Their Respective New Jutsu

[Based on the official settings and information from Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Moegi does indeed know Wood Release, Udon's Ninjutsu is also that...]

"It's the Wood Release used by the Lord First!"

The first to react was Udon, who wore glasses; he loved reading and knew a lot of useful and useless knowledge, so he was the first to recognize him.

The vines that wrapped tightly around Sakura Haruno's legs, waist, and body like ropes were clearly the effect of Wood Release.

Wood Release?

Konohamaru and Naruto spoke at the same time.

One was surprised, the other was puzzled.

"Brother Naruto, Wood Release is Ninjutsu used by the Lord First. It is said to be extremely powerful. Lord Hashirama used it to quell the chaos and establish Konohagakure." Konohamaru quickly explained, recalling the knowledge his grandfather had taught him.

Mentioning the First Hokage's formidable reputation, even Naruto instantly understood.

"So, Moegi become the next First Hokage?" he asked, somewhat surprised.

"She's still thrusting it quite far!"

Sakura Haruno smiled. With a little effort, she broke free from the seemingly tough and thick vines and stepped out of Moegi's spell.

"However... I was indeed quite surprised."

She tore off a section of vine, rubbed it, and examined it closely, marveling at it.

This is indeed a living plant.

Sakura Haruno sensed that Moegi had used both Water Release and Earth Release Nature Transformation at the same time, and then generated a Chakra with a somewhat familiar texture, so she guessed that Mogi had used her Kekkei Genkai Nature Transformation.

Water plus earth clearly equals Wood Release.

Of course, Moegi's Wood Release is vastly different from the First's Wood Release, which is full of vitality; as mentioned before, Hashirama's Wood Release is essentially Kekkei Tōta formed by the fusion of water, earth, and yang.

Moegi's vines are so strong that they are far inferior to even Yamato's Wood Release.

--Yamato is, after all, Elite Jonin, Ninjutsu- type ninja who is very skilled in both water and earth Nature Transformation.

However, being able to develop Kekkei Genkai one's own at this age is already quite astonishing.

"It's Wood Release! Amazing!" Sakura Haruno nodded, genuinely admiring, "Developing your own Kekkei Genkai at your age is a rare talent even in the Shinobi World!"

Sakura Haruno always felt that Moegi had the potential to master Water Release techniques.

But she never imagined that Moegi would be so incredibly talented!

"After hearing about your experience of mastering Ice Release for the first time, I thought I could try it myself, so I mastered Wood Release," Moegi said proudly. "It doesn't seem too difficult!"

Moegi looked smug and self-satisfied.

Sakura Haruno raised her eyebrows.

Is it difficult to Kekkei Genkai? How many ninjas in the entire Hokage world possess Kekkei Genkai?

The combined active ninja population of the five villages doesn't even reach 200,000. Among them, ninjas who can use elemental Kekkei Genkai —especially those who create their own Kekkei Genkai without relying on bloodline inheritance—can be counted on two hands.

Even Sakura Haruno herself didn't develop Ice Release easily back then.

"But the strength of your techniques still needs improvement." Sakura-sensei decided to pour cold water on her enthusiasm, changing the subject abruptly, "Your understanding of Water Release: Nature Transformation is only passable, and your Earth Release: Nature Transformation is probably not even rudimentary."

"So all that effort you put in, and the Wood Release technique you used was less effective than just Water Release."

"With your Wood Release at its current level, it's at most called Grass Release!"

"Huh?" Moegi pouted, looking down in utter dismay.

"Grass Release...? That sounds awful!" she murmured.

Seeing the girl's dejected expression after being hit hard, Sakura Haruno felt a little helpless. Many things you only understand through personal experience; after becoming a teacher, the girl realized that students' arrogance and complacency must never be indulged. Appropriate criticism, though sometimes unpleasant, is necessary. And the more she criticized, the Sakura Haruno's concern for Moegi became.

"It's only meaningful to discuss advanced attribute fusions after you've laid a solid foundation," Sakura Haruno advised her.

"Otherwise, with your crude water and earth Nature Transformation, your Wood Release will never improve significantly no matter how much you train; you'll forever remain at a mediocre level!"

A common problem among many young people is their unwavering pursuit of powerful Ninjutsu while neglecting the fundamentals. Sasuke once made this mistake, but he has since corrected it. Sakura Haruno is worried that Moegi will also be tempted by the power of Wood Release and neglect his own foundation, becoming Shinobi World version of the prodigy who failed to live up to his potential.

Sakura even considered asking Moegi to suspend her Wood Release training so that she could first fix her appalling Earth Release Nature Transformation.

However, Sakura Haruno is not yet Moegi's master, but only the team leader, so she has no right to make such a strict request.

To be honest, Moegi's aptitude even tempted her to take him on as an apprentice.

Sakura Haruno smiled faintly and patted Moegi's head.

"Alright, don't be sad... Your teacher is strict with you for your own good!" the girl smiled. "As long as you don't aim too high and train diligently, with your talent, you'll surpass Lady Tsunade sooner or later and become a great female ninja!"

"Go for it, Moegi!"

"Yes, Sakura-sensei!"

Give him a slap and then a sweet treat, and Moegi will regain his energy.

Finally, Udon came up to demonstrate his new technique.

If Konohamaru brings her worry-free surprises, Moegi brings her a mix of worrying surprises and shocks, then Udon brings Sakura Haruno only pure, exhausting shocks.

"Wait, Udon... is this your new technique?"

Sakura Haruno looked at the crystal-clear, pure ice-like colloid in front of her and felt a chill run down her spine.

This technique looks beautiful, but the problem is...

It does it with snot!

Sakura Haruno was truly shocked by the creativity of the Udon.

Udon, however, seemed quite proud of it. "I mixed snot and water, then solidified it with Chakra, and that formed my new technique, the Nasal Mucus Jutsu!"

"Ta-da! Pretty impressive, huh?" He turned his head with a smug look on his face.

"Awesome my foot..." Sakura Haruno was almost speechless with exasperation. The greatest damage of this technique was probably just its ability to annoy the opponent to death, right?

"This disgusting and useless Ninjutsu must be banned!" She quickly Water Release to clear Udon's view of the Ninjutsu, sighed, and said, "Udon, your talent lies in Genjutsu. Master my Genjutsu diligently! Keep moving forward steadily, and you too can become a powerful Genjutsu ninja."

Why waste energy developing these fancy but impractical Secret Technique?

Sakura Haruno offered her earnest advice.

Udon's aptitude was the most mediocre among the three, and his talent lay in Genjutsu, which was precisely the area that Sakura Haruno was least skilled in, so she didn't have a better way to guide him.

Udon's best teacher was probably Shisui Uchiha, followed by Itachi, and then the other ninjas in the village skilled in Genjutsu.

However, ever since the Uchiha was wiped out, the level of Genjutsu in Konoha has plummeted by several notches.

So much so that even a ninja like Kurenai Yuhi, whose only skill was Genjutsu, was promoted to Jonin.

It wasn't that Sakura Haruno had any issues with Hinata's teacher.

She was merely giving an objective assessment of Kurenai's Genjutsu skills—choosing the best among the worst. Kurenai's skill level was indeed much higher than other ninjas, but compared to Sakura Haruno, who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, Kurenai was nothing special.

The three students in Sakura Haruno's Team have each embarked on their own ninja paths and futures.

Konohamaru is under the care of the Third Hokage, so she doesn't need to worry about him; Moegi has Wood Release, so she will definitely be highly regarded by the village, so she doesn't need to worry about her either; even Udon has Genjutsu that he can use and practice in depth, so although he can't find a suitable master for the time being, he doesn't need to be in a hurry, and Sakura Haruno doesn't need to worry about him too much for the time being.

Therefore, all Sakura Haruno could do was guide their Ninjutsu training.

While the Konoha Ninja were sweating it out on the sun-drenched training grounds, on the other side of the Shinobi World, there was a place shrouded in darkness, devoid of any sunlight.

The Land of Water.

On the ocean.

The Chojuro brothers were standing on the sea with a group of Mist Ninja Anbu.

Where they stood, the sun shone brightly and the water was calm; but a thousand meters away, the scene was one of dark clouds and strong winds. Looking up, they saw thick, oppressive clouds that blocked out the sun, making the stormy sea appear even more somber.

Beneath the dark clouds, a fierce storm raged, with torrential rain and towering waves crashing against the ground.

Chojuro, carrying the Twin Blades Hiramekarei on his back, stood at the very front of the group.

"It's been fifteen days, and this strange storm hasn't stopped; in fact, it's getting worse!" he said in a deep voice, gazing at the scene before him.

"Generally speaking, after October, there won't be storms this large and lasting for this long on the sea... unless, the Three-Tails is inside the storm!" He frowned and said slowly.

"So, where exactly is it?" one of the Anbu asked.

"If this is a typhoon or a tropical cyclone, it should have a storm center or eye, and Three-Tails is very likely inside it," Chojuro said decisively.

"Brother, tropical cyclones need sunlight to heat the sea surface, evaporating the seawater to form a low-pressure center," Chōjūrō stepped forward and said. "Winter sunlight and temperatures don't meet these conditions! So, this can't be a typhoon."

Chojuro simply shook his head.

"My foolish brother... Based on experience, winter storms don't last this long or behave like this, so this indicates that something is causing this abnormality that defies experience! It's meaningless for you to use common sense to judge the existence of this abnormality!" he said slowly.

He waved, signaling his Anbu to follow.

"Let's go inside!"

"From the outer perimeter to the eye of the storm, we need to conduct a comprehensive search... Everyone, stay alert! We must find the Three-Tails before Akatsuki! Although we've entrust the task of capturing the Three-Tails to the ninjas of Konoha, we must still show the spirit of the Mist Ninja!"

Chojuro's steady voice came from the front.

The Mist Ninja, wearing raincoats, ran across the sea and filed into the dark, stormy area.

In the howling storm, the rain poured down harder and harder.

[This is the first update of the 18th. I'll see if I can manage to write three chapters tomorrow to make up for the missed updates.]

[I'm so tired from writing until 2:30 AM, and this is only 000 words...]