__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The third class of the day started soon enough.
Ryuusei Nimugi continued where the last lesson left off. But halfway through, theory gave way to practice — chakra refinement.
He explained every step in detail, beginning with the need to focus your mind.The method, he said, was simple: place a leaf on your forehead.
Evan already knew this technique — Iruka had taught Naruto's generation the same way.Even ten years from now, chakra refinement would still begin here.
He followed the instructions just like everyone else, but unlike the other students without shinobi bloodlines, he grasped it almost instantly.
And so, Evan quickly became the standout of the class.
When the session ended, even Shizune couldn't hide her amazement."Evan, that's incredible! It took me three whole days just to extract chakra the first time!"
Evan smiled modestly."That doesn't really mean much. I just find it easier to focus."
"Chakra depends on two things — the body and the mind.""I guess my mental focus is just… a little stronger than average."
And that modesty wasn't an act.
Without the ten years of experience he'd borrowed from the future, Evan doubted he could've refined chakra so quickly on his own "talent."He might've been cultivating the image of a prodigy, but he didn't actually believe he was one — he hadn't lost himself in the illusion.
For the next week, Ryuusei Nimugi focused entirely on teaching chakra refinement. Only when everyone in the class could produce chakra did the topic finally wrap up.
During that time, though, Evan had already shifted his focus — to hand seals.
Under Shizune's watchful eye, he went from clumsy to skillful in days. Each day, his hands moved faster, cleaner, more precise.
Within a week, he had practically "unlocked" the experience and techniques of the next ten years — or at least, that's how it looked on the surface.In truth, he was performing mostly for Shizune's sake.
What he was really doing was studying something deeper.
Simplifying hand seals.
Because honestly, if he was still going to rely purely on hand speed after traveling back in time — what was the point of reincarnating?
He wasn't planning on doing anything crazy like Jiraiya's "foot seals," but finding ways to simplify them was a very real and necessary line of research.
Then there was the matter of one-handed seals.
Evan remembered that both Haku with Ice Release and that ever-smiling masked kunoichi had performed one-handed seals before.Even Itachi, Kakashi, and Asuma had used them in their battle — at least once.
Haku could do it naturally, while the reanimated kunoichi had been forced to — with one arm missing, she had no choice.
Still, despite his refined skill thanks to those future years, Evan realized he didn't actually understand the principles behind the twelve basic seals. He knew how to form them, but not why they worked.
And beyond those twelve, there were also the Nine Syllable Mantra Seals — Rin, Pyou, Tou, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen.
He remembered that the "Tiger Seal" (者) might have been part of Might Guy's Daytime Tiger technique, and that during the battle between the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tobirama had used the "Zai" seal while performing a Water Style jutsu.
Unfortunately, the textbooks only covered the twelve basics in detail.The Nine Mantra Seals were simply listed at the very end — no explanations, no theory.
That day, when the chakra refinement course officially ended, Evan caught up with Ryuusei Nimugi after class."Professor Nimugi!"
The teacher turned around and smiled."Ah, Evan, Another question?"
Evan held up his notebook, bowing politely before speaking."Yes, sorry to bother you again!"
Ryuusei glanced at the notebook. "It's about hand seals, isn't it?"
He already knew Evan had been practicing seals lately — and improving fast.For such a bright and hardworking student, Ryuusei always had patience and encouragement to spare.
"Yes, Professor."Evan nodded. "I was studying The Complete Guide to Hand Seals. It says that seals exist to help a shinobi better perform ninjutsu — to channel chakra and convert it into a technique."
"So, does that mean… the deeper purpose of hand seals is to make it easier to control chakra's nature and form transformations?"
Ryuusei's eyes widened. "You know about nature and form transformation?"
Evan smiled faintly. "My grandfather was a ninja. He left behind some old notes. They mentioned them briefly."
"Ah, I see."Ryuusei nodded in understanding. "Those concepts are actually beyond the ninja academy's curriculum.""But your understanding is spot on."
"Chakra nature transformation and form transformation — together, they create ninjutsu. No jutsu exists without them. Or, you could say ninjutsu is chakra shaped and changed by those two elements."
"And hand seals are what allow a ninja to perform those transformations faster and more efficiently."
Evan thought for a moment."So if someone fully masters both transformations… could they reduce the number of seals needed, or even cast without them?"
Ryuusei chuckled."You're absolutely right — but that's incredibly difficult."
"Even the Third Hokage himself can't completely perform ninjutsu without seals.""Reducing them, though — that's something many Jonin can manage."
Then his tone softened, becoming more teacherly."Evan, I know you're gifted. But for now, focus on mastering the basics. Once you make Chunin, then you can start experimenting with shortening your seals."
Evan nodded obediently, then asked Ryuusei to explain the deeper meanings behind the twelve basic hand signs.
After flipping through Evan's notebook, Ryuusei could only sigh, half impressed and half speechless."Yes, that's… all correct. Very good, actually."
He genuinely couldn't find anything to correct.
Evan smiled quietly — good, that meant he was on the right track.
Then Ryuusei noticed the notes about the Nine Syllable Mantra."Ah, Evan. You don't really need to study those too deeply. They're almost never used in actual ninjutsu."
Evan scratched his head."I know, sensei, but… I'm really curious about them. The textbook doesn't explain what they mean."
Ryuusei thought for a moment."All right then — come see me after the first class this afternoon. I'll find the material for you."
Truth was, he didn't have any explanations either. Hardly anyone did — the Nine Syllable Seals simply weren't used anymore.But seeing how eager Evan was, Ryuusei decided to help him anyway.
Evan's face lit up."Thank you so much, Professor Nimugi!"
Ryuusei smiled warmly."Keep it up, Evan. Don't waste your talent."
"Yes, sir!"
"..."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________