Sasuke's Mind Collapsed, I Caught Up to You~!

"To be able to walk on tree trunks like I can."

"The first step is to control your chakra."

"Attach chakra to the soles of your feet, firmly gripping the spot where you place them."

"The key is chakra control."

After Cangwu finished explaining, he looked at the three children.

He continued:

"The kunai in front of you will be used to leave a mark when you reach the highest point."

Whoosh—

"I got it!"

Naruto eagerly picked up the kunai and ran to Cangwu's side.

"Teacher Cangwu, I already know what to do!"

"Just you watch, I'll learn this super simple training right away!"

With that, he confidently walked towards the tree Cangwu had climbed earlier.

Sakura and Sasuke looked at Naruto with surprise.

Did this guy really get it?

Just one second later.

There was a bang.

Naruto lay on the ground, completely bewildered, still in the pose he was in when he took his first step.

Then, a scream followed.

Naruto clutched his head, tears welling up.

"Hmph, idiot!" Sasuke scoffed without hesitation after a moment of stunned silence.

Sakura shook her head, holding her forehead in exasperation. "Why would I believe this blockhead?"

Cangwu, however, smiled and shook his head.

"Commendable courage."

"Now, you three should train diligently."

"Whoever can climb the tree freely first will get to proceed to the next training first."

"Hmm… The first one to complete these basic training exercises will be the first one I teach new ninjutsu."

"New ninjutsu?!" The three children exclaimed in unison.

You see, ninjutsu was never something you could just learn whenever you wanted.

Aside from some basic ninjutsu, most powerful techniques were controlled by the various clans.

Civilian ninjas weren't necessarily weaker than clan ninjas; they mostly lacked the means to utilize their strength.

"Alright!"

"I'll definitely be the first one to finish training!"

"Idiot, it'll definitely be me first!"

"Smug Sasuke! I've put up with you for long enough!"

"Heh, you knucklehead who always lags behind. If your strength was half as good as your mouth, that would be something."

Sasuke and Naruto were bickering again.

This time, Sakura didn't try to mediate. Instead, she quietly picked up a kunai and walked towards a tree that looked similar to the one Cangwu had climbed.

After the bell-stealing mission, Sakura clearly felt her own weakness.

Influenced by Naruto and Sasuke, she also felt a sense of urgency to gain power.

Seeing this, Sasuke stopped arguing with Naruto.

He picked up a kunai and walked towards another large tree.

He was from the Uchiha clan, and he was determined to be the first to complete the training.

Naruto was not to be outdone.

He wanted to try again.

Cangwu suddenly said:

"Think carefully about the key point."

"If you just brute-force your way to the highest point, all your weaknesses will be exposed in the next stage of training."

These words directly stopped Naruto and Sasuke, who were about to rely on brute force to reach the highest point.

They had tacitly agreed to rush to the highest point first to leave their marks, and then mock each other.

Sakura stood under the tree in thought, her eyes closed as she felt the chakra flowing within her.

"Just a heads-up to a certain hot-blooded idiot."

Hot-blooded idiot?

Pink Hair: Not me.

Sasuke: Hmph, no need to say who it is, right?

"Hot-blooded idiot? Who?" Naruto rubbed the back of his head, looked at Sakura, and shook his head.

"Sasuke, I'm talking about you!"

Sasuke: "..."

Idiot!

"Shadow clones aren't just useful in battle."

Cangwu came in front of Naruto and tapped his head.

"Make a shadow clone."

Naruto covered his forehead and, following instructions, made a shadow clone.

"Alright, you three will train well from now on."

Cangwu smiled gently at Sakura and Sasuke.

Then, he pulled the shadow clone Naruto had made and left.

Naruto stood there dumbfounded.

"What is Teacher Cangwu going to do?"

Bang--

Not long after, the shadow clone that had left with Cangwu dispelled.

Bang--

"Ouch... that hurt..."

Just as Naruto took his first step, he fell again.

Seeing this, Sasuke immediately taunted, "What's wrong, dead last?"

"Can't even get past a meter?"

Naruto jumped up, opened his mouth, and suddenly froze.

"Teacher Cangwu said... Huh?!"

"How would I know what Teacher Cangwu just said?!"

Naruto's surprised exclamations immediately drew Sakura and Sasuke's attention.

"I know!"

"So shadow clones have this other use too!"

"Teacher Cangwu is amazing!"

Sasuke frowned, "What other use do shadow clones have?"

Bang bang bang--

As Sasuke was confused, Naruto formed hand seals and created dozens of shadow clones.

"Hahaha, smug Sasuke, just wait until Lord Naruto surpasses you!"

"You're the dead last!"

"Nyah nyah nyah~!"

"..."

Naruto's shadow clones dispersed noisily.

Then, one by one, after trying to gather chakra at their feet, they began practicing climbing trees.

And so, next, there were constant explosions.

Naruto's main body didn't train with them.

Instead, each time he used up all his shadow clones, he would try it himself again.

Immediately after, he would create dozens more shadow clones to try practicing tree climbing again.

Only two and a half minutes passed.

Naruto climbed to about five meters.

He strictly followed Cangwu's teachings.

He didn't rely on brute force to rush to meaningless heights.

Seeing this, Sasuke's eyes widened.

He subconsciously looked up at the position where his kunai was carved.

Three meters...

"How could this be?!"

"Damn it!!!"

Sasuke watched a large group of shadow clones diligently practicing climbing trees.

Gritting his teeth, he clenched his fists tightly.

I am Uchiha... how could I possibly lose to such a dead last?!

Sasuke's mentality was starting to crumble.

When he got anxious, his chakra control would become problematic.

The next moment, Sasuke jumped off the tree trunk.

"Hahaha~"

"Smug Sasuke, I've been making progress all along!"

"Why are you regressing?!"

"Shut up! Just a measly dead last, I'll surpass you soon!" Sasuke roared.

However, as he tried once more.

A voice caused him to follow in Naruto's footsteps from before.

Bang--

With just one step, he fell flat on his back on the ground.

But this time, neither Naruto nor his shadow clones uttered any taunts.

"Teacher Cangwu, I reached the top~!"

Sakura's excited voice came from above.

Both Sasuke and Naruto's attention were drawn to it simultaneously.

Upon noticing the wisp of pink hair at the treetop.

Instantly.

Sasuke's mentality completely exploded.

One after another... I am Uchiha!

Why?!

This idiot dead last is one thing.

A mere annoying ugly girl... actually finished before me?!

"So amazing... Sakura, your chakra control is incredible!"

After being stunned for a moment, Naruto immediately praised her.

Sakura glanced at Cangwu, who was walking towards them, her little face flushed.

Hearing Naruto's praise, she couldn't be happier.

She looked at Sasuke, who was full of defeat and whose mentality had exploded.

Sakura didn't worry about him; instead, she felt a sense of pride.

*I've caught up to you guys~!'