Yamanaka Genichi once again mobilized the chakra within his body.
That warm energy flowed through his meridians as naturally and smoothly as breathing. Pale blue chakra gathered at his fingertips as he recalled his time at the Ninja Academy.
Back then, the instructors had only explained in theory that chakra was formed by combining physical energy and spiritual energy, and that ninjutsu required hand seals to be released.
However, when it came to practical use, there had never been a precise explanation of how those two energies actually fused into chakra.
Students were simply taught to feel the chakra within their bodies, perform hand seals correctly, and guide chakra through them.
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"…That's way too crude."
Genichi smacked his lips, but quickly found it reasonable.
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If using chakra were as complicated as solving mathematical formulas, how could a group of ten-year-olds possibly master it?
Even Naruto—who once mispronounced "chakra" as "cha-dora"—had learned to use it to perform the Transformation Jutsu, and even created "powerful techniques" like the Sexy Jutsu and Harem Jutsu.
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Clearly—
The entire system had long been simplified into something instinctive.
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It was like biology knowledge from his previous life.
Textbooks explained that human energy came from glucose and oxygen reacting in mitochondria to produce ATP.
But in reality—
No one thought about mitochondria before running.
They just ate, moved, and used their strength.
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The same applied to ninja using chakra.
No one cared about the underlying principles.
As long as one could mobilize chakra, use the Three Basic Jutsu, and throw a kunai accurately—
They qualified as a Genin.
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What intrigued Genichi even more was something he discovered through his original memories of sensory ninjutsu:
Everyone in the ninja world possessed chakra.
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Even ordinary civilians.
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During past missions, he had often sensed faint traces of chakra within civilians.
Their chakra was calm—like a stagnant pool—and extremely limited in quantity.
Far less active than a ninja's.
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Yet even this tiny amount formed the foundation of the ninja world.
Sensing techniques relied on detecting chakra.
Genjutsu worked by interfering with chakra to affect the brain and senses.
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If ordinary people had no chakra—
They would be completely immune to such techniques.
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"Having chakra doesn't mean you can become a ninja…"
Genichi chuckled.
"…just like how everyone in my previous life could run and jump, but only a few became athletes."
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Shaking off the distraction, he refocused on the chakra in his palm.
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Next—
He would attempt to condense a Chakra Puppet String.
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Recalling the method from the scroll, his fingers tensed slightly.
This wasn't as simple as shaping chakra into a thread.
It required compressing and refining it—
And more importantly, allowing it to transmit control through thought.
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The process was far more complex than he had expected.
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Taking a deep breath, Genichi carefully guided the chakra, compressing it at his fingertips.
He could clearly feel it thinning, condensing—
Until it became a nearly invisible thread.
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Then—
With a flick of his wrist—
The chakra thread shot forward.
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It wrapped precisely around the broom standing in the corner.
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In the next instant—
Something incredible happened.
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Through the chakra thread, he could feel the broom.
Its wooden texture—
Its weight—
Its presence.
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With a thought, the broom swayed gently.
Then slowly rose into the air, tracing an arc.
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Though it had no mechanisms or modifications, and consumed a large amount of chakra to control—
It truly seemed alive.
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It moved exactly as he willed it.
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Like an extension of his own body.
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"…This power is ridiculous."
Genichi couldn't help but exclaim.
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"It's completely unscientific… but also incredible."
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Watching the broom float as if gravity no longer applied, he even felt that a physics expert wouldn't be able to explain what was happening.
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After playing with it for a while—until nearly thirty percent of his chakra had been consumed—
He stopped.
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Next, he connected the chakra thread to his wheelchair.
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With a slight movement of his fingers—
The wheelchair began to roll forward.
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Turning, reversing—
Everything was smooth and effortless.
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He no longer needed to use his right hand to push the wheels.
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"…Finally."
A smile formed on his lips.
"I don't have to be a one-armed driver anymore."
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Although he still hadn't found a way to stand—
This alone was a major improvement.
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He continued experimenting.
Tables.
Metal kettles.
Stone inkstones.
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Soon, he discovered a pattern.
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Among ordinary materials—
Wood was the easiest to control and consumed the least chakra.
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Metal and stone, on the other hand, were far more difficult.
That inkstone alone had consumed nearly half his chakra just to move slightly.
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As for chakra-conductive metal—
He had never even seen it, let alone tested it.
As a former Genin, he couldn't afford such luxury.
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"I see…"
Genichi muttered.
"No wonder most puppets are made of wood."
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According to the scroll, wood treated with special solutions could rival metal in hardness—
While also conducting chakra more efficiently.
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Combined with its light weight, abundance, and low cost—
It was the perfect material.
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Using chakra-conductive metal might improve performance—
But the cost would bankrupt an ordinary ninja.
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He rested his hand on the wooden armrest of his wheelchair, thinking.
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"Is wood easier to control because it's organic matter?"
"After all, it's made of dead plant cells… maybe it's more compatible with chakra than metal or stone."
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As for the idea that chakra originated from the Ten-Tails—the so-called God Tree—
He quickly dismissed it.
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The Ten-Tails was both plant and animal in nature.
And ninjas and summoned beasts were living creatures.
If plants were inherently superior conductors—
The world would already be dominated by plant-based combat.
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"…That would be ridiculous."
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"It'd turn into something like Plants vs. Zombies."
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Shaking his head, he continued thinking.
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"It would be nice if I could test this on an animal corpse…"
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But his home had nothing of the sort.
The kitchen only had fruit brought by Yamanaka Iwa—
Not even a piece of raw meat.
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Still—
He already had a rough answer.
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From what he knew—
Sasori's human puppets could even retain bloodline abilities.
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That alone proved—
Animal and human tissues could conduct chakra exceptionally well.
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At that thought—
Genichi's gaze darkened.
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A bold idea flashed through his mind.
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But he quickly suppressed it.
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"…One step at a time."
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"I'll think about that after I can stand again… and return to being a ninja."
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He withdrew the chakra thread and leaned back in his wheelchair.
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The faint traces of chakra still lingering in his palm—
Seemed to quietly signal the path ahead.
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The road of puppetry—
Had already begun to unfold before him.