Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique (C-rank): Gather chakra in the throat and expel it as a giant fireball—devastating power.
Lightning Release: Ground Stream (C-rank): Release lightning through both hands and send it streaming along the ground or water; becomes even more powerful when combined with a water technique…
"Sasuke, watch closely. This is Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique." As he spoke, a massive fireball shot from Itachi's mouth.
"Sasuke, and this is Lightning Release: Ground Stream." When the hand signs were finished, flashes of lightning crackled from both of Itachi's hands.
Watching the two ninjutsu Itachi displayed, Sasuke was filled with excitement and couldn't wait to try them for himself. Seeing the eager look in Sasuke's eyes, Itachi didn't keep him in suspense any longer. He taught Sasuke the sequence of hand signs for both jutsu, demonstrating them slowly until Sasuke could recite them perfectly.
Once Sasuke had memorized the hand sign sequences, he started his own attempts. Itachi stood by, supervising and correcting Sasuke's mistakes as he practiced. When Sasuke finally completed the hand signs and performed the technique, he managed to execute the jutsu, though with limited power.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Sasuke shouted, and rapidly formed the sequence: Snake - Ram - Monkey - Boar - Horse - Tiger. Bang—a small fireball, barely ten centimeters across, spurted from Sasuke's mouth. Since this was his first time trying a C-rank jutsu, and his chakra control wasn't great, the result was… "pop"—Sasuke's own hair got singed by his own ninjutsu.
"Lightning Release: Ground Stream!" Sasuke, unwilling to give up, tried again. Bracing both hands on the ground, he shouted. Sizzle—tiny streaks of lightning flashed from his palms, spreading in all directions before fizzling out about a meter away. Well. Sasuke nodded to himself; at least this was stronger than his Great Fireball Technique had been. He felt a little more confident now. However, Sasuke's expression dimmed as he recalled how Itachi's two ninjutsu were worlds apart from his own, their gulf as wide as heaven and earth. He was honestly embarrassed to call what he'd done ninjutsu at all. Noticing Sasuke's disappointment, Itachi understood at once.
Itachi encouraged him: "Sasuke, you've done really well. The next step is just more training. These two techniques might only be C-rank ninjutsu, but they're not something you can master right away. You need to keep working hard." Though still slightly disappointed, Sasuke listened to Itachi's advice and practiced the hand signs again and again, determined to improve.
So began Sasuke's new phase of training. He continued his basic conditioning without stopping—believing that foundation was crucial—and now added ninjutsu practice as well. He also persisted in refining his chakra. By now the sun had risen high in the sky. Itachi remained nearby, watching Sasuke with a constant smile, correcting him instantly whenever he made a mistake. Over and over, Sasuke repeated the same word until he was numb:
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" And again, a large fireball erupted from his mouth.
"Haha! I finally did it!"
Sasuke laughed in delight; after countless attempts, his Great Fireball Technique finally looked respectable.
Sasuke's story reminds us not to get carried away. Bang—Sasuke suddenly toppled face-first into the grass. Luckily it was soft; had it been rocks, his adorable little face would've been smashed. Damn, I can't get up… Did I use up all my chakra and stamina? Sasuke wondered to himself.
Seeing Sasuke fall, Itachi hurried over, picked him up, and set him gently in the soft grass. Huff, huff, huff—Sasuke gasped for air, still a little dizzy.
"In the future, don't push yourself so hard. Always keep enough chakra and stamina to run away, no matter what, understand?"
Itachi spoke seriously.
"Oh," Sasuke replied, sounding unconcerned. At that moment, he was lost in thought about his chakra problem—Itachi's words barely registered.
Seeing the absent look on Sasuke's face, Itachi realized he wasn't listening. He decided not to lecture him any further. After all, Sasuke was his dearest little brother. He'd just have to warn him again later. Lifting Sasuke onto his back, Itachi carried him home. Meanwhile, Sasuke was brooding about how to increase his chakra. "Damn it, back when all I did was the Three Basic Techniques, my chakra was low but sufficient. Now with these chakra-guzzling ninjutsu, my reserves don't cut it at all. Clearly, boosting my chakra is my top priority now."
"Damn, my chakra is only slightly more than an average Genin," Sasuke grumbled to himself. Honestly, what child of three already has more chakra than a regular Genin? Someone hit this greedy kid with a lightning bolt.
"What should I do? Chakra is the key to real strength!"
"I'm so jealous of Naruto, with Kurama—the infinite chakra battery—sealed inside. He never has to worry about chakra use in battle. Maybe I should seal a Tailed Beast in myself, then I wouldn't need to stress about chakra again," Sasuke mused.
"Yeah, right. What a daydream. Never mind the fact that I'd need to beat a Tailed Beast first at age three, but even then, all the Tailed Beasts are already sealed away—where could I find one? Besides, being a jinchuriki in the village isn't pleasant. Treated like a living weapon. Naruto is a perfect example—the way he's been hurt by everyone. Or Gaara, from the Land of Wind, clearly having no reason to live at all…"
Quickly, Sasuke dismissed the idea of a Tailed Beast and decided to ask Itachi if he knew any good methods.
Snapping back to reality, Sasuke realized he was riding on Itachi's back on the walk home.
"Brother. My chakra is way too low. After one or two ninjutsu, I'm empty. Do you know any way to increase my chakra reserves?"
Sasuke asked Itachi, who walked ahead.
"Sasuke, you know chakra comes from: 1. Physical energy extracted from the body's 130 trillion cells; 2. Spiritual energy developed through training, experience, and growth. At your age, you haven't had time for much spiritual training, so right now you mostly extract physical energy cell by cell. But you're still only three years old—your body hasn't fully developed yet. The fact that you can refine as much chakra as a Genin is already a miracle. Wanting more is impossible for now. As you slowly grow, your chakra will naturally increase," Itachi explained, turning his head as he answered.
From Itachi's explanation, Sasuke understood: there was no shortcut for increasing chakra now—he'd have to grow up, or look for special methods on his own. Maybe there was another way… He'd think about it once they got home.
Sasuke, still on Itachi's back, looked out over the bustling village. Watching the people pass by, he wondered, "Who knows if we'll be future enemies, or true allies?"