Sasuke and Neji looked at Naruto with complicated eyes. They had watched him perfect the Wind Riding Technique step by step.
What began as disbelief in their hearts had slowly turned into envy.
This was flight.
Even among the Five Kage, few could truly soar. The Third Tsuchikage's so-called "flight" was, in truth, closer to levitation. It relied on the Light-Weight Rock Technique, using chakra to negate gravity and allow him to hover.
But it was nothing like Naruto's effortless flight.
Sasuke took a deep breath, his voice carrying both admiration and longing.
"...Naruto, can you teach me this ninjutsu?"
Neji's expression was just as expectant.
Naruto grinned at the sight of their eager faces. "Oh? You want to learn it too? Fine, I'll teach you."
As both nodded fervently, Naruto couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Showing off really did feel good.
"But—" he raised a hand, his expression turning serious, "there's something you need to know first. The Wind Riding Technique requires Wind Release chakra as a foundation. Sasuke, you're Fire and Lightning, right? And Neji, if I recall, you've awakened Fire, Water, and Earth Release."
"If you want to learn this technique, you'll need to cultivate Wind Release first."
The two immediately wore bitter smiles.
After following Naruto for so long—and being constantly pushed by him in both training and knowledge—they were no longer the ignorant academy students they once were. Their strength and understanding had already reached far beyond that level.
They knew exactly what Naruto meant.
Chakra nature transformation—a topic usually reserved for jonin.
Everyone is born with at least one chakra nature, which makes it easier to use jutsu of that type and conserves chakra in battle. But training an entirely new chakra nature took time and effort.
Kakashi Hatake, known as the Copy Ninja who had mastered over a thousand jutsu, was the prime example. His innate chakra natures were Lightning, Earth, and Water, with Lightning Release being his strongest. He had later learned Fire and Wind Release through copied jutsu, but he was never as proficient in them. Using jutsu outside one's main affinities only consumed more chakra without offering much power in return.
That was why most shinobi specialized in one or two elements. Constant wars and missions didn't leave them the luxury of mastering everything—trying to do so would only lead to mediocrity.
What mattered most was finding a path that suited oneself.
Still, the allure of flight was undeniable. Even knowing the cost in time and effort, Sasuke and Neji looked at each other, determination flashing in their eyes.
"No problem. We'll train for it."
Naruto arched a brow. "Are you sure? You realize this will probably slow down your overall growth for at least half a year."
Their expressions tensed—until Naruto smiled.
"But don't worry. Even if it takes time, the Wind Riding Technique is an incredible lifesaver. If you can't win, just fly into the sky. Most enemies won't have a way to reach you."
His words only strengthened their resolve.
"Good. Since you're serious, I'll share a shortcut. You can use Shadow Clones to train. The experience they gain will return to you when they disperse. But be careful—the feedback can be overwhelming. I suggest using no more than two clones."
Naruto explained patiently. Not everyone could handle the strain the way he could. His own vast reserves of mental energy let him bear the feedback from countless clones, but others might collapse under the weight of so much information.
Sasuke and Neji were stunned. They had used clones before for practice and even to skip lessons, but they'd never thought to apply them systematically to training ninjutsu.
And now, the realization struck them like lightning.
With two clones, they could cut the training time by two-thirds.
That meant—at most two months to master the Wind Riding Technique.
...
Days passed quietly.
No one noticed how quickly these few teenagers were growing—at a pace completely abnormal for their age.
With abundant resources, a clear path forward, and Naruto's guidance, Sasuke and Neji were advancing at an astonishing rate. Compared to their counterparts in the original timeline, they were already on an entirely different level.
At just ten and eleven years old, their strength could already rival that of a jonin.
Naruto observed them with a faint smile. In just a few months, they had matured. Their bodies had grown taller, their skin bronzed from training.
Both had finally mastered the Wind Riding Technique. Though their chakra reserves and control couldn't yet match Naruto's, and their speed and endurance in flight were still inferior, it was already an incredible accomplishment.
After all, chakra reserves weren't something that could be forged overnight.
At the same time, their Iron Body: Unbreakable Golden Body had advanced to the Copper Body stage, thanks to their persistent weighted training.
Of course, Naruto hadn't been idle either.
In these past months, he had been refining his own techniques. The Shadow Clone Technique, while versatile, was ultimately too fragile. By studying the principles behind Wood Release clones, Naruto had developed an upgraded version.
These new clones were tougher, lasted longer, and resisted damage far better than ordinary Shadow Clones.
The only drawback was that their strength was only about half of the original body, and he couldn't summon too many at once. Moreover, they couldn't use the Unbreakable Golden Body techniques—understandable, given their origin.
Meanwhile, Rock Lee had been training relentlessly under Might Guy.
According to Lee, Guy-sensei had recently begun teaching him a powerful forbidden technique. Naruto immediately knew what it meant—the start of Lee's training in the Eight Gates.
Yet even with the Six Styles strengthening his Taijutsu, Lee's progress had started to fall behind Sasuke and Neji. Both Six Styles and Eight Gates required immense time and effort to master.
But with the Eight Gates, Lee's strength could surge dramatically in a short period.
Based on Lee's current physical fitness, Naruto judged that opening the Fourth Gate wouldn't be an issue. By the time the plot officially began—two and a half years from now—Lee should be able to open the Sixth Gate.
As for the Seventh Gate… that was less certain. Each step beyond became exponentially more difficult.
After all, even Might Guy had trained for over twenty years before reaching the point of opening all Eight Gates. Talent and perseverance both played a role. Guy was born with a natural gift for Taijutsu, and Lee mirrored that dedication. Who had the greater talent, Naruto couldn't say.
But one thing was certain—by training both the Unbreakable Golden Body and the Eight Gates simultaneously, Lee's body would be far tougher than in the original timeline. The defensive reinforcement of the Golden Body could lessen the devastating side effects of the Gates.
That might just allow Lee to break through to an even higher level than before.
...
TN:
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