Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Boar.
Chiriku looked at Li Chuan, who could perfectly perform all twelve Ninja Hand Seals after being taught just once, and couldn't help but murmur:
"You truly are a genius at being a Ninja!"
While mastering Chakra Extraction Technique in one night was impressive, Chiriku had seen it before; many geniuses with special bloodlines and bodies could achieve it.
However, he had never seen anyone memorize all twelve Hand Seals after just one lesson and execute them flawlessly.
At this moment, Chiriku's heart wavered slightly.
Originally, he thought that Li Chuan, as a Prince, was just having a three-minute burst of enthusiasm and might return after a while, feeling that cultivation was too tiring.
Even though Li Chuan had sent all his servants back and performed very well these past two days, Chiriku still felt that due to Li Chuan's age, it would be difficult for him to achieve much in the future.
But the talent Li Chuan was now displaying made him feel that if Li Chuan could endure hardship, there truly was a glimmer of hope.
After all, Chakra only accounted for a portion of a Ninja's strength; while Li Chuan was indeed behind by more than a decade of cultivation compared to a normal Ninja, as long as he worked hard enough, it wasn't impossible for him to catch up.
Let's wait and see!
Thus, his subsequent teaching became more earnest.
"Since you've learned Hand Seals so quickly, I will now begin teaching you your first Ninjutsu—Transformation Technique.
Transformation Technique only requires one Hand Seal, but merely forming the correct Hand Seal isn't enough to successfully release the Ninjutsu. To successfully cast Transformation Technique, we also need control over Chakra. Chakra flowing through the meridians is—"
"Ram!"
Following Chiriku's guidance, Li Chuan formed the Hand Seal and began to circulate the Chakra within his body.
His figure gradually blurred, seemingly attempting to transform, but in just one second, he returned to normal.
Chiriku, who had been intently watching Li Chuan perform Transformation Technique from the side, felt a strange sense of relief when he saw Li Chuan fail.
"It's alright. Learning Ninjutsu requires practice. The more you practice, the more naturally you'll succeed. Failing the first time is very normal."
If Li Chuan could even learn Ninjutsu on the first try, he would genuinely have to wonder if Li Chuan had already learned Ninjutsu before becoming his disciple.
Li Chuan appeared very calm in the face of Chiriku's comfort; he was very clear about his own situation.
He wasn't some once-in-a-millennium Ninja genius. His ability to quickly master Chakra Extraction Technique and Hand Seals was due to his decades of martial arts training background.
The execution of Ninjutsu primarily relied on the control of Chakra, and he had never dealt with controlling energy before.
Martial artists focused on controlling their body muscles and did not possess the so-called internal energy seen on TV. In this regard, he was no different from an ordinary beginner in Ninjutsu.
If he had any advantage in learning Ninjutsu, it would probably be the patience and willpower gained from training rigorously in summer and winter.
Additionally, his strong body and mind allowed him to extract more Chakra than the average person, enabling him to practice Ninjutsu more frequently.
At the same time, having already acquired rich combat skills, he could dedicate more time to learning Ninjutsu.
One month later, inside a Land of Fire training room.
"Transform!"
Li Chuan formed a Hand Seal, instantly transforming into Chiriku's appearance.
After dispelling the transformation, he formed another Hand Seal:
"Clone!"
Immediately, an identical copy of himself appeared beside his body.
"Substitute!"
After dispelling the clone, his hands immediately formed the Hand Seal for Substitution Technique, and his body turned into a wisp of smoke and vanished. When he reappeared, he was five meters away, and where he had originally stood, there was a small piece of wood.
Transformation Technique, Clone Technique, and Substitution Technique—the most basic and simplest of the Three Body Techniques for Ninja. After one month, Li Chuan had completely mastered them.
To be honest, although they were the most basic of the Three Body Techniques, for him, they truly felt very different.
Completely transforming into another person's appearance, creating an identical clone, instantly appearing five meters away—any one of these was so miraculous and so difficult to comprehend.
And this special experience brought back the long-dormant feeling in Li Chuan's heart.
This feeling was the same as when he first started practicing martial arts, only to gradually disappear in his later experiences.
Perhaps it was precisely because of this that his martial arts had stagnated.
At that time, he felt that no matter how hard he tried, he would ultimately be no match for the power of modern weapons.
He could evade bullets with his powerful body and accurate predictions, but he couldn't dodge a Gatling gun or withstand a Rocket launcher.
It was better to earn more money to provide a better life for himself and his family, and to ensure his master, who was hospitalized in his home country, received better medical care.
However, things were different now. He had only just entered the first World and had only studied for a month, yet he had already mastered things he could never have mastered in his previous life. The future held countless more possibilities.
Even without considering Ninjutsu, the sheer enhancement of Chakra energy on his physical body had already led to groundbreaking improvements in his strength, speed, and other aspects.
Perhaps his entry into the Small World was not just to defend against dangers in the Marvel Universe, but more so for his inner desire to break through his limits and become stronger—his original aspiration.
"Very good. In just one month, you've managed to master the Three Body Techniques to this extent. It truly exceeds your master's expectations."
Chiriku nodded with a face full of relief after watching Li Chuan complete the final Substitution Technique.
To be honest, in his opinion, Li Chuan was a genius at cultivating Chakra and forming Hand Seals, but not necessarily a genius at learning Ninjutsu, and his entry into Ninjutsu wasn't that quick.
However, Li Chuan's diligence was undeniable. Since he began learning Ninjutsu, Chiriku noticed that Li Chuan spent almost all twenty-four hours a day, except for eating, sleeping, and using the restroom, on refining Chakra and practicing Ninjutsu.
Again and again, as if he never felt bored in the slightest.
Let alone a pampered Prince, even Chiriku himself, and everyone he had ever seen, no one could do what Li Chuan did.
This not only required patience but also the constant endurance of physical and mental exhaustion after Chakra was depleted.
It was precisely because of this that his perception of Li Chuan had genuinely changed.
Before, it was merely due to Li Chuan's status as a Prince and the five million Ryo. Now, he truly acknowledged him internally and wanted to teach him well, to make him his direct disciple.
He might be a bit older, but with such talent and perseverance, how could he not become a strong individual?
"It's because Master guided me well."
Once a teacher, always a father. Since he had acknowledged Chiriku as his master, even though Chiriku's actual age was not as old as his, Li Chuan would not lessen the respect he owed him in the slightest.
Looking at Li Chuan's respectful demeanor, Chiriku nodded contentedly once more.
As a Prince of noble status, Li Chuan had never put on airs since becoming his disciple, always placing himself in the position of a student. This was also one of the reasons why Chiriku truly acknowledged Li Chuan.