Changes in the Nature of Fire Release
After advancing to the second stage of the Art of Spiritual Activation, one can maintain a relatively focused mental state regardless of the situation. This heightened concentration can be applied to learning, training, and even combat.
At the third stage, the user's spiritual energy becomes so potent that it overflows, granting the ability to directly perceive their surroundings with incredible clarity—almost akin to the divine sense often described in Xianxia novels.
Kato Suan believes that once someone reaches this level and learns additional sensory ninjutsu, they could become a top-tier sensory-type ninja, comparable to the likes of Uzumaki Karin or the Yamanaka Clan's sensory elites.
Unfortunately, none of his students have reached this stage—except for Jiraiya, who has barely grazed the edge of it.
The fourth stage goes even further. Here, one's overflowing spiritual power can influence the physical world. Kato Dan, known in canon for using the Spiritual Transformation Technique (Reika no Jutsu), has achieved this level. Only at this point does Kato Suan believe a shinobi can safely learn and fully control the complete form of the Spiritual Transformation Technique.
Of course, Ming Jing is still far from that level. Currently, he's in the early first stage, though his concentration has been steadily improving. He's unsure how close he is to breaking into the second stage. At least, through meditation, he can now sustain a focused state for longer periods.
This rapid progress might be due to the unique nature of his soul. Containing the essence of two intertwined spirits, his spiritual power seems amplified—giving him an edge in mastering the Art of Spiritual Activation.
This is precisely why Kato Dan has said that individuals with strong innate mental or spiritual energy—like himself—are the best candidates to inherit his ninjutsu.
Aburame Nami has barely entered the first stage, while Inuzuka Yu has made no progress at all. He can't sit still for even ten minutes without becoming restless.
Just now, he managed nine minutes before jumping up and heading off with Tetsumaru to practice Inuzuka-style taijutsu further away.
Meanwhile, Ming Jing had completed his morning training and was now seated beneath a tree, calmly examining and comparing three scrolls.
Each scroll represented a different perspective on Fire Release: one from Uchiha Fugaku, another from Uchiha Yu, and the last from Kato Dan.
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> "Is it about explosive force or temperature...?" Ming Jing mused. "The most common nature transformation of Fire Release is high temperature, but the Uchiha Clan—after generations of mastery—have evolved it further. They've transformed heat into explosive force. And only the Sharingan can manage such volatile nature transformation."
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The more he read, the more amazed he became.
Kato Dan's fire nature transformation was the standard taught among Konoha's Fire Release Jonin: consistent, controlled heat, suitable for general combat. But the methods of the Uchiha Jonin were more refined and dangerous—amplifying both the flame's temperature and its volatility. The Uchiha version of Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique (Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu) even became a rite of passage within the clan.
Their chakra transformation took the already destructive heat of Fire Release and, through extreme control, pushed it toward explosive combustion—resulting in faster ignition, wider area of effect, and more intense burns.
This reminded Ming Jing of other unique elemental transformations across the shinobi world. For example, Iwagakure's Light-Weight Rock Technique and Heavy-Weight Rock Technique diverged from the typical dense and solid Earth Release. Jiraiya, too, had turned water into oil with Toad Oil techniques. Then there was the Cloud Village's Black Lightning, a unique nature transformation developed by Darui under the tutelage of the Third Raikage.
Ming Jing's thoughts continued to spiral as he flipped through the scrolls.
Finally, he stood up to test what he had absorbed.
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> "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
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An orange-red fireball burst forth and exploded in the distance, catching Inuzuka Yu's attention as he sparred with his dog. Aburame Nami, though aware of the commotion, focused intensely on her meditation—resisting the distraction. Finding calm amidst chaos was crucial for developing spiritual focus.
Ming Jing observed the fireball.
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> "The orange-red color... At the core, it shifts toward yellow. As the temperature increases, fire changes from red to orange, orange to yellow, then white, and finally blue. A white flame indicates a highly refined Fire Release transformation. To reach explosive nature transformation, the core must turn blue."
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He squatted, deep in thought, chin resting in his hand.
In reality, Fire Release flames were far from uniform. A Jonin who had mastered chakra nature transformation would produce flames with complex layers—often red, orange, and yellow in the outer layers, but a different hue at the core.
Ming Jing spent the rest of the day engrossed in Fire Release training.
It wasn't until nightfall that he returned to his quarters, body sore and exhausted.
The next morning, however, he was met with grave news from Inuzuka Yu.
The peaceful days were over.
After forming a temporary alliance with Konoha and Amegakure, Iwagakure and Sunagakure faced off against a powerful coalition of Hanzo the Salamander, the Legendary Sannin, and Kato Dan. Unsurprisingly, they suffered heavy losses.
Now, Konoha intended to launch a major offensive against Sunagakure, aiming to push them entirely out of the Rain Country and establish dominance. Eliminating one of the two enemy forces would simplify the remainder of the campaign.
And for a large-scale operation, Konoha needed every capable shinobi on the frontlines.
Though Ming Jing and his teammates were unknown Genin just a few months ago, their performance in the last mission—killing multiple Chunin in head-on engagements—had earned them a place in the upcoming battle.
They had only a single day to rest before joining a newly formed assault squad composed of other units from the camp.
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> "In a war like this, we're just a small ripple in a vast ocean," Aburame Nami said, watching a wave crash in the distance.
> "There's not much we can do," Ming Jing replied. "As Konoha shinobi, it's our duty to fight for the village. What we can do now is focus on staying alive. Hopefully, Lord Kato and Lady Tsunade will be nearby. With them covering us, we might not have to face the enemy's elite forces directly."
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In truth, their strength had already risen far above that of average Genin.
After their harrowing experience three months ago, the entire team had grown significantly. Since then, they had further polished their skills. Now, all three members of Kato's squad had reached Chunin level—and were considered formidable even among their peers.