Separate Training, Sakura Was Numb

"Sakura, if I remember correctly, you have a Water Chakra Nature, right?"

Seeing Naruto obediently leave, Kakashi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Sakura.

"Yes, Teacher Kakashi..."

Sakura nodded eagerly, gazing at Kakashi expectantly as she imagined what Ninjutsu she would learn.

After their previous Tree Climbing training, she and Naruto had tested their Chakra Natures together.

Naruto had a Wind Nature, while she had a Water Nature.

"Sakura...

To be honest, with your current Chakra, you aren't suited to learning Ninjutsu at all.

That's also why I hadn't taught you any Ninjutsu before!"

The more excited Sakura listened, the more her expression fell. What did that mean?

Could she really be inferior to that guy Naruto?

"However, things are different now. There's no longer time for you to grow...

I don't need you to join the battle. You just need to protect yourself and Mr. Tazuna during the fight.

So, just do your best!"

"Sakura...

The Ninjutsu I'll teach you is the C-rank Water Style: Water Tear.

It's an assassination technique that condenses sharp water needles in the mouth to kill enemies.

Since it turns saliva into needles, it doesn't require much Chakra.

However, it requires strong Chakra control...

This technique happens to suit you perfectly right now, Sakura..."

As Kakashi explained, Sakura's face grew darker and darker...

Her anticipation for Ninjutsu was replaced by frustrated anger.

Could this sharp-tongued teacher not speak properly?!

While Sakura gloomily trained in Water Style, over on Sasuke's side—

"Splash..."

Another sound of someone falling into the water rang out as Sasuke lost his footing and plunged in.

"Water Walking really is difficult to control...

Even with the reward boost, it's still a little hard.

Looks like I need to take this training more seriously!"

Looking at the rushing river, Sasuke frowned and murmured quietly before stepping onto the bank and taking off his clothes.

Training Water Walking while dressed was simply too unwise!

Even though he had chosen a shallow area where the water only came up to his knees, the splashing water still soaked his clothes.

"Then I'll try this first..."

Bare-chested and wearing only shorts, Sasuke suddenly thought of something. He stood still and formed Hand Seals.

The next second—

Sasuke's gaze sharpened, and Chakra erupted around him in a visible burst...

Blue Chakra spiraled around his body, transforming into a Purple-Blue Chakra Stream...

Sasuke felt the air resistance around him nearly vanish, and his body instantly became light as a swallow.

Whoosh...

Moving with his thoughts, Sasuke tapped the ground with his foot, and his figure instantly turned into an afterimage as he vanished from where he stood!

Without a sound, he arrived dozens of meters away in the blink of an eye...

"It actually increased my speed by nearly five times. That's incredible!"

Sasuke's pupils contracted as he exclaimed in amazement. He wasn't disappointed just because it was only a fivefold increase.

It might only have accelerated him five times at present, but Sasuke's Chakra was merely at the level of an elite Chunin.

If he had stronger Chakra, he could accelerate even further.

And it was high-speed movement without a sound!

Against non-Taijutsu ninja of the same level, this was an overwhelming advantage.

It was just like how helpless Sasuke had been when he first faced Rock Lee in the original story!

"No, I still need to train twice as hard...

With Water Walking-level Chakra control, this technique should be able to improve even further."

Thinking of Rock Lee's terrifying speed with the Fifth Gate open, Sasuke suppressed his restless emotions and threw himself back into training.

Meanwhile—

On the other side of the forest—

"Naruto, have you even been seriously practicing your Hand Seals?!

This Wind Style: Great Breakthrough only has three seals—Dog, Horse, and Rooster. Why can't you perform them smoothly yet..."

Kakashi stared at Naruto with a headache and shouted angrily, scarcely believing his own eyes.

For three simple seals, Naruto actually took five or six seconds...

How was he supposed to activate Ninjutsu like that?!

"Ah... this is so annoying...

Who told this technique to require the Hand Seals to be completed within one second?

And I have to control the Chakra flow at the same time, gathering Chakra in my throat and turning it into a gale...

It's really hard!!

Teacher Kakashi, don't you have any simpler Ninjutsu?

The legendary Copy Ninja—the man who copied more than a thousand Ninjutsu...

Don't you have any techniques with just one seal, like my Shadow Clone?"

Already irritated, Naruto shouted in dissatisfaction. He had absolutely no interest in using Hand Seals to cast techniques.

"Idiot...

C-rank Ninjutsu is already the lowest-grade offensive Ninjutsu. How much simpler do you want it to be?

Three Hand Seals in one second is basic ninja training for precisely that reason.

Don't use that exception of your Shadow Clone as an argument..."

Kakashi angrily raised his cane and scolded him loudly. Naruto actually dared question his title as the Copy Ninja!

Forget Ninjutsu with one seal—he even knew Ninjutsu Without Hand Seals.

But could Naruto's intelligence handle learning such high-difficulty Ninjutsu??

"Hmph...

Don't underestimate me!

If I can turn the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique into a Ninjutsu that activates with one seal,

then I can turn this C-Rank Wind Release into a Ninjutsu that activates with one seal too!

Just watch me..."

Naruto shouted unwillingly after being questioned, forming Hand Seals as Chakra erupted from his entire body...

"That's a Wind Style technique only Jonin can master, idiot...

Stop wasting your Chakra!"

Kakashi shouted helplessly again, having already given up hope for Naruto...

Sure enough, when it came to being reliable, Sasuke was the one to watch!

"Hmph, how can you know it won't work unless I try...

Anyway, I'll definitely master this Ninjutsu.

I absolutely won't lose to Sasuke and Sakura..."

Naruto's unwilling shouts rang out from the forest once more.

Five Days Later

Deep within a Water-Developed forest, above a gently flowing river—

Sasuke stood bare-chested on the uneven river surface as naturally as if he were standing on solid ground...

As he continuously walked, jumped, ran, shifted, and dodged, his feet remained firmly attached to the water as though it were level earth.

"Sakura, come out!"

Suddenly, Sasuke's gaze sharpened as he looked toward the nearby bushes and sighed.

"Sasuke-kun..."

Sakura, hidden in the bushes, blushed and stepped out shyly, her gaze darting away.

Her watery eyes kept stealing glances at Sasuke's upper body, stirring her heart...

Sasuke-kun is so handsome!!

"This is already the third time, Sakura...

What are you here for this time?

Have you finished training your Water Style??"

Sasuke took a few steps to the shore and spoke while putting on his clothes.

Ever since Sakura had called him to eat and discovered him training bare-chested, this was already the third time she had peeked at him!

Though Sasuke, as a grown man, did not care much about such things, the feeling of being watched by a girl was still unpleasant...

Even if she was his original wife!

"Well, I've finished learning my Water Style Ninjutsu.

I came to show Sasuke-kun and ask you to give me some pointers..."

Though Sakura's heart raced like a deer, she immediately forced herself to speak when she recalled why she had come.

Now was the moment for Sasuke-kun to acknowledge her!

"You learned it...

What about Naruto? How's that guy doing??"

Sasuke paused at her words, then abruptly changed the subject and asked again.

Sasuke wasn't surprised that Sakura had mastered that technique!

Sakura possessed the Medical Talent to inherit Tsunade's mantle, so this level of Water Style naturally posed no problem for her...

"N-Naruto??

I don't know about that..."

Sakura, who had been ready for Sasuke to praise her, froze. She looked at him resentfully, her face stiff.

What was that...

Why was his reaction so indifferent??

Talking about Naruto doesn't suit the mood at all right now!

Sob, sob, sob...

Sasuke-kun is still so cool...

I love him so much!!