NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: The Price of Precision
The classroom was unusually quiet. Today's lesson was on the Henge no Jutsu (Transformation Technique), a foundational ninjutsu skill. While simple on the surface, I knew it demanded a precise understanding of chakra manipulation.
"Form the necessary hand seals and focus on the person or object you wish to transform into," the instructor explained. "The better your control, the more convincing your transformation will be."
As the first few students tried and struggled, I analyzed the process. Subtle shifts in chakra flow determined the success of the jutsu. Too much, and the transformation would flicker. Too little, and details would be missing.
When my name was called, I walked to the front of the class, calm and focused.
"Transform into me," the instructor said with a smirk.
A challenge. Perfect.
I formed the seals, visualizing his appearance in detail—the scar above his brow, the slightly worn edges of his uniform, the faint scruff on his chin. Channeling my chakra carefully, I activated the jutsu.
Gasps echoed through the room as I stood there, an almost perfect copy of the instructor.
"Impressive," he said, inspecting me closely. "But…" He reached out and tugged at my sleeve. "Your left cuff is slightly torn. You missed that detail."
I nodded, releasing the transformation. Even small mistakes could be costly.
After class, I stayed behind. The instructor approached me, arms crossed.
"You've got potential, but you focus too much on precision," he said. "Sometimes, speed matters more than perfection."
His words stuck with me as I left the academy. Precision had always been my strength, but he had a point.
That evening, I set up a mirror in my room and began practicing.
"Speed over perfection," I muttered, forming the seals as quickly as I could. My first attempts were sloppy—a flickering image of myself, distorted and incomplete.
Frustrated, I paused to gather my thoughts.
"If speed is the goal, then accuracy must come second… but not by much."
Adjusting my approach, I tried again, this time focusing on minimizing chakra usage while still creating a convincing image. Slowly, the transformations improved, becoming faster and more stable.
The next morning at the academy, the instructor announced a surprise exercise.
"You'll each transform into me and try to fool your classmates. If they guess correctly, you fail."
The room buzzed with nervous energy as students lined up. When my turn came, I stepped forward, confident in my preparation.
After transforming into the instructor, I stood among the other students, mimicking his posture and mannerisms.
One by one, the others guessed, but none pointed me out.
"Grant passes," the instructor declared.
A small victory, but an important one. Every lesson, every challenge, brought me closer to understanding the nuances of chakra and how it could shape the future I envisioned.
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