Balance Training

"I really envy those three kids."

Umino Sasuke watched Tejudo and the other two training hard in the distance, a wave of envy rising in his heart. Why had he never met a dedicated Chunin captain like himself before, someone who would teach them hand in hand how to train and help them improve their strength?

Ever since he had gained the powerful perception of infrasound and resolved the safety issues with patrols in the defensive zone, the entire team had entered an intense training regime.

Tejudo had only completed his Water Walking practice a few days ago, greatly improving his Chakra Control. He was currently learning a new Tool Manipulation ninjutsu, and judging from his progress, he could already be considered somewhat weaker Chunin-level combat power.

Xiao Xiao came from a commoner family and had average talent, but she showed considerable aptitude for Chakra Control. Unfortunately, she had no Medical Ninjutsu to learn at present, so she could only continue grinding her Chakra Control.

Under his guidance, after Xiao Xiao practiced the only D-Rank Lightning Style she knew and nearly depleted her chakra, she could proceed to Pointed Stone Balance Training.

Pointed Stone Balance Training was an advanced Chakra Control method following Tree Climbing, Water Walking, Vertical Cliff Climbing, and Waterfall Walking.

This Pointed Stone Balance Training looked simple, but it was not easy to master. Using a pointed stone and a wooden board as the medium, one sat on the board balanced atop the stone, simulating how complex terrain in actual combat disrupted chakra stability. It trained emergency adjustment abilities and thereby improved Chakra Control.

The precision of chakra distribution required an error margin of less than one percent to ensure even force across the contact surface between the board and the pointed stone, preventing it from falling.

"I never expected this Pointed Stone Balance Training method to speed up chakra and stamina recovery."

Umino Sasuke was also quite surprised. In theory, balance training should consume chakra and stamina, yet after mastering this method, he could sit on the board, empty his mind, maintain his balance, and slowly recover both chakra and stamina.

Although it was only ten or twenty percent faster than usual, it was still a major discovery.

While this recovery method could not be used in battle, if it was used solely for recovery during training, it was equivalent to gaining nearly twenty percent more training time.

Over time, the gains would be considerable.

Moreover, this balance training method was also a promising direction for research. If he dug deeper, he might uncover other discoveries.

But with his current knowledge and ninjutsu reserves, there was no need to stubbornly focus on researching this direction in the short term. The most urgent task was still improving their combat strength.

Compared with the slow improvements of Tejudo and Xiao Xiao, Inuzuka Ryo, who came from the Inuzuka Clan, had advanced by leaps and bounds during this time.

The B-Rank Ninjutsu Human-Beast Transformation: Twin-Headed Wolf that he had used when sniping the Sand Chunin before was now something Inuzuka Ryo could handle with ease.

As for C- and D-rank ninjutsu such as Fang Over Fang, Four Legs Technique, and Beast Human Clone, he had become thoroughly proficient in them.

Now, he was training Wolf Fang Over Fang.

Wolf Fang Over Fang was the advanced version of Fang Over Fang. He could merge with the Ninja Hound Akitaru to form a gigantic spinning cone with immense penetrating power, equivalent to an offensive B-Rank Ninjutsu.

In a head-on fight, Inuzuka Ryo was now stronger than Tejudo and had fully reached Chunin level.

Sometimes, one had to admit that talent and bloodlines were simply unreasonable things.

Even after experiencing the same life-and-death battle, although everyone had improved greatly, some people improved far more than other ninja from commoner backgrounds.

Inuzuka Ryo, who came from a ninja clan, was precisely one of those ninja blessed with talent and bloodline.

"Wolf Fang Over Fang!"

In the distance, the chakra of Inuzuka Ryo and the Ninja Hound Akitaru intertwined into a spiraling tempest, stabbing toward a massive boulder like a black vortex blade.

A thunderous boom rang out.

The rock exploded on impact, shattered stones spraying outward like a rainstorm. Amid the dust, Inuzuka Ryo knelt on one knee, breathing lightly, while Akitaru returned to his normal size.

The ground beneath Inuzuka Ryo's feet had sunk and cracked, fissures stretching all the way to the tree roots behind him.

"He improved again."

Umino Sasuke narrowed his eyes and could not help sighing inwardly. The Inuzuka Clan's Beast Mimicry Secret Jutsu truly had its unique aspect. Besides involving profound Transformation Jutsu principles, it even involved Yang Release.

After silently releasing the Infrasonic Radar Technique, Inuzuka Ryo's Wolf Fang Over Fang secret technique had long since been exposed to his perception.

Unlike the Ultrasonic Radar Technique, which lacked penetrating perception, the Infrasonic Radar Technique was exactly the opposite. It possessed unimaginable penetrating power and could easily sense every change within Inuzuka Ryo's body as he performed the Beast Mimicry Secret Jutsu.

If he had even the slightest foundation in Yang Release now, replicating Wolf Fang Over Fang, this Inuzuka secret technique, would not have been difficult.

"If I had developed the Infrasonic Radar Technique sooner, why would I have spent several months grinding the Transformation Technique to the point where I could transform into Summoning Beasts?"

Umino Sasuke recalled the vast amounts of time and effort he had spent grinding the Transformation Jutsu. Now that he had effortlessly grasped its principles, he felt a little bitter, as if his previous efforts had gone to waste.

Several months of effort had actually been surpassed by a single casual scan!

But he quickly reconsidered. Without grinding the Transformation Jutsu before, he would not have been able to develop the Ultrasonic Radar Technique from the Water Bat.

And without the experience of developing the Ultrasonic Radar Technique, how could he have developed the Infrasonic Radar Technique from the research materials on Tiger Summoning Beasts? How else would he have gained this kind of X-ray-like perception?

Just as countless thoughts ran through his mind and he was lost in reflection, a loud shout came from the distance.

"Captain, take this!"

Tejudo seemed to transform into a six-armed bodhisattva, rapidly hurling Kunai and shuriken at him.

That Kunai and shuriken throwing technique alone displayed the sophistication of his tactics. He planned three steps ahead; these Kunai and shuriken not only sealed off Umino Sasuke's escape routes, but even predicted where he would land next.

Unfortunately.

With the absolute perception field of the Ultrasonic Radar Technique, Umino Sasuke feared this kind of tactic the least and easily dodged them all.

"You three, come at me together."

Umino Sasuke waved a hand, carrying the inexplicable aura of someone declaring he could take on ten opponents. It was the perfect chance to test the results of the three kids' recent training, while also tamping down Tejudo's arrogance and making him recognize his place in the team again.

"Ryo, you take the lead. I'll support. Xiao Xiao, act as the situation demands."

Tejudo immediately slipped into the role of vice-captain and began issuing orders.

Teamwork was the foundation of a ninja. Whether they could bring out each other's strengths and combine them for an effect greater than one plus one was the only standard for judging teamwork.

"Wolf Fang Over Fang!"

Inuzuka Ryo and the Ninja Hound Akitaru unleashed their ultimate move right from the start. Clearly, they had learned well from him: no pointless chatter. Once they understood the intelligence, they should end the fight quickly.

Facing an attack from a B-Rank Ninjutsu like this, Umino Sasuke could only avoid its edge and use the basic Body Flicker Technique to evade.