Chapter 11: Fuinjutsu Basics

The next day, I woke up with a surge of excitement coursing through me. My mom's friend was coming over, and I could hardly contain my anticipation. I had heard so much about her, and I was eager to meet someone who seemed to share a special connection with my mother. When she finally arrived, I noticed that she was around 25 years old, just like my mom. I recalled my mother mentioning that she was unmarried, which added a layer of intrigue to my first impression of her.

The woman had a friendly aura that immediately put me at ease. Her striking blonde hair framed her face, and her kind of nerdy look was accentuated by the stylish glasses perched on her nose. She exuded a warmth that felt comforting, as if I had known her for a long time.

I greeted her warmly, and she responded with a bright smile that lit up her face. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, she headed into the kitchen to help my mom with the preparations. I patiently waited, feeling a bubbling excitement inside me. As they worked together, I occasionally lent a hand, serving dinner as it was being plated. The delicious aromas wafting from the kitchen made my stomach rumble, and I couldn't wait to dig in.

Once my dad arrived, we all gathered around the table, and the atmosphere was filled with laughter and warmth as we shared stories. It felt like a family reunion, filled with joy and camaraderie. After dinner, as my mom had suggested, I took a deep breath and approached her friend with a request that had been on my mind. "Can you teach me fuinjutsu?" I asked, my voice a mix of eagerness and nervousness, hoping I didn't sound too forward.

Her expression shifted to one of surprise, indicating that my mom hadn't mentioned my interest in fuinjutsu to her. "Really? I didn't know you were interested in that," she replied, her curiosity lighting up her eyes as she leaned forward. "What are your calligraphy skills like?"

I eagerly showed her some of my recent work, feeling a mix of pride and nervousness. Her eyes widened in genuine admiration as she examined the careful strokes and intricate designs I had crafted. "This is impressive!" she exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face. "With skills like this, I can definitely teach you some fuinjutsu techniques." However, she added with a hint of regret, "I have limited free time, so I can only come once a week. If I have to go away for a longer mission, I promise to give you a few extra lessons before I leave."

I felt a rush of gratitude and excitement at the prospect of learning from her. It was clear that she and my mom shared a close bond, which made me even more curious about her life and experiences. Sensing my intrigue, I asked, "What were you doing outside the village for the past six months?"

She paused for a moment, a thoughtful expression crossing her face as she considered how to explain. "Oh, it was just a mission I was part of," she replied, her tone shifting to a more serious note. "We traveled to a village about a week's journey from Konoha to study various fuinjutsu seals. It was a fascinating experience, but I missed home."

Her words painted a vivid picture in my mind, igniting my imagination with thoughts of far-off places and the challenges she must have faced. 

I was genuinely impressed to see her reaction. She sighed and said, "Don't be too excited; it wasn't that great. I was just an assistant and didn't get to learn much." Her words tempered my enthusiasm a bit, but I couldn't let that dampen my spirits entirely. Even if her experience wasn't as grand as I had imagined, the fact that she had been involved in something related to fuinjutsu was still significant to me.

As we settled into our lesson, she began teaching me some basics of fuinjutsu. I paid close attention, eager to absorb every word she spoke. To my delight, I found that I was easily understanding the concepts she explained. The way she broke down the information made it accessible, and soon enough, she was looking at me with a mixture of surprise and admiration. "You're picking this up quickly!" she praised, a smile creeping onto her face.

I felt a warm sense of pride wash over me—not only because of the praise but also because I recognized some similarities between fuinjutsu and programming, which had been my only skill in my past world. The logic behind creating seals felt akin to writing code, each stroke of my brush like a line of instruction that could manifest powerful effects. This connection sparked a fire of determination within me. If I could relate it to something I was already familiar with, I knew I would be able to get stronger.

However, I had to admit that fuinjutsu was proving to be far more challenging than programming ever had been. In programming, I had the luxury of trial and error, where mistakes could be corrected with just a few keystrokes. In contrast, the art of fuinjutsu demanded a level of precision that left little room for error. Each stroke of the brush had to be executed with exactness, as even the slightest deviation could lead to disastrous results. This precision required in calligraphy was not something I had encountered in my previous experiences, and it felt like I was learning an entirely new language.

Moreover, the deep understanding of chakra flow added layers of complexity that I hadn't anticipated. It wasn't just about drawing seals; it was about understanding how each line interacted with the chakra within me and how that energy would manifest when I activated the seal. I was confronted with the realization that mastering fuinjutsu would require more than just technical skills; it demanded a deep connection with my own chakra and a nuanced understanding of its properties.