Shunsui stood in the Yamanaka clan training grounds. A middle-aged man had led him inside to one of the private training areas of the clan. Shunsui adjusted his straw hat and waited calmly for the man to speak.
"Choza-san asked me for assistance to help you become a sensor. My name is Yamanaka Toru," the man said in a straightforward voice after some time.
"It is good to meet you, Toru-san," Shunsui replied politely, bowing slightly.
"Your sensei did not tell me much about your abilities, but he did tell me you are a kenjutsu user and have good enough chakra control to manage short durations of chakra augmentation."
"If I am not wrong, you are not a natural sensor?" he asked.
"Correct, Toru-san."
"Well then, if a non-sensor wants to become a sensor, he has to create a chakra net around himself. He has to weave a net around his body using chakra," Yamanaka Toru explained.
"We usually do it with our minds, and thus this chakra is not visible to anyone but other sensors. The net should spread around you. You will start small, like just a net above the palm of your hand, and then slowly increase the distance. The further you go, the bigger your range becomes. Natural sensors already have a self-net from birth, so they do not have to do the hard part."
"So I have to make something like a spider net around me?" Shunsui asked, trying to picture it clearly.
"Precisely. It is all done using your mind. Imagine a chakra net and create it. It requires a very good level of chakra control, and even higher levels if you want to increase your range beyond ten meters around you."
"I would be helping you with the first steps. After that, it will be up to you to increase your chakra control and expand it yourself."
"Now do as I say."
Shunsui thought that the man was a no-nonsense type since he did not bother with small talk. Still, he felt excited to learn the art of sensory techniques. Even if it was difficult, gaining the ability to detect enemies around him would fix one of his biggest weaknesses.
Yamanaka Toru began giving clear instructions. "Close your eyes and focus on your chakra. Feel it flowing inside your body. Now, slowly guide small threads of chakra out from your palm. Do not push them out forcefully. Think of them as gentle strings being woven together. Imagine a small net forming right above your open hand. Keep the image clear in your mind. Do not let your thoughts wander. Control the shape, the size, and the density of the net. Every thread must connect properly, like a spider web catching morning dew."
He continued speaking in a steady tone. "Once the net is formed, try to maintain it. Feel the space it covers. Even though your eyes are closed, your mind should start to register the empty space above your palm. If you lose focus, the net will collapse. Start small and stable. Do not try to make it big yet. Precision is more important than size at the beginning. Breathe slowly and keep your chakra flow even. This is the foundation of all sensory techniques."
"Many people fail here because they treat chakra like raw power. But for sensing, chakra must be delicate and sensitive. Your chakra would become like eyes that can see without light. Hold that feeling and do not let it slip away."
Shunsui followed the instructions carefully. He closed his eyes and focused inward. He gathered a small amount of chakra in his right palm.
Slowly, he tried to weave thin threads of chakra above his hand. In his mind, he pictured a simple square net, like a fishing net but much smaller. At first, nothing happened. The chakra kept dissipating. He tried again, making the threads thinner and more controlled.
After several attempts, he felt a faint structure form. It was shaky and weak, but it was there. He tried to hold it steady, but after a few seconds, it collapsed like smoke in the wind.
He opened his eyes and tried once more. This time the net lasted a little longer. He could feel a very faint tingling sensation above his palm, but it was not clear. It felt like trying to catch fog with his hands.
Shunsui concentrated harder, adjusting the flow of chakra. The net became slightly more stable, but he still could not sense anything around it. His breathing stayed calm, but sweat started forming on his forehead from the mental effort.
Shunsui nodded after finishing the steps. He looked at Yamanaka Toru and waited for the next instruction.
The Yamanaka said, "As a non-natural sensor, you could only use sensory jutsu with hand signs at the beginning. But as you get better with it, there would be no need for signs."
He showed Shunsui the hand signs and then said, "Now project the chakra net around your hand to see if you can feel the chakra inside it or not."
Shunsui followed the instructions. In his mind, a chakra net appeared from his hand, which was currently the maximum size he could make. He focused hard, trying to feel something, anything. But nothing came. No new information, no awareness of the space around him. He opened his eyes and said, "Umm, Yamanaka-san, I do not feel anything."
Yamanaka Toru sighed and shook his head slowly. "It seems that you do not really have the talent for becoming a sensor."
"What do you mean?" Shunsui asked, confused.
"All natural-born sensors have an extra part in their brain that allows them to process what they are seeing through their sensory jutsu. A normal human brain cannot simply process the information of all things around even three hundred meters of himself. That is one of the reasons when sensors first awaken, they go through excruciating pain due to both sensory overload and this part of their brain being activated," he explained.
"Some humans who are not natural sensors do also have the organ, but it is not activated since they are not using it."
Shunsui continued for him, "But by using the sensory jutsu, it should have activated. Since it did not, it means that I do not have that extra part in my brain."
Yamanaka Toru looked at him and said, "Correct. Though do not be disheartened. Only one in ten shinobi have this part in their brains. But I am sorry to say that you cannot become a sensor."
Shunsui sighed softly. "It is what it is. I cannot help it."
Yamanaka Toru studied the boy. Shunsui did not seem very disheartened about failing at becoming a sensor. He looked calm, almost accepting. The man felt curious and asked, "Why did you want to become a sensor anyway?"
"I feel that my biggest weakness is that people can attack me from behind, catching me off guard before I can use my trump card. And considering shinobi are known to be assassins, there is a very high possibility of it happening."
"Well, going for the sensory route for that was a smart choice, but it would have only become fruitful after some years. Since you would have to close your eyes and use hand signs for at least a few years before you could do it on the go, you could still be assassinated if you are caught unaware," he said.
The Yamanaka then offered, "I actually have a better solution."
Shunsui's ears perked up at that.
"You could train your situational awareness, instincts, and reflexes. I think your sensei would be able to help you with that," Yamanaka Toru said.
Shunsui thought, 'Not a better solution, but I will take it. But I think this session was not entirely useless.'
He flashed himself a mental grin, careful not to freak out the Yamanaka. 'If I manage to create a net for my shikai ability or even bankai later on, I could limit its range or even increase it for what is possible. It would be a good long-term project for me.'
------Author Notes---------
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