Shukaku first Sarutobi Hiruzen the details of the Sand Manipulation Technique and then began teaching Shinku, Sakumo, and Naoto the fundamentals of Wind Release.
"The so-called Wind Release is a technique that uses wind-natured chakra to attack or defend. It has a cutting effect. The wind is everywhere, from a gentle breeze to a devastating typhoon..."
Hiruzen fell into deep thought as he listened. Just now, Shukaku had explained his understanding of the Sand Manipulation Technique, but something felt off. Did he fail to grasp it, or was Shukaku's explanation simply too profound?
According to Shukaku, mastering Sand Manipulation required Wind Release—for example, one could use Wind Release to o shape a handful of sand into any desired form.
But then there was the mention of Magnetic Release. Shukaku claimed that the Magnetic Release of Sunagakure was the same as Sand Manipulation. Yet, Magnetic Release and Sand Manipulation seemed completely unrelated.
Hiruzen opened the panel and checked. There was no mention of Magnetic Release or Sand Manipulation.
Based on the knowledge from his past life, shouldn't Magnetic Release be linked to electromagnetism?
Wouldn't the best representative of Magnetic Release be Magnet? The way the Third Kazekage applied Magnetic Release seemed somewhat shallow in comparison.
Then why did Shukaku say he learned the Sand Manipulation Technique through Wind Release?
He let his thoughts wander. Breeze → Typhoon. But that had nothing to do with either.
There were very few references in the books.
Hiruzen patted his head, then sat cross-legged. He needed to empty his mind.
Shukaku taught that one must start with Wind Release before forming the Sand Manipulation Technique.
The Third Kazekage, Takumi, learned Magnetic Release from the Second Kazekage, Shamon. And Shamon learned Sand Manipulation from Shukaku. Where did things diverge?
Oh, and then there was the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa—Takumi's later student—whose technique controlled Gold Dust, while Takumi's was Iron Sand.
What about Shamon?
It was said earlier that Shamon used regular sand, and Shukaku's sand was also regular sand.
° Shamon → Regular Sand
° Rasa → Gold Dust
° Takumi → Iron Sand
° Gaara → Regular Sand
Was there a connection? He had to ask Shukaku if it could control Iron Sand.
Interrupting the lesson, Hiruzen asked, "Shukaku, can your Sand Manipulation Technique control Iron Sand?"
"Of course after all Iron Sand is still sand. I usually manipulate Sand without thinking too much about it. Maybe some Iron Sand gets mixed in, but I don't really pay attention to that. If it's sand, I can control it for jutsu." Shukaku answered casually.
So he had to start with Wind Release after all.
Hiruzen walked aside and continued meditating.
Back in Konoha, he had read plenty of theories and experiences on Wind Release, yet the panel showed no response. He meditated for a long time.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced from somewhere—it was something a teacher had said in physics class.
The formation of wind is caused by solar radiation heat. Sunlight heats the Earth's surface, causing the air to warm up, expand, and rise. The rising warm air is replaced by cooler air flowing in horizontally. This airflow is what we call wind.
Sarutobi Hiruzen grasped the key point.
Wind is caused by solar radiation.
He muttered, "Solar radiation… Solar radiation… Solar wind. Solar wind is mainly charged particles emitted by the sun… Solar storms… Solar storms are caused by electromagnetic forces…
Shukaku's Sand Manipulation—could it actually be electromagnetism?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen opened the panel.
Sarutobi Hiruzen — Status
Body: 12/12
Spirit: 135/135
Element: 87/87
Skills:
Primary Body Mastery
Advanced Combat Mastery
Mastery:
Primary Wind Control
Advanced Fire Mastery
Intermediate Earth Mastery
Intermediate Water Mastery
Intermediate Seal Mastery
Advanced Energy Mastery
Advanced Lightning Mastery
Advanced Genjutsu Mastery
New Skill:
Primary Electromagnetic Application [To Be Named]
Fusion Techniques:
Primary Fire and Earth Fusion : Meteor Shower
Primary Earth and Water Fusion : Mudslide
Primary Water and Fire Fusion : Nuclear Bomb
Sure enough, it appeared. Primary Electromagnetic Application (電磁応用, Denji Ōyō). He'd name it after testing its abilities.
Wait—what was this Primary Wind Control?
He had skipped the "Mastery" stage and jumped straight to "Control."
Time to test it.
Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his eyes and concentrated.
Slowly, he began floating.
He could manipulate the wind in many ways—like using it to lift himself into the air.
This was different from Ohnoki's Flight Technique, which used the Earth Release to reduce gravity.
Finally—he could fly!
Humans had always dreamed of conquering the skies. Sarutobi Hiruzen was no exception.
For years, he had envied Ohnoki. Seeing that smug old man floating around all the time had always made him jealous.
Now, all he could think was:
"In this new ninja era, who still fights on the ground? Hahahaha!"
After indulging in his fantasies for a while, Sarutobi Hiruzen calmed himself and prepared to test whether his newfound control over wind could also manipulate sand.
He stretched out his hands, sensing the wind in the world around him.
The breeze swirled gently, mixing with the chakra he released. As the air rotated, he noticed small piles of sand on the ground—brought in by the natural wind.
Let's see if I can shape them as I wish.
The scattered grains of sand began to join the vortex, spinning faster and faster. The small whirlwind grew, slowly transforming into a tornado.
The increasing turbulence startled Shukaku, who had been focused on teaching, and also caught the attention of Shinku, Sakumo, and Naoto. The three had been listening intently, but now, their eyes widened in shock as the swirling tornado mixed with sand, evolving into a full-fledged sandstorm.
The violent airflow whipped at their clothes.
Shukaku finally spoke up. "Sarutobi, stop. That's not how the Sand Manipulation Technique works."
At Shukaku's words, Hiruzen gradually eased his control. The raging tornado shrank, then dissipated, leaving behind scattered mounds of sand as evidence of its brief existence.
He felt a lingering sense of dissatisfaction. Though this method wasn't Shukaku's Sand Manipulation Technique, he could tell that what he had just done was undeniably powerful.
Still, if it wasn't the right way, then what was?
"Shukaku, what does your Sand Manipulation Technique look like?" he asked.
Shukaku scratched his head, "It's hard to explain, but it's definitely not like what you did. Here, I'll show you."
He extended his right hand. A faint breeze swirled in his palm, flowing left, right, up, and down—seemingly moving in all directions at once.
With his left hand, Shukaku gathered a handful of sand and dropped it into the rotating air current in his right palm. The grains danced in the air, shifting smoothly as if guided by invisible strings. Then, as if sculpting with his bare hands, he molded the sand into a human figure.
When the form settled, the face of the sculpture looked exactly like Hiruzen—lifelike and precise.
Inspired, Hiruzen also grabbed a handful of sand and attempted the same technique.
However, his sand scattered in all directions, behaving more like a clumsy apprentice's rough carving—cut too little here, too much there. He persisted, refining the shape, but when he compared his work to Shukaku's, the difference was obvious.
His sand figure felt loose, its grains barely holding together. If he let go, it would collapse instantly.
Meanwhile, Shukaku's creation was solid, appearing as if it had been cut from a single block of material rather than shaped from individual grains.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, "Shukaku, how do you make the grains of sand fit together so perfectly? It looks like a single piece."
Shukaku hesitated for a moment before answering. "To me, they're not a single piece. There's space between every grain of sand. I just control each grain individually to form the shape I want."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned, "You control… every single grain?"
Shukaku blinked, looking puzzled, "Of course. What else would I do?"
Hiruzen felt his scalp tingle. Shukaku is a micro-manipulation monster.
If he can control each grain of sand separately, could he theoretically control molecules? Atoms? Nuclear fusion?
His mind spiraled further. If I can apply wind control at the molecular level… can I decompose the sand and dust into molecules and atoms? What if I use it on a person? Would they disintegrate into molecules? Atoms?
Acting on impulse, Sarutobi Hiruzen pulled out a kunai from his ninja pouch.
He closed his eyes, focusing his chakra.
This kunai is made of molecules… and there are gaps between those molecules…
He gathered wind chakra in his palm, willing the gaps to widen—willing the kunai to break apart at the molecular level.
Moments later, his chakra was completely drained.
Opening his eyes, he was met with a shocking sight.
The kunai in his hand had vanished. In its place was a handful of fine iron sand.
His breath hitched. This… is terrifying.
If this technique were used on a living person…
He shuddered. No, I won't tell Shukaku about this. It's too cruel and not humane at all.
Curious, he opened his panel.
A new skill had appeared: Wind Control: [Unnamed]
After some thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen named it Wind Control: Bone-Eroding Yin Wind
To avoid alarming Shukaku, he decided to focus on refining the Sand Manipulation Technique instead.
With continued practice, his proficiency improved.
Soon, the sand moved at his command, forming a sand bar that struck the crystalline ground. Upon impact, the hardened surface shattered—instantly turning into more sand that merged with his technique.
Drawing inspiration from Gaara's techniques in his past life, Sarutobi Hiruzen manipulated the sand into a towering sand wave, surging forward like a tidal wave of destruction.
Shukaku watched with satisfaction. "Sarutobi, you've learned it. You're much smarter than Shamon and the others."
Hiruzen barely heard him.
His gaze lingered on the Primary Electromagnetic Application skill listed on his panel.
If Shukaku's sand manipulation is based on Wind Release, then where did this electromagnetic ability come from?