The Degree of Strength

"Come to think of it, although I haven't prepared any medicinal meals for Hinata, Master once had me give her a recipe."

Naruto suddenly recalled, "It seems that ever since then, Hinata hasn't been eating nearly as much."

"A recipe?"

Kakashi's dull gaze instantly sharpened, "Do you still remember what was in it?"

"Forgot."

Naruto spread his hands, looking perfectly matter-of-fact, "Hinata should still remember. If you're interested, Kakashi-sensei, you can go ask her. Master said that once the item was given away, how it was handled was entirely up to the person who received it."

"Hmm."

Kakashi nodded silently, calculating that he would find Kurenai Yuhi to talk about it later.

As they were finishing their meal, Kakashi spoke again, "Since you all know what you need to do, I can rest easy and go do some things I've been wanting to do myself. If you have any reason to find me, just go ask the Hokage."

"Feel free to go do what you want to do, Kakashi-sensei."

Naruto said, "I've left a chakra mark on you. If there's anything urgent, I'll use the Flying Thunder God Technique to find you directly."

Kakashi didn't know what to say for a moment, remaining silent for several seconds before speaking, "I hope you won't abuse the Flying Thunder God Technique."

"Don't you worry!"

Naruto said with a smile, "My old man has been watching me from inside the Sealing Space the whole time!"

Kakashi fell silent once more, and it wasn't until they had finished eating and parted ways that he finally said goodbye.

"We haven't done today's training yet. Are you two coming?"

Naruto asked Sakura and Sasuke, "My stamina is better than yours, so I don't feel anything special. If you're tired, it's best to rest today. Master said that the better you rest, the better you recover, and the more effective the training will be."

"I'm going."

Sakura said, "That match against Ino didn't take much effort."

"I didn't spend much effort either."

Sasuke added, "If possible, I'd like to continue talking to Master about that topic from earlier."

"Topic? With Master?"

Sakura was very concerned, "Could it be that Master taught Sasuke some new training method during the match?"

"No."

Naruto shook his head, "Master said he's waiting for Sasuke to think it through."

"I have a feeling it's something important."

Sakura looked at Sasuke, whose expression was as calm as ever, but her intuition told her that something had definitely happened. She turned to Naruto—or rather, to Master—and asked, "What about me?"

"I'll ask for you."

Naruto closed his eyes, and after two seconds, he opened them and reached out to grab Sakura and Sasuke, "Let's go somewhere else to talk."

The Flying Thunder God Technique activated, and the three of them vanished from the spot.

Over a hundred kilometers away from the barbecue restaurant, within a forest bordering Konoha, stood a small cabin with a peculiar design.

Naruto brought Sakura and Sasuke to the side of the cabin and explained briefly, "This is a secret base Master helped me set up a long time ago."

"You brought us here—is there something important you wanted to tell us?"

Sasuke's expression was slightly serious, "Or is it..."

"It was Master who told me to bring you here."

As he spoke, Naruto formed hand seals, "Shadow Clone Technique."

Although the shadow clone that appeared looked identical to Naruto, the presence it gave off was completely different. Both Sakura and Sasuke could tell at a glance that it was Master.

"I have been observing you both for some time now."

Master said to Sakura and Sasuke, "I had Naruto bring you here because I wanted to ask: do you wish to formally become my students?"

"Yes!"

Sasuke answered instantly, "Master, teach me the way to become strong quickly!"

Master did not answer, merely nodding before asking Sakura, "And you?"

Sakura took a deep breath, relaxed, and made her decision, "Please, Master, teach me how to become strong."

"Then from this moment on, you are my students."

Master raised his right hand, a cluster of pale golden light condensing at the tip of his index finger, and tapped it against the center of Sakura and Sasuke's foreheads, "This is your study material."

A massive amount of information poured continuously into Sakura and Sasuke's minds.

Yet, neither of them felt any pain; they only felt their consciousness blur, temporarily losing the ability to control their bodies.

"Bring them back once they wake up."

Master gave this instruction to Naruto before dispelling the shadow clone and returning to the Sealing Space within Naruto.

About an hour passed before Sakura and Sasuke stood up, swaying unsteadily.

"It feels like my brain has been stuffed with a mountain of books... I don't feel sick, exactly, but it's a bit nauseating."

Sakura looked toward Naruto: "Is this how Master taught you, too?"

"Not really."

Naruto chuckled: "Master said you guys are years behind me, so this makes it easier for you to catch up."

"Compared to the value of this information, you should just endure a little nausea."

Sasuke analyzed it calmly: "The information in our heads seems to only surface when we 'want' to see it."

"That is truly incredible."

Sakura nodded: "If the teachers at the Ninja Academy could use this method, all the academic subjects could be compressed into a single lesson."

"Don't talk about things that are impossible."

Sasuke tapped his forehead with his index finger: "I've discovered some important information."

"It feels like most of it is important."

Sakura: "Which parts are you referring to?"

Sasuke: "The classification regarding 'levels of strength'."

Sakura was a bit confused: "Is that really so important?"

"To me, it is."

Sasuke nodded: "Before this, I only thought about getting stronger, but I never considered exactly how strong I needed to be. I didn't even have a clear idea of how strong the person I want to surpass actually is."

Sakura quickly scanned through the relevant information:

Level 1: Ordinary person, no chakra or other energy within the body. (Reference: Average Konoha villager)

Level 2: Chakra or other energy exists within the body, but in small amounts. (Reference: Children at the Ninja Academy who have just learned to refine chakra)

Level 3: Abundant energy within the body, with a significant increase in destructive power compared to Level 2. (Reference: Genin who have just graduated from the academy)

Level 4: A qualitative change in the control and usage of internal energy. (Reference: Jonin)

Level 5: Possesses the ability to alter the terrain. (Reference: First Hokage)

Level 6: Possesses the ability to destroy a planet. (Reference: Sage of Six Paths)

Level 7: World-ending in a single strike, transcending the universe.

"That's too exaggerated."

Sakura felt it was unreal: "I can understand up to Level 5, but Level 6 or even Level 7—is that really something a human can achieve?"

"It should be true."

Naruto rubbed his chin and speculated: "Master once told me that there are Level 8, Level 9, Level 10 and beyond... in short, there is no limit. But our world only reaches the Level 6 threshold at most; anything beyond that is meaningless to even know about."

Sasuke also found it hard to imagine such "great power" at Level 6 or 7, but he was certain: "As long as I grow strong enough to reach Level 5, I can deal with Itachi!"

Sakura's imagination was still quite limited: "Altering the terrain is one thing if hundreds or thousands of ninja use ninjutsu at the same time, but for one person to do it? No matter how I think about it, it seems impossible."

"Then I'll demonstrate it for you."

Naruto looked at Sakura: "If I concentrate my power now and unleash a full-force strike, leveling a large mountain might be difficult, but leveling a small hill shouldn't be a problem."

Sakura: "!?"

Sasuke's eyes lit up: "Really? Let me see!"