Chapter 41: Grasping Chakra Flow · Fire Release
In the blink of an eye, afternoon had arrived.
This period was designated for free activities.
Asuma Sarutobi approached Seiji.
A crowd had already gathered around them, full of curiosity. Beyond taijutsu, they were eager to know what else this Uchiha was capable of.
In all his sparring matches over the past few months, Seiji had relied solely on taijutsu to claim victory.
Even Might Guy had started calling Seiji his kindred spirit, always pestering him to "burn with the flames of youth" together.
---
"Kurenai, you're really confident in Seiji, aren't you?" Rin Nohara asked softly, her lips glistening under the afternoon sun, every detail delicately visible.
"I can't speak for everything, but when it comes to genjutsu, Seiji's understanding is truly extraordinary," Kurenai replied, glancing back at her.
She still remembered how Rin had gone to find Seiji late one evening not long ago. Who knew what they were doing?
---
"I see." Rin nodded. The theories Seiji had shared with her were indeed helpful. She'd had a long talk about them with Kakashi afterward.
It had been a while since she'd seen Kakashi show that much interest in anything.
Rin wanted to continue seeking Seiji's guidance, but she was hesitant.
He learned things so quickly; she usually had to explain something only once, and the rest he grasped on his own soon after.
But when it came to learning Lightning Release herself, she felt far less confident—it might take her a long time.
"Kurenai, do you know what Seiji likes?" Rin asked, deciding to win him over through shared interests.
"Why are you asking that?" Kurenai blinked in surprise.
Before Rin could answer, Seiji's match with Asuma was already about to begin.
The two girls turned their attention toward the field.
---
"Let's begin," Seiji said calmly, his eyes fixed on Asuma.
In front of his vision, a faint panel appeared and disappeared:
[Trait: Apprentice Genjutsu Ninja (White)]
Condition: Use a basic genjutsu (Completed)
Effect: Your innate talent in genjutsu is increased by 10%
Note: Can be upgraded.
It was a trait Seiji had acquired a few nights ago.
After reaching the entry level of Lightning Release: Blazing Flash, he had received this genjutsu-related trait, which boosted his talent in the art.
---
"Remember—no Sharingan," Asuma reminded him before the match began.
Seiji nodded.
Asuma glanced at Kurenai, who was watching, along with a group of other classmates eager for a good show.
Without wasting time, he extracted chakra, formed hand seals, and locked eyes with Seiji.
In genjutsu, the key was to strike first.
Asuma suddenly noticed a brief flash of light in Seiji's palm—something reflective.
A kunai?
He felt a flicker of doubt but quickly pushed it aside.
What mattered most was seizing the moment.
If he could catch Uchiha Seiji in the genjutsu first, he'd gain a significant advantage.
---
From the ground, two thick tree branches twisted upward, wrapping around Seiji and trapping him.
"Got him!" Asuma grinned inwardly.
This genjutsu had been taught to him personally by his uncle. It was said to be a favorite technique in his youth.
A variation of the B-rank genjutsu Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death, this one was D-rank, called Demonic Illusion: Branch Binding Death.
Thick tree trunks burst from the ground, bark rough and textured, coiling tightly around Seiji's arms and legs. Asuma couldn't help but smile.
"Looks like I've got some talent in genjutsu after all, right, Kurenai?" He turned toward her with a proud expression.
"…Kurenai?"
He noticed she hadn't moved at all.
In fact, none of the surrounding students had moved—they all stood frozen, like wooden dummies.
"What the… what's going on?"
Sarutobi Asuma suddenly felt a wave of unease.
He began to glance around, searching for something—anything—that felt real.
The drifting clouds above had come to a complete halt.
The once noisy training field had fallen into utter silence. At some point, it seemed as if the entire world had emptied, leaving only him behind.
Finally, just as Asuma was on the verge of bolting from the training ground—
A familiar voice echoed in his ear.
"Asuma Sarutobi, at what point did you begin to believe you were the one casting a genjutsu?"
His pupils contracted sharply.
That voice… it was Seiji's!
Crack.
A faint sound like shattering glass rang in his ears.
A chill crept up the back of Asuma's neck.
He glanced down.
A black kunai was pressed to his throat.
---
"…I lost," Asuma admitted bitterly.
To be honest, he didn't even understand how it happened.
---
"Why did Asuma just freeze like that?"
"Seiji casually walked up and put a kunai to his neck!"
"You must've fallen asleep in class. That was clearly genjutsu. We wouldn't be able to see the genjutsu battle anyway."
"Ah, that makes sense."
"Uchiha Seiji really is from the Uchiha clan, huh…"
Some students now looked at Seiji with newfound respect.
Just a few months ago, he had been considered a foreigner—an outsider, a half-blood Uchiha.
But now, whether it was taijutsu, ninjutsu, or genjutsu, Seiji's talent was undeniable—comparable even to Kakashi, who had graduated early.
Public opinion of Seiji had shifted.
No one wanted to offend someone destined to become a powerhouse.
---
"Useless!" Obito growled internally, glaring at Asuma with barely restrained frustration.
Kurenai was right there, and yet Asuma had lost in such an embarrassing way?
Even if it had been him instead, he wouldn't have been taken out so fast.
"…Can I ask how I lost?"
Asuma's face was flushed with shame, but he held himself back from fleeing the scene.
He needed to understand where he went wrong.
"You were caught in the genjutsu from the very beginning," Seiji replied as he withdrew his kunai.
In his mind, a notification panel appeared:
---
[You've gained a Trait: Chakra Flow · Fire Release (White)]
Condition Fulfilled: Defeat a young Sarutobi Asuma
Progress: 100%
Effect: You've learned to imbue Fire Release chakra into weapons via Chakra Flow
Note: Can be upgraded.
---
Seiji's eyes narrowed slightly.
This white-grade trait, in his opinion, was even better than the green-grade ones.
"Chakra Flow" referred to the ability to coat chakra onto one's body—hands, feet, even hair—or directly onto weapons.
For example, the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists technique from the Gentle Fist style was essentially a form of chakra flow.
In simple terms, it was like "enchanting" a weapon—adding effects through chakra.
In the future, even Asuma himself would regularly channel wind-nature chakra into his trench knives. That process, too, was known as Chakra Flow.
Special metals just made the transmission easier.
---
"You were too focused on my eyes," Seiji continued patiently, seeing value in teaching this "second ATM."
"And because of that, you completely ignored my hands."
He raised his hand—his fingertips began to glow with light.
Lightning Release: Blazing Flash!