"Alright!"
Naruto leaped down from the training platform, his eyes blazing with determination. He quickly formed hand seals, channeling chakra with precise control.
"Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm!"
A gust of air erupted from his hands, twisting violently outward. As his chakra control improved, the power of the technique magnified tremendously. The sheer force sent nearby stones tumbling and sand swirling like a mini tornado. Dust choked the air as Naruto's hands became the eye of a roaring windstorm.
Asuma Sarutobi instinctively raised his arm to shield his face.
"My god…" he muttered, his voice filled with awe. "When the precision of control increases, the sheer power of a massive chakra reserve reaches its peak instantly. Even if the Ninjutsu itself is still imperfect, its destructive strength is phenomenal."
Naruto's display of raw power left Asuma no choice but to fully recognize his potential.
"This boy…" Asuma whispered to himself. "He has the capacity to elevate Wind Release Ninjutsu to levels no one in Konoha has ever achieved."
Looking up at Naruto, Asuma's expression hardened with resolve.
"Good, Naruto. From now on, I will teach you," he said firmly. "Not just Wind Release: Fierce Wind Palm. Every secret, every advanced technique I know—I will pass it on to you without reservation. How much you absorb will depend entirely on your own ability."
Naruto's heart leapt. "R-really?!" he shouted, his fists clenching with excitement.
"Yes, Teacher Asuma!" he added eagerly. "I won't let you down. I'll give everything I have!"
Asuma nodded approvingly. "That's the spirit. But you must understand something, Naruto. Learning advanced Ninjutsu is not just difficult—it can be tedious, even monotonous. You must prepare yourself mentally. Only persistence and determination will bring mastery."
Naruto's mind flashed back to the grueling training with the system "big brother," enduring relentless electric shocks. I survived that. What challenge could possibly stop me now? he thought, clenching his fists even tighter.
"Don't worry, Teacher Asuma. I'll never give up!" he declared.
Asuma allowed himself a small smile. "Good. Then let's begin immediately."
Under Asuma's guidance, Naruto began his rigorous training. Every motion, every technique, was refined to perfection. Asuma's expertise in Wind Release Ninjutsu was unmatched. In Konoha, perhaps only Danzo Shimura's skills could rival it. Naruto was aware of his good fortune. Under the tutelage of such a master, his abilities could expand exponentially.
More importantly, Naruto had a goal: to master Wind Release: Gale Palm in ten days. With Asuma's instruction, he realized he might achieve it in just half that time. For the first time, a wave of confident anticipation surged through him.
---
Meanwhile, at the Uchiha Clan compound, silence reigned. The once-grand halls were empty and desolate. Sasuke Uchiha entered the family's secret archive, rows of meticulously kept Ninjutsu scrolls lining the shelves.
He had searched through them countless times before, but today he sought something specific. His fingers brushed across the top shelf until they settled on a scroll.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique," he whispered, reading the details. "Learning difficulty: B-rank, Jonin-level…"
Sasuke clenched the scroll tightly. His mind churned with unease. Even if I master this technique, can I truly surpass Naruto? he questioned silently.
The loss he had suffered against Naruto gnawed at him. Was it due to Naruto's abnormal mastery of the Shadow Clone Technique? Or perhaps the overwhelming Taijutsu that Naruto wielded? Sasuke knew the truth.
No, it wasn't just the techniques. It was his fundamental power.
Sasuke had always possessed a calm analytical mind, particularly when his emotions were in check. The frustration and anger that had bubbled from his earlier defeat were now buried, replaced by quiet resolve.
"That boy… Naruto," he muttered under his breath. "His skill with high-level Ninjutsu like the Shadow Clone Technique isn't just talent. It's the product of his immense chakra reserves."
He closed his eyes briefly, recalling Naruto's sheer physical prowess. Even his Taijutsu is frighteningly strong. Techniques alone wouldn't account for it. It's the combination of his chakra, stamina, and raw strength.
Opening his eyes, Sasuke's gaze hardened. "My chakra reserves aren't as vast. My Taijutsu and strength don't compare. No amount of new techniques can fill that gap. So, I must maximize my advantages."
He began mentally mapping his strategy. "My Sharingan grants insight and predictive ability. My Ninjutsu is advanced, and my Taijutsu is precise. I must exploit these strengths fully."
Sasuke's plan was methodical: first, refine Taijutsu and Kenjutsu to perfection, combining them with Shuriken and other tools for dazzling attacks. Next, continue mastering Ninjutsu to counter Naruto's diverse offensive capabilities. And finally…
"And above all…" he whispered. "I must strengthen my Sharingan."
He knew that no matter his other skills, the Sharingan would always be his most reliable ally. Its power would grow as his eyes and emotions were pushed to extremes—but how?
The answer was brutal but clear. Pain, anger, despair, and hatred—the emotions that had first awakened the Sharingan—were the key. But in the past, he had suppressed those memories, unwilling to confront the trauma of that night.
No longer.
Clenching his fists violently, Sasuke made a silent vow. "From today, I will immerse myself in the pain and hatred of that night, again and again. Only through confronting it can my eyes achieve their full potential."
Memories resurfaced unbidden. The night sky had been crimson, a blood-red moon casting an eerie glow over the Uchiha compound. Little Sasuke had returned from training, excited and unaware of the horror awaiting him.
Bodies lay scattered, blood pooling in rivers. Panic and despair had gripped him as screams echoed through the streets.
"Ah… ah… ah…" his small voice had trembled as fear and shock overtook him.
Now, years later, he recalled it not to relive the trauma, but to draw strength from it. The Sharingan thrived on emotion, and he would not waste this opportunity.
Sasuke's plan was clear: he would train relentlessly, sharpen every skill, and awaken his Sharingan to its ultimate potential. Only then could he hope to surpass Naruto, whose own potential seemed limitless.
---
Back at the training field, Naruto continued to push himself. Each Wind Release technique became sharper, more precise. Dust swirled around him in ever-larger vortices as he honed the flow of chakra through his body.
Asuma observed closely, correcting Naruto's stance, guiding his hand seals, and demonstrating subtle nuances that made the difference between good and extraordinary.
"You see, Naruto," Asuma said, adjusting the young boy's arm, "it's not just about power. It's about control, timing, and understanding the flow of chakra. If you can master these principles, you'll wield Wind Release techniques like an extension of your own body."
Naruto nodded, sweat dripping from his brow. "I understand, Teacher! I'll practice until it becomes second nature!"
The hours stretched into the afternoon. Every gust of wind, every vibration of chakra through his hands, was a step closer to mastery. Naruto felt his confidence growing—not just in his abilities, but in himself.
I can do this. I will do this.
For the first time in his life, the path ahead seemed clear, the goal tangible. With Asuma's guidance and his unwavering determination, Naruto was poised to become a force unlike any Konoha had ever seen.
Even as Sasuke plotted in the shadows, preparing to awaken his eyes and push himself to the edge of human capability, Naruto forged his own path. Two destinies, intertwined by rivalry, driven by determination, and destined to clash.
The wind howled, carrying with it the promise of an extraordinary future.
And Naruto smiled.
This is just the beginning.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)