era, before the plot reaches its climax with all the high-flying elements, tactics are still very important.

Even in a battle between Jonin, a well-timed Shadow Clone Technique or Substitution Technique can often change the course of the game.

As for the ability to transform, it also has extremely high value in areas such as infiltration.

However, in later versions where Gundam starts flying around everywhere, these three ninjutsu techniques are completely rendered useless and have no value whatsoever.

Yoruichi Yagami would absolutely, positively not learn from Naruto Uzumaki and develop some kind of lewd ninjutsu like the Harem Technique... right?

"Your strength is already stronger than many Chunin, yet you still plan to continue being a Ninja Academy student?" Kakashi Hatake was taken aback, clearly not understanding Yoruichi Yagami's thoughts.

"You think I'm strong, but I think I'm still too weak." Yagami Yoruichi smiled and said, "So what if you're a Chunin? Even a Jonin will be either dead or crippled if they accidentally fall into an explosive tag trap. The ninja world is too dangerous. I plan to continue improving my strength. I don't plan to graduate until I have enough confidence."

Yoruichi Yagami did not advise Kakashi Hatake against graduating early, but she did not hide her own thoughts.

"I see..." Kakashi Hatake nodded without saying anything more.

But in my heart I was wondering if my decision to graduate early was a bit hasty.

After thinking for a while, Kakashi Hatake still didn't get an answer, so he decided to go home and talk to his father about it.

……

Outside the training field, on a high platform.

Several figures were watching Yagami Yoruichi and Hatake Kakashi from afar in the training field.

"Both of these children are very talented," a blond boy commented with a smile.

A red-haired girl beside him looked gently at the blond youth and said with a smile, "You're not much different from how you were back then."

These two were none other than Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.

At this time, Kushina Uzumaki was not yet the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and was not restricted in her activities. She stayed by Minato Namikaze's side all day long, following him wherever he went.

“That black-haired kid is stronger than I was in first grade,” Minato Namikaze corrected. “As for Kakashi, his overall strength is about the same as mine in first grade. It’s just that the two of them have different strengths than me.”

"Minato," the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked at Minato Namikaze and asked, "would you be interested in taking one of these two children as your disciple?"

"Me? Taking on disciples?" Minato Namikaze was stunned. "Hokage-sama, I'm only fifteen years old!"