No sooner had he finished speaking than Naruto's body began spinning at high speed. In an instant, it formed an enormous tornado, drawing the surrounding shattered rocks and sand into it with powerful suction.
Less than a moment after the tornado formed, it vaguely began transforming into the shape of a wind dragon.
With a thunderous bang, the giant dragon that had formed around Naruto suddenly collapsed, revealing Naruto's dejected face. Cracks had also appeared across his clothes and skin.
"Failed again!"
Naruto clenched his fists and said unwillingly. The rubble high in the air also fell rapidly under his resentful gaze, smashing heavily into the ground and leaving a huge crater.
As soon as he said that, the dazed Naruto received a sharp knock on the head. Chen Baojun had somehow appeared beside him and scolded him:
"Idiot, I already told you that the Konoha Dragon God is no longer merely taijutsu. It is Nintaijutsu that combines the nature transformation and shape transformation of Wind Release chakra. It is very difficult to use the Konoha Dragon God through taijutsu skill alone."
Naruto scratched the back of his head, looking utterly confused. "Nintaijutsu?"
"That's right, Nintaijutsu!" Chen Baojun nodded and said solemnly, "Turning the powerful winds around the tornado into wind blades capable of cutting enemies like sharp edges is the nature transformation of Wind Release. Transforming the tornado into the form of the Dragon God and concentrating the technique's destructive power incorporates the shape transformation of Wind Release!"
(The Konoha Dragon God being Nintaijutsu is my own made-up modification, though it does have a basis.
Even when Might Guy used Night Guy, the gale force produced solely through taijutsu only created an immense shockwave. It could blow people away and pin them down until they could neither rise nor open their eyes, but it did not turn the wind into blades capable of cutting enemies.
Rock Lee had once been cut by the strong winds generated around the Konoha Dragon God, and chakra as sharp as blades was precisely a characteristic of Wind Release chakra.)
"Luckily, your physique is special. Otherwise, failing to use the Konoha Dragon God would often result in severe injuries from the backlash of its immense power, or even getting sliced into a pile of fragments!"
Chen Baojun narrowed his eyes as he looked at Naruto. Though Naruto was battered and ragged, he showed barely any signs of injury, and Chen Baojun could not help but marvel inwardly.
Worthy of the Uzumaki Clan's physique. Just as the Third Lord had said, he truly was excellent material for taijutsu training!
Naruto pursed his lips and did not take the severity in Teacher Chen's words to heart. He anxiously asked, "Then, Teacher Chen, how exactly can I learn the Konoha Dragon God?"
"Still don't understand, you idiot?" Chen Baojun stroked his beard and said irritably. "Since it's Nintaijutsu, besides taijutsu, you also need a certain foundation in ninjutsu!"
"Naruto, among all the students I've taught, your physical abilities and taijutsu skills are the best. With your level of taijutsu, you more than meet the requirements to train in the Konoha Dragon God. The reason you've kept failing is because your use and training of Wind Release chakra have not yet met the requirements."
"Wind Release..." Naruto nodded as if he understood, then seemed to recall something and asked, "Teacher Chen, did you have other disciples before?"
"Yes." At that, Chen Baojun's tone became somewhat weathered and self-reproachful.
"I once had another disciple. That fellow was a complete idiot. He didn't understand genjutsu and couldn't use ninjutsu, yet he was still determined to become a ninja and go to the front lines for the village."
"Although he later mastered the Konoha Dragon God through taijutsu alone, he only grasped its form, not its spirit. When the Third Shinobi World War began, that idiot went to fight as well. In the end, because of his inability to use genjutsu or ninjutsu, and because he had not fully mastered the Konoha Dragon God, the enemy exploited his weaknesses and brutally killed him in the war."
Hearing this, Naruto, who was usually so carefree, wore an unprecedentedly solemn expression. He quietly listened to Teacher Chen, and only after Chen Baojun had finished did he say seriously, "Teacher Chen, I'm not very good at comforting people, but I promise you this: from now on, I will inherit your Konoha Dragon God and my senior brother's will. I'll carry this ultimate technique forward and use it to protect the village and my companions. I swear it on Uzumaki Naruto's ninja way!"
Chen Baojun silently looked at Naruto's solemn face. In Naruto's eyes at that moment, he saw only unprecedented determination.
This brat.
Chen Baojun suddenly smiled, though his tone remained impatient.
"Talk after you've mastered the Konoha Dragon God. It's still too early to say such things!"
Though Chen Baojun appeared extremely impatient on the surface, over the past two years, he had actually been continuously influenced by Naruto—by Naruto's positive and optimistic outlook.
Influenced by Naruto, Chen Baojun felt that his own mindset had become much younger and more optimistic as well.
"Hehe!" Naruto grinned sheepishly.
"Then, Teacher Chen, how should I train my Wind Release chakra?"
Chen Baojun replied irritably, "Just like that Uchiha brat taught you before. Use chakra to cut leaves."
Naruto nodded as though he had suddenly understood, then hurriedly asked, "What about after that? What comes after cutting the leaves?"
"After that, you just need to find a way to integrate Wind Release chakra into the Konoha Dragon God."
"How?"
"Idiot!" Chen Baojun raised his brows, so angry that his beard seemed to bristle.
"This is something that can only be understood, not explained. Got it?"
"Once the conditions are met, you'll naturally learn it!"
"Fine."
Naruto nodded and fell silent for a few seconds. Then, as though suddenly realizing something, he dashed forward and leaned close to Chen Baojun.
"Oh, right, Teacher Chen, can I teach this move to Sasuke too?"
For the past few years, Sasuke had been the one teaching him. The two were friends in daily life, but in training, Sasuke was more like Naruto's teacher. Naruto's rapid progress in strength over the years owed much to Sasuke's careful guidance.
After Naruto had achieved success in learning taijutsu from Teacher Chen, and with Teacher Chen's permission, he returned the favor.
He taught Sasuke the Konoha Whirlwind, Konoha Gale, Konoha Rising Wind, Konoha Strong Whirlwind, and a series of other Konoha Strong Fist Style taijutsu techniques he had learned.
"Teach him if you want. There's no need to ask my permission." Chen Baojun glared and said irritably.
"However, if that Uchiha brat doesn't have Wind Release chakra, he won't be able to learn the Konoha Dragon God. Do you know whether he has Wind Release chakra?"
"Uh..." Naruto froze, then muttered awkwardly in a low voice, "I really don't know, but Sasuke definitely has Lightning and Fire!"
"Idiot!" Chen Baojun helplessly covered his forehead.
"One of the important rules for ninja—intelligence!
"Someone has already devised a training plan specifically for you. Your progress and training schedule are all within your opponent's grasp, yet you don't even know how many chakra natures your opponent has. No wonder you've kept losing these past few years and have never won."
"Hehe..."
Before you continue