Bang!
Konohamaru's body was sent flying once again.
Even though he used the Shadow Clone Technique as a diversion, Sasuke, with his Sharingan and Observation Haki, predicted his movements in advance.
Even without entering his human-beast hybrid form, Sasuke's current reaction speed and physical strength far surpassed his past self.
Fortunately, he hadn't forgotten his task was to be Konohamaru's sparring partner. He retracted his fist before it actually hit Konohamaru's body, and what sent him flying was the emitted Armament Haki.
This was also an ability he had been training recently: a higher-level application of Armament Haki called [Ryuo].
Of course, that was the Wano term. The standard term should be external release of Armament Haki.
By compressing Haki with fluid properties and releasing it as a shockwave, one could hit the opponent without physical contact or inject Haki into the opponent's body, causing internal damage.
Its principle was very similar to the Hasshoken fighting style Sasuke was proficient in. Studying this now was like learning a new skill through analogy.
"Oof... Hiss… That really hurts."
Konohamaru clutched his abdomen as he stumbled back, only standing straight when his back hit the ship's railing, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Although he said that, the never-say-die expression remained on his face.
At this moment, he could feel his internal organs as if they had been forcibly kneaded by a large hand.
The pain even surpassed any injuries he had suffered from fighting or training.
"You still have a long way to go. So, want to continue?"
Sasuke, on the other hand, didn't pay much attention to Konohamaru's expression. For him, what he truly desired was to fight the strong warriors of this world.
According to Naruto, almost ninety-nine percent of the top experts here were masters of Haki application.
What truly determined the essence of strength was Haki. Devil Fruit abilities could only serve as supplementary, adding icing on the cake.
-Of course, this excluded certain 'conceptual' fruits.
Precisely because of this, he had started learning more advanced usage techniques of Haki.
At that moment, a golden light shot over from the distance, but the two on the deck, Sasuke and Konohamaru, acted as if it were nothing unusual.
Sure enough, the golden light abruptly slowed down near the ship, revealing its true form: Karin.
"Are you two still fighting?"
Looking at the state of the two on the deck, Karin rolled her eyes annoyedly and said,
"Watch your strength. Don't smash another hole in the deck like last time, forcing Naruto-san to repair it himself."
It couldn't be helped, really. Among the four people on the ship, aside from Naruto, no one had any experience with long sea voyages.
And including Naruto, none of them had the skills of a navigator or a shipwright.
The so-called repair was just Naruto directly sending the Gale Breaker back for a recast, which was quite troublesome to operate.
Remembering this, Karin finally recalled what she wanted to say and asked,
"Where's Naruto-san? I need to talk to him."
Sasuke casually pointed towards the captain's cabin… Naruto was still inside, doing who-knows-what.
Karin didn't waste time. She leaped up directly to the second deck and gently knocked on the door.
Knock-
After just one knock, the door opened automatically. Karin walked in and said,
"Naruto-san, about twenty miles ahead on our course, there's a huge thunderstorm."
As she said this, Karin recalled the peculiar weather she had witnessed on the seas of the New World.
The scale of that storm was beyond her ability to control or blow away with hurricanes.
On the seas of the Ninja World, Karin had never seen such absurd weather phenomena.
And according to Naruto, there were countless such weather phenomena on the seas of this world.
"Is that so..."
Naruto put down the World Economic News Paper in his hand, closed the page recording Ace's execution date, and walked out of the captain's cabin.
Looking towards the horizon where the clouds weren't too thick yet, Naruto didn't doubt Karin's eyes.
The weather in the New World was always unpredictable. Without an experienced navigator on board, it was easy for both the ship and its crew to sink to the bottom of the sea.
One shouldn't think that human power could rival the true might of nature.
Just remember how Shiki, the user of the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, was also severely injured in that storm.
And his enemy, Roger, used that storm to turn the disadvantage into an advantage, completely destroying Shiki's fleet.
This couldn't have happened without the contribution of the navigator on Roger's ship.
It was also why Shiki later tried to find an excellent navigator, but those skilled enough to face the ever-changing climate of the New World were still extremely rare.
The result was that until his death at Naruto's hands, his fleet never had a truly capable navigator.
Naruto was the same… he wouldn't underestimate the storms here.
In the past, if he saw a similar storm, he would directly use his formidable abilities to control a sea beast and bypass it underwater.
But now, that wasn't necessary.
Walking onto the deck and stopping the two who were still sparring, Naruto reminded them,
"Sasuke, you and Konohamaru go back to the cabin first. Secure the food and other things while you're at it."
Hearing this, Sasuke didn't say anything and directly entered the cabin.
Konohamaru, however, stayed curiously at the cabin entrance, wanting to see what Naruto planned to do.
Then, he saw Naruto make a few hand seals and slap the ship's hull.
Earth Release: Ultralight-Weight Rock Technique!
Karin also realized what Naruto intended to do and cooperatively used a whirlwind to lift the now very light ship.
With the wind's assistance, the entire ship soon ascended at an inclined angle towards the clouds above.
Konohamaru gripped the railing tightly to ensure he wouldn't fall due to the sudden imbalance.
At the same time, he tried to recreate the hand seals Naruto had just made in his mind.
'As expected of Naruto Aniki...'
After several failed attempts to simulate the execution, Konohamaru once again marveled inwardly at Naruto's strength and the deepness of the skills he mastered.
Sasuke, who observed this scene with his Observation Haki, just shook his head while tying ropes around the boxes containing ingredients.
'That technique was the Tsuchikage's signature Jutsu. Besides a genius like Naruto, who could learn it so easily?'
'He's still just a kid after all.'
Thinking this, Sasuke decided to go easier on him during their next spar.
He didn't realize what kind of talent in Ninjutsu this kid, who hadn't even obtained Genin qualifications, actually possessed.
Meanwhile, the Gale Breaker had already flown above the sea of clouds.
Here, the sunlight ahead was just right, with no sign of rain at all.
"Hmm... the old-timer's method is still useful."
This inspiration also came from the deceased sea veteran, Shiki.
Although he couldn't make the ship fly without cost like Shiki, with Naruto's current Chakra Reserves, supporting the Gale's flight for a day or two wasn't difficult.