"We're going to see your elemental affinity," Yua announced, holding the small square of paper between her fingers.
Indra eyed the chakra paper with interest. He'd seen this in the anime, the use of it to test one's chakra nature.
"How does it work?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
"Channel a small amount of chakra into the paper," Yua explained, handing it to him.
"The reaction will reveal your natural affinity. If it burns, you have an affinity for Fire. If it gets wet, Water. If it crumbles, Earth. If it wrinkles, Lightning. And if it splits, Wind."
Indra took the paper, holding it between his thumb and index finger. He closed his eyes, focusing as he channeled a small amount of chakra into the delicate material.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, to Yua's astonishment, the paper simultaneously split into four pieces - each piece exhibiting a different reaction.
One piece burst into flame, another became damp, the third crumbled to dust, and the fourth wrinkled.
Yua's eyes widened dramatically. She quickly glanced around the Uchiha compound, ensuring they were alone before turning back to Indra with an expression of genuine shock.
"This is... unexpected," she said quietly, her voice controlled despite her obvious surprise. "But certainly not unwelcome. It seems you have a natural affinity for all five basic nature transformations."
Indra stared at the remains of the paper in his hand, feigning surprise while internally analyzing what had happened. He had expected his Rinnegan's influence to manifest in some way, even when deactivated.
When the Rinnegan had first manifested, it had fundamentally altered his chakra network system.
Even when inactive, the changes remained, granting him natural talent in all five elements and granting him chakra at chunin levels with surprisingly good control despite the extreme imbalance between his Yin and Yang energies.
When activated, the Rinnegan's presence - based on genetic memory of Hagoromo Otsutsuki's perfect balance of Yin and Yang - forces his chakra into greater balance.
This increases his reserves to jonin levels and improved his control to jonin levels as well - though this is so long his imbalance remains, if fixed, he'd have near perfect chakra control - effectively making him a Kage-level shinobi for the five minutes before exhaustion sets in.
The very activation of the Rinnegan had essentially evolved him into an entirely different breed of human.
"All five elements," Indra murmured, careful to sound appropriately stunned. "Is that even possible?"
"Extremely rare," Yua confirmed, still studying him with newfound interest. "I've only heard of a handful of shinobi throughout history with natural talent in all five nature transformations.
The First Hokage was one - though this is often overshadowed by his Wood Release. The Third as well, he has mastered all five, and countless jutsu, even creating ones himself over decades of training. It is why he is known as 'The Professor.'"
She pocketed the remains of the chakra paper. "This changes our training approach considerably.
When Kakashi returns from his team's C-rank mission, I'll ask him to show you a few jutsu - two for offense, two for defense - so you can copy them with your Sharingan."
"Only four?" Indra asked, curious. "Why not more?"
Yua smirked, a hint of pride entering her expression. "We don't want you overwhelmed with such little time. Besides, what kind of sensei would I be if I left all my work to another? I'll teach you your fifth jutsu - a mobility technique."
"Oh?" Indra raised an eyebrow. "What kind of technique?"
"It's called the Wind Step," Yua said, her eyes lighting up with a bit of enthusiasm and pride.
"It's not one of the monstrous techniques like Lord Fourth's Flying Thunder God, the Fourth Raikage's Lightning Mode, or the Third Tsuchikage's Light-Weight Rock Technique. But it's my own creation, and it's served me well."
Yua had developed the Wind Step Technique during her ANBU days, when she frequently needed to traverse difficult terrain silently and without leaving traces.
Inspired by watching leaves dance on wind currents, she created a jutsu that allowed her to form temporary, invisible platforms of solidified wind chakra beneath her feet.
These platforms lasted only moments - just long enough for her to step on them before dissipating - creating the illusion of walking on air.
The technique had saved her life countless times, allowing her to cross chasms, scale cliffs, and move through enemy territory undetected.
"Before we begin," Yua said, "let's refresh your understanding of hand signs and their effects on chakra manipulation. This will help you learn the technique more effectively."
(Picture here of all hand signs, as well as in the comments)
She demonstrated each of the twelve basic hand signs in sequence, explaining their primary associations with different nature transformations.
"Bird is primarily associated with Wind Release and secondarily with Lightning," she explained, forming the sign with her hands crossed, thumbs and index fingers touching to create a triangular shape.
"It channels chakra with precision, making it perfect for techniques requiring fine control."
She continued through each sign: Boar for Earth and Fire, Dog for Water and Earth, Dragon for Lightning and Yang, Ox for Earth and Yin, and Tiger for Fire and Yang.
"The Tiger seal," she demonstrated, bringing her hands together with index and middle fingers extended upward, "focuses chakra with intensity and aggression. It's commonly used to initiate fire techniques and other offensive jutsu."
She completed the set with Snake, Rat, Horse, Monkey, Hare, and Ram, explaining each one's primary and secondary elemental associations and how they affected chakra flow.
"Now," she said, after confirming Indra understood the basics, "the Wind Step Technique uses a specific sequence of hand signs designed to gather, shape, and solidify wind chakra beneath your feet."
She demonstrated the complete five-sign sequence: Bird, Ram, Hare, Monkey, and Bird again.
"The initial Bird sign gathers wind chakra," she explained. "Ram focuses and stabilizes it while preparing for directional control.
Hare adds speed and lightness, while Monkey provides adaptability, allowing the platforms to respond to your intentions. The final Bird sign releases the technique."
Indra watched intently, his eyes tracking every subtle movement of her hands.
"With practice," Yua continued, "you can reduce this to three signs: Bird, Hare, Bird. And eventually, with enough mastery, to a single one-handed Bird sign."
She demonstrated the abbreviated sequences, then the single-handed version - a modified Bird sign performed with her right hand, thumb and index finger forming a circle while her remaining fingers extended to represent wind flow.
"The key," she emphasized, "is channeling chakra to your feet while performing the signs. The final sign should coincide precisely with the moment your foot would touch the ground - or in this case, the air."
To demonstrate, Yua performed the five-sign sequence, then stepped forward - not onto the ground, but onto what appeared to be empty air.
Her foot landed on an invisible platform about knee-height, and she continued walking forward, each step creating a new platform that vanished the moment her foot left it.
It created the surreal idea that she was climbing an invisible staircase.
"The platforms last only a fraction of a second," she explained, descending back to the ground. "Just long enough to support your weight for a single step. The challenge is maintaining the rhythm of sign formation and foot placement."
Indra nodded, already analyzing the technique's potential applications. "Can this be combined with the Body Flicker?"
"Yes," Yua confirmed, pleased by his quick thinking. "This jutsu paired with the Body Flicker would make you a monstrous speed demon. I haven't quite reached that level of integration yet, but with your Sharingan, you might be able to."
She looked thoughtful for a moment. "One of your clansmen was quite famous for his speed - Shisui of the Body Flicker.
The Sharingan's enhanced perception makes it ideal for high-speed techniques, as it allows you to process your surroundings even when moving faster than normal human reaction time."
Indra remembered the name from both the anime and clan records he'd studied. Shisui Uchiha had been one of the most talented members of the clan before the massacre - and Itachi's best friend.
"Maybe you can reach his level eventually," Yua continued, "or even surpass it if you successfully combine both mobility jutsu."
She reached out and ruffled Indra's hair affectionately, earning a scowl from the young Uchiha. "I have high hopes for you, brat."
"So," Indra said, straightening his hair, "when do we start?"
"Right now," Yua replied, stepping back to give him space. "Begin with the full five-sign sequence. Focus on making each sign precisely - speed will come with practice."
Indra formed the Bird sign, carefully positioning his hands as Yua had demonstrated. He could feel his chakra responding, gathering and changing nature as he moved through Ram, Hare, Monkey, and the final Bird sign.
He stepped forward, channeling chakra to his foot as it descended - and felt a momentary resistance, as if stepping on something slightly yielding, before his foot continued to the ground.
"Almost," Yua observed. "You formed the signs correctly, but your timing was off. The chakra needs to be fully molded before your foot would make contact."
Indra tried again, adjusting his timing. This time, his foot landed on something invisible but solid - just for a moment before it dissolved, causing him to stumble slightly.
"Better, you're quite talented." Yua nodded. "Again."
For the next two hours, Indra practiced the Wind Step under Yua's watchful guidance. By the end of the session, he could consistently create a single platform that supported his weight for the brief moment needed to take a step.
Creating multiple platforms in succession - necessary for true aerial movement - would require more practice, but Yua seemed satisfied with his progress.
"That's enough for today," she said as the afternoon sun began to dip toward the horizon. "Your chakra control is impressive, but this technique requires precision that only comes with practice."
Indra nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. Despite his enhanced chakra capacity, the constant formation and dissolution of wind chakra was really mentally taxing.
"Tomorrow we'll continue," Yua said, gathering her equipment. "And when Kakashi returns, we'll arrange for those elemental jutsu lessons. With your affinity for all five elements, you'll need a diverse arsenal for the Chunin Exams."
As they prepared to leave the training ground, Yua paused, her expression becoming more serious. "Indra, about your elemental affinities - that's not something you should advertise. Having talent in all five elements is extremely rare and would draw unwanted attention."
"I understand," Indra replied, already having reached the same conclusion. The fewer people who knew about his unusual abilities, the better - especially with Danzo's Root operatives potentially watching.
"Good," Yua nodded. "We'll keep this between us for now. Focus on mastering one or two elements publicly, while developing the others in private training."
As she disappeared in a swirl of leaves Indra decided to head back inside as he reflected on the day's revelations.
The chakra paper test had confirmed what he already suspected (one can never be too careful, always seek evidence when possible before assuming) - the Rinnegan's influence extended beyond just the times when it was active.
His body was evolving, becoming something more than a standard shinobi. His body beginning to adapt to compensate for his Yin, by doing all it can to make sure he has more Yang.
Which he will need, especially when the time came where he'll have to face either Gaara or that snake freak - Orochimaru.
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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
So, do tell me what you think of the Wind Step? I basically got inspired by Geppo in one piece, though it will have its own uniqueness in the future.
Also, yeah, Indra's path is trying to be a speed focused ninja, what do you guys think of that? I believe its fitting.
Well, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)