"Very well, while you three have different approach to the element, you have the motivation to go through the training. Before learning any jutsu, you need to be able to do the most basic thing, which is turning chakra into element. With such, there is a method we, senseis use in order to introduce you to how this would work. It isn't as demanding as techniques are, but has the same principle. Bear in mind, that while this isn't really important in the practical world, it is the most important thing when it comes to performing techniques, so try your best to have a complete grasp over it." - said Hashirama as he handed each one of the three a leaf.
"Now, we shall use this leaf in this stage. What I would like you to do is set in a meditation stance with your legs crossed and your eyes crossed. Focus in nothing but your chakra system. Try to gather some chakra and focus it into the leaf, you might not succeed at the first time or even the second, because you haven't done such thing before, or at least some of you didn't, so don't be disappointed if that happens. Do it until you understand how it is done and eventually succeed. After focusing your chakra in the leaf, we will have to go through the hard part which is using natural transformation. Natural transformation is the key to using any element, because it transforms our normal chakra into elemental chakra, which is used in techniques. It is really tricky so try your best. Once you do that, tell me what is your observation. What happened to the leaf?" - finished Hashirama
Yes sensei. Orochimaru says, sitting upon the ground and taking the leaf in his hands. Orochimaru would remember the lessons of chakra he had learned from studying his ninja handbook.
"Chakra is essential to even the most basic technique. Through various methods, the most common of which is hand seals, chakra can be controlled and manipulated to create an effect that would not be possible otherwise, such as walking on water, exhaling fire, or creating illusions. Chakra is ordinarily not visible to the unaided eye unless it is highly concentrated or manifested in large amounts. Since being spread by Hagoromo, better known as the Sage of Six Paths, chakra has become a form of life energy that all individuals produce to some degree; those who run out of chakra will die. Produced within the "chakra coils" that mainly surround and connect to each chakra-producing organ, the energy circulates throughout the body in a network called the "Chakra Pathway System", which is similar to the cardiovascular system. Certain groups, such as shinobi, have learned to generate more chakra and release it outside their bodies through pressure points called tenketsu in order to perform jutsu. Chakra is not normally visible to the human eye, though it can be seen in situations where a person releases as much of their chakra as possible. This is rarely seen due to the restrictions of eight specific tenketsu known as the Eight Gates, which limit the amount of chakra an individual can release at a single given time.
Chakra is created when two other forms of energy, known collectively as one's "stamina", are moulded together. Physical energy is collected from each and every one of the body's cells and can be increased through training, stimulants, and exercise. Spiritual energy is derived from the mind's consciousness and can be increased through studying, meditation, and experience. These two energies becoming more powerful will in turn make the created chakra more powerful. Therefore, practising a technique repeatedly will build up experience, increasing one's spiritual energy, and thus allowing more chakra to be created. As a result, the ninja is able to do that same technique with more power. This same cycle applies for physical energy, except the ninja needs to increase their endurance instead.
At any given time, a ninja will have a "maximum" amount of chakra that they can form and use before it runs out and they need to rest to replenish it. With practice this maximum can be increased, but to a certain extent they are limited to the quantity and strength of chakra that their genetics grants them.
Each person's chakra is different and as such gives off a unique chakra signature, which sensor type ninja are able to detect. Chakra signatures are passed genetically, allowing a person's clan to be identified by their chakra over time, entire populations can have perceptibly different chakra. One's chakra signature can be theoretically altered by absorbing DNA from multiple people, mixing various chakra signatures together to become a whole new one. Some chakra signatures that are similar to each other (such as that of a parent and child) are suggested to resonate when near each other. Each person's chakra also has a unique "color" that can be seen by those with dōjutsu. Even if they are separated, changes made in the chakra signature of the original will result in the separated chakra mimicking those changes.
While practically all types of jutsu require chakra to be performed, taijutsu does not; stamina is all that is needed. While the ninja still needs a set amount of chakra to live, regular taijutsu doesn't require any active moulding or manipulation of chakra, with few exceptions. A standard attack like a punch or kick falls into this technique category. Because chakra takes time and a great deal of training to gradually build up, the key to its use is not actually having chakra but instead being able to sufficiently control and conserve it. This is called chakra control. In order to have good chakra control, a ninja should only mould as much chakra as they need to perform a given ability. If they mold more chakra than is needed, the excess chakra is wasted and they will tire out faster from its loss. If they don't mold enough chakra, a technique will not be performed effectively, if at all, likely creating problems in a combat situation. General training methods for improving one's molding and manipulation of chakra are the Leaf Concentration, Tree Climbing, and Water Surface Walking exercises. A good way to build up chakra in the body is to spin it into a tight spiral; Whether to spin the chakra left or right is dependent on the way the user's hair grows. Hand seals are often used to manipulate chakra more easily, allowing shinobi to execute their techniques faster and more effectively. Shinobi who are extremely skilled at chakra control often specialise in genjutsu or become medical-nin.
When creating a ninjutsu, the two methods of manipulating chakra are referred to as shape transformation and nature transformation Shape transformation deals with controlling the form, movement, and potency of chakra. Nature transformation deals with changing the physical properties of chakra into an element. There is also the nature transformation of Yin and Yang, which deals with changing the ratio of spiritual and physical energies within chakra. These two methods can be implemented separately or together in order to create a technique, though ninja who can use both simultaneously are said to be rare."
The entire time he's recalling the lessons the book had shown him, Orochimaru is focusing his chakra in to the leaf, focusing on the control of the chakra and nothing else he steadily begins to increase the chakra inside the leaf seeing how far he can push it, his inquisitive mind desires to know the limits of the leaf, and sure enough the outpouring of chakra seems to direct itself in a particular way, splitting the leaf in two.
The leaf. It has been cut sensei.
