UCHIHA LIBERATOR (NARUTO X MALE UCHIHA OC)

Chapter 10

Ryuichi POV

I sat cross-legged in the training ground, my focus entirely on manipulating the small flames dancing in front of me. I experimented with their intensity, sometimes making them burn hotter and brighter, and at other times, I altered their color, watching the fire shift from a standard red to orange, then yellow. Each flicker and change of hue felt like a tiny victory in understanding the nature of fire.

"That's enough for now," my father's voice cut through the air. He had been closely monitoring my progress, his eyes sharp and focused as always. He gave me a slight nod of approval before continuing, "How about I teach you a jutsu today?"

"A jutsu?" I perked up at his words, curiosity flickering in my chest like the flames I had just extinguished.

"Yes," he replied, his tone turning more serious. "Not just any jutsu, but one that holds great significance within our clan. The jutsu I'm about to teach you is the cornerstone of the Uchiha Clan's legacy. Very few Uchiha are ever considered true shinobi until they master the fire element, and this particular technique marks that mastery. It's a rite of passage—learning it signifies that you've come of age as a shinobi."

His words carried weight, and I felt a surge of anticipation as I listened.

"This is the Great Fireball Jutsu, a C-rank ninjutsu," he continued. "In the Uchiha Clan, you aren't considered a full-fledged adult until you've mastered this jutsu. It's a rite of passage for every Uchiha who wishes to uphold the clan's legacy."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of what he was saying. I watched closely as my father demonstrated the hand signs effortlessly, his movements fluid and controlled. His fingers blurred through six seals: Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, and finally Tiger. He inhaled deeply, taking in a massive breath of air, and held it in his chest for a moment. Then, in one swift motion, he exhaled, and an enormous fireball erupted from his mouth.

The Great Fireball shot forward with terrifying speed, growing larger as it traveled, until it was nearly half the size of the nearby lake. The sheer heat radiating from the jutsu caused me to stagger back a few steps. The intensity was overwhelming, and I felt the scorching air brush against my skin even from a distance.

When the flames finally dissipated, my father turned to face me, his expression calm but his gaze piercing.

"Remember, the key is in the breath," he said, his voice firm but with an undertone of concern. "After completing the hand signs, inhale a large amount of air. Use the heat generated by the chakra in your chest to create a flame, then expel it forcefully, shaping it with your chakra. You need precision, control, and power."

I absorbed his instructions, but my mind wandered momentarily as I considered something. I had memorized the hand seals necessary for the jutsu, but as I replayed them in my mind, a question began to form.

'Why these hand seals specifically?' I wondered. The tiger seal made sense; it was used to increase the pressure of chakra, which would boost the power of the jutsu. The monkey seal shaped the chakra, giving the fireball its form. But what about the others? Snake, Ram, Boar—were they all necessary just to enhance the intensity? Could I simplify the process? If I could increase the fire's intensity without relying on those seals, maybe I could perform the jutsu faster.

"Are you just going to stand there, Ryuichi?" my father's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I blinked and refocused. 'I guess there's only one way to find out,' I thought to myself, deciding to test my theory.

Instead of following the traditional sequence of hand signs, I gathered chakra directly into my lungs without using the Ram seal. It was rougher than I expected—less smooth, more volatile—but I maintained control. Next, I focused on converting the chakra into fire nature without the Snake seal, relying purely on my understanding of the element. It took more effort, more focus, but it worked.