Naruto: Stormbreaker Chapter 58

Days passed by as I continued training with Sena and Shizuru. I still had no idea why Sena wanted my observations on chakra sensing, but hey, to each their own. My lightning chakra circulation was steadily improving as I cautiously increased the amount used each ti my body got accustod to it. Basically, whenever I stopped feeling like I'd consud three cups of coffee in one go, I upped the lightning chakra again until I reached that jittery feeling once more. Coffee is addictive, after all.

Once a week, I had a training session with Master Shuzo, who continued refining my current fuinjutsu techniques while gradually introducing a new seal. Right now, we were working on explosive seals, which, for so mysterious reason, always put a wicked smile on my face, at least according to Master Shuzo’s constant accusations. Because of this, he made sure to slow the lessons down even more, which annoyed to no end. At this pace, I'd be aweso at storage seals and have mastered explosive seals by the end of the year, but nothing else. I understood he was old, but this was ridiculously slow. However, I wasn't stupid enough to argue with him. Although he appeared to be a feeble old man, he carried an air about him that made it clear he was soone of real importance or knew soone of real importance.

I wrote a lengthy letter to Reiji, providing detailed updates on my improving sensory abilities. I also included casual questions, asking how he was doing and whether it would be possible to et at least once a month to discuss my progress. The entirety of his response was, "You are doing okay," and "No, we cannot et." That's it! Dude!

Two months later, Daiken seed satisfied with our performance in substitution jutsu as well as our physical and kunai skills, so the next ti we walked into class, things were noticeably different.

By now, most of us had accepted that Senju Daiken didn’t follow the rules. He followed results.

So when he walked into class that morning with his usual unshakable scowl and thunderstorm aura, none of us were surprised that he went off-script again. The real shock was how early after the first ti that he'd decided to start frying our brains once more.

Daiken stopped at the front of the room and stood completely silent. Not brooding. Not contemplative. Just silent in a way that made the entire class straighten instinctively, as if even a squeaking chair might provoke another lecture on weapons, using real kunai with us as the targets.

His gaze swept across us, weighing and asuring, before he finally spoke.

"Today’s jutsu lesson is Transformation."

That got reactions. Whispers bounced off the walls, and even I raised an eyebrow. Transformation? Already?

Kaen leaned forward, clearly about to voice what everyone else was thinking, but Daiken cut him off before he could speak.

"I know. The curriculum says we start with the Clone Jutsu," he stated, his voice sharp and steady. "The curriculum is written for average children in average classes."

He turned away briefly, walking over to the chalkboard as though emphasizing his disregard for the established system.

"You are not average."

His voice carried no pride or warmth. It was simply a statent of fact, like acknowledging rain as wet or kunai as sharp. This was the advanced class, filled almost entirely with clan children considered the top of the age group. For the advanced class, failure had a significantly smaller margin.

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Kaen and so of the other clan kids still had doubts visible in their expressions as they stared at Daiken.

Daiken noticed imdiately and responded firmly. "You’ve all passed my threshold for basic chakra shaping, hand seal familiarity, and focus. We will not waste ti. If you cannot keep up, speak now. I will have you reassigned to a slower track."

The class remained silent. Not because we were all confident, but because none of us wanted to be the first to blink.

"Good."

Daiken raised one hand and snapped his fingers without fanfare.

A puff of chakra smoke exploded outward, clearing away to reveal the Third Hokage standing exactly where Daiken had been. Perfect robes, matching height, even the distinct beard shimred realistically. The Hokage’s pipe rested comfortably between two fingers, and for a brief second, the illusion radiated that quiet authority you only got from being old, not very wise, and powerful enough to retire yet still terrify hostile hidden villages.

Then the illusion flickered.

Daiken reappeared as though the Hokage’s image were peeling off him, the pipe disappearing as the wrinkles lted back into his usual scowl.

"The Transformation Jutsu," Daiken continued, now fully himself again, "is foundational in theory but a powerful mission technique in practice. Shinobi have survived impossible odds by mastering it, while others have died because they beca careless. You will not beco careless."

He turned back to the board and began drawing in sharp, angular lines, none of the gentle, rounded chalk strokes typical of other academy instructors.

The first figure he drew was a basic outline of a person surrounded by chakra, the lines tight and controlled around each limb and facial feature.

"Transformation is about cloaking your form in chakra and shaping it like wet clay. Your true form remains, but you deceive the senses, sight, sound, posture, even perceived weight to an extent. Though, rember, every illusion has its limits."

Daiken drew a second, distorted figure beside the first. One leg was shorter than the other, the head tilted unnaturally, and the arms uneven.

"This is what happens when you fail to maintain a clear ntal image. Your chakra becos unstable, causing the transformation to flicker or collapse entirely. If this occurs during a mission, you do not get a second chance."

He tapped the distorted figure with the chalk, leaving a blunt white mark on its forehead.

"You cannot brute-force this jutsu. You must visualize everything clearly. Height, build, stance, expression, and hairstyle. Every detail matters. Do not treat it rely as a disguise, think of it as intense morization under pressure."

Kaen actually raised his hand this ti instead of interrupting, which was rare.

"What happens if we try to transform into soone larger or heavier?"

Daiken didn't glare, surprisingly. Instead, he answered calmly without turning from the board.

"You aren’t changing your physical mass. The chakra wraps around your form. Stretching it too far, too tall or too wide will causes your chakra to strain. Your illusion will buckle when you move. You’ll flicker, and everyone watching will see exactly who you are."

Sena, always composed and attentive, raised her hand next.

"What about voice mimicry?" she asked.

"When you beco proficient enough with this jutsu, you'll be able to replicate voices and speech patterns by precisely modulating your chakra," Daiken replied. "It's an important skill, but not one I expect you to master quickly. Focus on the fundantals first. We'll cover vocal mimicry in the days ahead, after you complete the jutsu test, which will take place in one week."

He continued "Now, you'll work in pairs," Daiken announced, imdiately snapping us to attention. "Read the jutsu scroll together and spend the next few days getting familiar and practicing with your partner. This technique requires significant effort and cooperation."

He stepped back, clearly anticipating our struggles with a glint in his eyes.

"You may arrange your partnerships after class ends."

Instantly, the entire class turned toward . I was basically free bonus grades at this point, thanks to my reputation for having the best chakra control in the room. Everyone knew I’d be the first to succeed, and they all wanted to ride that wave straight to Daiken’s approval. For a brief mont, I understood exactly how hot girls felt in a club when all they wanted was to relax with their friends, only to get sward by desperate attention.