Chapter 8: Training the Rasengan

Snowflakes continued to drift down from the gloomy sky, enveloping the small village in a serene white blanket. A week had passed since Haku's blood succession limit was nearly exposed, and life had returned to its usual rhythm. Miao felt a sense of relief, having remained vigilant throughout the week, ready to intervene if anyone discovered Haku's secret. Fortunately, nothing had happened so far.

In a secluded meadow hidden within the back mountains, Miao stood quietly, dressed in a black short sleeve. He carried a bag filled with numerous balloons, all set for his training in the Rasengan technique.

Having watched over a hundred episodes of anime in his previous life, including the process of Naruto learning from Jiraiya, Miao knew the fundamentals of this ninjutsu. He recalled that his Chakra attribute was tested by his father when he first refined Chakra, revealing wind and fire attributes—an extraordinary and rare combination. Most people typically manifested only one attribute initially, with the second one surfacing as their strength grew.

The Rasengan was a powerful A-rank ninjutsu created by the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. It involved concentrating Chakra into the palm and forming it into a spiralling sphere of energy that could cause devastating damage on impact. The technique didn't require any hand seals, making it highly versatile and lethal.

Unlike other ninjutsu, the Rasengan didn't involve any external elemental manipulation. Instead, it relied solely on the user's Chakra control and molding abilities. The spiral-like shape of the Rasengan allowed it to tear through most defenses, making it an exceptional offensive technique.

Miao had chosen to practice Rasengan due to its practicality and powerful attack capabilities. Currently lacking sufficient powerful physical attacks, apart from the fire-style jutsu, Miao needed a technique that didn't require any seals and was quick to execute in battle. The Sharingan was not a viable option at the moment, as its constant usage consumed vast amounts of Chakra, which he couldn't afford to squander.

Following Jiraiya's guidance, Miao began the first step of cultivating the Rasengan—condensing Chakra into his palm. This initial step was straightforward for most ninjas, but the difficulty would gradually increase in the subsequent stages.

The second step required him to release Chakra continuously and steadily, imitating the movement of water inside a balloon until it eventually burst. This phase tested his control over Chakra, a skill he had already honed under his father's guidance.

The third step proved more challenging, necessitating a more robust material, like a ball, to be used as the training tool. He had to continuously release Chakra and solidify it until the ball shattered. The Rasengan at this stage possessed some damage-dealing abilities, though its power remained quite limited, comparable to Kakashi's early demonstration to Naruto in the original series.

Finally, the last step involved combining all the previous elements—condensing Chakra in the palm, maintaining its release, and then compressing it into a small, continuously rotating typhoon of power. This final form of the Rasengan was truly formidable, with an explosive force that could cause tremendous damage.

With a resolute expression, Miao gazed at his palm and took a deep breath. "Let's begin!"

The bustling market was filled with hurried pedestrians, and vendors on both sides of the street shouted to attract customers. The aroma of various seafood snacks filled the air, adding a touch of liveliness to the otherwise tense atmosphere in the Land of Water. Despite the tension, people still had to carry on with their daily lives, ensuring they had essential supplies like firewood, rice, oil, and salt.

In front of a fish shop, two figures stood—a charming young boy around eight or nine years old, with black hair, black eyes, and bangs partially covering his right eye. He wore a black kimono and was engaged in a conversation with the shop owner. Standing beside him was a lovely girl, wrapped tightly in a white winter coat, looking absolutely adorable.

"Alright, then let's do that, my young friend. Next time, come to me first," said the shop owner with a friendly smile, handing some money to the boy.

"Thank you," Miao replied with a smile, taking the money and tucking it into his pocket. He then turned to the girl, who was gazing at him with affection, and said, "Haku, let's go!"

"Hmm," Haku responded, her smile gentle as she looked at the young boy. Together, they left the fish shop and strolled through the market. It had been two years since Haku's blood succession limit was almost discovered.

Over time, Haku's mother, Aunt Junko, had taught her to control her blood succession limit, preventing any further mishaps. However, Miao's heart was still heavy, as he knew the connection between Haku's identity and the blood succession limit in the Land of Water—the Snow Village.

The ghost-like figure who appeared at the beginning of the plot, possessing the ice shield blood succession limit, shared the same name—Shiro. Miao realized that Haku's identity might be closely linked to the tragic events in the Snow Village. It foretold a future where Haku's blood succession limit would be discovered, her mother killed, and ultimately, Haku herself hunted down and killed by the villagers. But in the end, she would retaliate, annihilating her father and the villagers who had attacked her, only to be taken in and used as a tool.

Though Haku's mother seemed to have some knowledge of controlling the blood succession limit, she hadn't been able to teach Haku the complete system. As the awakening of Haku's blood succession limit increased, so did the demands for control. The danger of exposure grew with each passing day.

Miao's father's health had also deteriorated in the past two years. They had spent nearly a year on the run, evading Konoha's pursuers. Miao's father had managed to fend off all the attackers, but he had been gravely injured during those encounters. Now, his health was failing, and the injuries had worsened.

"Konoha!!!"