Teaching Ninjutsu

Seeing the three agree, Kakashi waved a hand and said, "In that case, let's begin our ninjutsu lesson.

Before that, let me ask: have all of you completed the tree-climbing and water-walking exercises?"

"Completed!" x3

After answering, the three exchanged glances, their expressions complicated. Each had thought they were the most diligent and progressing the fastest, never expecting the others had secretly been putting in extra practice too!

"Good, that makes things easier. Since you've completed the basic exercises, I'll teach each of you ninjutsu suited to your respective chakra natures.

"First is Sasuke. Sasuke, your situation is the most similar to mine. Your chakra nature is also the one I specialize in, and we both have the Sharingan—though yours hasn't awakened yet.

"So, I'll teach you an A-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu I created myself: Chidori!"

Lightning Release: Chidori was a Lightning Release ninjutsu Kakashi had developed in his youth, combining both chakra nature transformation and shape transformation.

When used, it concentrated the high-intensity current formed from Lightning Release chakra in the user's hand, then pierced the target with the speed of a thrust.

Because the powerful current produced a piercing sound like a thousand birds crying out, it had been named Chidori.

Its weakness was that the user needed to charge rapidly toward the opponent during an attack. The excessive speed could make it impossible to see the enemy clearly, leaving the user vulnerable to counterattacks. It needed to be used alongside the Sharingan to achieve its greatest effect.

"For you, Sasuke, this ninjutsu is practically tailor-made.

"However, before learning it, you'll need to develop the shape transformation and nature transformation of Lightning Release chakra. I'll teach you that bit by bit.

"Also, I need you to promise that even after you learn Chidori, you must not use it in actual combat unless your Sharingan is active. Do you understand?" Kakashi said to Sasuke.

"Understood!" Sasuke answered loudly.

"Next is Sakura. Although I'm not particularly skilled with advanced Water Release and Earth Release, I can still guide your training.

"I have several ninjutsu here for you to choose from: offensive ninjutsu, Earth Release: Earth Dragon Spear and Water Release: Water Whip;

"Defensive ninjutsu, Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall and Water Release: Water Wall;

"Enemy-trapping ninjutsu, Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu and Water Release: Syrup Capture Field;

"And support-type ninjutsu, Earth Release: Swimming Fish Jutsu and Water Release: Water Clone.

"Which one would you like to learn?" Kakashi rattled off eight ninjutsu in one breath before finally pausing to ask Sakura's opinion. He truly lived up to the name Copy Ninja Kakashi.

"Rather than those ninjutsu, I'd actually prefer to learn medical ninjutsu. Is there any way you can arrange that, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked with a smile.

To everyone's surprise, Sakura did not choose any of the ninjutsu Kakashi had recommended. Instead, she set her sights on medical ninjutsu.

"Well, that really is a problem. I know a little about ninjutsu of every nature, but medical ninjutsu is the one field I've never dabbled in." Kakashi smiled, his left hand on his hip while his right index finger scratched his chin.

"But it's fine. I'm on fairly good terms with the director of Konoha Hospital, so I can recommend you to study medical ninjutsu under her.

"It's a pity Lady Tsunade isn't in Konoha. Otherwise, she would be the best teacher for you."

"Then I'll be relying on you, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said with a smile.

"What about me, Kakashi-sensei?" Seeing that both his teammates had received good arrangements, Menma hurriedly raised his hand and asked.

"Hmm, Menma, I had originally prepared several Wind Release ninjutsu that I know for you. But I didn't expect you to possess an ultimate Wind chakra talent, so my original preparations are somewhat inadequate.

"Because I'm not particularly skilled in Wind Release myself, training you according to my original plan would hold back your talent.

"It's not as though you couldn't train that way, but the Wind chakra training methods I currently have could only develop around eighty percent of your potential. That would be far too wasteful for you," Kakashi said awkwardly.

Huh? This felt awfully familiar!

"I'm not that picky, really. Eighty percent is enough," Menma said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"That's different. Ultimate single-nature chakra is more or less a prerequisite for surpassing Kage-level strength.

"Even the slightest discount would affect the height of strength you could reach in the future, let alone a twenty-percent loss," Kakashi said seriously.

"A prerequisite for surpassing Kage-level strength?

"Setting that aside, while strength is certainly important for a ninja, how many ninja can actually reach a level beyond Kage-class?" Menma asked with a frown.

"If you don't set your sights on strength beyond Kage-level, then you might as well not become a ninja.

"Ninja training is about aiming high and attaining the middle, aiming for the middle and attaining the low.

"If you lower your standards from the start, your goals in future training will only become lower and lower.

"Today, because there's no suitable training method to develop your talent, you think becoming an elite jonin would already be quite good.

"Then tomorrow, for all sorts of reasons, might you decide that becoming a Chunin is enough?" Kakashi sternly warned Menma.

Menma froze. He had never considered that question!

Indeed, with the enormous chakra reserves he had displayed and the mature soul of someone who had lived two lives, he had seemed to possess a sense of crisis on the surface, but deep down, he had still become somewhat complacent.

He had thought he was steadier than ninja his own age.

He had thought he was better than Naruto had been at the same point in time.

He had thought he was more mature than the protagonists of other Naruto fanfictions.

Now it seemed that he had taken things for granted.

The Naruto of his previous life had only been an anime, and due to limitations of length, many characters had been portrayed rather superficially.

But the Naruto of this life was a real world. Its people were more vivid, more human, with thoughts and wisdom of their own.

It seemed he would need to approach the people of this world with greater respect from now on, Menma warned himself inwardly.

"Then what should I do?" Menma came back to his senses and asked Kakashi.

Kakashi said, "Hmm, there are only three people in all of Konoha who are capable of teaching you.

"The first is the Third Hokage, Lord Shimura Danzo. Like you, he possesses ultimate Wind chakra, and having trained to Kage-level strength, he is certainly qualified to guide you.

"Likewise, because he is the Third Hokage, his daily official duties are extremely busy, so the time he can spare to instruct you will likely be limited.

"The second is the leader of Konoha's Root, Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu. He was born with all five chakra natures, is proficient in every non-bloodline ninjutsu, and is exceptionally good at teaching.

"But how should I put this? Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi is a typical dove. He believes Konoha should win peace by currying favor with the surrounding ninja villages, even if it means sacrificing the village's interests.

"And he likes to slip his own ideology into his teachings. Aside from the Three Ninja, those who have received his guidance tend to be somewhat weak-willed in one way or another.

"The third is Lord Jiraiya, one of Konoha's Three Ninja. He is powerful and, like his teacher Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi, extremely skilled at teaching.

"His disciples Nagato and Yahiko are the leaders of Akatsuki, the strongest mercenary group in the ninja world.

"At the same time, he was also your father Minato Namikaze's teacher. With that connection, it would be easiest for you to become his disciple, and you could receive the most dedicated instruction.

"However, he is currently not in Konoha, so finding him would be difficult. Your father may have a way.

"That is all the information I can give you. As for which lord you want to guide your training, discuss it with your parents when you return and then tell me. Once you've decided, I'll find a way to help you."

Afterward, Kakashi said to the other two, "That's all for today. We'll officially begin training tomorrow. Dismissed!"