October 27. Konoha. Main Hyuga Clan Training Ground.
In the morning, under a light breeze of rare raindrops, the shimmer of numerous threads was visible. Shimmers in the form of a dandelion of chakra. These long threads – ribbons stretching from the person in all directions, like a waterfall of neon-blue jellyfish tentacles spreading from the center in a circle, fanning out, and gathering at the person's feet. Wave after wave. One after another. They fluttered, rose several meters away, and returned.
At the ends of the rare "flower" threads, if you looked closely, there was a thin needle, a senbon coated in a white mixture (Elderberry). And the whole structure swirled, paused, or rotated in a peculiar slow dance.
The person conducting this dance simply stood. Legs, arms, and even eyes relaxed, the latter fully closed. The man was like a stone, monumental and motionless. He seemed utterly unresponsive to anything. Neither by hearing nor Byakugan, he was simply deprived of surrounding reality. Only the dance of numerous threads around the man showed intense training was underway.
Exactly thirty-three threads, if you looked closely – that's how many there were. Five each on arms and legs, body and head – total thirty. And one straight into the eye sockets, and one in the center of the forehead.
There, he froze, and in that instant, the "flower" threads stood around the pale-eyed one in a large hollow sphere. The man resembled a dandelion – Heavenly Tian Shan. The pale-eyed shinobi waited three seconds and … the heavenly chakra-thread flower dispersed, continuing the "Eight Trigrams – Spiral: Yin Threads" technique movement.
Suddenly, kunai and shuriken flew at the pale-eyed one, handfuls of five to ten at a time, from both sides at once, varying intensity, speed, alternating with light explosive tags. But the shinobi using chakra-threads technique … seemed utterly indifferent to all distant attacks. He floated above the ground, ignoring everything with his body. Repelled incoming projectiles solely with "Eight Trigrams – Spiral: Yin Threads" jutsu.
There, a Fireball technique flew at him, followed by Phoenix Flowers in shuriken form. The latter tried to strike from three sides at once, simultaneous with the Fireball. The pale-eyed shinobi defender didn't falter. He created eight tentacles from woven threads and repelled all Phoenix Flower charges, while throwing his own explosive-tag kunai into the Fireball. From the shuriken on the other side, he simply fended off with eight other chakra-senbon threads. Some enemy projectiles he even intercepted and sent back flying, forcing the two attackers to dodge their own kunai and shuriken. But as soon as the pair leaped back and nearly landed, senbon pierced both their legs from behind. And the second attacker, a boy-teen, got caught in a net. His arms and legs instantly bound by chakra "Yin Threads" – Weaver's knot. And pulled by "Yin Threads" like a spider draws a fly. Then the pale-eyed one instantly hurled him at the first attacker, knocking the teen girl off her feet.
"Fight over. Two / zero." The pale-eyed defender said, and helped both teens up. Started removing senbon paralysis and bruising them off.
Seconds later, from the polygon edges, first rare, then more frequent and louder applause rang out from children's palms and even adult claps.
"Thanks for the fight, Oni-san!" Almost in unison, the twins – younger brother Ryu-kun and sister Yumi-chan – said and bowed. Both teens and blood relatives of my Yuko (Peace in the Pure Land), now my clan wards – students.
"No problem, kids. How was the training? At least a bit interesting?" Ichiro Hyuga asked.
"You bet. Your defense is so dense," Ryu-kun started expressively, "shuriken don't even scratch it!"
"And kunai," his sister interrupted Ryu-kun and chattered quickly, "stick in fractions of a second! Only chisai (small) senbon do anything, and even then if heavily infused with Yang chakra."
"Good job. I see you learned the lesson. Tomorrow we'll reinforce it. Now," Ichiro sat and patted the ground with his palm, "sit down and," he turned and waved to the other training spectators, "you too, kids, come here. Plenty of space, I'll point out Ryu-kun and Yumi-chan's mistakes, then share useful info! And if you want," here the iryonin winked at the youngest Hyuga, "you'll learn a cool legend!"
"So," Ichiro addressed the dozen kids gathered around, "first, answer your question Yumi-chan. About chisai senbon infused with Yang chakra. They helped because they're very small. And as you all know, the smaller the object, the less it interacts with the world." Ichiro pulled out a kunai with senbon and compared them publicly. "See, senbon weighs less, thinner, narrower and shorter than kunai. So when infused with chakra and thrown, it flies much faster than kunai. Less air resistance acts on it, so it hits target quicker!" Ichiro emphasized "faster". "And as you know, kids, smarts, power, and speed decide nearly everything in battle! By the time kunai arrives, two senbon will have stuck in the target. And if senbon poisoned, preferably strong toxin, your foe dies almost guaranteed! Just like that."
"Clear on senbon, Ryu-kun, Yumi-chan? Rest of you?" The iryonin questioningly scanned all kids.
"Yes, Oni-san!" Unison chorus of voices.
"Then to our lecture. And yes," the iryonin interrupted himself, raising index finger overhead, "listen carefully. Could save your life! (Not everyone survives two wars – he thought to himself, aloud said), … Trust me, I know what I say!"
"So! 'Yin Element and Yang Element'. I'll tell you more," noticing kids' sad faces, iryonin clarified, "And more interesting than dusty scrolls! It'll be fun! Promise! You'll like it!" Youth perked up, some even showed interest.
"So. What are Yin and Yang Elements? We'll get it now! We've all heard of five basic natural chakra transformations into elements, which, however," Ichiro clarified, "aren't very accessible to our Hyuga clan, rare exceptions aside.
Names of those five elements: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Lightning. Five main elements in our world! So! Yin and Yang – not typical elements! Fundamentally different from main ones!
Start with: Any being, human, each of us has physical and spiritual energy. When these two merge inside us, chakra forms." For clarity, iryonin lit a blue chakra orb in left palm (with Yin inscription inside), and in right – similar but red (with Yang).
"Here, one older kid said surprised but audible. "Ichiro-san, … he can separate Life energy? Split chakra itself?"
"Of course, he's Tokubetsu Jonin and B-rank iryonin!" A pair of older shinobi squinted, activated Byakugan, then approvingly nodded.
"So. Yin and Yang Elements are release of Spiritual or Physical – your energy! Yin Element – Spiritual energy! Yang – Physical energy!
You ask, what's Physical energy – Yang Element? Right," Ichiro, for clarity, absorbed red Yang orb with right hand into stomach, after which his body covered in thin translucent red film, "this is our body, our Life, vital force. With Yang element, wounds heal, we live thereby, lift huge weights, note," iryonin raised index finger again, "ordinary people can't!
Where's Yang element used?" Ichiro asked and answered. "Well, Uzumaki clan creates 'Sealing Adamantine Chains'. Or Akimichi clan enlarges fists, even whole body. Or," here iryonin right-handed created "Mystic Palm" and with index finger demo-cut and slowly peeled skin from left elbow to wrist, exposing flesh to meat. "Iryonin can torture enemies! Or heal us and allies!" In five minutes, with right palm, Ichiro Hyuga regrew skin patch. Several sensitive girls paled and shuddered. One adult Hyuga, seeing iryonin didn't make a sound during self-flaying, clearly recalled something and grimly nodded affirmatively.
"So, you release physical - Yang energy." Iryonin continued explaining, reigniting Red Yang Energy Orb in right palm. "So, Kaguya clan from Kirigakure elongates, shoots, kills foes with bones! Orochimaru-san's body transformation and flexibility techniques. Jiraiya-san's 'Defense: Hair Fortress'. Iryoninjutsu techniques. Or Uzumaki create explosive seals from thin air with chakra! All these and others use Yang Element – Physical energy! I.e., with Yang element, transform and affect your body, or breathe life into other objects!
Clear so far, kids?" Iryonin asked. "Yes-yes, Oni-san," Yumi-chan nodded, then Ryu and other kids. "Good, glad you got it!" Ichiro smiled, winked at kids, closed eyes. "Then to fun stuff.
Yin Element – Spiritual energy. Creating Form from Nothing! All Genjutsu! Also Nara clan shadow techniques, Yamanaka mind transfer, Suna Puppet techniques, 'Chakra Thread'," here Ichiro created two blue Chakra Threads with left index and middle fingers, tossed kunai right-handed skyward, caught with Chakra Thread, juggled between Threads three meters overhead, then threw into polygon target bullseye, … "All these Yin element techniques!
"Cool!" Nearest four-year-old whispered.
"As you see," iryonin Hyuga continued, "this element is imagination-directed. Creating form from nothing!" Confirming, Ichiro made eight more threads from fingers, then with Chakra Threads formed blue orb. Next, orb to disc. Then to Chakra-Senbon. "Simply put, if you create senbon or even Kaiten defense with chakra, that's Yin element! If you manifest that senbon and leave in reality, like Third Kazekage with 'Creation of Iron Spheres' technique, that's Yang element. So illusion and Yin chakra things – Yin element! Because you create something from nothing in person's head! Or harder variant, temporarily create object in air from nothing!" Here Ichiro's chakra-threads turned to Chakra-Senbon, stabbed same bullseye. Then vanished, leaving holes in target.
"Hope you get how it works now?!" Ichiro more affirmatively asked and continued. "Let's sum up! Inside us: Spiritual and Physical energy. Yin and Yang. Merging forms chakra. Releasing one more proportionally uses Yin or Yang element. E.g.: To heal you, I use Yang element. Or Uchiha for illusion uses Yin element, maims minds. Thereby Uchiha affects chakra, through it all five senses in victim's head. So people see shown pictures. Nightmares. Believe them. Without physical contact. That's Yin element – Spiritual energy use!
However! Understand: Everyone has Physical and Spiritual energy. Many can release Yin and Yang elements. And our clan," here Ichiro smiled, gestured at kids, continued, "Hyuga, direct descendants of Hamura Otsutsuki, brother of Rikudo Sennin himself, … We can use Yin and Yang elements intuitively from birth! Balance near perfect! That's why (among other) ALL of us awaken Byakugan! Unlike Uchiha clan! Their Sharingan doesn't awaken in all Uchiha because Yin element suppresses Yang. However," Ichiro made serious face, whispered, "That's – Secret!
So now to most interesting, kids! Besides releasing Yin and Yang separately! Also, emphasize, SIMULTANEOUSLY release Yin-Yang Element! And this," here iryonin raised voice for emphasis, "radically changes things! Called Yin-Yang Element!!! When shinobi simultaneously creates Yin form – from Nonexistence, and breathes Life into it – with Yang element!
Naturally, to use unified Yin-Yang Element at high level needs incredible skill! And tons of training. Even old clans like us – Hyuga! Or Uchiha! Or Senju! Struggle for high Yin-Yang mastery.
E.g.," Ichiro tied and lifted hair with Chakra Thread overhead, cut midway through braided dread, "Now activate Byakugan and watch closely!" Both hair halves still hanging in air via Chakra Threads glowed, stretched to each other, then slowly … fused! Iryonin wiggled whole dread, smiled at kids, modestly said. "I've trained Yin-Yang Element five years, only mastered basics year ago," here Ichiro sadly smiled showing difficulty, "Lowest of Yin-Yang Element techniques! All B-rank and higher iryonin go this path! But back to Yin-Yang Element!
Even if one shinobi uses both Yin and Yang Elements! E.g. iryonin: Kurama, Nara, Uchiha, … Can heal wounds with Yang chakra and use Genjutsu with Yin chakra! But that doesn't mean you can use Yin-Yang Element!!! Hence only Two S-rank iryonin in whole World! Princess of Slugs – Tsunade Senju. And our clansman, Hyuga – Takeo-sama.
So using Yin and Yang separately … and simultaneously – Absolutely different ability levels! E.g.! Activate Byakugan again and watch. – Take chakra hair creation," Ichiro demo-created tiny ghostly hair from Chakra Thread in air, which gained volume, became real, slowly fell to ground. "You either create hair but can't breathe life into it! Or," iryonin created another ghostly Chakra-Hair and released, it vanished in air, "nowhere to breathe life! But when you use both elements simultaneously, … that's Miracle!!!" Then first hair rose to Ichiro's hairdo and grew onto others. "Tiny miracle!" Iryonin cheerfully aloud corrected. Then seriously continued.
"So First Hokage created: Houses, streets, Konoha itself, even beloved Forest of Death!" Ichiro snorted at kids' paling faces. "ALL THIS Hashirama Senju created from NOTHING!" Last words colder and louder, drawing attention to topic seriousness.
"E.g.! Chakra Yin-Yang mastery peak reached Sage of Six Paths – Hagoromo Otsutsuki, aka Rikudo Sennin! He created beings and infused Life! Thus – Nine-Tails Beasts!" Older shinobi squinted at last words. Younger tensed. Kids gaped in surprise.
"This technique," iryonin continued, "called 'Creation of All Things'! And likely with it create ANYTHING! If you have enough chakra! So Rikudo Sennin and brother Hamura altered reality, gifted humans chakra! Spent gigantic chakra! And created Moon!
Also, as some know, using Yin-Yang Element cancels any ninjutsu. This technique, weakened version, … found in our village among some Leaf shinobi." Ichiro snorted, turned head toward clan territory exit, prompting kids' favorite – honing covert spying skill.
"Well," iryonin clapped knees and stood, "that's basically all you need on Yin and Yang Elements. Just our physical and spiritual energy we release to affect world! Create something from 'Nothing' and, if desired and able, infuse that 'Nothing' creating life!
Well, kids, got what Yin and Yang Elements are?"
"Yes, Ichiro-san!" Kids chorused, eyes shining at target, ran to poke ten holes in bullseye from Chakra-Senbon. Only then, deactivating "Tvisor" and opening both eyes, Ichiro noticed more than ten kids watched. Men, women, main and branch house, many. Some indifferent, others approving. Even couple elders, one – Takeo-sama, encouragingly full-faced smiled with sly squint, approached young iryonin.
"Good job, Ichiro-kun! Well presented. Only," Takeo-sama drawled, "no need mentioning Tailed Beasts! But I get you," old man clapped young man's shoulder, "at your age loved telling truth too! Overall excellent! Keep it up! Youth needs unadulterated truth. If trouble," Takeo-sama winked, "I'll back you.
Now go! Storyteller-iryonin! Hospital, y'know, loves work. And quiet!" And old man guffawed, then coughed, leaving.
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan