The dusty scent of the library corner began to feel almost like home, but Kenji knew he couldn't hide there forever. His progress with brush and ink, while still feeling painstakingly slow to him compared to the instant clarity of his sight, was undeniably real. His lines grew steadier, his control over ink flow more consistent. He could now replicate the basic Fuinjutsu symbols from the introductory scrolls with reasonable accuracy. The crucial step remained the chakra infusion – learning to channel his energy smoothly through the physical medium of the seal, anchoring the runic concept without overwhelming the ink or paper.
He suspected a practical test was coming. Iruka had been hinting at the importance of Fuinjutsu applications, even for those not specializing in it. Sure enough, a few days after Kenji finally managed to create a stable, if weak, 'Alert' seal that didn't fizzle out after ten seconds, Iruka announced a special practical exercise during class. Participation was voluntary, framed as extra credit given the difficulty, but Kenji felt a familiar mix of excitement and apprehension.
"Today," Iruka announced, holding up a small, blank paper tag, "we're going to attempt something slightly more complex than basic preservation. We'll be creating a simple 'Light Tag'." He smiled. "Think of it as a safe, introductory cousin to the explosive tag. Properly made, it should produce a brief, bright flash of light when activated by a small pulse of chakra. Useful for signaling, or perhaps momentarily disorienting an opponent in the dark."
He carefully drew the required symbol on the chalkboard – a pattern Kenji immediately recognized. It shared elements with the explosive tag's 'containment' and 'chakra trigger' runes he'd perceived before, but crucially replaced the volatile 'fire' and 'release' components with a structure clearly designed to invoke 'light emission'. The runic engineering was clever, channeling the released energy into harmless photons instead of kinetic force.
Iruka demonstrated the process, his movements precise as he drew the symbol onto a tag and then infused it with a controlled pulse of chakra. A soft pop and a gentle flash illuminated his face for a second. "Accuracy and smooth infusion are key," he reminded them. "Don't rush it."
Blank tags, ink pots, and brushes were distributed. A low murmur of concentration filled the room as students bent over their desks. Kenji took a tag, the blank paper feeling cool beneath his fingers. He remembered his earlier library practice, the frustration, Shikamaru's advice. Just draw the lines.
He focused first on the physical execution. His calligraphy practice paid off; his hand moved with a newfound steadiness, replicating the symbol Iruka had drawn with clean, balanced strokes. He didn't try to force the 'perfect' runic shape, just the required physical one.
Then came the infusion. This was where his sight gave him an edge, even when trying to be discreet. He could perceive the optimal pathways within the standard inked symbol, the points where chakra would flow most efficiently to activate the sequence – trigger, contain, emit light. He channeled his chakra carefully, visualizing it flowing like water through those precise channels, activating the runic components in perfect harmony. He didn't try to add anything extra or modify the rune itself, merely to execute the standard infusion process with an unnatural level of precision guided by his sight. He aimed for 'flawless execution' of the standard method, hoping it would read as talent, not impossibility.
He felt the chakra settle into the tag, the runes locking into their dormant state, stable and ready. The finished tag looked crisp, professional, the ink dark and even.
Iruka began circulating, inspecting the students' efforts. Many tags were smudged or incomplete. Some produced no light when tested. A few managed faint, sputtering flickers. He offered encouragement and corrections patiently. Then he reached Kenji's desk.
"Alright, Kenji," Iruka said, his tone indicating hopeful expectation based on Kenji's previous Fuinjutsu display. "Let's see how you did." He picked up the tag, examining the neat calligraphy with an appreciative nod. Then, he channeled a tiny pulse of his own chakra into the trigger point.
FWOOSH!
The reaction wasn't the gentle pop Iruka had demonstrated. A brilliant, almost blinding flash of clean white light erupted from the small tag, startlingly intense. It washed out the classroom colours for a moment, drawing gasps from nearby students and making Iruka physically recoil, shielding his eyes. The flash lasted only a second, but it was significantly more potent than the instructor's own example.
"My word!" Iruka exclaimed, blinking rapidly as his vision cleared. He stared at the inert tag in his hand, then back at Kenji, his expression a mixture of shock and sheer academic fascination. "Kenji, that… that was considerably brighter than a standard Light Tag should be! The execution… it's flawless. Perfectly stable, yet the energy release was maximized somehow." He peered closely at Kenji, his earlier suspicion seemingly forgotten, replaced by genuine wonder. "Your grasp of precise chakra infusion, channeling just the right amount to the right points within the seal… it's simply astounding for an Academy student. Have you been practicing seals non-stop?"
Kenji felt his cheeks flush under the sudden attention. He quickly formulated a partial truth, something plausible. "I've just been focusing really hard on the control exercises from the scrolls, sensei," he mumbled, looking down at his desk. "Trying to understand how the chakra needs to... flow through the lines properly."
Iruka nodded slowly, though his eyes remained wide with surprise. "Well, whatever you're doing, it's working. Remarkable results." He shook his head slightly, as if trying to process the anomaly. "Keep up this dedication, Kenji. You truly have a gift for this."
As Iruka moved on, still murmuring about 'efficiency' and 'potential', Kenji let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. It had worked. Maybe too well. The optimized infusion, guided by his runic sight, had pushed the standard seal design to its peak efficiency, resulting in the amplified effect. He hadn't broken any rules, hadn't used any impossible rune, merely executed the known process with an unknown level of insight.
It solidified the 'Fuinjutsu prodigy' narrative, hopefully burying the truth deeper. But the sheer potency of the flash served as another warning. Even when playing by the rules, his advantage bled through. He needed to learn moderation, perhaps even how to deliberately introduce flaws, to make his progress seem more grounded, more believable. The brighter his talent seemed to shine, the deeper the shadows grew around the secret he desperately needed to protect.
--- End of Chapter 9 ---