When I woke up, I noticed two envelopes that had been slid under the door. Curious, I walked over and opened the first one, finding a neatly written message from Sena rescheduling our sensory training to four days later. The other letter was from Daiken, and to my surprise, it informed me that my first fuinjutsu lesson would be held this very afternoon. According to the instructions, I was to head to the Academy library but this time, into a restricted area I'd never been permitted to enter before. The letter itself would serve as my authorization.
"Alright, time to learn fuinjutsu. That should be exciting," I said out loud to myself with a smirk.
I quickly showered before going through my usual meditation session. Afterward, I cooked a decent-sized meal, eating just enough to silence my stomach and carefully storing the rest for later. Time management was crucial today. Following a solid session of lightning chakra circulation training that lasted until nearly noon, I changed into fresh clothes and hurried toward the Academy library, walking at a brisk pace that bordered on jogging, intending to arrive early and leave a good impression.
At the Academy entrance, I presented Daiken's letter to the guards. They exchanged silent glances before nodding and letting me pass without issue. Reaching the library the interior was eerily silent, empty as if abandoned. It felt unsettling, as though the place itself was frozen in time.
"Hello?" I called softly, glancing around cautiously. My voice echoed faintly, unanswered. "Echoooo," I joked, chuckling nervously to myself. The lack of any response felt increasingly strange. In mock seriousness, I said, "An idiot talking to himself in an empty library says whaaaat?"
Then, unexpectedly, a gravelly voice emerged from behind me. "What?"
I spun around, startled, my heart leaping into my throat as I nearly jumped out of my skin as I screamed. Standing there was a man who looked ancient enough to have witnessed the creation of the universe. His skin was paper-thin, deeply wrinkled like dried parchment, and his eyes sunk so deeply that they appeared as dark hollows beneath heavy, weary brows. A long white beard cascaded down his chest, and a robe draped loosely over his skeletal frame. This man didn't merely look old, he embodied age itself.
I managed to steady my trembling voice. "Hello, sir. I'm here on Daiken-sensei's instruction to learn fuinjutsu. Are you the one who will teach me?"
The ancient man sighed heavily, exhaling air that seemed as dusty as an abandoned scroll. He turned slowly, joints creaking audibly, and took a few measured steps before stopping abruptly. A long, awkward pause stretched between us. Then, as though he'd only just heard me, he said in a voice like rustling leaves, "Right. Follow me."
I swallowed hard. "Is he receiving my words with some sort of delay or something?" I wondered incredulously. Nevertheless, I obediently followed, matching his painfully slow pace. It was like escorting a sleepy turtle through molasses. Honestly, I had yet to meet a normal human being in this village.
Eventually, we reached what appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary library wall. I sighed internally, wondering if the old man had become senile and if I'd have to guide him back out to the guards myself. However, without a word, he formed a slow, deliberate hand seal. My jaw dropped as the seemingly plain wall suddenly glowed softly, revealing a hidden passage. Considering the library's external dimensions, this room should have been impossible, yet here it was, stretching out in front of me in silent defiance of spatial logic.
He shuffled inside and sat down heavily on a worn chair, turning his unsettling gaze toward me. I quickly shook off my astonishment and hurried to take the seat opposite him. Those deep, shadowy eyes scrutinized me silently for several uncomfortable moments before he spoke in a dry, brittle voice.
"Tell me, child. Why fuinjutsu?" Each word rasped as though forced through ancient vocal cords.
Without hesitation, I replied earnestly, "From what I've read, it has amazing applications. I also have a feeling that it suits me."
He considered this silently, skepticism evident on his ancient face. Eventually, he rasped, "Children do not typically learn fuinjutsu. It is highly unusual. This discipline is among the hardest to master. It demands incredible patience, unwavering dedication, and relentless effort. qualities rarely seen in young shinobi. Most only appreciate its true value later in life, by which time they have developed other specialties and lack the opportunity or resolve to truly master sealing techniques. This is precisely why true fuinjutsu masters are exceedingly rare."
I nodded firmly, replying respectfully yet confidently, "I'm sure Daiken-sensei has spoken to you about me. I promise I will dedicate myself fully to learning it."
Another drawn-out silence ensued before he finally spoke again, resignation coloring his voice. "Very well. I shall evaluate your progress regularly. If, at any point, I sense you are not genuinely committed or fail to comprehend the lessons, which I assure you will be both tedious and taxing, I will end this arrangement immediately. Are we clear?"
I nodded decisively. "Those terms are perfectly fair. What should I call you, master?"
"You may refer to me as Master Shuzo," he responded gravely, a hint of pride entering his tone at the title.
He straightened slowly, his ancient eyes burning briefly with a spark of intensity. "Listen closely, child. Fuinjutsu is the art of sealing chakra, objects, people, even abstract concepts into containers, tags, scrolls, or locations using precise chakra formulas. At its core, fuinjutsu is chakra calligraphy. You shape your chakra with absolute precision and embed it within a written seal. These seals function like encoded instructions. they react to specific conditions and execute predefined effects."
With deliberate movements, he took out a small piece of paper and began forming another hand seal, continuing his explanation, "Where ninjutsu unleashes fireballs and genjutsu deceives the senses, fuinjutsu subtly alters reality. It commands reality itself, saying, 'This kunai, concealed within the paper, will now emerge,' and reality obeys, provided the seal is flawless."
As he infused his chakra into the seal, a kunai materialized abruptly, hovering momentarily before dropping gently onto the table. My mind nearly exploded from astonishment. Even though I'd understood this principle theoretically from long-ago memories, witnessing it firsthand was utterly breathtaking. Despite my own mastery of lightning chakra, this simple demonstration somehow felt even more surreal.
Noticing my stunned reaction, Master Shuzo allowed himself a fleeting, knowing smile before resuming his stern demeanor. "The seals themselves are not magic. they are intricate chakra constructs written through ink, geometric precision, and purposeful design. Every stroke, swirl, and character has its function. A single error renders the entire seal useless."
I nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of his words. "I'm ready to begin, Master Shuzo."
Pleased by my sincerity, he inclined his head slightly. "Good. Before sealing anything, you must first master the brush. You will use your chakra in combination with specialized ink. The brush must become an extension of your will. Pay close attention. your training begins now."