Sasuke's Path to Improvement

Konoha. The long-awaited Training Ground 9.

This is the training ground that the Team 7 used to use most often.

"Hmm, I really miss this place!" Sakura Haruno said, patting the wooden stakes by the field with a touch of nostalgia.

Since Team 7 disbanded and she joined the Anbu, Sakura has rarely come here to train.

This training ground is amazing. When Team 7 was first formed, their strength was not yet strong, and such a ground was more than enough for them. However, after the Chunin Ninja Exams, as their strength increased dramatically, such a training ground began to make them feel restricted—how could they spar and fight if they could just charge past the training ground and run out of the arena?

The Anbu have their own training grounds, but even if Sakura doesn't go there, she still finds places in the wild to practice her Ninjutsu.

I kicked the grass in front of the wooden stake with my toe. This plot of land should have become a barren sandy area because people had been standing there for many years, but now it was overgrown with weeds and almost indistinguishable from the grass next to it.

"Alright, Sakura, stop being so sentimental," Sasuke interrupted the pink-haired girl's melancholy. "Let's start training. This is the move I just used—"

Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear!

He used the same Ninjutsu he had used when he was fighting Sakura for the dumpling.

"I just learned that this is a new Ninjutsu based on Chidori Lightning Release Shape Transformation." He brandished the longsword-like lightning extending from the blue light in his hand, speaking with a hint of pride.

By incorporating Shape Transformation into Chidori, Lightning Release Chakra can be sharpened into weapons such as swords, which can be used for close-quarters Taijutsu combat. The resulting Lightning Release longsword is more durable than a standard steel Kunai, and when used for thrusting, it is even sharper and more difficult to block than Chidori.

Lightning Release Chakra is an extremely restless and untamed Chakra. Once created, it will constantly jump and flicker. Simply condensing it in large quantities like Chidori is already an insurmountable challenge. Adding Shape Transformation to give the originally shapeless Lightning Release Chakra a stable form, as Sasuke, makes it even more difficult.

As someone with the highest level of Chakra manipulation skills, Sakura Haruno naturally knew how rare Sasuke's technique was.

At least Kakashi-sensei can't do that yet.

"Amazing!" Sakura circled his hand, observing Sasuke's new technique from different angles. "This isn't something you secretly practiced in the hospital, is it?"

"Hmph!" Beads of sweat appeared on Sasuke's forehead. The Chidori Short Sword in his hand—which couldn't be called Chidori Sharp Spear yet because it wasn't long enough—dissipated in less than ten seconds. He had only just begun to understand this technique and couldn't maintain it stably.

"I started practicing Shape Transformation and Nature Transformation at the same time, so strictly speaking, although the idea came to me while I was in the hospital, I started practicing this technique several months ago. However, the Shape Transformation of Lightning Release is too difficult to master; it's much more difficult than the Nature Transformation!"

Sasuke let out a long sigh and explained.

He calmed his breathing, Chakra surged in his hands, once again condensing into the Chidori Short Sword.

"Hey! Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear!"

A blue short sword, formed from extremely concentrated and pure Lightning Release Chakra, reappeared in their field of vision.

This time, Sasuke controlled it better: the short sword was longer than a chopstick, about the length of an arm, and the dazzling arcs of light that occasionally danced on the blade were much smoother, no longer looking like it was about to go berserk at any moment.

Sakura summoned Ice Clone that could grant experience points. "Let's test the strength of this move first!"

First, there's the Chidori Short Sword's inherent toughness and sharpness.

When Sasuke created this technique, he envisioned it as a replacement for the standard steel Kunai and longsword in close combat. His weapon was severed by a bone sword during his battle with Kimimaro, nearly resulting in his instant death – a scene that left a deep impression on him.

However, this idea was severely criticized by Sakura Haruno.

"The idea is good, but with your current Chakra reserves, you're not qualified to use the Chidori Sharp Spear as a regular weapon!" She mercilessly struck at Sasuke's sore spot; his Chakra reserves weren't the abundant level of Tailed Beast. "Unless you have Naruto's stamina, this technique can only be used for short-term, powerful attacks!"

She held up her index and middle fingers together and said, "In other words, regarding the stability and duration of a spell versus its intensity and sharpness, you should abandon the former and focus on the latter."

"Aim to unleash the full destructive power of the Chidori Sharp Spear within a relatively short period. Using it as a regular weapon for an extended period is unrealistic given your current Chakra reserves!"

As expected, the Ice Clone directly condensed a Kunai and clashed with Sasuke's Chidori Short Sword. The Kunai, which had not been reinforced in any way, was shattered instantly.

This level of Ice Release is similar in strength to the ice Kunai that Sakura gave to Shino and Yugao. It's about the same as a regular steel Kunai, perhaps even stronger in hardness and sharpness, but it can't withstand a single blow from the Chidori Short Sword.

The Chidori Short Sword remained remarkably stable; the impact of the collision did not even cause a ripple to its movement.

"Then, let's try this one." This time, the Ice Clone infused the Kunai in its hand with Ice Release Chakra, making its strength many times greater than the previous one.

In this clash, the Chidori Short Sword didn't cut through the Ice Kunai so easily. However, since the latter didn't have much Ice Release Chakra, the Ice Kunai didn't last long before shattering.

Seeing this, Sakura seemed lost in thought.

Having experienced so many battles and studies, Sakura Haruno has gained a relatively deep understanding of the strength of the weapons and Ninjutsu in this world.

If a ranking must be given, roughly speaking, the strength of Chunin, Ninjutsu, and weapons in battle should be as follows:

The physical strength of an ordinary person is approximately equal to AP; the physical strength of a ninja (without Chakra) is approximately equal to AP; various steel weapons (Kunai, shuriken, Shuriken. ) are approximately equal to AP; weapons created Kekkei Genkai (Sakura Haruno's ice sword, Kimimaro's bone sword, etc.) are approximately equal to AP; the physical strength of a ninja (after Chakra enhancement) is approximately equal to AP; various steel weapons (after Chakra infusion) are approximately equal to AP; weapons infused with Kekkei Genkai Chakra (including bone swords, ice swords, etc.) are approximately equal to AP; Ninjutsu with Chakra properties or Shape Transformation is approximately equal to AP; Kekkei Genkai Ninjutsu.

Of course, this ranking refers to a comparison under the same conditions.

Generally speaking, Kekkei Genkai are stronger than ordinary Ninjutsu, that's for sure. But there's a prerequisite: the Ninjutsu must be of similar level and use about the same amount of Chakra.

As a counterexample, Sakura's S-rank Ninjutsu, Water Release: Wind Blade Torrent, although a lower-ranked Ice Release Techniques, can easily defeat her own Ice Release: Absolute Defense. This overwhelming power of the Ninjutsu structure is enough to shatter the unspoken rule that Kekkei Genkai limits are stronger than ordinary Ninjutsu.

Similarly, the amount of Chakra concentrated within Ninjutsu is also a key factor in measuring Ninjutsu strength.

The ice Kunai that Sakura just conjured using Ice Release Shape Transformation should theoretically be stronger than the Lightning Release short sword. However, the truth is that the Chidori Short Sword condensed a huge amount of pure Lightning Release Chakra, thus completely outclassing her ice Kunai in every aspect.

Of course, if she could find a way to condense such a massive amount of Ice Release Chakra into a short sword, then in a clash, Ice Release would probably win decisively. However, Ice Release doesn't seem to be as easy to condense as Lightning Release Chakra...

As Kekkei Genkai Ninjutsu, Ice Release is theoretically superior to Lightning Release, but in terms of specific characteristics, the two Release Techniques are actually just different in their own way.

Lightning Release Chakra is easy to condense and can be continuously stacked within an area to form a high-speed, high-attack Ninjutsu like Chidori; however, it is very difficult to condense such a massive amount of Chakra into a single point using Ice Release.

Conversely, Ice Release Chakra can easily undergo Shape Transformation because its carrier is ice, which is itself a condensed solid form; while Lightning Release's carrier is electric current, and it is extremely difficult to Shape Transformation on it, to mold the restless current into a fixed shape.

After a brief test, Sasuke's Chidori Short Sword could no longer be maintained, disintegrating into countless arcs of electricity and disappearing into the air.

"This level of strength should be enough to withstand Kimimaro's bone sword," Sasuke, waving his hand.

Sakura shook her head and said, "No, it should be more than that. The ice Kunai just now also contained the Chakra of Kekkei Genkai, and it wasn't much weaker than Kimimaro's bones."

Next, the Chidori Sharp Spear's offensive capabilities were tested: as an advanced version of the Chidori's Shape Transformation, its penetrating power was naturally no less than the original.

After the experiment, Sakura pondered for a moment before commenting.

"The hardness and strength of this Ninjutsu should meet your requirements. Next, continue working on its Shape Transformation. The current Chidori Sharp Spear is still too short; at best, it can only be called Chidori Short Sword... To fully utilize its length advantage in close combat, it needs at least the length of a sword!"

"Then enhance its sharpness. As for its duration, you don't need to put in too much effort; maintaining it for a minute or two is enough. Any longer and your stamina won't be able to keep up."

"... Indeed, I've only tried it a few times, and I'm already starting to feel a bit breathless. If only I had as much Naruto Chakra!" Sasuke sighed, then immediately perked up again. "But as long as I keep training, my Chakra will eventually increase. At that point, this Chidori Sharp Spear won't just be a trump card used only in crucial moments, but a regular, readily available technique!"

He paused for a moment, then gathered his thoughts and continued.

"Then the next step is like Shikamaru, using the lightning armor shaped by Lightning Release Shape Transformation to weave the Chidori Battle Suit, creating a Ninjutsu that integrates offense and defense. At this point, I can completely ignore ordinary physical attacks and Ninjutsu attacks. According to Sakura, it's close to complete... uh, what was it again?"

"Physical immunity and magical immunity," Sakura continued.

Hmm... that sounds pretty feasible.

I never imagined that someone as down-to-earth as Sasuke could even imagine such Ninjutsu!

"Is there anything to follow up?"

"Of course..." Sasuke nodded, "Finally, we can also incorporate the Nature Transformation of Lightning Release into the battle suit, which would be equivalent to releasing a Lightning Blade Torrent from our entire body."

Sakura briefly imagined Sasuke enveloped in lightning.

He looks very handsome.

Moreover, it seems that in that state, as long as there is contact with Sasuke, whether it is active or passive, the opponent will be attacked by the Lightning Blade Torrent, their body will be instantly paralyzed, and they will be at the mercy of the attacker.

Very good and powerful.

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