Chapter 40: Genjutsu Training
After reviewing each scroll, he reached a conclusion:
"Most of the techniques documented here have limited practical combat applications. They're essentially just different methods and scenarios for applying genjutsu principles. I think skilled practitioners like Itachi or even Kurenai could easily adapt and use them after a single reading."
All in all, Kaito had no intention of becoming a true genjutsu master. With the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan in existence, such aspirations seemed rather pointless.
He only wanted to learn how to effectively counter genjutsu and perhaps master the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique that Hashirama or Tobirama had created specifically to counter the Sharingan.
However, he suspected those were likely B-rank or A-rank genjutsu techniques.
So Kaito decided he should start with simpler techniques first—beginning with the E-rank Mist Servant Technique and the D-rank Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique.
The Mist Servant Technique creates illusory duplicates that make everything the opponent sees appear doubled. Therefore, it's quite useful for applying psychological pressure and disrupting an opponent's perception.
And the Hell Viewing Technique was the genjutsu Kakashi famously used on Sakura during the bell test.
Next, he studied how the Mist Servant Technique was properly executed. He also reviewed several scrolls focused on methods for countering genjutsu.
Then, as usual, he traveled to a secluded training forest.
Genjutsu training cannot be conducted alone. Someone needs to be the target of the genjutsu. Otherwise, the results would be completely impossible to evaluate. So he created a Shadow Clone to practice on.
Kaito's training plan was straightforward:
He would attempt to cast genjutsu on his Shadow Clone.
Once the clone dispersed, he would receive all the memories and experiences the Shadow Clone went through, as well as develop his ability to cast genjutsu.
Moreover, the Shadow Clone would actively try to resist and dispel the genjutsu, so he could train both casting and countering genjutsu simultaneously.
To counter genjutsu, shinobi typically employ two standard methods.
The first is to stop one's movement and deliberately disrupt their own chakra flow to break the technique.
The second is to inflict pain on oneself to forcefully break through the genjutsu—for example, by stabbing oneself with a kunai, biting one's tongue hard, or using similar methods.
Of course, the Shadow Clone couldn't effectively use the second pain-based method since it would simply dispel.
He first attempted to affect the Shadow Clone's cerebral nervous system with subtle chakra manipulation.
He recalled all the detailed diagrams he had studied, visualizing the precise method of affecting an opponent's brain with his own chakra.
This required exceptionally precise chakra control.
He had no success whatsoever on the first day.
He continued practicing diligently, and it took him sixteen days to finally manage the basic chakra invasion.
After another 7 days of refinement, he successfully used the Mist Servant Technique on his Shadow Clone.
For this technique, after his chakra invaded the Shadow Clone's nervous system, he had to specifically affect its visual processing and double everything it perceived.
The critical element of this jutsu is ensuring your chakra output remains extremely subtle, so the enemy cannot easily detect the intrusion.
The scene observed by his Shadow Clone was:
"Incredible, I can see everything doubled! There are two versions of my original body, every tree appears as two trees, and even every pebble on the ground and every cloud in the sky is duplicated. Besides that, only the vast ground and open sky appear normal. Perhaps it's because they're too expansive, and I can't distinguish whether they're singular or doubled."
"However, regarding these doubled objects, I can't perceive much difference between the duplicates. If I hadn't deliberately examined my surroundings, I wouldn't have noticed most of the doubling effect. I simply get the impression there are more pebbles on the ground, the forest appears denser, and there are more clouds in the sky than usual. Of course, I would definitely notice the conspicuous phenomenon of seeing two versions of my original body."
"So if an enemy observes me while I'm under this genjutsu, they'll immediately understand something is wrong with my perception. Similarly, if there are multiple opponents present, the discrepancy will be quickly identified. Beyond that, although my original body tried his best to suppress his chakra signature, since I'm a sensory-type ninja, I was able to detect his chakra attempting to affect my nervous system."
Then the Shadow Clone closed its eyes and attempted to sense its surroundings through chakra detection alone.
"I see. Since the genjutsu specifically targets visual perception, only my vision is affected. If I rely on sensory abilities instead, I can clearly detect only one original body. So this genjutsu is essentially ineffective against sensory-type ninja."
The Shadow Clone immediately stopped sensing and nodded to signal Kaito.
Kaito received the signal and threw four shuriken at the Shadow Clone.
The Shadow Clone perceived eight shuriken and thought:
"I'm seeing my original body throw four shuriken from each doubled image."
Then it moved quickly to evade the projectiles.
Kaito then used Wind Release: Projectile Control to make those shuriken chase his Shadow Clone through the air.
Because the Shadow Clone perceived eight shuriken instead of four, dodging them proved considerably more difficult.
Half a minute later, the Shadow Clone used Gale Palm to disrupt the original body's wind control over the shuriken.
Then it employed Wind Muffling Technique, pulling two shuriken toward itself and attempting to catch them with both hands.
However, it only caught one real shuriken—the other vanished, revealing it was an illusion.
The Shadow Clone then dispersed, transmitting all accumulated memories back to Kaito.
After absorbing the memories, Kaito analyzed the results:
"I see. The technique isn't as universally useful as I initially thought. Its primary application is when the enemy is isolated and alone—I can conceal myself in the environment and target them with projectiles while their perception is compromised."
"But even then, it only works effectively if I lure the enemy to an unfamiliar location where they won't notice environmental discrepancies."
Furthermore, this technique was essentially useless against sensory-type ninja.
Kaito also gained one critically important piece of information: he could distinctly feel when an enemy attempted to affect him through genjutsu.
But he wasn't certain if this occurred because he was still a novice at genjutsu, or if every sensory-type ninja could passively detect genjutsu intrusion attempts.
If this was indeed a natural counter-ability for sensory ninja, it would be an exceptional means of defending against genjutsu.
Then all he would need to do is disrupt his own chakra flow before the enemy completed establishing the genjutsu.
Of course, there would inevitably be some limitations to this defensive method.
However, Kaito suspected this technique might not work reliably against the Sharingan, because the Sharingan could cast genjutsu nearly instantaneously through simple eye contact.
But against genjutsu cast by ordinary shinobi, Kaito could easily detect the intrusion and disrupt it before completion.
Then again, with sufficient training, perhaps he could even develop counters against Sharingan genjutsu.
He continued his training regimen.
Only this time, his Shadow Clone would practice disrupting its chakra flow before the genjutsu could be fully established.
The Shadow Clone successfully accomplished this defensive task within a single day of practice.
The following day, as soon as it detected Kaito's chakra invading its nervous system, the Shadow Clone would immediately disrupt its own chakra flow.
Surprisingly, mastering this counter-technique required only a few hours of focused practice.
He felt satisfied with this rapid progress and decided to advance to the next technique.
Kaito then began learning the Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique. This genjutsu was considerably more advanced than the previous one.
Its most basic application involves affecting the opponent's visual perception and showing them whatever horrifying scene the caster desires them to experience.
In addition, the caster must also manipulate the opponent's emotional state to induce intense feelings of fear and despair.
This technique could be further enhanced by also affecting the opponent's sense of smell and hearing. Kaito recalled:
"The genjutsu Kakashi cast on Sakura during the bell test made her see Sasuke impaled and calling desperately for help. So I assume he also controlled her auditory perception. I'm not certain if he also affected her sense of smell, but if he did, he might have added the metallic scent of blood to make it more convincing."
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