1 Many Small Lies [Learning Fuuinjutsu/Training/Private] Sat May 20, 2017 5:43 pm
Shinako
D-rank
‘Congratulations on your selection to the Konohagakure Sealing Corps. I hope that you will find this forward informative and helpful in the commencement of your studies:
Not much can be said for what Fuuinjutsu is and is not. The applications of the skill are concrete, though not every Shinobi will find them useful. Not every Shinobi will find that they are capable of performing Fuuinjutsu techniques. It is one thing to know sealing techniques, and another thing entirely to be a Fuuinjutsu master. Fuuinjutsu is born of the notion that the laws of energy governing our physical world are not as separate as they seem. The physical, spiritual, and mental all converge at points that can be manipulated by those who know where to look. This practice takes time and devotion to learn, and requires that practitioners disabuse themselves of common limitations that bind other Jutsu. By their nature, Fuuinjutsu must be executed meticulously to perform their functions safely and efficiently, making the learning of such techniques prohibitively difficult to most Shinobi. I warn you, dear student, that the powers I describe do not come cheaply. There are reasons that Fuuinjutsu curricula are taught as precisely as they are. Misadventures such as skipping around, losing focus, or lack of guidance can all be extremely dangerous. There are certain energies and techniques which are too powerful for one Shinobi alone.
Dear Student: If you do not maintain careful control, your studies in Fuuinjutsu will turn against you. They will consume you, or kill you, or worse. See to it that you stay on the path, or you might be something else when you emerge on the other side.
-Uzumaki Kushina, from The Art of Losing—A Beginner’s Guide to Fuuinjutsu’
The scent of old paper and ink pervaded the senses this deep in the bowels of the Ninja Academy building. Down past the libraries where more rudimentary Shinobi techniques were catalogued, deep in the embrace of the dark earth, with only the light of torches to work by, Konohagakure’s summoners and sealers came to perfect their art. Even as the flames blazed, their light seemed to shed no heat. Beneath a layer of protective wards to protect the higher levels from explosion or collapse, the sealing rooms seemed unnaturally still and quiet. Very few would ever see them, and fewer still would master the knowledge contained therein.
This was only Shinako’s third visit. Her Jounin mentor, Hyuuga Hakusho, had informed her that she was to follow the Uzumaki method for learning basic seals, and not to deviate. That catalogue began with Kushina’s book. Of course, Hakusho himself had studied in the hidden Hyuuga method, and would be of little help. This was not unusual. Mentors in sealing were little more than a comforting formality. With few exceptions, the learning of Fuuinjutsu was a largely individual effort, requiring lonely hours spent at practice to learn even the most rudimentary techniques. True, nearly every Shinobi could perform the generic item sealing technique, but this study was aimed at learning how such feats were performed; something else entirely.
Even the average Shinobi of Special Jounin rank was considered highly proficient in a wide array of skills, but it was no great shame to prove unskilled in Fuuinjutsu. Of even the most talented Ninja, few would prove resourceful, obsessive, and unfortunate enough to delve into the art in its true form. Despite being only a few days into her studies, Shinako was already learning how difficult and taxing the discipline could be. Fuuinjutsu required a sense of action and purpose not terribly distinct from her Inton conversions, but with one significant difference. Shadow techniques required their user to ‘feel’ their way into a sustained pool of Yin release. Knowing the steps was generally enough. However, as Hakusho had explained, and much to Shinako’s chagrin, Fuuinjutsu required a sense of clarity and certainty free of emotion. It required a knowledge of physical, spiritual, and mental circumstances with a sense of distance. Inton techniques were an act of the heart. Sealing techniques were acts of sheer willpower. Even an experienced Fuuinjutsu master could go through the motions, only to see their technique fail without the proper sense of volition.
Once the practitioner was of an orthodox demeanor and mindset, the challenging part could begin. Shinako’s past few days had been spent at a heavy wooden desk essentially rearranging everything she knew about casting Jutsu. So much of what she knew about Shinobi techniques was internal; the mixing of spiritual and physical energies to achieve a desired result with chakra. Never before had she been so worried about surrounding circumstances. It was like learning an entirely separate language. Most Shinobi learned powerful techniques, and then endeavored to apply them in a broad range of situations. Such a thing was not always desirable or even possible in the practice of Fuuinjutsu. Even the most minute circumstances could determine the success or failure of sealing and summoning techniques.
Here was a challenge unlike any Shinako had ever faced. Lying on the open concrete floor was a single Kunai knife alongside a scroll. She had but to seal the knife into the scroll, and her initiation into the sealing curriculum would be complete. However, a seal had been placed on the room, blocking her use of the generic sealing technique by ‘breaking’ a portion of the physical mechanic which allowed the technique to function in this area. To remove the seal, she would have to delve into the mechanics of sealing enough to run a diagnostic. Of course, she had tried to simply deploy the technique in the fashion she had practiced before, to test the premise of the technique. It had revealed that the fundamental truth underlying Fuuinjutsu was true: Those who believe in nothing, can have nothing. In these books, she would find something to believe in.
Something about the circumstances of the room had been changed. Circumstances, for the purposes of Fuuinjutsu, could often be circumvented by changing formulae, or by ‘brute force’ with enough application of chakra. For most techniques, however, there were some circumstances which had to be known and accounted for. They were broken down into four categories: Major, Minor, Tertiary, and Quaternary. Somewhat paradoxically, the Major Circumstances were often the least important to know, as they were the most difficult to change. Things like the corporeal nature of the object, its existence on a certain plane, or whether it was subject to the law of gravity all fell under the category of Major Circumstances. Minor Circumstances were somewhat more mutable characteristics, but still relatively broad and readily discernible; material or elemental composition, the weight of a thing, how much chakra it contained, etc. Shinako seriously doubted that Hakusho had been able to change any Major or Minor Circumstances for the purposes of this test.
No. The real art lay in divining the smaller details. Altitude, Age, Position of the Star Signs, Phase of the Moon, and the Nearest Body of Water were all Tertiary Circumstances. Some were more difficult to manipulate than others, and Shinako had studied their effect on the generic sealing technique over the past few days. The results were not promising. She could not, for instance, think of a way that Hyuuga Hakusho had tricked this room into thinking that the Kunai knife was at a different altitude. She had thought of a hidden body of water, but all of the texts assured her that such a thing would have to be at least the size of a notable lake to have any effect on the outcome of her technique. Putting a bowl of water in the corner would not suffice to change the underlying circumstances. Shinako closed the heavy book before her with a sigh.
The Kunoichi rubbed at her eyes to soothe the dull ache that was building there. She tilted her head back and considered breaking for lunch. Many of the instructional texts warned against becoming over-fatigued while practicing, though she doubted that what she was doing could actually be considered practice. The eventual mastery of every technique required a period of research and evaluation. Most of the accidents the texts warned of occurred when Shinobi lost focus during the application phase. The sandwich she had packed would probably provide a welcome respite from the tedium she was facing.
For the first time, Shinako became very aware that her shadow was strong here, against the shifting light of the torches. She thought that maybe all of her prior knowledge was acting as an anchor, holding her down, keeping her back from the objective heights she would need to reach the level of clarity necessary for Fuuinjutsu. Perhaps her understanding was too shrouded in shadow to be of any use. Shinako stood, casting a determined gaze down at the red vellum cover of Kushina’s book. It wouldn’t defeat her. She was determined to succeed at least in this small task, even if her skill did not prove enough to join the corps.
1,500/1,500
Not much can be said for what Fuuinjutsu is and is not. The applications of the skill are concrete, though not every Shinobi will find them useful. Not every Shinobi will find that they are capable of performing Fuuinjutsu techniques. It is one thing to know sealing techniques, and another thing entirely to be a Fuuinjutsu master. Fuuinjutsu is born of the notion that the laws of energy governing our physical world are not as separate as they seem. The physical, spiritual, and mental all converge at points that can be manipulated by those who know where to look. This practice takes time and devotion to learn, and requires that practitioners disabuse themselves of common limitations that bind other Jutsu. By their nature, Fuuinjutsu must be executed meticulously to perform their functions safely and efficiently, making the learning of such techniques prohibitively difficult to most Shinobi. I warn you, dear student, that the powers I describe do not come cheaply. There are reasons that Fuuinjutsu curricula are taught as precisely as they are. Misadventures such as skipping around, losing focus, or lack of guidance can all be extremely dangerous. There are certain energies and techniques which are too powerful for one Shinobi alone.
Dear Student: If you do not maintain careful control, your studies in Fuuinjutsu will turn against you. They will consume you, or kill you, or worse. See to it that you stay on the path, or you might be something else when you emerge on the other side.
-Uzumaki Kushina, from The Art of Losing—A Beginner’s Guide to Fuuinjutsu’
The scent of old paper and ink pervaded the senses this deep in the bowels of the Ninja Academy building. Down past the libraries where more rudimentary Shinobi techniques were catalogued, deep in the embrace of the dark earth, with only the light of torches to work by, Konohagakure’s summoners and sealers came to perfect their art. Even as the flames blazed, their light seemed to shed no heat. Beneath a layer of protective wards to protect the higher levels from explosion or collapse, the sealing rooms seemed unnaturally still and quiet. Very few would ever see them, and fewer still would master the knowledge contained therein.
This was only Shinako’s third visit. Her Jounin mentor, Hyuuga Hakusho, had informed her that she was to follow the Uzumaki method for learning basic seals, and not to deviate. That catalogue began with Kushina’s book. Of course, Hakusho himself had studied in the hidden Hyuuga method, and would be of little help. This was not unusual. Mentors in sealing were little more than a comforting formality. With few exceptions, the learning of Fuuinjutsu was a largely individual effort, requiring lonely hours spent at practice to learn even the most rudimentary techniques. True, nearly every Shinobi could perform the generic item sealing technique, but this study was aimed at learning how such feats were performed; something else entirely.
Even the average Shinobi of Special Jounin rank was considered highly proficient in a wide array of skills, but it was no great shame to prove unskilled in Fuuinjutsu. Of even the most talented Ninja, few would prove resourceful, obsessive, and unfortunate enough to delve into the art in its true form. Despite being only a few days into her studies, Shinako was already learning how difficult and taxing the discipline could be. Fuuinjutsu required a sense of action and purpose not terribly distinct from her Inton conversions, but with one significant difference. Shadow techniques required their user to ‘feel’ their way into a sustained pool of Yin release. Knowing the steps was generally enough. However, as Hakusho had explained, and much to Shinako’s chagrin, Fuuinjutsu required a sense of clarity and certainty free of emotion. It required a knowledge of physical, spiritual, and mental circumstances with a sense of distance. Inton techniques were an act of the heart. Sealing techniques were acts of sheer willpower. Even an experienced Fuuinjutsu master could go through the motions, only to see their technique fail without the proper sense of volition.
Once the practitioner was of an orthodox demeanor and mindset, the challenging part could begin. Shinako’s past few days had been spent at a heavy wooden desk essentially rearranging everything she knew about casting Jutsu. So much of what she knew about Shinobi techniques was internal; the mixing of spiritual and physical energies to achieve a desired result with chakra. Never before had she been so worried about surrounding circumstances. It was like learning an entirely separate language. Most Shinobi learned powerful techniques, and then endeavored to apply them in a broad range of situations. Such a thing was not always desirable or even possible in the practice of Fuuinjutsu. Even the most minute circumstances could determine the success or failure of sealing and summoning techniques.
Here was a challenge unlike any Shinako had ever faced. Lying on the open concrete floor was a single Kunai knife alongside a scroll. She had but to seal the knife into the scroll, and her initiation into the sealing curriculum would be complete. However, a seal had been placed on the room, blocking her use of the generic sealing technique by ‘breaking’ a portion of the physical mechanic which allowed the technique to function in this area. To remove the seal, she would have to delve into the mechanics of sealing enough to run a diagnostic. Of course, she had tried to simply deploy the technique in the fashion she had practiced before, to test the premise of the technique. It had revealed that the fundamental truth underlying Fuuinjutsu was true: Those who believe in nothing, can have nothing. In these books, she would find something to believe in.
Something about the circumstances of the room had been changed. Circumstances, for the purposes of Fuuinjutsu, could often be circumvented by changing formulae, or by ‘brute force’ with enough application of chakra. For most techniques, however, there were some circumstances which had to be known and accounted for. They were broken down into four categories: Major, Minor, Tertiary, and Quaternary. Somewhat paradoxically, the Major Circumstances were often the least important to know, as they were the most difficult to change. Things like the corporeal nature of the object, its existence on a certain plane, or whether it was subject to the law of gravity all fell under the category of Major Circumstances. Minor Circumstances were somewhat more mutable characteristics, but still relatively broad and readily discernible; material or elemental composition, the weight of a thing, how much chakra it contained, etc. Shinako seriously doubted that Hakusho had been able to change any Major or Minor Circumstances for the purposes of this test.
No. The real art lay in divining the smaller details. Altitude, Age, Position of the Star Signs, Phase of the Moon, and the Nearest Body of Water were all Tertiary Circumstances. Some were more difficult to manipulate than others, and Shinako had studied their effect on the generic sealing technique over the past few days. The results were not promising. She could not, for instance, think of a way that Hyuuga Hakusho had tricked this room into thinking that the Kunai knife was at a different altitude. She had thought of a hidden body of water, but all of the texts assured her that such a thing would have to be at least the size of a notable lake to have any effect on the outcome of her technique. Putting a bowl of water in the corner would not suffice to change the underlying circumstances. Shinako closed the heavy book before her with a sigh.
The Kunoichi rubbed at her eyes to soothe the dull ache that was building there. She tilted her head back and considered breaking for lunch. Many of the instructional texts warned against becoming over-fatigued while practicing, though she doubted that what she was doing could actually be considered practice. The eventual mastery of every technique required a period of research and evaluation. Most of the accidents the texts warned of occurred when Shinobi lost focus during the application phase. The sandwich she had packed would probably provide a welcome respite from the tedium she was facing.
For the first time, Shinako became very aware that her shadow was strong here, against the shifting light of the torches. She thought that maybe all of her prior knowledge was acting as an anchor, holding her down, keeping her back from the objective heights she would need to reach the level of clarity necessary for Fuuinjutsu. Perhaps her understanding was too shrouded in shadow to be of any use. Shinako stood, casting a determined gaze down at the red vellum cover of Kushina’s book. It wouldn’t defeat her. She was determined to succeed at least in this small task, even if her skill did not prove enough to join the corps.
1,500/1,500