Final answer:
The Water Dragon Jutsu in Naruto demands 44 hand signs to perform, which is the key difference from the fire-based jutsu that typically requires fewer hand signs.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Naruto series, the key difference between the Water Dragon Jutsu and its fire counterpart is that the Water Dragon Jutsu requires significantly more hand signs/seals to perform. Specifically, the Water Dragon Jutsu demands 44 separate hand signs, representing the complexity and control needed to manipulate the element of water into the form of a dragon. In contrast, the fire-based jutsu typically requires far fewer hand signs, as seen with techniques such as the Great Fireball Technique, which only needs one hand sign. Despite this difference in complexity, neither jutsu is definitively more powerful or challenging to master than the other; their efficacy depends on the situation and the user's skill.