Tenfold Critical Hit

[You gifted a high-quality talent with a level-two cultivation relationship, Naruto Uzumaki, a Shadow Clone Technique training scroll (hand-drawn edition).]

[The high-quality talent Naruto Uzumaki was deeply moved, triggering a tenfold critical hit.]

[Reward obtained: Advanced Fire Nature Transformation]

The moment he received the reward, a tide of memories about training in Fire Nature Transformation surged into Qiushui's mind. The memories were so vivid they felt like firsthand experience, every detail clear as day.

Qiushui's eyes lit up, and a systematic understanding of chakra training came naturally to him.

Chakra nature training could be divided into two dimensions: nature transformation and shape transformation.

Chakra Nature Transformation involved converting chakra into energy with a specific nature, giving it different properties and destructive power.

The five basic natures—Wind, Fire, Lightning, Water, and Earth—formed the foundation of the ninjutsu system.

The more advanced one's nature transformation, the more powerful one's ninjutsu became.

When two or more chakra natures were combined, they produced entirely new releases. This was also the principle behind Kekkei Genkai.

Chakra shape transformation involved precisely controlling chakra's shape, size, trajectory, and degree of compression.

Kakashi's Chidori, for example, made Lightning Release chakra tangible, concentrating it into a sharp spear-like form. The Rasengan, developed by Namikaze Minato, compressed chakra into a rapidly spinning sphere.

When nature transformation and shape transformation were perfectly combined, a technique's power increased exponentially.

Qiushui recalled the Chakra Nature Transformation training he had obtained earlier and his mastery of the Great Fireball Technique. With this new Fire Nature Transformation, he felt like putting them to the test. He walked to the riverbank, formed Hand Seals, and gathered a large amount of chakra in his throat. His chest swelled rapidly. He leaned back slightly, then thrust forward and called out, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

In an instant, a gigantic fireball, roughly ten meters in diameter, burst from his mouth. Its scorching red light illuminated the river. The moment it touched the water, it hissed violently as fire and water met, sending up vast clouds of white steam that spread across the bank.

Not far away, Uchiha Sasuke had just finished drinking and wetting his throat. Ready to resume training, he formed Hand Seals and drew on the chakra inside him, but all he managed to spit out was a red fireball about three meters in diameter.

"Damn it, why is it still so small?"

Sasuke was dissatisfied and was about to try again when, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the enormous fireball Qiushui had unleashed. He froze, staring at the flames still lingering above the river.

"So strong..."

The Great Fireball Technique wasn't exclusive to the Uchiha Clan, but it was one of the Fire Release techniques they used most often. Just hearing its name inevitably brought the Uchiha to mind.

It was the first ninjutsu Sasuke had learned as a child, and he had seen his father and Itachi Uchiha use it. But he was certain that even their Great Fireballs hadn't been as large as Qiushui's.

Unmistakable longing appeared in Sasuke's eyes. Compared with Qiushui's, his own tiny fireball was worlds apart. If he could master a Great Fireball that powerful, wouldn't he be one step closer to avenging himself on Itachi Uchiha?

Though still young, he had already spent four years in school. Combined with his unusual experiences, that meant he was no longer as naive as he had been as a little boy. He understood the basics of dealing with people.

He and Qiushui didn't know each other. They weren't related, either. Why would Qiushui teach him?

Even if he swallowed his pride and asked, there was a good chance he'd be turned down.

If the Uchiha Clan still existed, the proud Sasuke would never have thought to ask someone else for instruction. It would have tarnished the clan's image. But for the sake of revenge, he decided to put his pride aside and try.

However, when Sasuke's eyes fell on Naruto Uzumaki, sitting behind Qiushui, his legs grew as heavy as lead. He couldn't make himself move.

If it had been anyone else, he might have worked up the nerve to approach. But Naruto Uzumaki was the one person he couldn't bear to let see him grovel. Naruto was famous throughout the school for having a big mouth. If he caught Sasuke doing this, the whole school would know by the next day.

Sasuke stood there in silence for a long time, then finally gave up on the idea, consoling himself.

Itachi Uchiha was so strong that even a Great Fireball Technique alone would hardly be enough to defeat him.

Qiushui had no idea what Sasuke was thinking. He had used the Great Fireball Technique partly to catch Sasuke's attention, but mostly because he wanted to test the power of the Fire Release technique.

Naruto, sitting behind him, watched the scene with wide eyes and could no longer sit still.

He had just learned the Shadow Clone Technique, but he still preferred offensive ninjutsu.

Seeing that huge fireball with his own eyes made Naruto itch with excitement. If he learned that technique, wouldn't he be able to walk all over everyone at school?

He was already imagining himself learning the technique, defeating Sasuke in practical class, and having everyone gather around him, cheering.

Naruto wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, then hurried over to Qiushui. "Teacher Qiushui, what's that technique called? Can I learn it?"

Qiushui turned around. "You can't bite off more than you can chew. You've only just learned one technique, and now you want to learn another?"

He liked Naruto's eagerness to learn, but he knew Naruto had Wind Release chakra. In theory, someone could use techniques of other natures even if their chakra had a different nature, but it took twice the effort for half the result. It wasn't worth it.

Naruto grinned and sidled up to him. "Just let me try."

He had learned the Shadow Clone Technique in no time and was feeling full of confidence. He thought that with Teacher Qiushui to teach him, no technique would be beyond him.

Qiushui didn't dampen his enthusiasm. Instead, he patiently taught Naruto how to use the Great Fireball Technique.

The result was exactly what Qiushui had expected.

Naruto stood by the river, puffing out his cheeks and blowing for more than half an hour. Aside from getting exhausted and spitting all over the ground, he didn't produce even a spark. In the end, he could only slink back.

He felt he probably wasn't a genius after all. He must have just been lucky when he succeeded earlier.

Qiushui said nothing and prepared to begin the lesson.

He took out a piece of Chakra Paper and had Naruto test his chakra nature.

Curious, Naruto followed Qiushui's instructions and concentrated his chakra onto the paper.

The Chakra Paper split cleanly in two, as if a sharp blade had sliced through it.

"Your chakra has a Wind nature," Qiushui said.

He then explained the basics of chakra natures in detail, along with the kinds of ninjutsu Naruto would be suited to training in.

Only then did Naruto understand. He finally realized that he wasn't suited to training in Fire Release ninjutsu.