"Sakura, I remember you have water chakra nature, right?"
Seeing Naruto obediently leave, Kakashi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Sakura.
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei…"
Sakura nodded eagerly, her eyes filled with anticipation, imagining what ninjutsu she would learn from Kakashi.
After the tree climbing training, she and Naruto had tested their chakra natures.
Naruto was wind nature, and she was water nature.
"Sakura… Honestly, with your current chakra, you're not suitable for learning ninjutsu at all.
That's why I haven't taught you any ninjutsu before!"
Sakura, who had been excited, looked increasingly crestfallen as she listened. What did he mean by that?
Was she really worse than that guy, Naruto?
"However, times have changed; there's no time for you to grow anymore… I don't need you to participate in combat, just protect yourself and Mr. Tazuna during the fight.
So, just do your best!"
Sakura… "The ninjutsu I'm going to teach you is C-rank Water Release: Water Bullet.
This is an assassination jutsu that can condense sharp water needles in your mouth to attack enemies.
Because it condenses saliva into needles, this jutsu doesn't require much chakra.
However, it requires very strong chakra control… This jutsu is quite suitable for you right now, Sakura…"
As Kakashi explained the situation, Sakura's face grew darker and darker… Her anticipation for ninjutsu was replaced by annoyed anger.
This sharp-tongued teacher, could he even speak properly?!
While Sakura was gloomily learning the Water Release, Sasuke was on his side.
"Splash…"
Another splash sounded, and Sasuke's feet missed, causing him to fall into the water.
"Walking on water is indeed difficult to control… Even with the reward bonus, it's a bit challenging.
It seems I need to be more serious about this training!"
Sasuke frowned as he looked at the turbulent river water and muttered softly, then walked ashore and took off his clothes.
Training to walk on water while wearing clothes was still too unwise!
Even though he chose a shallow area where the water was only knee-deep, the splashing water still got his clothes wet.
"Well, let's try this first…"
Sasuke, bare-chested and wearing only shorts, suddenly thought of something, stood still, and formed hand signs.
The next second—
Sasuke's eyes sharpened, and his chakra erupted visibly around him… Blue chakra swirled around Sasuke like a spiral, transforming into a purplish-blue chakra flow… Sasuke felt the air resistance around him almost disappear, instantly becoming as light as a swallow.
Whoosh… Sasuke moved with his body, his feet touching the ground, and his figure instantly turned into an afterimage, leaving his original spot!
Silently, he instantly arrived dozens of meters away… "It actually accelerated by almost five times, this is incredible!"
Sasuke's pupils constricted as he exclaimed, not disappointed that it was only five times the speed.
Although it seemed to only accelerate by five times currently, Sasuke's chakra was only at an elite Chunin level.
If he had stronger chakra, he could accelerate by even more multiples of speed.
And, it was silent, high-speed movement!
For enemies who were non-taijutsu type ninjas of the same rank, this was an overwhelming advantage.
Just like how Sasuke felt helpless when he first faced Rock Lee in the original story!
"No, I still need to train harder… With water-walking level chakra control, this jutsu should be able to improve even further."
Thinking of the terrifying speed of Five Gates Rock Lee, Sasuke suppressed his restless emotions and immersed himself in training again.
At the same time—
On the other side of the forest—
"Naruto, are you seriously learning the hand signs or not?!
This Wind Release: Great Breakthrough only has three signs: Inu, Uma, and Tori. How can you still not master them smoothly…?"
Kakashi looked at Naruto with a headache and roared angrily, almost unable to believe his eyes.
Naruto actually took five or six seconds for three simple signs… How could he activate ninjutsu like that!
"Ugh… this is so annoying… Who said this jutsu has to be completed within one second.
And I also have to control the flow of chakra at the same time, condensing chakra in my throat to turn into a gale… It's really hard!!
Kakashi-sensei, don't you have any simpler ninjutsu?
The legendary Copy Ninja—the man who copied over a thousand ninjutsu… Don't you have any ninjutsu that only requires one sign, like my Shadow Clone Jutsu…?"
Naruto, already vexed, shouted unhappily, completely uninterested in forming hand signs for jutsu.
"Idiot… C-rank ninjutsu is already the lowest level of offensive ninjutsu, how much simpler do you want it?
Three hand signs in one second is basic ninja training, and that's why.
You, don't use the Shadow Clone Jutsu as an exception to make your point…"
Kakashi, fuming, raised his crutch and scolded loudly. This guy Naruto actually questioned his title as the Copy Ninja!
Forget about ninjutsu with one sign, he even knew ninjutsu without any signs.
But, with Naruto's intelligence, could he learn such high-difficulty ninjutsu??
"Hmph… Don't look down on me!
I can turn the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu into a jutsu that can be activated with one sign.
Then I can also turn this C-rank Wind Release into a jutsu that can be activated with one sign!
Just watch me…"
Naruto, feeling challenged, shouted defiantly again, forming hand signs and unleashing his full chakra.
"That's a Wind Release technique that only Jonin can master, you idiot… Don't waste your chakra!"
Kakashi shouted again, exasperated, having already given up hope on Naruto… Indeed, when it came to reliability, it had to be Sasuke!
"Hmph, how can I know if I don't try… Anyway, I'm definitely going to learn this ninjutsu.
I will never lose to Sasuke or Sakura…"
In the forest, Naruto's defiant shouts echoed once more.
Five days later—
In the depths of the forest, where water systems were abundant, on the surface of a gurgling river—
Sasuke, bare-chested, stood on the undulating river surface, as naturally as if he were standing on flat ground… As he walked, jumped, ran, and dodged, his feet remained firmly adhered to the water's surface, as if treading on solid ground.
"Sakura, come out!"
Suddenly, Sasuke's gaze sharpened, and he sighed as he looked at the nearby bushes.
"Sasuke-kun…"
Sakura, hidden in the bushes, blushed, her eyes darting away as she walked out timidly.
Her beautiful, watery eyes occasionally glanced at Sasuke's upper body, her heart fluttering… Sasuke-kun, he's really so handsome!!
"This is the third time, Sakura… What is it this time?
Have you finished your Water Release training??"
Sasuke walked to the riverbank in a few steps, speaking as he put on his clothes.
Ever since Sakura had called him for dinner and discovered him training shirtless, this was her third time peeking!
Although Sasuke, as a grown man, didn't care about such things, being peeked at by a girl still made him uncomfortable… Even if she was his original wife!
"Um, I've finished my Water Release ninjutsu training.
I just came over for Sasuke-kun to see and give me some pointers…"
Although Sakura's heart was pounding, she immediately braced herself and stated her purpose.
Now was the moment for Sasuke-kun to acknowledge her existence!
"You've learned it… What about Naruto? How's that guy doing??"
Sasuke paused at her words, then changed the subject and asked again.
Sasuke wasn't surprised that Sakura could learn that ninjutsu!
Sakura possessed the medical talent to inherit Tsunade's mantle, so this level of Water Release was naturally no problem for her… "Naruto??
I, I don't know…"
Sakura, who had been prepared for Sasuke's praise, stiffened, looking at Sasuke with a resentful expression.
What's going on… Why is his reaction so bland??
Talking about Naruto isn't suitable for the current atmosphere!
Waaah… Sasuke-kun is still so cool… I love him so much!!