102: Chapter 102 Water Trekking! A Leap Forward ChallengeA startling thought flashed through Kakashi's mind: 'Could it be Naruto.'
Not only did he perfectly inherit and integrate the talents of Minato and Kushina, but he even surpassed them.
Did it further harmonize the Nine-Tails' chakra, enhancing Naruto's own control over it?
He looked at the carefree, blond boy on the tree branch, and a strange, indescribable feeling welled up inside him.
Such talent.such potential.surpasses Minato-sensei and Kushina-sensei.surpasses the curse of the Nine-Tails.
Naruto.you little rascal.maybe.you really can reach that top very soon.
Under the tree, looking up at Naruto and Sakura hanging high up as if looking down on all living beings, Sasuke's heart felt as if it had been branded with the hottest iron!
The flames burned away his pride as a genius, and even more so, they burned away his obsession with revenge!A violent sense of humiliation and an unprecedented sense of defeat overwhelmed him in an instant!
Naruto… that guy he always thought was a loser, just lucky… easily reached Kakashi-sensei's level on his first try?
Sakura.that girl who excelled in theory but was mediocre in practical skills in his eyes.succeeded on her first try?
And he… Uchiha Sasuke… the genius top graduate… couldn't even climb halfway?
"Are you kidding me."
Sasuke's teeth clenched so tightly they were grinding, his knuckles turning white from gripping the kunai so tightly."Damn it.damn it!"
The enormous disparity gnawed at his pride like a venomous snake.
Naruto's relaxed demeanor felt like a series of resounding slaps across his face!
Sakura's success seemed to be a silent mockery of his failure!
'If I continue to degenerate like this.if I remain stagnant like this.when will I ever gain enough power?'
When will that man be killed?When will.the Uchiha clan's reputation be restored?
Fueled by despair and resentment, the flames of revenge burned even more fiercely and wildly!
No!Absolutely not!
Sasuke suddenly raised his head, his eyes burning with an almost obsessive and resolute flame!
Sakura sat on a tree branch, looking worriedly at Sasuke in the forest below.
Like a wounded lone wolf, Sasuke charged at the tree he had marked, once, twice, three times.
"Sasuke-kun."
Sakura murmured with heartache.She had never seen Sasuke so disheveled, nor had she ever seen him so obsessed with something.
She instinctively wanted to jump down and comfort him, or even just stay by his side.
A warm and steady hand gently rested on her shoulder.
"Huh?Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura turned around in surprise.
Kakashi had silently arrived on the branch next to her.He looked down at Sasuke, who was attacking and failing time and time again.His single eye held a complex expression, but more than that, it was filled with understanding.
"Let him be alone for a while, Sakura."
Kakashi's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable power: "Recognizing and accepting your shortcomings, and getting back up after setbacks, is a necessary part of the growth process, and perhaps the most important part."
What he needs now is not comfort, but space and time to process, to think, and to transcend himself.
Then, Kakashi's gaze shifted to Naruto, who was still struggling to maintain his upside-down posture and try to strike the coolest pose on the higher branch next to him.His lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
"Alright, the talent of the two of you.exceeds my expectations even more."
Kakashi announced, "In that case, the training plan needs to be adjusted."
Naruto, Sakura, come with me.Sasuke, you continue your tree-climbing training here until you can steadily reach the top.
After Kakashi finished speaking, he lightly jumped down from the branch.
Naruto immediately flipped and landed as nimbly as a monkey, patting his chest triumphantly:
"Hehe, I can't wait for Kakashi-sensei!Where's the new challenge?"
Sakura kept turning back to look at Sasuke, who was still immersed in his own world and had no reaction to the three leaving.In the end, she left the training forest with Kakashi and Naruto.
Sasuke, however, seemed completely oblivious to Kakashi's instructions.
His world consisted only of the big tree in front of him and the mark carved on the trunk, which seemed to mock his incompetence!
His eyes were even more bloodshot.He let out a low growl, gathered his chakra again, and like a moth drawn to a flame, crashed into the tree trunk once more!
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Kakashi, along with Naruto and Sakura, soon arrived at a small river with crystal-clear water and a gentle current.
"The second step in controlling chakra," Kakashi pointed to the shimmering water, "is treading water."
"tread water?"
Sakura immediately thought of Kakashi's previous demonstration and Zabuza's battle, "Could it be like climbing a tree, or.standing on the water?"
"That's right."
Kakashi nodded and explained earnestly:
"Gibberish."
"Alright, that's enough with the theory."
Kakashi walked to the water's edge."Next, I'll demonstrate for you."
He formed hand seals again, chakra surging beneath his feet, and then took a step forward, standing steadily on the flowing river.His body rose and fell slightly with the water, yet he remained as firm as a rock.
"Wow!That's amazing!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Watch me!"
Having learned his lesson, Naruto was afraid that Sakura would succeed first again, so he immediately shouted, "Let me go first!"
He couldn't wait to run to the riverbank, and imitating Kakashi, he concentrated his mind, a golden light flashed beneath his feet, and chakra rapidly gathered!
He carefully lifted one foot and tentatively stepped onto the water.
Splash.
The moment his feet touched the water, the surface dipped slightly and ripples appeared, but.Naruto actually stood on it!
Although the body swayedHe swayed as if standing on an ice floe, but he did manage to stand on the flowing water with his own strength!
"Ha!Did you see that?"
Naruto, carried away by his triumph, spread his arms to try and maintain his balance, not forgetting to boast to Kakashi and Sakura on the shore, "How about that?I told you I was a genius!Just treading water, and I was right."
Wow!
Before Naruto could finish speaking, he suddenly staggered!
It turns out that Kakashi secretly manipulated chakra to create a small, suddenly accelerating whirlpool in the water beneath Naruto's feet!
The distribution of chakra beneath Naruto's feet was instantly disrupted, and the suction force became unbalanced!
"Thump—!"
Water splashed everywhere!The smug Naruto was instantly soaked to the bone!
"Cough cough.Ptooey!"
Naruto splashed his head up from the water, spitting out river water, and glared at Kakashi like a pranked kitten: "Kakashi-sensei!You cheated!"
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