13 The 3 academy jutsu
It was Monday after the academy, and Sasuke had already informed the three girls that the training for today was postponed. Sasuke went to the teachers' floor and knocked on Iruka's door.
"Come in," a polite voice said, and Sasuke entered.
"Ah, Sasuke, I didn't expect you. How are you doing in your new class?" Iruka asked, surprised.
"Everything is good, Iruka-sensei. Daikoku-sensei is a good teacher, and I have already made several friends," Sasuke replied.
"I've heard about your spar with Rock Lee and your leaf training variations. You've made a big impression on Daikoku," Iruka said, continuing, "How can I help you? With how busy you are training to become Hokage, I am sure you came here for a reason."
Sasuke mimicked Naruto, scratching the back of his head, but then looked Iruka in the eyes and said with confidence,
"I have already memorized all the academy books of every year. You mentioned before that I can come to you if I need help with anything. I wanted to ask if you can teach me the 3 academy jutsu? I know you don't teach them until the 4th year for safety reasons, but I believe that I am mature enough to learn them."
"You've already memorized all the books?" Iruka said with disbelief, and Sasuke nodded.
Iruka thought for a moment but then opened a drawer and gave Sasuke ten documents. "These tests are designed to assess your knowledge. It's quite significant to reveal the three jutsus to you at this stage, and I must report this to the Hokage. I have confidence in your seriousness and maturity as a young ninja, and I believe you have the potential for great achievements in the future. Nevertheless, passing these tests is essential for me to present them as your credentials to the Hokage. You have 1 hour to complete them," Iruka explained.
Sasuke took 8 minutes to finish the first 7 pages. However, the difficulty changed drastically in the last 3 pages.
'There is no way that these problems are at the academy level. It seems that Iruka wants to test the limit of my abilities. I have already decided to show the same level of intelligence as Itachi, so it's time to give a perfect show.'
Sasuke spent a total of 15 minutes and reached the final page and another 6 minutes to solve the final problem.
"I am done, Iruka-sensei."
Iruka had been watching Sasuke the whole time but couldn't see his answers from his angle. While examining his test, Iruka kept giving him strange glances. It took Iruka almost 20 minutes to check all the answers.
"Well done, Sasuke. I am truly impressed. You are more than capable to receive the 3 jutsus," Iruka said, feeling proud of his student.
Iruka handed the three techniques to Sasuke. The techniques were the transformation jutsu, the clone jutsu, and the body replacement jutsu.
"Iruka-sensei, can you please give me a demonstration so I can copy them with my Sharingan?" Sasuke asked.
"Of course, Sasuke, but I also have to give you a warning. Most ninjas won't like it if you try to copy their hard-earned techniques and use them immediately. I don't care about these E-Rank techniques, but if you try to copy C-rank or better techniques, people will get offended."
"Don't worry, Iruka-sensei. I understand, and I won't act like that," Sasuke replied politely.
After Iruka's demonstration, Sasuke performed the techniques, but that didn't mean he had truly understood them.
After the demonstration, Iruka expected Sasuke to leave, but the boy had another request.
"Iruka-sensei, can you also demonstrate calligraphy? I want to learn it, but my time is extremely limited."
'This boy has so much ambition,' Iruka thought but agreed.
Sasuke had already used his Sharingan, and he could only keep it active for 5 more minutes. Sasuke and Iruka made several new arrangements. Every day Sasuke would come to Iruka's office, and for 9 minutes (which is Sasuke's current Sharingan limit), Iruka would demonstrate calligraphy. Moreover, Iruka would talk with Daikoku-sensei and let Sasuke practice his calligraphy in class. Iruka also gave Sasuke several assignments for the next day.
'It was a very good choice coming to Iruka,' Sasuke thought.
Before saying goodbye, Sasuke asked Iruka to give Naruto his greetings and also tell him not to forget about their promise. Iruka was curious but nodded without asking any further questions.
---
Sasuke went back to training and began studying the scrolls of the three techniques. Being E-rank and having already successfully performed them, the techniques were extremely easy to understand. The techniques were carefully selected to introduce the new ninjas to ninjutsu. They were even based on the same principle, a principle that gradually evolved with each technique.
The most basic and the basis of the three techniques was the transformation jutsu. Many people believed that this jutsu was capable of changing the mass and the properties of an object. However, if this was the case, it would be a heaven-defying technique and definitely not an E-rank.
In reality, this jutsu was mimicking the properties of another object or person and creating a layer of illusion around the user. It was easy to see through the illusion with various means like smell and other sensory abilities. However, it still remained a very useful technique against civilians and even against ninjas who had their guard down.
The second technique was the clone technique. In this technique, you basically once again create a layer of illusion, but instead of creating it on the user's body, you create it outside in the environment. You can create multiple clones but their use is extremely limited. They don't have physical properties and they don't have a shadow because they are just chackra. It is very easy to see through them.
Lastly, the body replacement involved taking the chakra layer and putting it in a foreign object. The name of the technique was impressive, but in reality, it was just a well-placed illusion. If an E-Rank technique could teleport the user, Minato Namikaze wouldn't be so feared.
'These techniques are useful against weak opponents, and the body replacement can even catch off guard stronger ninjas. However, they really are nothing special.
What I want to find out is how these hand signs are causing my chakra to move in specific patterns through my chakra network and end up creating this chakra layer of illusion.
How is the image of the person that I have in mind transferred through the technique for the transformation to be completed?
What is the connection between intent and chakra?
Right now, it is not worth it to spend my time overanalyzing all this information. This is a developed world with rich history. I am sure that there are already many ninjas and scientists who have answered most of my questions. I can just wait until I have Hokage's trust and immediately gain access to all the information. I should only start experimenting when I reach the limit of this world's knowledge.
Researching and experimenting are extremely time-consuming processes. Spending my limited time finding out about something that has already been answered instead of keep improving is just a bad decision. Balance is the best option. I will develop and understand these techniques to the point that I can use them without the need of hand signs and then leave further research for the future.'
Sasuke took a mirror from a random abandoned house and moved it to the training ground. He performed the transformation technique and watched the movement of his chakra through the network with his Sharingan. Unfortunately, he couldn't view chakra points and could only view the volume and movement of chakra. However, this was enough information to replicate the technique without hand signs. Of course, it could not be done immediately and required many trials and errors.
Sasuke also watched himself as he was trying to move his chakra with his will instead of hand signs.
"This is very hard, even compared to my current water walking variations. This is like a very high-level chakra control exercise. I am glad that my decision to focus on chakra control is proven correct once again. The next step is to find the minimum amount of chakra required to cast the technique in order to achieve the maximum efficiency."
Sasuke kept going at it, and at the end of the day, he almost managed it. A puff of smoke came out, and Naruto appeared. However, his right ear and his hand proportions were off.
'Not bad for today. With a little more practice at my chakra control, I will manage to replicate it.'
The Rabbit Anbu watching was once again completely surprised. 'The world is so unfair. He gets every girl, he is handsome as hell, he has the Sharingan, and he is also a genius. I used to feel proud being part of ANBU, but now I feel like shit,' he thought and left to report to the Hokage once again.
