Chiba's Talent (Please Bookmark and Recommend)

"Why did Gengetsu have to train in the rain? It would be so easy to catch a cold and hurt his body!"

Kanzuki Chiba gazed at the dozen or so Gengetsus training in the rain outside, complaining worriedly.

This was already their fifth day in the Land of Rain, and two days had passed since they completed the mission of escorting the merchant caravan. They were currently at the border of the Land of Rain, less than ten kilometers from the Land of Fire.

"Because it lets him better understand the power of water. That's what Gengetsu said!"

Uchiha Shinsui, sitting in the corner, opened his eyes to answer before closing them again. Lightning flickered across his body from time to time.

"Better understand the power of water... What a joke. He might as well go back to the village and soak in a hot spring!"

Kanzuki Chiba muttered under her breath. Then, after looking at Sarutobi Kazuhara, who was sitting there dozing off, she got up and quietly left the wooden cabin. She sat down not far from Gengetsu, letting the drizzle fall over her as she silently sensed, "The power of water... Chakra merging into the rain..."

At that moment, the dozing Sarutobi Kazuhara opened his eyes. Seeing Kanzuki Chiba training outside as well, he could not help but smile. "Ever since Gengetsu joined the team, Shinsui and Chiba have been training harder too, and improving quickly. It seems I'm a somewhat incompetent teacher..."

Stroking his chin, Sarutobi Kazuhara turned to look at Uchiha Shinsui, whose body was constantly flashing with lightning. "Lightning Release and the Sharingan really are a perfect combination. Shinsui's strength has now reached the Jonin level. Once he awakens the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he'll probably quickly reach the Elite Jonin level. But... I still hope that day never comes!"

Sighing inwardly, his gaze returned to Gengetsu, and he frowned slightly. "Still, that matter with Root is truly troublesome. Gengetsu isn't the type to suffer a loss without saying a word, especially now that his strength has already..."

From this ambush, Sarutobi Kazuhara had become completely certain that Gengetsu's strength had firmly entered the Jonin level. It was worlds apart from his state during the mission in Whirlpool Country.

During the Whirlpool Country mission, Gengetsu had possessed strong combat instincts, but he had relied entirely on his massive Chakra reserves and powerful techniques to charge through everything. He had not possessed a fighting style of his own, and his weaknesses had been obvious. Yet this battle had revealed outstanding strategy and tactics. He had fully made use of his own advantages and now completely possessed the qualities of a Jonin!

In other words, Gengetsu was no longer someone others could bully whenever they wanted. And there was also the Dragon Vein Energy Hiruzen Sarutobi had mentioned to him...

Shaking his head inwardly, Sarutobi Kazuhara could not help sighing. "Having such enormous Chakra reserves would be enough, but he also has so many ingenious ideas. Even I, his teacher, can't help feeling jealous!"

"But precisely because of that, we must properly protect these young seedlings of Konoha. This time, no matter what, I must persuade the Third Hokage... Konoha's darkness should not shroud these children!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara's gaze sharpened as he made up his mind.

Time passed bit by bit, and in the blink of an eye, three hours went by. Outside, Kanzuki Chiba was already soaked to the skin. Just as Sarutobi Kazuhara was about to put an end to this training session, Kanzuki Chiba suddenly opened her eyes and turned to him with a dazed expression. "Teacher Kazuhara, I think I did it..."

"Huh?"

Sarutobi Kazuhara nearly bit his tongue. "What?"

"I can already merge Chakra into the rain and use the rain to sense things. It doesn't seem that difficult!"

Kanzuki Chiba blinked. Gengetsu and his many Shadow Clones, who had still been training, all opened their eyes and turned to stare at her in unison. What the fuck? Who exactly has Ōtsutsuki blood?

"Haha, it seems Chiba has exceptional talent in Water Release!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara laughed loudly.

Gengetsu and the other two looked at him in unison. Was that funny?

"These three Kids really have no sense of humor!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara grumbled inwardly, but said aloud, "Well then, Chiba, demonstrate it once!"

"Yes!"

Kanzuki Chiba nodded, then clasped her hands together.

Gengetsu and his many Shadow Clones immediately raised one hand and activated the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

Within the dark field of vision, flickers of Chakra fire emerged like starlight.

"She really did it. The Chakra has merged into the rain, and it's difficult to detect!"

Gengetsu opened his eyes, greatly surprised. Although he could do it at the moment as well, his own understanding of Water Release was extremely thorough, and his Chakra control was strong. Kanzuki Chiba had some talent in Water Release, but it had not reached a level that stunned others. He had not expected her to master it so quickly.

After thinking for a moment, Gengetsu asked, "How large a range can you sense now?"

"About six kilometers in every direction. Any farther, and the Chakra consumption increases drastically!"

Kanzuki Chiba answered. Just as she was about to stop the technique, Gengetsu hurriedly said, "Don't stop. Try seeing whether, after the rain falls to the ground, the Chakra can merge with the droplets, or even with the moisture dispersed in the air!"

"Yes!"

Kanzuki Chiba nodded, then focused on controlling her Chakra.

A moment later, fragrant sweat beaded across Kanzuki Chiba's face. She lowered her hands dejectedly and panted. "It's too difficult. The water vapor is too unstable, and Chakra can't attach to it."

Gengetsu nodded and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Now that's normal. If she mastered it that easily, it would make me look too stupid!

"Gengetsu, does this technique only count as complete once Chakra can be attached to water vapor?"

Uchiha Shinsui stepped forward and asked.

"That's right!"

Gengetsu nodded and explained, "If you only merge Chakra into rainwater, the limitations are too great. It can only be used over a large area in the Land of Rain. It doesn't rain all year in other places, so that would make this sensing technique far too useless. But if you can use the water vapor that exists everywhere to sense things, then as long as you have enough Chakra, theoretically, you can sense anywhere there is water vapor!"

"That's far too powerful. But mastering a technique like this would indeed be extremely difficult. Not only would it require powerful Chakra control, it would also require a huge amount of Chakra!"

Uchiha Shinsui said in amazement.

"It truly is an extraordinary technique!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara exclaimed, then said to Kanzuki Chiba, "Chiba, keep it up! If you master this technique, you'll become a sensory-type ninja, more than enough to become a Special Jonin!"

Kanzuki Chiba's eyes lit up, then her expression turned solemn as she clenched her fist. "Teacher Kazuhara, I'll work hard!"

"Mastering this technique won't be easy. It would be best if you first mastered the Mind's Eye of the Kagura. Once we return to the village, I'll teach you that technique!"

Gengetsu smiled, with no intention of keeping it to himself. In fact, if Kanzuki Chiba could master the Waterless World Technique before him, he would save himself the time of researching and developing it. However, the Mind's Eye of the Kagura would very likely require Uzumaki Clan blood to master, so it was still uncertain whether Kanzuki Chiba could succeed.

Still, there was no harm in trying. What if she succeeded? After all, Kanzuki Chiba was far too unpredictable. She clearly had no real talent for sensing, yet she had mastered the Rain Tiger at Will Technique so quickly. It was simply unreasonable!

"That's great!" Kanzuki Chiba immediately cried out excitedly, then could not help spreading her arms and throwing herself at Gengetsu.