When Haruto returned home, he set the three scrolls containing the Academy's Basic Three Techniques on the table along with a chakra test paper he'd picked up on the way back.
He first picked up the test paper and sent his chakra into it. In the next moment, the sheet split cleanly down the middle, and the half in his hand wrinkled up tightly.
"Wind and lightning, huh?" Haruto nodded. He wasn't surprised. His father, though Haruto had never met him, was said to have wind affinity, while his mother, Sena, had previously mentioned that her chakra nature was lightning.
So Haruto had inherited both attributes. Not bad at all. He tried to recall whether wind and lightning could combine into any known kekkei genkai, but nothing came to mind. Even if they did, he wasn't planning to attempt such a thing.
Honestly, trying to force-create a new bloodline limit was basically suicide. If it were that easy, kekkei genkai wouldn't be so rare. In Haruto's mind, most existing bloodline traits were outcomes of natural mutations... or people doing something incredibly reckless.
Unless someone gave him Naruto's absurd constitution, Tsunade-level medical supervision, and Might Guy's monstrous physical strength, there was absolutely no universe where Haruto would dare attempt such a fusion.
And even then—if he had all that, why bother with bloodline fusion? He could just charge straight through everything.
Still, wind and lightning weren't bad attributes. Rasenshuriken and Chidori both fell within reach. Of course, Rasenshuriken required massive chakra reserves and Sage Mode, while Chidori required inhuman dynamic vision.
One burns your hand off; the other misses unless you can see at high speed.
Sage Mode was in the long-term plan, but definitely impossible for now, so that idea was shelved. Dynamic vision was mostly genetic anyway, relying on bloodlines like the Sharingan or Byakugan.
He wasn't planning on implanting someone else's eyes. Sharingan would drain his chakra dry, and even if a Byakugan were possible to obtain, Haruto wouldn't accept it.
Still... combining lightning release with Sage Mode someday might work. If Sage Mode boosted the senses enough, maybe he could compensate for the lack of a dojutsu. Something to consider for the distant future.
With that done, Haruto opened the scrolls for the Basic Three Techniques.
They weren't complicated. He finished reading them in no time, including Iruka's notes.
The three techniques were Transformation, Clone, and Substitution. Simple, practical, foundational.
Transformation required one hand seal. Clone required three. Substitution required five.
And naturally, the more seals required, the more difficult the technique.
Hand seals were simply guides. They steered chakra into the proper form. The true core of ninjutsu was manipulating chakra accurately, and every technique demanded its own unique chakra pattern. Knowing the seals alone wasn't enough.
Which meant… if someone mastered chakra control deeply enough, they could use techniques without seals at all. Just like many high-level shinobi did later in the story.
As for Haruto's plan: learn them all, master them later—but prioritize Substitution.
Transformation only needed to be consistently usable. Clone could be polished when time allowed. Substitution, though, was essential. A life-saving move.
But with five seals, his current speed required about two seconds. Against fast opponents, that was far too slow. He had to get it below one second.
Time to practice.
Haruto gathered chakra following the scroll's instructions, formed the seal, and pictured an image in his mind.
"Transformation Technique."
A puff of white smoke rose. When it cleared, a small but elegant woman stood in the room.
Haruto stared at the mirror.
"Tifa…?"
His face flushed red. He dispelled the transformation immediately.
He had not expected to succeed on the first try. And… maybe Transformation was worth practicing a bit more. Cough.
After confirming no one was around, he let out a relieved breath.
Then more figures appeared in the room one after another, small but steadily more refined.
Asuna. Misaka Mikoto. Akame…
Time slipped away.
By the time Sena came home, Haruto could already use Clone and Substitution effectively. It felt easier than he'd imagined.
Unlike Transformation's single seal, Clone and Substitution still didn't match his original hand speed, as the chakra control required lagged behind. But that was only a matter of practice.
Haruto at last realized something: his talent might be far greater than he ever expected. Even if the techniques were basic, mastering them instantly on the first attempt was undeniably a sign of exceptional aptitude.
"So… I guess I really am a genius?"
"Welcome home, Mom." Hearing Sena's voice and the door open, Haruto stepped out into the living room.
"Tadaaaa!" Sena grinned proudly, pulling out a scroll. "Haruto, look what I got!"
"Shadow Clone Technique," Haruto said flatly.
"Hmph—yes, it's the Shadow Clone Technique! Shouldn't you be a little more excited?" Sena puffed her cheeks at his underwhelming reaction.
"I'm excited." Haruto forced a smile.
"Honestly… here, take it, you little grown‑up." Sena shoved the scroll into his hands. "I went to see my old teacher. He also said the technique isn't suitable for you, though."
"I still think it's perfect for me." Haruto accepted it with barely restrained excitement.
"I figured you'd say that. So I exchanged it anyway. Good thing it was only Shadow Clone. If it were any other B‑rank jutsu, I might not have been able to get it."
"Oh? Why's that?" Haruto asked.
"Because," Sena said, crossing her arms, "even though Shadow Clone was created in Konoha, it was stolen ages ago. All the other villages already have similar techniques, so there's no point keeping it secret. But most B‑rank jutsu are still classified. They don't hand those out to just anyone."
Haruto nodded. That made sense. Regardless, he had the jutsu now—his next training goal was set.
"Oh right, Mom—tonight I won't be home for dinner." He suddenly remembered his arrangement with Iruka.
"Hmm? Already tired of your mother's cooking?" Sena exaggerated a wounded look, even wiping imaginary tears.
"Of course not." Haruto quickly explained the situation.