Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 303 Restraint and Construction

Nagato hesitated for a moment, but still took small steps and walked over.

Mito didn't say anything, but simply picked up the ink stick, dripped a few drops of water into the inkstone, and began to grind the ink slowly and deliberately.

Rustle, rustle.

The monotonous yet rhythmic sound echoed in the quiet classroom, mingling with the unique fragrance of ink, which calmed Nagato's somewhat tense emotions.

"We, the Uzumaki clan, are born with an extraordinary affinity for a certain power."

As Mito ground the ink, she spoke softly, her movements slow and every detail imbued with a sense of ritual.

"This power is not as fiery and explosive as Fire Release, nor as swift and unparalleled as Lightning Release. It is quiet, even somewhat... dull."

The ink gradually thickened, becoming jet black and glossy.

Mito stopped what he was doing and gently placed the ink stick aside.

She picked up the calligraphy brush, dipped it in ink, and then spread out a sheet of white paper.

Nagato moved closer curiously, holding her breath.

He thought that Mito-pa-baba was going to write or draw.

However, Mito simply held the pen tip above the white paper and closed her eyes.

A faint but extremely pure chakra flowed from her fingertips, along the pen shaft, and gathered at the tip of the pen.

Nagato could clearly feel the flow of chakra.

It was warm, much like his own chakra, but calmer and more profound, like a bottomless lake.

The next moment, Mito moved her wrist slightly.

The brush moves across the white paper, not writing any characters, but depicting an extremely complex spiral pattern composed of countless lines and symbols.

Nagato's mouth opened slightly.

He saw those ink marks come alive the moment they touched the paper.

They emit a faint glow, and the intricate lines connect to form a perfect closed loop.

As the last stroke was made, the entire pattern shimmered slightly, all the light receding into itself, ultimately transforming into an ordinary picture.

"This is a sealing technique."

Mito put down her pen, picked up the paper with the spiral pattern drawn on it, and handed it to Nagato.

"Its function is not destruction, but constraint and construction."

As she spoke, she picked up a small water glass from the table and gently placed it in the center of the paper.

Then, Mito formed a simple mudra with his hands.

"seal up."

In a word, it's light and airy.

Nagato saw the spiral pattern on the paper light up again, and invisible chains extended from the pattern, instantly wrapping around the water glass.

He tentatively reached out his little hand, wanting to take the cup.

But as soon as his fingers touched the cup, he felt a gentle but irresistible force push his hand away.

The cup remained quietly in its place, as if it had been welded to the table, completely motionless.

"Look,"

Mito smiled gently. "It can bind objects, it can bind chakra, and even... it can bind calamities."

She untied the spell and removed the cup.

"Similarly, it can also be constructed."

Mito turned the paper over and drew a simple circular symbol on the back with a pen.

"It can be used to reinforce houses, making them stronger. It can be used to preserve food, preventing it from spoiling. It can be used to create protective barriers, safeguarding those we want to protect."

"Learning it requires immense patience and a calm mind."

Mito crouched down again, looking into Nagato's eyes. "Destruction often only takes a moment. But protection requires perseverance over a long period of time."

"Nagato, your heart is calm, your chakra is warm. You possess the best talent to learn this power."

"Would you... use this quiet power to protect your noisy companions?"

Nagato stared blankly at the paper with the spiral pattern drawn on it, then looked at Mito-sensei's eyes, which were full of wisdom and kindness.

He remembered Kushina's cheerful laughter, Yahiko's always energetic shouts, and Konan's peaceful profile as she folded origami.

Those were all precious treasures he wanted to protect.

He got it.

Power doesn't always have to make a loud noise, nor does it always have to destroy something.

It can also be like this: quiet and still, yet able to support a peaceful sky.

Nagato nodded vigorously, and although he didn't say anything, his black eyes shone with an unprecedented light.

……

Ninja Academy, training grounds.

"Drink!"

Yahiko shouted and swung his arm forcefully, sending three kunai flying out in a triangular formation, accurately striking the bullseye of the target in the distance.

"How about that, Konan! Pretty impressive, huh!"

He stood proudly with his hands on his hips, showing off to his companions under the shade of the tree.

Xiao Nan was sitting on a clean rock, holding a light purple piece of paper in her hand. Her nimble fingers flew across the paper, and soon a lifelike paper butterfly appeared in her palm.

She gently blew on the paper butterfly, and the butterfly fluttered its wings, circled in the air, and finally landed on Yahiko's orange hair.

"Hmm, that's impressive."

Xiao Nan's voice was soft, with a hint of a smile, "However, your voice was too loud, it scared my butterflies."

"hey-hey."

Yahiko scratched his head sheepishly, carefully took the paper butterfly off his head, and held it preciously in his palm.

He looked at the exquisite paper butterfly, then at his hands, which were red from practicing, and his face was full of enthusiasm.

"Mito-sensei is right, we must learn the power of protection! I want to become stronger, strong enough to protect everyone, to protect Konoha, to protect this...our new home!"

Xiao Nan listened quietly without saying a word, but then picked up another piece of paper and began folding a second butterfly.

Family.

This word, to her, used to be so distant and cold.

But now, when it comes out of Yahiko's mouth, it carries the warmth of sunlight.

"Oh, right."

Yahiko suddenly remembered something, "Why hasn't Nagato come out yet? What does Mito-sensei want with him?"

Xiao Nan paused for a moment while folding the paper.

"I don't know, but it shouldn't be a bad thing. Mito-sensei seems to like him a lot."

"That's true."

Yahiko nodded. "That guy is always so quiet. Maybe Mito-sensei will have to give him some extra tutoring!"

He said that, but he couldn't help but look towards the teaching building.

"Should we... wait for him to go home together?" Xiao Nan asked softly.

"Of course!"

Without hesitation, Yahiko replied, "We're comrades!!"

Meanwhile, in that classroom bathed in golden sunlight...

Mito Uzumaki gently placed the ink-scented brush into Nagato's hand.

"Come, try to feel it."

Following Mito's example, Nagato slowly poured his warm chakra into the pen.

He closed his eyes and, for the first time, saw the flow of chakra so clearly.

They flowed like gentle streams down his arm, into the pen, and finally gathered at the soft tip of the pen.

"Draw the first thing that comes to mind."

Mito's voice seemed to carry a guiding force.

Nagato opened her eyes and looked at the blank paper in front of her.

The first thing that comes to mind...

He took a deep breath, and with his small hand holding the brush that was a bit too big for him, he tremblingly made the first stroke on the snow-white paper.