Ryu stared at the trembling carbon structure on his palms as he thought, "Five days and still no progress. The molecular structure at a microscopic level was very hard, even if he could perfectly imagine it."
He then wiped his hands with a tissue and cleaned the carbon dust he had on his hands. He thought, "Maybe I'm approaching this backward. Should I try learning earth affinity before that? I should do it. I was planning to learn all the basics of all nature's affinities anyway."
The class ended, and Ryu and others went outside for Taijutsu class. On the way, he thought about his next phase of training.
Ryu said to himself, "I don't need hand seals for Ninjutsu. If I don't learn all nature manipulation, then I am giving up on one of my unique advantages. Even though I fake hand signs, I actually don't need to form any hand signs once I learn a jutsu and make myself familiar with it."
"Ok, let's learn earth affinity first; I will try water next. Both deal with physical substance manipulation. Experience in controlling physical matter should help me with carbon control. I will also need to raise my chakra shape manipulation skills if I want Carbon Control Jutsu to become perfect."
Just then a small hummingbird appeared before him.
Ryu thought, 'Wait— is this the one I healed back then?'
He extended a cautious hand. Ryu was surprised to see him again. The bird landed on his hand, and Ryu observed him up close and found patches of ruby red that seemed to change colour between red and white when it moved depending on the angle of light bouncing off the bird.
Ryu said, "Red and white feathers; he is just like my hair. But last time he was all white."
The albino bird was previously all white, just like Ryu before his Uzumaki lineage awakened.
Ryu thought, "Did he come to thank me?"
The bird then sits on Ryu's head and shocks him with a spark of lightning. Ryu was surprised and said, "A lightning hummingbird."
Just then the bird came near him and then vanished in a crackle of electricity.
"Wha—?!" Ryu said in shock as the bird disappeared and reappeared inches from his nose.
"Lightning Body Flicker?" Ryu said, smiling.
That was something that even Ryu could not do at the moment. When he attempted to mimic the technique, his muscles screamed in protest. For such a feat, one needs to have mastery over the lighting element, both nature and shape manipulation, and must have a strong body to resist the negative effects of high-intensity lightning on the body.
Ryu tried it but soon found out that he could only poorly imitate it, and that too with [Super Heal] active all the time. And without his [Super Heal], he will burn inside out.
Ryu thought, "This little guy can use lightning body flicker? It must be due to the unique composition of hummingbirds. They are naturally fast."
Ryu looked at the bird and said, "Your biology's built for this. But why are you showing off?"
Ryu sensed his chakra and said, "I can sense your chakra now, and it's similar to mine. Is this the reason you have a lightning affinity? You took my chakra as your own. But it was pure healing chakra, then how?"
Ryu thought, "Chakra resonance? Is this the reason the summoning animals are different from wild animals? Do they evolve using the chakra of their summoner?"
Ryu thought about chakra resonance and the benefits of having a small and lightning-fast bird as a summoning animal.
Ryu thought, "Even with lightning affinity, he would be useless in battle due to his small size unless he plans to use his body as bullets."
"But what if I copy Itachi's signature [Crow Clone Jutsu]?"
He had a flashback of the jutsu and thought about how cool it is.
Ryu then said, "I need a big number of these little guys.
Let's calculate. Two eggs thrice a year... non-monogamous pairs…"
He scribbled calculations in his mind. "Start with six pairs. Each produces six eggs annually. 80% survival rate gives me... twenty-eight new scouts by winter."
"It is not enough. I need between 100 to 200 at least." Ryu smirked. "I guess I have to take care of your kids to help them survive and mature fast."
Ryu asked, "Want to team up with me? Big guy?"
The bird used its beak and hit his palm, trying to answer him.
Ryu then said, "You seem intelligent also. I may have to teach you Morse code so that we can have a complex conversation."
The bird went cosy and snuggled with Ryu's hand. Saya, who was watching Ryu, came near him and asked what he was doing.
She was the bird and said, "Stop talking to birds and get over here!"
Startled, the hummingbird vanished in a flash. Saya exclaimed, "It flew so fast."
Ryu thought, "He'll be back. Once I rig the backyard with nesting stations, he'll be the perfect scout.
Sorry, Itachi, but I am going to steal your [Crow-Clone Jutsu] and make it mine.
I can also teach them to use a communication device to send Morse code. Straight to me. That is also hard to catch, so I don't have to worry about it. I doubt even the fourth Raikage can catch this little bird.
I have my one summoning animal finalised. That is one problem solved. Now I only have to get the contract for the Shhikutoskyu forest, but I doubt Aunty Tsunade will hand it over so soon."
Ryu finished the physical activity of Taijutsu class and went straight home.
Dan was there with his bounty poster. Dan passed it to Ryu.
"They could've used my good side," Dan complained, flapping the parchment. "Look at these angles—it makes me look old."
Ryu replied, "You are older than the village elders; you know that, right?"
Dan replied, "Even then, I am still better looking than all of them combined."
Ryu asked, "You are not worried?"
Dan replied, "Me? I've got ANBU guards and a home office.
I rarely get out of the village anyway, and with the company's headquarters being shifted to Leaf next year. I can always work from home.
But you... I am more worried about you. Even unnamed, you're a target by association."
Ryu waved him off. "I'm village-bound till I graduate. Plus, the bounty does not mention me."
Dan replied, "Even then. We should be more careful."
Ryu then said, "Grandpa, I need your help again. I need to train in earth-nature."
Dan said, "Training in the second element before mastering the first may not be beneficial."
Ryu replied, "I need it to aid in Yyuki's treatment."
Dan said, "Treatment using earth affinity? That's strange."
Ryu replied, "Earth affinity is to help me get accustomed to handling solid material I am going to use to reinforce his bones.
If I can manipulate solid matter, then I can also use a special body-compatible material to increase the density of his bones. I also need to train chakra shape manipulation to the highest level."
Dan said, "Earth nature manipulation and chakra shape manipulation. Hmmm….
Ok, I have got you covered. Give me some time; I will be prepared to test your secondary affinity. And for chakra shape manipulation, I have something in mind, but for that I require permission from Hiruzen.
He will grant me permission once I tell him it's for you."
Ryu then asked, "Also, could you teach Yyuki water affinity? It is also to help his condition."
Dan asked, "How will it help him with Brittle Bone Syndrome?"
Ryu said, "I had a few ideas from the hydration jutsu of the Hozuki clan of the Mist Village."
Dan asked, "You want to copy their hydration technique? It won't be easy."
Ryu replied, "No, I don't want to copy it. I have something different in mind; I will tell you later. Can you teach him water affinity?"
Dan denied it and said, "No. Wait for permission from the Lord Daimyo. There are still no words from Ikkyu?"
Ryu told him, "Ok. I would wait but be ready for it. I also want your help in training Yasashi to become a fuinjutsu seal master so that he may help you with the seals we haven't sold to others and are making ourselves.
Yasashii is a dwarf, and training him in taijutsu is pretty much useless. I would make a new training regime to learn fuinjutsu faster and make it simpler than the regular fuinjutsu system."
Dan said, "Yes, it would be a good idea. He is a blank slate and smart too, and he will really learn the new system you have come up with. Those new logics are hard for old grandmasters who had spent a lifetime on old logics."
Ryu then said, "I am also working on a new way for fuinjutsu slotting and activation that has never been seen in this world. I plan to give it to you and Yasashii, but it will take time. So for now, become familiar with my new system for fuinjutsu."
Ryu had so much on his plate, but he had Dan to help him train his future warriors.
"Okay, I will be in the workshop now." Ryu said and left.
A/N: Please donate some power stones and cheer me up, and leave a review if you liked the story so far. If possible, please support me on Patreon.