Analyzing the Ninja World Starting from Konoha

The core of Sunagakure's sand control technique is actually a sealing technique!

That's it!

Aoba suddenly understood.

I cursed myself inwardly, never expecting that I could be influenced by "fixed mindset".

Because he had learned medical ninjutsu, he only thought of using medical methods to solve the problem.

Perhaps this is the curse brought about by knowledge.

This situation needs to be taken seriously, Qingye silently reminded herself.

However, Aoba had some respect for this "person" from Sunagakure.

It's important to know that Sunagakure's sealing techniques are basically at the bottom level among the Five Great Nations. Compared to Konoha, which inherited the Uzumaki clan's legacy and has high-end techniques like the Four Symbols Sealing Technique and the Reaper Death Seal, Sunagakure was dirt poor.

While the others also stole the sealing techniques from the Uzumaki clan, they were all thinking about how to use them to seal their own tailed beasts. The Sand Village, however, managed to create a secret technique comparable to a bloodline limit using only rudimentary sealing techniques.

It must be said that the person who created the [Sand Control Secret Technique] was simply a genius.

However, while the principle of the "Sand Control Technique" seems simple, its actual operation is extremely difficult.

First, the user must have a certain level of control over chakra, at least reaching the level of a medical ninja. Second, they must also have sufficient talent in sealing techniques to seal their chakra into tiny grains of sand.

These two points alone are enough to filter out the vast majority of ninjas from Sunagakure.

This is why, despite being the signature technique of Sunagakure, very few people actually know the Sand Control Technique.

More often than not, sand control is used as a supplementary ninjutsu.

No wonder Gaara could perform a large-scale sealing technique like the Desert Burial Seal even when he wasn't a Jinchūriki, because each grain of sand is a miniature sealing node.

Aside from the sealing knowledge inherent in the Sand Control Secret Technique, the only sealing technique he knows is the [Object Sealing Seal], which he learned from Master Ueno.

The 【Sealing Seal】can only be used to seal inanimate objects. It is similar to the Three Body Technique in ninjutsu, and any ninja with some skill can use it.

It's considered a support-type sealing technique, completely different from sealing techniques used in combat.

Sealing techniques are strategic knowledge in any ninja village, especially the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, which can seal tailed beasts; these are top secrets.

How can I learn it?

Aoba's gaze involuntarily drifted to the figure wiping a Flying Thunder God kunai by the campfire not far away.

Minato Namikaze.

The future Fourth Hokage, Jiraiya's disciple, Kushina Uzumaki's partner, and a master of sealing techniques!

A top-notch teacher is right in front of you.

Of course, he couldn't directly ask for advanced ninjutsu.

Konoha has a strict set of rules for the transmission of knowledge. Even though Minato is a Jonin leading a team, he cannot casually teach advanced sealing techniques to a team member who is only temporarily on loan.

He needs a reasonable explanation.

Aoba's gaze lingered on Minato for a moment, then, as if making a decision, she got up and walked over.

"Minato-senpai."

Qingye lowered her voice, breaking the silence of the vigil.

Minato stopped what he was doing, looked up, and his azure eyes shone brightly in the firelight. He showed no displeasure at being disturbed: "Hmm? What's wrong, Aoba? Can't you sleep?"

"A little."

Aoba didn't beat around the bush; he sat down directly opposite Minato, took a scroll from his ninja tool bag, and spread it out on the ground between them.

Minato's gaze fell on the scroll, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

The scroll is made of somewhat old material, with a distinct Sunagakure style.

"This is……"

"Found in Loulan, in An Lushan's renovation workshop."

Aoba explained frankly, "I discovered this when I infiltrated to gather intelligence. It's a sand control technique from Sunagakure."

He spoke of it casually, as if he had just picked up an ordinary stone.

Minato didn't look at the exam paper, but instead stared intently at Aoba.

A moment later, a gentle smile returned to his face.

"An Lushan is a rogue ninja from Sunagakure. Everything he did in Loulan was for his own ambition. Anything you take from him is your spoils of war and does not need to be handed over."

Minato's gentle words dispelled any concerns Aoba might have, "Take it without worry, this doesn't count as stealing another country's secret techniques."

Aoba smiled inwardly; of course he knew the answer.

However, it must be said that Minato Namikaze was indeed a leader who inspired confidence and trust.

His personal charm was undeniable; he had even unrolled the scroll, but Minato didn't even glance at it.

Aoba extended her finger and touched a spell area on the scroll.

"Minato-senpai, the core of this secret technique seems to be using these special runes to 'bind' chakra to sand in some way. I know absolutely nothing about this..."

Aoba's tone carried just the right amount of confusion, "This looks like some kind of sealing technique?"

He looked up and observed Minato's reaction through his sunglasses.

Minato looked at the spot Aoba was pointing to, then at his face that seemed to say "I'm very curious," and was first slightly taken aback, then found himself both amused and exasperated.

This kid went through all that trouble, only to find out he was waiting for me here.

He took out the scroll of the sand control technique and openly showed it to me, then "casually" raised a question about the sealing technique. In this way, I not only learned the core of this secret technique, but was also naturally drawn into the scope of "academic discussion".

What a clever fellow.

Minato felt no aversion; on the contrary, he appreciated Aoba's quick wit and honesty even more.

"It's definitely a sealing technique."

Minato nodded, acknowledging Aoba's guess, "A very ingenious design, using simple spell runes to construct a special sealing technique."

At this point, Minato understood what Aoba wanted to do, and he was both amused and exasperated.

This is a complete scroll of secret techniques; Aoba wouldn't believe it if you said he didn't understand it.

He knew about Aoba's talent; others might not understand or learn it, but that didn't apply to Aoba.

Aoba is a very thoughtful person. His sand control technique is an improvement on Jiraiya's hair secret technique.

Ask him to teach me sealing techniques...?

Aoba wants to combine the two!

Minato nodded secretly, not thinking there was anything wrong with Aoba developing his own ninjutsu.

"I cannot teach you the complete technique directly; it is against the village's rules."

Minato frankly stated, "After all, you're only temporarily on loan to my team; I'm not your supervising Jonin."

"However, we can still discuss some basic theoretical knowledge together and learn together."

"Thank you so much, Minato-senpai!"

Aoba immediately smiled.

This is exactly what he wants.

The next two days of the journey home turned into a mini-lesson on sealing techniques, exclusively for Aoba.

Minato started by explaining the most basic Yin-Yang Release theory, then moved on to the meaning of the basic runes that constitute the sealing technique, and the effects produced by different combinations of runes.

These theories, which sound incredibly dry to others, were like heavenly music to Aoba's ears.

……