Chapter 24: Finding Strengths

Chapter 24: Finding Strengths

To successfully use ninjutsu, having chakra was just the first step.

The next, equally vital component was hand seals—the twelve foundational seals that formed the backbone of ninjutsu.

Each seal manipulated chakra in specific ways, guiding its flow and determining how it would manifest as a technique.

The combination and sequence of these seals, coupled with sufficient chakra and compatibility with an element, gave rise to a variety of ninjutsu.

Tonari recalled how the Cloud ANBU had used hand seals to cast a powerful Lightning Release technique.

The Three Basic Techniques also required seals, but their sequences were simpler, making them ideal starting points for a beginner.

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Tonari sat beneath a tree, his mind replaying the steps for Transformation Jutsu.

This was the easiest of the Three Basic Techniques, requiring only a single seal—Ram (未).

Taking a deep breath, Tonari carefully gathered the newly awakened chakra within him.

To boost his confidence (and maybe feel a bit cooler), he shouted, "Transformation Jutsu!"

A puff of smoke enveloped him.

When the smoke cleared, Tonari stood in the same spot, looking exactly as he had before.

No transformation.

His first attempt had failed.

Tonari scratched his head, puzzled. He had felt his chakra move, but something had gone wrong.

"Hmm... so this is why they say even basic ninjutsu can be tough to master."

Despite the setback, Tonari wasn't discouraged. Instead, he reflected on what might have gone wrong.

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"Okay, the scroll said to start with something familiar," Tonari muttered to himself.

The more intimately one understood their target form, the easier it would be to transform into it.

That meant choosing something close to his own size and physique for practice.

He spent the next ten minutes replaying the instructions in his mind, analyzing every step and recalibrating his approach.

"Alright, let's try this again."

With renewed focus, Tonari formed the Ram seal, meticulously guiding his chakra to flow as described in the scroll.

"Transformation Jutsu!"

Another puff of smoke exploded around him.

When it dissipated, Tonari had successfully transformed into... the Cloud ANBU who had pursued him.

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High above, hidden among the tree branches, several Konoha ANBU watched the scene unfold.

Their bodies tensed at the sight of a Cloud ANBU suddenly appearing in their village.

For a moment, some instinctively prepared to attack, weapons drawn and seals forming.

But their leader quickly signaled for restraint.

The tension eased as they realized it was merely Tonari practicing Transformation Jutsu.

Still, their vigilance didn't waver. Monitoring the Two-Tails Jinchūriki was a critical mission, and even harmless activities had to be documented.

---

Tonari walked to the riverbank to admire his reflection.

"Not bad," he muttered, inspecting the form he had taken.

The mask, the armor, the posture—it was all spot-on.

But after a moment, his lips curved into a smirk.

"Still, nothing beats my natural charm."

With another puff of smoke, Tonari returned to his original form.

The success of his Transformation Jutsu affirmed what he had suspected: the mysterious energy flowing through him was indeed chakra.

And, despite his initial struggles, mastering the jutsu hadn't been as difficult as the scrolls had suggested.

"It's probably thanks to the Two-Tails' chakra," he mused.

Though the beast's presence hadn't interfered, he was sure its chakra had somehow enhanced his reserves and facilitated his success.

Tonari couldn't help but chuckle. "Guess even a 'big, scary tailed beast' can't help but lend me a hand. Such a tsundere."

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Satisfied with his progress, Tonari sat back down by the riverbank, gazing at the rippling water.

He decided against practicing the other two basic techniques just yet.

Rushing ahead without mastering the basics wouldn't yield good results. Instead, he shifted his focus to something more strategic.

"How should I train moving forward?" he pondered.

Survival in this world hinged on strength. But strength didn't mean mastering everything—ninjas who tried to excel in all areas often spread themselves too thin.

Efficiency was the key.

"Specialize in what you're good at. Ignore what you're bad at," Tonari muttered.

This principle had guided his thoughts since his escape from the Land of Lightning. He had spent countless hours formulating a training plan, one that would allow him to grow quickly without wasting time on areas where he had no talent.

"It's not about being good at everything. It's about being exceptional at one thing," he reasoned.

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For Tonari, this was about finding his edge—his unique strength—and honing it to perfection.

"Just like Guy focusing on taijutsu, or Kurenei excelling in genjutsu…"

He paused, smirking at a stray thought.

"Though some prodigies, like Itachi, seem to be perfect at everything..."

Still, he wasn't aiming for perfection. All he needed was to find his niche, a skill so refined it would make him indispensable.

The river's reflection showed a boy sitting calmly, yet his eyes sparkled with determination.

"Once I find my strength… even Konoha's old foxes won't be able to touch me."

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Chapter 25: How to Become Stronger

Tonari asked himself: why did he want to learn ninjutsu and become stronger?

To survive!

Especially as the Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails, knowing the trajectory of future events, he absolutely needed the power to protect himself. Maybe he wouldn't manage a dramatic counterattack, but at the very least, he should be able to escape safely, right?

Moreover, he couldn't think too far ahead. Shortly after the Second Shinobi World War ends, the Third Shinobi World War will begin.

Although there's still some time between these events, the major ninja villages will continue to clash during this period.

Tonari must seize the little time he has left!

If he ends up on the battlefield or in combat with other ninjas, keeping his life intact will be crucial. How to achieve that?

There are two choices:

1. Ultimate Defense: If his defense is strong enough, it doesn't matter how strong the opponent is; he could just keep fortifying his wall!

2. Extreme Speed: If his speed is unmatched, no one could catch him. As the saying goes, "In martial arts, speed breaks all techniques," and "Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing is the best."

After weighing the benefits of both, Tonari decided… why choose?

Kids make choices—adults want it all!

Now, the question was: how could he achieve ultimate defense?

In his memory, the most enviable examples were the Kaguya Clan's Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse) and Gaara's invincible sand defense.

Of course, these were just daydreams. With his current capabilities, he couldn't acquire such things.

Ultimately, except for the Shikotsumyaku, which is a Kekkei Genkai and can't be replicated, Gaara's sand could essentially be seen as a simulation of Earth Release and Wind Release.

As a compromise, Earth Release techniques might be the strongest defensive ninjutsu available to him.

But this would depend on his chakra nature, which Tonari wasn't aware of yet.

As for achieving extreme speed, Tonari already had an idea.

What could be faster than space-time ninjutsu?

When discussing space-time ninjutsu, one must mention the future Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, whose signature move, the Flying Thunder God Technique, would one day shake the ninja world!

At the moment, this technique was likely sealed in a scroll that ordinary people couldn't access.

Moreover, learning space-time ninjutsu required innate talent. While Tonari had confidence in his good looks—no, his talent—he had to admit it was unattainable for now.

So, aside from the Flying Thunder God, what was the next fastest option?

Lightning Release and Wind Release!

However, Tonari still didn't know his chakra nature, nor could he access ninjutsu under the ANBU's surveillance. It might take a long time before he could even touch such techniques.

Thus, there was only one reliable option left: physical speed!

The pinnacle of ninja speed was represented by Might Guy, who nearly ended everything with one kick. He was the epitome of taijutsu.

With a strong enough body, speed could naturally follow.

At the same time, improving physical strength could also serve as a form of defense.

Most importantly, taijutsu training had no barriers. Success depended solely on persistence, persistence, and… persistence.

Tonari had an advantage in taijutsu. Having once been a doctor and a soldier, he understood the human body and knew how to train effectively.

In the Naruto world, the average physical aptitude of people was much higher than in his previous world. Their bodies could endure much more intense training.

He had noticed this as early as his time in the carriage.

Moreover, chakra as a unique energy greatly enhanced the limits of physical potential.

If Might Guy's taijutsu explosiveness was the strongest in the ninja world, then the physical body of the Raikage, honed through special lightning-based training, represented the static peak of human strength in this world. The "strongest shield" and "strongest spear" weren't just titles.

And Tonari, as the Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails, possessed all the advantages of a Jinchūriki!

While there were many downsides to being a Jinchūriki, if he could overcome them, the advantages and disadvantages would balance out.

Chakra far surpassing ordinary people.

Exceptional physical recovery.

The ability to draw on the power of the Tailed Beast as a last resort.

Among these, the powerful physical recovery could significantly aid Tonari in improving his physical condition.

Of course, having a massive chakra reserve was another great advantage. Unfortunately, he currently had no access to ninjutsu to utilize it. For now, his chakra was just sitting there, mocking him.

Still, chakra refinement couldn't be neglected. It was the foundation of being a ninja, and while it might not be useful now, it certainly would be in the future.

In addition to basic physical training, Tonari realized he lacked solid fundamentals.

For example, he failed when attempting to use the Transformation Jutsu today, partly because his hand seals weren't precise enough.

As someone encountering the twelve basic hand seals for the first time, some seals requiring high finger dexterity couldn't be formed quickly, let alone executed in rapid succession during combat.

In high-level battles, a fraction of a second could decide victory or defeat.

Thus, training his hand seal techniques was crucial.

Additionally, mastering ninja tools was another skill Tonari needed to develop.

In summary, Tonari's short-term training plan included: chakra refinement, physical training, hand seal practice, and ninja tool mastery.

While it seemed like a lot, some of these could be practiced simultaneously.

"Well then, now that the plan is set, let's start with the basics.

Since it's all physical training, let's focus on the legs first."

Tonari wouldn't admit that he prioritized leg training to make running away easier.

This wasn't about running—it was strategic retreat.

Training his leg muscles could also be paired with hand seal practice. After all, leg exercises didn't require much thought, and hand seals could become muscle memory over time.

The deeper his training, the more Tonari could "free his mind"—no, free up his brain for other tasks.

Under the watchful eyes of the ANBU, Tonari began sweating in the small forest.

They monitored him for as long as he trained.

In the back of his mind, Tonari wondered if he could exploit the Shadow Clone Jutsu as Naruto had.

While physical training wouldn't benefit much from clones, techniques like ninja tool mastery and hand seal practice could.

"Too bad I can't even get basic ninjutsu, let alone the Shadow Clone Jutsu sealed in the Scroll of Seals," Tonari muttered internally.

If an opportunity arose, targeting the Shadow Clone Jutsu might be a practical goal.

Everyone knew that strengthening the body wasn't just about consistent training—it also required proper nutrition!

Without adequate energy intake, overtraining would only lead to collapse.

When Naruto trained in Wind Release chakra nature transformation, Sakura prepared plenty of special food pills.

For now, Tonari relied on Nara Shikimi's cooking and the bountiful aquatic life in the nearby river to supplement his training.

However, in a month or two, this might no longer suffice.

To maintain his progress, Tonari realized he'd need to find a stable source of income.

While the forest was rich in game and valuable herbs, searching for them would take too much time.

Money, it seemed, was indispensable in any world.

For now, Tonari decided to focus on taijutsu training.

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