[Las Noches · Training Ground 7 · Day 37]
Bang!
Naruto was slammed into the wall by Tekka's fist yet again.
The wall cracked, and he slid down, coughing blood. This time, though, he steadied himself before hitting the ground, planted both feet against the wall, and kicked off.
"Too slow." Tekka's voice came from his right. But this time, Naruto didn't turn his head. He rolled straight to the left.
Almost simultaneously, a crimson Cero grazed his right shoulder and blasted a huge hole in the distant wall.
"Tch, you saw that coming?" Tekka raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.
Naruto had no time to answer.
His hands raced through hand seals, but he stopped halfway-No, hand seals were too slow.
In a battle at this level, even a half-second pause could be fatal.
"Giving up on hand seals?" Tekka appeared before him again, bringing his palm down, wreathed in reiatsu.
Naruto didn't dodge.
He raised his right hand, palm up. Red chakra instantly gathered, spun, and compressed-forming a fist-sized Rasengan before Tekka's palm could land.
"Rasengan: Instant Release!"
Tekka's palm collided with the Rasengan, sending a shock wave blasting outward.
Naruto was driven back three steps. Tekka, too, retreated half a step.
At the edge of the training ground, Lilynette's eyes lit up.
"Day thirty-seven. His first successful Rasengan without hand seals, and he released it instantly with one hand."
"This idiot apprentice learns faster than I expected," she murmured.
Having witnessed Naruto's growth, she felt quite pleased.
She had only started teaching him for fun. She had never expected to actually become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's master.
On the training ground, Naruto panted heavily, his right hand trembling slightly.
That last strike had nearly drained his remaining chakra, but the effect was