The initial despair that had threatened to consume him, the fear of being forever mediocre in a world defined by elemental mastery, was slowly giving way to a nascent, exhilarating hope.
Ishiki, Hashirama, had said, his deep, rumbling voice cutting through the silence, There are several powerful jutsu that require absolutely no elemental affinity.
You can still become incredibly strong.
Madara, ever the pragmatist, nodded in agreement, though a faint smirk played on his lips. Don't get ahead of yourself, boy.
But he speaks the truth.
There are paths.
The possibilities began to unfold in the boy's mind.
The three fundamental techniques, the very foundation upon which every ninja career was built, required only precise chakra control, not elemental manipulation.
These were the Henge no Jutsu (Transformation), the Kawarimi no Jutsu (Body Replacement), and the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone).
Beyond the basics, there were the specialized paths. He could dedicate himself to medical ninjutsu, a path that led to healing skills and chakra-enhanced abilities, much like the legendary Tsunade, whose monstrous strength stemmed from masterful chakra control and release, not an elemental affinity.
And then there was the Rasengan, a vortex of pure, spiralling chakra created by the Fourth Hokage, a jutsu so potent it could rival elemental-based attacks.
Finally, there's also senjutsu.
He got hope, not as a fleeting wish, but as a carefully calculated vision for his future path. He wasn't crippled; he was simply being forced to be creative.
Both Hashirama and Madara, interpreting his long silence as a sign of dejection, exchanged worried glances. Hashirama, with his typical warmth, called him over.
"Look here," Hashirama began, demonstrating a quick sequence of hand signs that shimmered into a perfect replica of Madara, who promptly scoffed.
"These three basic jutsu," he said, dissolving the clone, they are the backbone of all ninja training. And they do not require any elemental affinity at all.
The boy looked at them, a genuine, strong smile finally breaking through his earlier worry.
Thank you.
Truly, thank you.
And please, don't worry.
I'm not dejected.
In fact, it's the opposite. Even though I have no affinity, I know I can still become strong.
He paused, his smile widening into a confident, almost mischievous grin.
"Maybe, in time, even stronger than both of you."
Hashirama let out a sigh of profound relief, a visible weight lifting from his massive shoulders.
Madara, meanwhile, rolled his eyes dramatically.
"In your dreams, child," he retorted, but the stern words were betrayed by the unmistakable warmth of a smile playing on his lips.
The tension in the glade completely vanished.
With that, they both began the instruction, their voices a synchronized counterpoint of wisdom and experience, initiating the boy's true ninja journey.
First, the Shadow Clone Jutsu (Kage Bunshin no Jutsu),"Hashirama instructed, his hands moving with impossible speed.
"This technique creates a physical clone of yourself, sharing your chakra. It's a fantastic tool for training, as all experience gained by the clone returns to the original."
Madara took over.
Next is the Transformation Jutsu (Henge no Jutsu).
The simplest of the three. With this, you can alter your appearance, transforming yourself into anything or anyone. It is a critical tool for infiltration and deception.
And finally, Hashirama concluded, the Body Replacement Jutsu (Kawarimi no Jutsu).
When you are about to be struck, you replace your body with a nearby object, a stone, a log, anything. It's an essential defensive manoeuvre, often saving a ninja's life.
They meticulously explained the necessary hand seals, the required level of chakra focus, and the specific training regimens needed to master each one.
The boy absorbed the knowledge like a dry sponge.
He spent the rest of the day training with the two legendary figures, pushing himself to the brink.
The concentrated food gadget, a strange device that could instantly materialize highly condensed rations, became his constant companion, allowing him to push past physical exhaustion and rapidly replenish his spent chakra reserves.
He arrived home as the twilight deepened, utterly exhausted but deeply satisfied.
He finished his training, took a quick, cold bath to shock his muscles, and collapsed onto his bed.
As he lay there, reviewing the momentous events of the day, he instinctively opened the system panel that only he could see.
-----STATUS
Name: Ishiki
Age: 12
Chakra: 46/46
Strength: 23
Ninjutsu:
Shadow Clone (Kage Bunshin no Jutsu): Entry
Transformation (Henge no Jutsu): Entry
Body Replacement (Kawarimi no Jutsu): Entry
Taijutsu: Beginner
Genjutsu: None
Elemental Affinity: None
He had finally begun his ninja journey in this strange, beautiful, and dangerous world.
He was no longer a helpless outsider; he now possessed the fundamental tools and the core strength required to begin building a life, a life where he could one day protect those he cared about.
As he was contemplating the long, difficult road ahead, a subtle glow on the system panel caught his eye. A section was flickering.
He focused on it curiously, a rush of adrenaline overcoming his exhaustion. A NEW GADGET UNLOCKED. He sat up abruptly and eagerly opened the notification.