A giant toad leaped through the distant forest. Shinsei could clearly see the great trees instantly crushed beneath its enormous body as it landed. On its back, a blond boy in orange clung tightly to its head, looking like a tiny insect.
That boy was Naruto.
"What is that?" Sakura had followed him up as well and stood on tiptoe to look into the distance, tear tracks still on her face.
"Probably some ninja's summoning beast!"
"A summoning beast that big?" Looking at that enormous figure in the distance, Sakura felt her own insignificance even more keenly.
"I think I know what's going on. It's nothing." Shinsei turned to Sakura. "Let's get back to what we were talking about. I'm willing to guide you, but what does your Kakashi-sensei have to say?"
Although Shinsei wasn't afraid of Kakashi, he would be teaching someone else's students-two of them, at that. If Shinsei were in Kakashi's position, he would feel awkward.
Sakura lowered her head without a word, fidgeting with her hands.
Got it. Looks like Kakashi hasn't been giving her much attention.
That made sense. Strictly speaking, Jonin team leaders had no obligation to teach Ninjutsu. Their role was more about passing on survival experience. Konoha kept fairly strict control over Ninjutsu, and many Genin had no suitable techniques.
Sakura, for example, still only knew the two Water Release Ninjutsu Shinsei had taught her before. And Water Release Ninjutsu were among the most chakra-intensive techniques, so a single Water Dragon Bullet exhausted all her chakra.
Now she had come to Shinsei for help with pleading eyes. She knew how accomplished he was in Water Release Ninjutsu.
Actually, Kakashi also knew quite a few Water Release Ninjutsu. He was called the Copy Ninja, after all, and could use over a thousand Ninjutsu. But being able to use something and using it well were two different things.
Using an unfamiliar Ninjutsu often only wasted one's chakra.
For the same Water Dragon Bullet, Shinsei needed only three hand seals, while Kakashi and Zabuza Momochi needed forty-four. That was why many ninja tended to use only the Ninjutsu they were proficient in.
"Come with me."
Shinsei jumped down from the rooftop, with Sakura following close behind, and led her all the way to the place where he had taught Sasuke yesterday.
"Sasuke!" Sakura spotted Sasuke practicing with shuriken on the training ground from a distance and hurried over excitedly.
Sasuke nodded in acknowledgment, then looked toward Shinsei as he walked slowly over.
Well, teaching one isn't much different from teaching two.
The three sat on the grass beside the training ground. Sakura kept stealing glances at Sasuke, while Sasuke watched Shinsei with a serious expression.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Shinsei called to Sakura. "Aren't you on the same team? You see him every day. Isn't that enough?"
Studying required the right attitude. Being lovestruck was no excuse to distract others.
Blushing, Sakura turned back and bowed her head to Shinsei in apology.
"Since you've both come to me, that means you both want to improve. I'm also grateful that you acknowledge my strength." Shinsei straightened up. "Before we begin, let's go over what makes a ninja strong. Sasuke, you answer."
Without realizing it, Shinsei had already slipped into the role of a teacher.
"Ninjutsu!"
Shinsei nodded.
"Chakra reserves!"
Shinsei nodded again.
Sasuke frowned in thought.
"Experience!"
Shinsei gave him a look of approval, as though he were a promising student. Sasuke resisted the urge to roll his eyes and let it slide.
"Summoning beasts?"
Shinsei nodded, then shook his head. "Summoning beasts can count as part of your strength, but ultimately, they're difficult to rely on."
When both fell silent, Shinsei spoke.
"A ninja's strength naturally depends on Ninjutsu and the chakra reserves needed to use them, but those categories aren't specific enough. In my view, Ninjutsu encompasses offense, defense, disruption, support, and so on. Take the power of a Ninjutsu, for example."
Shinsei extended two fingers and swept them toward a branch over twenty meters away. A streak of blue lightning flashed past with a buzzing sound.
Crack!
The branch fell at the sound.
This was Lightning Release: Lightning Sword. Now that Shinsei had become more proficient with it, he could extend it over twenty meters.
Sasuke's mouth fell slightly open, surprise showing involuntarily on his face. Sakura's reaction was even more pronounced, her eyes seemingly filled with admiration.
Shinsei was very satisfied with their expressions. There had been a saying in his previous life: returning nowhere near home after gaining wealth and status was like wearing fine clothes in the dark. He had created a powerful Ninjutsu himself, but had never had a good opportunity to show it off. His opponents were either too strong or too weak.
Without pausing, Shinsei continued.
"Take speed, for example!"
A gust of wind swept past, and a fresh branch was already in Shinsei's hand-the very branch that had just fallen. Its cleanly severed end still bore black scorch marks from the Lightning Release.
Sasuke's eyes flickered. He hadn't activated his Sharingan just now, and hadn't been able to make out Shinsei's movements either. That speed was far greater than his own with the Cursed Seal activated.
Sakura stared blankly. She couldn't understand how Shinsei had done it at all. Inwardly, she couldn't help jumping for joy. Asking Shinsei to guide me was absolutely the right decision! Not only can I study with Sasuke, but Shinsei really is amazing!
"Take defense, for example!"
Shinsei formed the Tiger seal with both hands. He could already perform this Ninjutsu with a single hand seal.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
He slapped his right hand against the ground. An enormous wall of water spun around the three of them, its rushing current carving a deep ring into the surrounding earth.
The enormous current expanded outward, then rose higher, finally closing above their heads to form a massive hemisphere roughly ten meters thick.
"Is this... Water Formation Wall?" Sakura recognized it after all. Although it was worlds apart from the Water Formation Wall she knew, the two still shared many underlying features.
Shinsei nodded and changed his hand seal. The wall of water swept outward.
"Defense can also become offense."
As Shinsei finished speaking, the rotating water wall burst apart. Like countless spinning water jets spraying at high speed, it blasted the great trees into sections.
The surrounding trees fell in unison, startling countless birds into scattering in every direction.
Shinsei saw several masked figures in black clothing and flak jackets standing behind the trees, peering their way. After exchanging a few words, they paid them no further attention.
Uh...
I showed off a little too much. Fortunately, those Anbu most likely knew Shinsei. Besides, Sasuke Uchiha, a well-known figure in Konoha, was right beside him.
Konoha was called Konoha for a reason; it had plenty of trees. Shinsei didn't need to worry about paying compensation for these trees.
Seeing the two looking somewhat dazed, Shinsei sat down again.
"Any thoughts?"
"S-so amazing!" Sakura clasped her hands, her face full of admiration.
"That's all you saw?" Shinsei glanced at Sakura.
"Was it chakra control?" Sasuke asked.
Shinsei nodded and once again gave Sasuke a look that said he was a promising student.
"The same Ninjutsu can vary enormously in power when used by different people. Apart from personal experience, you also need greater chakra control.
As long as your chakra control is strong enough, you can be more flexible with the same Ninjutsu and the same amount of chakra. You can even reduce the number of hand seals required, while making it more powerful than someone else's!
And ever since I first extracted chakra, I've never stopped training my chakra control!"
Shinsei held out one palm.