After confirming the training progress of the others, Kakashi shifted his attention away from the battle and focused inward, sensing the changes taking place within his own body.
Through his clothes, he lightly touched the necklace resting against his chest, faintly glowing with a soft green light.
[First Hokage's Wood Release Sage Mode Necklace]
[Effect: Chakra +2000, Constitution +100, Natural Energy Perception +500]
[Special Effect: While equipped, gradually enhances the wearer's perception and understanding of Natural Energy, laying the foundation for cultivating Sage Mode]
[Description: A Wood Release crystal condensed by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, using Sage Chakra. It contains an immense life force and the power of Wood Release. More importantly, it allows the wearer to sense Natural Energy itself, serving as a guiding medium for Sage Mode training]
"Hoo…"
Kakashi exhaled slowly and closed his eyes.
With the necklace's massive boost to Natural Energy perception, his awareness of the surrounding world entered an almost mystical state. Beyond the ordinary chakra drifting through the air, he could clearly feel a far vaster, more violent yet vibrant energy permeating everything around him.
With each steady breath, the necklace warmed faintly, functioning like a perfect filter and guide. Threads of invisible Natural Energy flowed continuously into his body, nourishing his meridians and cells without the slightest risk of imbalance or petrification.
[Ding! Detected continuous absorption of trace amounts of Natural Energy. Physical attributes are gradually increasing…]
The system notification echoed in his mind, putting him in an excellent mood.
"Not bad. Even without visiting the three great sage regions, as long as I keep wearing this necklace and maintain this state, my base attributes will steadily improve. Fully mastering Sage Mode is only a matter of time."
Meanwhile, deep within the shadows of the distant forest.
Boruto lay hidden among the bushes, peering through gaps in the leaves as he watched Haku completely suppress Naruto and Sasuke on the training field. He couldn't help but gasp in awe.
"Whoa… that long-haired guy is insane! He's using Ice Release to block my dad and young Uncle Sasuke at the same time!"
Adult Sasuke, however, ignored Boruto's amazement entirely.
What is going on…? At this point in time, Naruto shouldn't even know how to properly refine Wind Release chakra, let alone perform Wind Release ninjutsu with this level of proficiency. And my past self… back then, I hadn't trained with a sword at all, much less fused Lightning Release—Chidori—with a weapon. That was something I only gradually figured out after defecting to Orochimaru.
The deviations are far too great.
Haku is alive—and his combat style has transformed into a lethal sword-based system. Naruto has mastered Wind Release far earlier than he should have. My past self has already stepped onto the path of weaponized chakra ahead of schedule. Every single anomaly points to that silver-haired man leaning casually against the tree, seemingly watching the battle without a care.
Kakashi…
Cold sweat trickled down Sasuke's forehead. With his perception and the insight granted by the Rinnegan, how could he fail to notice what was happening? When Kakashi closed his eyes just now, the surrounding Natural Energy had actively converged toward him. No hand seals. No meditation posture. Simply standing there and breathing, yet continuously absorbing Natural Energy.
What kind of monster is the Kakashi of this spacetime?
The deviation of history had already grown so severe that even this battle-hardened Uchiha felt an overwhelming sense of unease and helplessness.
Just as Sasuke's mind was shaken to its core, the fight on the training ground reached a new climax.
Facing Naruto's Wind Release assault and Sasuke's relentless Lightning Release swordplay, Haku—standing at the center of the storm—narrowed his eyes and instantly minimized all unnecessary movement.
"Secret Technique: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"
He formed hand seals with his free hand.
The ice fragments scattered through the air by the Wind Release instantly liquefied, then recondensed, transforming into countless tiny ice needles that shot outward in every direction like a torrential rain.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sasuke swung his short sword, still coated in Chidori, deflecting every ice needle aimed at him. However, the onslaught forcibly halted his forward momentum.
Naruto, on the other hand, was driven back repeatedly by the dense barrage. His Wind Release dispersed under the pressure.
"It's not over yet!"
With a cold, low shout, the temperature across the training ground dropped once more.
Sasuke's Sharingan contracted sharply.
He sensed it immediately—the ground behind him, struck by ice needles and radiating cold air, was causing the surrounding moisture to condense at an astonishing speed. In almost an instant, a crystal-clear ice mirror formed directly behind him.
"What?!"
Alarm bells exploded in Sasuke's mind.
"Ice Crack Slash: Second Stage!"
Ripples spread across the surface of the ice mirror like water. Haku's slender figure emerged from within it, short blade in hand, as though he had crossed space itself. The ice-cold blade aimed straight for Sasuke's neck.
Sasuke grit his teeth, pushing his Sharingan to its absolute limit. He couldn't turn in time to block. He twisted his waist with all his strength, forcing his body to tilt aside.
Swish!
The Ice Release-infused blade skimmed past his shoulder. No blood spilled, but the extreme cold instantly invaded his flesh. His right arm stiffened violently mid-motion, and the lightning along his short sword dimmed.
"Damn it!"
Sasuke cursed inwardly. The forced dodge had completely thrown off his balance, exposing a fatal opening.
Haku, of course, didn't miss it.
The short blade traced a graceful arc through the air. With a deft flip of his wrist, he reversed the blade and struck Sasuke's back from an extremely tricky angle.
Bang!
The impact sent Sasuke flying. He tumbled across the ground several times before barely managing to stop himself.
"Sasuke!"
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