Yukari Uchiha (English)

Chapter: 46

Minato and Kushina stood side by side as I knelt before the prepared scrolls and sealing tools. Kushina's wide, energetic smile contrasted with Minato's calm, analytical demeanor. Their opposing yet complementary personalities made me feel that this training would be unlike anything I had experienced before.

"So, Yukari," Kushina began, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, "before we start, why don't you tell us what you already know about seals? With your sharp mind, I bet you've already figured out a lot!"

I nodded slightly and replied, "I've learned the basic seals taught in the Academy and by the Uchiha clan. But something as complex as the seal that contains the Nine-Tails in Naruto... that's still far beyond my current ability."

Kushina laughed and waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, it's not as hard as you think! Sure, it takes a lot of concentration, but you're an Uzumaki! Sealing is in your blood!"

Minato nodded in agreement. "Kushina's right. Your Uzumaki heritage will help you with chakra control and the complexity of sealing techniques. But it's equally important to perfect the fundamentals before moving on to something as powerful as the Nine-Tails seal."

Kushina stepped forward, pulling out a scroll and spreading it in front of me. "Alright, we'll start with something simple—a basic seal. You'll learn how to store chakra in a scroll and release it on command. It's the first step to understanding the mechanics of sealing."

Kushina guided me through the exercises with a blend of strictness and humor. "Alright, Yukari, we all know your chakra control is top-notch," she began with a wide grin, "but seals are about more than just precision. You also need to understand the logic behind them."

She unfurled a scroll covered in intricate symbols and lines. "This," she explained, pointing to a nexus in the pattern, "is the heart of the seal. If you make a mistake here, the entire jutsu can fail. The symbols need to flow like your chakra—logical, symmetrical, and harmonious."

I leaned closer, letting my gaze follow the lines. "It's like a network," I murmured. "A mistake in one place can cause the entire system to collapse."

Minato nodded from behind, adding, "Exactly. Seals are like a conversation between you and the chakra you control. The language of seals is precise—and once you master it, you can achieve nearly anything."

Kushina smiled proudly. "You're quick to grasp concepts. But now comes the hard part: writing a simple seal yourself. You'll see that theory and practice are two very different things."

I picked up a brush and began tracing the first lines. Initially, it seemed straightforward, but as I delved deeper into the pattern, I realized just how much precision was required. A single error—a line too long or too short—threatened to unravel the entire structure.

"Not bad," Kushina remarked as she examined my work. "But here..." She pointed to a spot near the bottom of the seal. "The symbol is correct, but its placement isn't optimal. It could block the flow of chakra."

I nodded, wiped away the mistake, and tried again. This time, it was better—the seal glowed faintly as I infused it with chakra. It was a small success, but it made the potential of these techniques clear to me.

"Well done," Minato praised. "You've got a good sense of balance. That will help you with more advanced seals later."

After covering the basics, it was time for a greater challenge. Kushina laid out a new scroll, this one featuring a far more intricate seal. The lines and symbols were so fine and dense that it was dizzying to take them all in.

"Alright, Yukari," Kushina began with a determined look, "now I'm going to show you something more advanced. This seal is a type of chakra barrier—it can be used to protect someone or, if necessary, trap an opponent."