The morning air was fresh.
Kakashi had recovered from his chakra exhaustion, but his body was still not fully back to normal. He could stand and move around, but walking freely was still difficult.
With the help of a stick, he led Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke into the nearby forest.
After reaching a clear spot, Kakashi turned toward them.
"Alright, Team 7. Today, I'm going to teach you another important chakra control technique—tree walking."
He tapped the ground lightly with his stick.
"This isn't just about using chakra. It's about controlling it properly. If you master this, you'll have an easier time learning more advanced techniques later, including walking on water."
Sakura looked at him with doubt.
"But sensei, we already know how to control our chakra."
Kakashi smiled lightly.
"I know you all know basic chakra control. But walking on a tree is different. It's not just about molding chakra. It's about applying the right amount of chakra to your feet."
He pointed toward the tree beside him.
"If you use too much chakra, you'll blow the bark away. If you use too little, you'll slip. And while walking, one foot has to apply chakra while the other adjusts and releases it. You have to keep repeating that process as you move."
His visible eye curved slightly.
"At first, it'll tire you out quickly. After some time, your control will start to break. That's why I want you to master it properly."
Kakashi turned toward the tree.
"I'll show you how to do it. If any two of you master it, I'll teach them how to walk on water."
With that, Kakashi placed his foot against the tree and began walking upward while holding his stick. Even in his weakened state, his control was steady.
All three watched him closely.
Sakura seemed to understand the idea quickly.
Kakashi reached a branch and then hung upside down from it, looking at them like it was nothing.
"This is how it's done."
Then he walked back down with the same ease and returned to his starting position.
Kakashi looked at Sakura first.
"Now Sakura, you go first."
Sakura nodded and stepped toward the tree.
She gathered chakra at her feet, took a slow breath, and began walking up. Her steps were steady from the beginning. She reached the same branch Kakashi had stood on and looked down with a proud smile on her face, clearly waiting for praise from her sensei.
"Impressive," Kakashi said with a nod. "I expected nothing less from you, Sakura."
Sakura smiled brightly and jumped back down to the ground.
Then Kakashi looked toward Naruto and Sasuke.
"You two start at the same time. Let me see who wins first."
Naruto and Sasuke stood before two trees that were side by side.
Sasuke glanced at Naruto with clear dislike in his eyes.
'Let me show you who I am.'
To Sasuke, this was no longer just training. Recently, Naruto had been standing ahead of him in too many things—direct combat, strategy, calmness, and even judgment.
Sasuke hated that feeling.
He hated feeling like he was behind Naruto.
Both of them started at the same time.
They ran up the trees, reached about halfway, and then fell back to the ground almost together.
Naruto landed and brushed the dirt off his jacket.
"I think I've got the hang of it now."
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You figured it out already? In just one try?"
Before Naruto could answer, Sakura spoke with a mocking tone.
"There's no way Naruto understands it before my Sasuke does. He's just bluffing."
Naruto smirked.
"Oh, Sakura, you may think Sasuke is so great, but I don't."
After saying that, Naruto stepped toward the tree again.
This time, his movements were calm.
He placed chakra under his feet properly and walked up the trunk without falling. Step by step, he reached the same branch Kakashi had reached earlier.
Then he turned upside down and hung from the branch just like Kakashi had done.
Looking directly at Sakura, Naruto said, "That's how we do it."
Then he jumped down from the branch, flipping once in the air before landing smoothly on the ground.
Sakura's jaw dropped.
"You... really did it."
Naruto ignored her reaction and turned toward Kakashi.
"So, sensei, are you going to teach us both how to walk on water now?"
Kakashi thought for a moment.
His gaze moved toward Sasuke, who was standing silently with clenched fists. The frustration on his face was obvious.
"We'll take a break and have breakfast first," Kakashi said. "Afterward, I'll teach you and Sakura. You can teach Sasuke later... okay?"
Naruto and Sakura both nodded.
"Okay, sensei."
As Kakashi and Sakura began walking ahead, Sasuke moved closer to Naruto and lowered his voice, making sure Sakura and Kakashi would not hear.
"Naruto, can you tell me some tips on how to do it?"
Naruto immediately raised his voice loud enough for both Sakura and Kakashi to hear.
"If tips are what you want, Sasuke, kneel and ask. I will definitely tell you."
Sasuke's eyes flared.
"What did you say?"
Naruto looked at him with a calm smile.
"I said, I will tell you the tips if you kneel down and ask."
Sakura quickly turned around and walked toward them with an angry face.
"Naruto, just tell him if you want to, and don't if you don't want to. Why are you asking him to kneel down?"
Behind her, Kakashi also stopped and looked at Naruto.
Naruto simply shrugged.
"That's what I'm doing. If he kneels down and asks, I will tell him. If not, I won't."
Then he looked at Sasuke with a smirk.
"Everyone thinks of him as some great prodigy. He also thinks of himself as someone mighty. I'm just letting him know his mighty place."
Hearing that, veins appeared on Sasuke's forehead and hand.
"I don't need your help! I'll figure it out myself."
Naruto smiled and raised both thumbs toward him.
"That's how the mighty Sasuke should be."
Sasuke became even angrier.
Sakura clenched her fists in frustration.
"Enough, Naruto!"
Then she walked toward Sasuke.
"Sasuke, I can give you tips if you want."
Naruto, who had his back toward Sakura, slightly tilted his upper body and looked at Sasuke with a smiling face.
He did not say a word.
But Sasuke understood the expression clearly.
To him, Naruto's face was shouting one word.
Loser.
Sasuke's anger rose even more.
"I said, I don't want anyone's help!"
Hearing that, Sakura stopped and slowly took two steps back until she was standing beside Naruto.
Sasuke turned away from them and walked back to the tree. He tried again, ran up halfway, and fell.
Then he got up and tried again.
Sakura watched him with a hurt expression.
"I... I just... wanted to help."
Naruto slightly tilted his head toward her.
"Let's move. If you stay here too much, Sasuke may start thinking of you as a nuisance."
With that, Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto walked away, leaving Sasuke behind to continue practicing alone.
After a few steps, Sakura looked at Naruto.
"Why did you ask him to kneel down, Naruto?"
(To Be Continued...)