You're still forming hand seals? Let me teach you a bit.

Hummm--

A blurry figure slowly emerged from the thick fog.

He was bare-chested, his face wrapped in bandages, and a headband was tilted on his forehead.

The newcomer was none other than the S-rank rogue ninja of Kirigakure, the Demon, Momochi Zabuza.

"Be on guard!" Sakura whispered calmly.

Naruto snapped back to attention, quickly standing up and holding his position.

Sasuke had already taken out a kunai, his eyes wary.

"Cangwu." Cangwu looked at Zabuza, a flicker of excitement appearing deep in his eyes.

Finally, a decent opponent to test myself against.

Even though Zabuza's a bit weak, as the first boss, he's still an S-rank rogue ninja, right?

"Hehehe." Zabuza hadn't expected Cangwu to call out his name so directly.

After confirming he'd never heard of Cangwu before, he let out a cold laugh.

"Very well, remember my name, Momochi Zabuza."

With that, Zabuza narrowed his eyes. "Return my Kubikiribōchō!"

As his voice fell, Zabuza's aura changed.

Instantly, a terrifying killing intent erupted from within him.

Following that, an oppressive aura, one that made others uncomfortable and even fearful, appeared.

Naruto shivered, then found himself struggling to breathe.

Sasuke and Sakura felt the same.

Breathing became difficult, and an invisible pressure settled upon them.

After a few breaths.

The three children's faces had turned somewhat pale.

Sasuke, in particular, felt his heart rate accelerate.

Sensing the tangible killing intent, his thoughts raced.

Damn it!

Why... why is he so strong?!

Is he already overwhelming me just by releasing his killing intent?

Why am I still so weak?!

The faster his thoughts raced, the more his body trembled.

Sakura noticed the change and quickly tugged at Sasuke.

"Calm down, Sasuke!"

"Shut up!"

Seeing Sasuke drenched in cold sweat in such a short time, Sakura's breath hitched.

"Heh heh... Is tsundere Sasuke scared?"

"If you're scared, just hide behind me obediently, and don't say nasty things to Sakura-chan!"

Naruto trembled all over, but his mouth didn't stop.

Just yesterday, he had gambled his ninja way, vowing to never be a coward who dragged others down again.

Although Zabuza's killing intent made him uncomfortable all over, he wasn't paralyzed by fear this time. Instead, he grew calmer.

"Hmph... Idiot!" Sasuke took a deep breath and slowly uttered a familiar phrase.

"You three, watch carefully."

At this moment, Cangwu turned his head.

Seeing the familiar smile on Cangwu's face, the three children felt their hearts settle.

Sasuke's inner unease and anger instantly subsided by more than half.

"I'll tell you in advance what chakra is for."

Saying that, Cangwu held the tip of the Kubikiribōchō's blade between two fingers.

"If I hadn't stopped this blade, it could have directly cut down a tree thicker than your waists."

"Is it because it's sharp and hard?"

Hearing this, the three children exchanged glances.

"Isn't it?" Naruto asked.

Cangwu shook his head.

Then, he increased the force in his hand.

"Stop!!!" Zabuza heard this and noticed Cangwu's actions, shouting in a hurry.

However, in the next second, a crisp sound echoed all around.

Crack--

A corner of the Kubikiribōchō was snapped off.

"This sword is quite brittle," Cangwu said with a smile, looking at the three kids with disbelief on their faces.

"Stupid Konoha ninja!"

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

"How dare you treat my Kubikiribōchō like this... That's a supreme treasure of Kirigakure, no, even in the ninja world!"

"The Kubikiribōchō, one of the famous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, how dare you say..."

Cangwu waved his hand, interrupting Zabuza's words.

"I know, the Kubikiribōchō that can absorb blood and regenerate even when broken."

"But it really is brittle."

"Besides absorbing blood to reform, it has no other special properties... Honestly, it's quite ordinary."

"Ordinary?!" Zabuza's pupils contracted to the extreme, as if he couldn't believe anyone would belittle the Kubikiribōchō so much.

"Mm-hmm, Teacher Cangwu is right, it breaks with just a bend. Even if it can absorb blood to recover its original state... it doesn't seem like a very powerful sword," Naruto nodded vigorously, understanding Cangwu's meaning.

"But, Teacher Cangwu, why did you say earlier that it could easily cut down large trees?" Sakura asked, raising her hand.

Sasuke also listened intently.

The three kids had returned to normal.

Zabuza's killing intent had been destined to fail the moment Cangwu turned around.

If you want to know why, the trust the three kids had in Cangwu was one reason.

"This is what I mentioned before, the effect of chakra, and it's also a mark of a Chunin or above."

The three kids' eyes widened.

Chunin or above... that meant Special Jonin and Jonin!

"Listen carefully, this is related to the new ninjutsu you will be learning soon."

"To become a Jonin, you need to master at least two types of Nature Transformation."

"Chakra can derive Nature Transformation, and besides Nature Transformation, there is also Shape Transformation."

"The two transformations are on par, both having the effect of strengthening chakra."

"For Nature Transformation, if you possess a Kekkei Genkai, you can fuse the Nature Transformation of two chakra natures to create new jutsu."

"As for Shape Transformation... you'll understand once you learn the new ninjutsu."

"Shut up!!!" Zabuza roared.

This damned Konoha Jonin dared to ignore him and even teach three brats right in front of him.

"Damn it!"

Who did he think he was?!

Swish swish swish--

In the next second, Zabuza began forming hand seals... yes, hand seals.

Cangwu ignored him and continued:

"Chakra with Nature Transformation can be infused into ninja tools."

"The Kubikiribōchō that flew over earlier was infused with chakra Nature Transformation by Zabuza."

"Therefore, the Kubikiribōchō became sharp and tough."

"So that's how it is!" Sakura's eyes lit up.

Sasuke nodded silently.

He understood what Cangwu had said during the assessment.

"In that case... Teacher Cangwu, if I master Fire Style chakra Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation, will my Fire Style jutsu be enhanced?"

"Clever," Cangwu smiled and nodded.

Hearing the praise, Sasuke turned his head slightly and let out a soft snort.

"Then if I learn it... can I become a Jonin?!" Naruto said excitedly.

"Theoretically, yes," Cangwu replied with a smile.

"Why theoretically?" the three kids asked in unison, confused.

"Because Konoha has four maggots who hold absolute power."

"Huh?"

The three children frowned, not immediately understanding Cangwu's meaning.

However, they were all smart enough not to ask further.

Because Cangwu had said that some things were for them to discover on their own.

Sasuke and Sakura immediately thought of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

After thinking for a while, Naruto also pictured that 'kind' old man in his mind.

He always felt that things weren't that simple, but Teacher Cangwu never finished explaining things... Ah~ this gives me a headache!

Suddenly, Naruto felt his sleeve being tugged.

"Sakura-chan, what's wrong?"

Sakura glanced at Cangwu, then lowered her voice and said:

"Naruto... you seem to be related to the Fourth Hokage!"

Boom--

These words struck Naruto's ears like a clap of thunder.

Just then, Zabuza's somewhat unhinged voice rang out.

"Damn it!!!"

"Ninjutsu: Kirigakure Technique!!!"