3 CH - 03 Why only Fuinjutsu?
That evening, Kazuki arrived home late after a meeting. After freshening up, he settled at the dining table and inquired of his wife, Mayumi, "Where are the kids? Have they already eaten?"
Mayumi, who was serving dinner, greeted him with a warm smile and replied, "Yes, they have. They're in their room now."
Curiosity sparked within Kazuki as he observed the glimmer of amusement in his wife's eyes. "Is something amusing?" he asked, intrigued.
Mayumi chuckled softly and shared the story, "Oh, it's just a funny incident that happened earlier with the kids. Kushina complained to me about Akira leaving her halfway, and I had to teach him a valuable lesson. It seemed to affect him, and he appeared a little down afterward." She recalled the moment when she imparted a lesson to her son, which had initially left him dejected and questioning her role as his mother. However, she made sure to teach him another valuable lesson during that time.
Kazuki raised an eyebrow, amused by the mischief of their children. After a brief moment, his expression turned serious. "Speaking of which, is Akira doing alright now?"
Still wearing a smile, Mayumi reassured him, "Yes, I'm not entirely sure what happened exactly. Until this morning, he seemed unchanged, but when he returned today, his demeanor had significantly improved. It seems he has resolved whatever issue had been troubling him lately."
"Hmm, that's good to hear," Kazuki sighed, recalling how his son had been displaying signs of concern and deep thought recently. He remembered Akira's inquiries about the situation in Uzushiogakure and his somewhat absent-minded behavior. At the time, he hadn't given it much thought, assuming it was merely a child's curiosity. Despite Akira's mature way of speaking, he was still a young boy.
"Yes, but...," Mayumi nodded, contemplating something. Then, with a thoughtful expression, she added, "I think you should talk to him after dinner. He asked about when you will return, so perhaps he wants to discuss something with you."
"I see. That's reassuring," Kazuki nodded, appreciating the information shared by Mayumi. He had been contemplating discussing Akira's recent worries with him, but due to his busy schedule, he hadn't found the time. Now that he knew Akira might also want to talk, he made a mental note to have a conversation with his son later in the day.
Observing Kazuki's affirmation, Mayumi shifted the conversation to more pressing matters. She asked anxiously, her tone filled with concern, "So, what transpired in the meeting?"
Mayumi was well aware that the Uzumaki Clan was currently in a precarious situation, with their every move being scrutinized by many. As the wife of the Patriarch, she believed she deserved to be informed about the ongoing developments.
Kazuki paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before deciding to finish his meal before responding. "At present, nothing has been finalized. The council intends to seek assistance from Konoha. However, they want to ascertain Konoha's true intentions before determining our next course of action."
Nodding in understanding, Mayumi's voice tinged with worry as she posed another question, "But what if Konoha chooses not to support us?"
Kazuki looked at Mayumi, his tone weary yet resolute as he replied, "In that case, we will have no option but to face the other nations in battle alone."
Mayumi was taken aback by Kazuki's unwavering and firm statement. Placing a comforting hand on his, she reassured him, "Don't worry, everything will work out fine. It's not as if Konoha would abandon us. After all, we assisted them during the First Great Ninja War. We are still allies, aren't we?"
"I hope you're right," Kazuki responded, his voice carrying a blend of hope and uncertainty. He appreciated Mayumi's reassurance and her attempt to lighten the mood. They both understood the gravity of the situation and the potential consequences they faced.
Completing their meal in a somber silence, the couple exchanged glances that conveyed a profound understanding and unspoken emotions. They were acutely aware of the weight of their responsibilities as leaders and parents. The fate of their clan and the safety of their children were intricately intertwined. After dinner, Kazuki made his way to Akira's room.
….
Akira lay on his bed, deep in thought about his newfound ability. He had spent considerable time experimenting and testing different theories, and now he had a good grasp of how it worked. If he had to give it a name, he believed "Success Rate" would be the most appropriate description. It wasn't about providing exact predictions or probabilities, but rather assessing the likelihood of success in a given situation. He summarized his understanding of the ability:
In a battle, for example, if he had a 90% chance of winning against someone, it didn't guarantee a certain victory. This was because the remaining 10% encompassed scenarios like the enemy receiving reinforcements, which would significantly decrease the success rate to around 15%. Thus, the ability only provided a rough estimation of the odds in his favor.
Key points about the Success Rate ability were as follows:
- The Success Rate ability calculates the likelihood of success based on multiple factors and variables in a given situation. Akira can activate the ability simply by thinking about his questions or desired outcomes, without the need to verbalize them.
- It does not offer precise future outcomes or probabilities. Instead, it provides a certain level of prediction, giving an approximate measure of the chances of success.
- Akira can narrow down his predictions by specifying timeframes. For instance, he can inquire about the likelihood of the Uzumaki Clan being attacked in two months and further refine it for shorter intervals, such as 40 days, 30 days, and so on.
- Assistance in chakra control: The ability can aid Akira in enhancing his chakra control, making it particularly useful for researching new ninjutsu and techniques. It improves his understanding of energy flow and enhances his mastery of chakra manipulation.
- Although the Success Rate ability hasn't been tested in actual combat yet, it holds potential for aiding physical attacks like taijutsu and offering guidance for ninjutsu that require physical contact, such as Rasengan or Chidori. It can identify the areas where the greatest impact would occur.
These were the primary points Akira had discovered so far. As he contemplated his ability, a knock echoed through the room, followed by the sound of the door opening. A middle-aged man with red hair entered the room.
Akira looked up from his bed, taken aback by his father's presence in his room late at night. Internally, he questioned why his father had come to see him.
Kazuki calmly walked over and sat beside him on the bed. "How's your training going? Any challenges?" Instead of directly addressing Akira's concern, he began by inquiring about his training progress.
"It's going well. I believe I can now compete with proper Chunin, and my Fuinjutsu skills are improving at a good pace," Akira responded without hesitation, although he was puzzled by his father's sudden interest in his training.
"Yes, you possess a significant amount of chakra for your age, and your chakra control is impressive," Kazuki commented with pride evident in his expression. He understood that his son had a natural talent for chakra control, a rarity even among the Uzumaki due to their abundant chakra reserves.
Suddenly, Akira remembered a question that had been lingering since he regained his memories. "Dad, why do the Uzumaki Clan members focus solely on Fuinjutsu instead of learning other ninjutsu, despite having more chakra than others?"
Though Akira could deduce the reason using his ability, he believed it would be better to ask directly rather than overthink the matter.
"Who told you that? We can also learn other ninjutsu. Many shinobi in our clan can perform Water Style jutsu, and you already know about my lightning style," Kazuki raised an eyebrow, explaining that some clan members were capable of using elemental ninjutsu. However, seeing that his son was not satisfied with the answer, he realized that Akira was asking about something else, like the clan's overall focus.
"Well, there are two reasons," Kazuki took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding to his son's persistent inquiry. "First, the Uzumaki Clan has dedicated generations to mastering Fuinjutsu because it is our heritage and our source of strength. Fuinjutsu, with its intricate seals and complex techniques, holds immense power when utilized to its full potential. It is a unique art passed down through our clan's history, deeply intertwined with our identity and traditions. So, Fuinjutsu is something that represents us."
Akira listened attentively to his father's words, absorbing the information and processing it in his mind. He had already known that Fuinjutsu held a special place within their clan, but he was curious about the second reason that might explain why they didn't practice other ninjutsu.
"And second," Kazuki observed his son's attentive demeanor and continued, "after all, we are just a single clan, not a village like Konoha." There was a hint of sadness in Kazuki's voice as he spoke.
Akira felt momentarily perplexed, but then his expression changed as if he had realized something. However, he was taken aback by his own conjecture and sought confirmation from his father. "No way, is it that simple?"
"Yes, it may sound simple to you, but during the era of warring states before the village system, no one shared their jutsu knowledge with others, even if it wasn't a powerful technique," Kazuki replied with a sigh, carrying the weight of being the Patriarch of the Uzumaki Clan. He, too, wished for his clan to master various ninjutsu and believed they would be in a better position if they had done so.
Akira realized that his future memories may have influenced his thinking. This was not an anime world where most people were portrayed as good or where Konoha was the main focus of the canon story. In this era, it was still challenging for individuals to acquire ninjutsu beyond what their family taught them. He even considered the possibility that it might remain difficult in the future. This explained why orphans like Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato had no means to learn any ninja knowledge until they met Jiraiya. Even the knowledge of Chakra extraction was monopolized by the villages.
Observing Akira's resolve, Kazuki understood the seriousness of his son's concerns and the need for a candid conversation. "By the way, I wanted to ask, what has been troubling you lately?"
Akira was momentarily taken aback by the sudden change in topic, wondering, "What's wrong with me?"
Noticing Akira's confusion, Kazuki continued, "You've seemed a bit off for the past few days, and your mother and I have been worried. We thought something might be bothering you."
"Well, there's something I want to discuss with you," Akira decided to broach the topic of Uzushiogakure. If he wanted to save their ancestral home from destruction, he knew he would need his father's guidance and support. "What happened in the meeting?"
"Are you concerned about that?" Kazuki asked, sensing his son's underlying worry.
"Not exactly, but it's related," Akira replied, confirming Kazuki's suspicion.
Kazuki took a brief pause, carefully considering his words before continuing, "Well, the council has made the decision to seek assistance from Konoha, and..."
"There's no need to ask them. They won't help us anyway," Akira interrupted, expressing a sense of certainty in his voice as he waved his hand, cutting off his father's sentence.
Kazuki raised an eyebrow at Akira's conviction. "Oh, How can you be so sure?"
Akira met his father's gaze with unwavering determination. He understood the gravity of his statement and the potential implications it carried. "Don't be surprised, but..."
...
Three days later, the delegations returned with a response from Konoha
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