Chapter 256: A New Teaching Method, Infinite Dream Realm! (Seeking Subscription)
In Konoha's Sage Domain, beneath the Sage Tree.
Hatake Kakashi, Sarutobi Shinya, Shizune, Might Duy, and Ziling, along with their respective students, sat neatly on floating seats woven from vines.
Ziling, originally a young Miko from the Land of Origins on the South Sage Continent, had now blossomed into a graceful young woman and had her own students.
Behind them sat Naruto, Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Choji, Hinata, Aburame Shino, Inuzuka Kiba, Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten.
Also present were Ziling's disciples Yamashita, Fuurin, and Oto, plus Uzumaki Karin as a solo participant.
She was from Konoha's medical squad.
After a round of introductions, primarily to familiarize everyone with Ziling and the others.
In fact, in past Chunin Special Training Classes, the leading instructors did not participate.
The reason Sarutobi Asuma had called Kakashi and the others this time was because his teaching methods were different from the past.
After the introductions concluded, Sarutobi Asuma announced, "This Chunin special training is different from the past. Please do not resist later."
"Of course, resistance would be futile."
As he spoke, Sarutobi Asuma's eyes began to change.
The Dream Eye!
Instantly, a dreamlike light emanated from Sarutobi Asuma's eyes, sweeping over Kakashi and the others.
Naruto, who had just opened his mouth to speak, remained frozen with his mouth agape, his eyes transforming to become identical Dream Eyes like Sarutobi Asuma's.
Within the seal, the Nine-Tails opened its eyes. "Genjutsu!"
It was about to call out to Naruto to break free from the genjutsu, as a way to enact a small "retaliation" against Sarutobi Asuma, but then it felt its consciousness beginning to plummet at high speed.
"Damn it, I've also fallen under genjutsu."
The Nine-Tails was greatly alarmed, and its pupils instantly turned into the Dream Eye.
It wasn't just Naruto and the Nine-Tails.
Everyone else was the same.
Meanwhile.
The vines beneath Kakashi and the others rapidly sprouted leaves, spreading out to envelop everyone, forming green cocoons.
"The effect is quite good!"
Sarutobi Asuma watched with a slight smile.
Sage - Birth of Trees, combined with the Dream Realm, and the synergy of Kekkei Mōra and Kekkei Genkai.
This was Sarutobi Asuma's new teaching method: dream teaching!
The purpose of this was to achieve the effect of training with cheat-like multiple Shadow Clones.
Although physical training and improvement would not be achieved, Sarutobi Asuma's original teaching objective was not focused on that.
Combat experience, Ninjutsu training experience, Chakra Control training experience, Chakra Nature Transformation training experience... these were sufficient!
"Hmm, let's give it a name... this technique shall be called the Infinite Dream Realm!"
"When the Dream Eye evolves to the Kekkei Mōra level, it will definitely not be inferior to the Infinite Tsukuyomi!"
"No, in terms of genjutsu, it should be even stronger!"
The Dream Eye was pure genjutsu kekkei power!
...
In the Dream Realm.
Shizune looked around and asked, "Asuma, is this the Dream Realm?"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded. "That's right."
"Dream teaching?"
Kakashi pondered. "Is the goal to achieve an effect similar to Shadow Clone training?"
"As expected of Kakashi."
Sarutobi Asuma smiled and looked at everyone. "Within a dream, a person's mental activity is several times, or even dozens or hundreds of times, more intense than when awake, especially in deep sleep dreams."
Sarutobi Shinya was startled. "Asuma, does this mean that if we train for a year here, only a few days might have passed outside?"
"You could say that!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded.
This could be considered a form of "time acceleration"!
"Too amazing!"
"As expected of Teacher (Lord) Asuma!"
"If we train here for 10 years, will we become Jonin when we leave?"
"Let's start quickly, I can't wait!"
Naruto and the other youngsters exclaimed one after another.
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled upon hearing this, "It's impossible to train here for 10 years straight."
"The deeper the dreamscape, the faster the mental activity, and the greater the time dilation compared to the outside world."
"Moreover, this is projected by your subconscious, so it will be extremely realistic."
As he spoke, Sarutobi Asuma's gaze fell on Haruno Sakura, "Sakura!"
Haruno Sakura, who was marveling at her surroundings, quickly straightened her body upon hearing his voice and responded nervously, "Yes, Lord Asuma!"
Sarutobi Asuma asked with a smile, "Did you hear what I just said clearly?"
Haruno Sakura quickly nodded.
Sarutobi Asuma asked again, "Then, why do you think I said it's impossible to train here for 10 years at once?"
Haruno Sakura fell into thought.
Sarutobi Asuma looked at the others, "Everyone else can also think about why."
Undoubtedly, this was a question directed towards Genjutsu.
When it came to Genjutsu, besides Sarutobi Asuma, Shizune and Kakashi were undoubtedly the strongest present.
"Lord Asuma, if it's 10 years here, how long would it be outside?"
Nara Shikamaru was the first to ask.
Sarutobi Asuma said with a smile, "The current dreamscape isn't very deep, it's about 1 year."
Naruto immediately cried out, "Uncle Asuma, if it's 1 year, we would have starved to death long ago!"
"Don't worry, you won't starve."
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled, "With the Sage Tree here, it can provide you with Sage Power to replace eating."
"Even if 10 years pass outside, you won't starve to death."
Rock Lee and the others widened their eyes.
Dreaming for 10 years?
"After 10 years, I'm afraid we won't be able to distinguish reality from the dreamscape when we wake up," Kakashi thought inwardly with alarm.
Shizune, who was extremely familiar with the Dream Realm, already knew the answer.
Sarutobi Shinya said gravely, "Asuma, we are not afraid, but is it too dangerous for Shikamaru and the others?"
"Brother, rest assured, I know what I'm doing," Sarutobi Asuma said with a smile, then asked Haruno Sakura, "Sakura, have you thought of the answer?"
Haruno Sakura said seriously, "Lord Asuma, although everyone knows this is a dreamscape now, if it's truly as realistic as you said, exactly the same as the outside world, and we remember every single detail of what happens here."
"I'm afraid when we wake up, we won't be able to distinguish which is the dreamscape and which is reality."
Akimichi Choji scratched his head, "When we dream, we don't remember everything, do we?"
Yamanaka Ino quipped, "If we can't remember, then wouldn't the experience we gain from training here be useless?"
"Ino is right," Sarutobi Asuma nodded, "And Sakura, what you said is also very correct."
"Therefore, I've added some things to this dreamscape to differentiate it from the outside world."
"We also won't be staying here for too long."
"For now... half a year!"
Thus, the formal training began!
First was the most basic training: Chakra Control, reaction training, and Chakra Nature Transformation.
This was followed by team cooperation training, and actual combat training between multiple teams within the Forest of Death.
This was also why Sarutobi Asuma had Shizune and Kakashi participate.
The day was packed full.
By the evening, Naruto and the others were so exhausted they collapsed on the ground, unwilling to get up.
"Uncle Asuma is a devil!" Naruto complained weakly.
"Idiot Naruto, if you can't even endure this much hardship, then don't talk about becoming Hokage every day," Karin retorted.
Nara Shikamaru gritted his teeth, "I thought the Genin Preparatory Class was the devil's training back then, I didn't expect it to be like this now..."
He was training like a madman, pushing himself harder than ever before.
Back in the Genin Preparatory Class, he used to finish his training missions quickly and then slack off.
But now.
Finishing his missions early to rest?
Impossible!
More training!
Only Neji and Rock Lee felt fine.
Meanwhile.
Might Duy looked at the exhausted youngsters sprawled on the ground, bared his white teeth, and said with fiery enthusiasm, "This is the passion of youth!"
"We went through this ourselves back in the day!"
Kakashi nodded.
They had experienced similar times when they trained under Sarutobi Asuma.
"However, Asuma was even crazier than them back then," Sarutobi Shinya chuckled.
The Sarutobi Asuma of that time was incredibly disciplined, practicing diligently day after day, unmatched in all of Konoha.
Beside him, Ziling, listening to everyone's discussion, quietly asked Shizune, "Senior Shizune, are Lord Asuma and everyone else the same age?"
"Yes."
"We were all in the same year, not much difference in age," Shizune said with a smile.
Ziling was shocked.
The Sage, whom she viewed as supremely powerful, almost god-like, was less than thirty years old.
"That's... that's amazing!"
Ziling's mouth fell open.
Shizune smiled, "It is!"
Recalling the sweet memories of training together filled her with warmth.
After a night's rest, at five in the morning, Sarutobi Asuma appeared on time and roused Naruto and the others to continue their training.
Time passed day by day.
For the first three days, Naruto and the others complained constantly.
But the power of habit was immense.
One month later.
Sarutobi Asuma didn't even need to supervise anymore. Naruto and the others had grown accustomed to the training intensity and began training diligently and systematically every day.
And Naruto and the others were not foolish people.
With this kind of training, everyone's progress was evident day by day.
Although Sarutobi Asuma hadn't taught them any ninjutsu.
After half a year, Naruto and the others could feel the changes in themselves.
Their chakra reserves were the same, their bodies were still their own, but they felt completely different.
The Nine-Tails inside Naruto had been observing, and it felt Naruto's progress even more profoundly.
"This guy is really something else, to think of using this method to train."
Despite hating how Sarutobi Asuma always threatened him subtly, the Nine-Tails couldn't help but admire him.
The way he taught people seemed even better than that old Sage of Six Paths!
...
Under the Sage Tree.
The leaves that had enveloped Naruto and the others dispersed, and everyone woke up.
After a moment of slight disorientation, they checked their bodies and found no issues.
"Uncle Asuma, how much time has passed?"
Naruto quickly asked.
"One day!"
"It's 8 AM now, you can go back and have breakfast," Sarutobi Asuma said with a smile.
"That's amazing!"
Tenten exclaimed. Even though she knew about it beforehand, experiencing it firsthand felt completely different.
The few people from the South Sage Continent looked at Sarutobi Asuma with even more reverence than before.
In the past, they had only heard on the South Sage Continent that "Sages" were incredibly powerful and supreme.
But now, they truly understood.
As the crowd dispersed, only Shizune and Uzumaki Karin remained.
Karin ran to Sarutobi Asuma's side, hugging his arm. For once, she acted spoiled, "Teacher, you taught Naruto ninjutsu, and I want it too!"
She already knew that Naruto had mastered powerful ninjutsu like Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.
Envy, jealousy, and hatred!
Especially since she could no longer suppress that idiot.
She felt unbalanced!
Sarutobi Asuma and Shizune exchanged a smile, then he said, "Adamantine Sealing Chains are very comprehensive. If you master this jutsu well, even with Naruto's Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, he won't be able to compare to you."
Adamantine Sealing Chains could be used for offense, defense, and sealing, with many applications. If mastered well, let alone Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, even with the Nine-Tails, he could be subdued with ease.
Moreover, excluding the Nine-Tails' power, Naruto's chakra amount was far inferior to Karin's.
Of course, this was assuming Karin could properly develop the power hidden within her body.
"I've been working hard to master both Adamantine Sealing Chains and Kagura Shingan, but now I have extra time."
Karin looked at Sarutobi Asuma with hopeful eyes.
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled and asked, "Then what ninjutsu do you want to learn?"
Karin immediately beamed, then her eyes darted around. "Teacher, what ninjutsu do you think suits me?"
Sarutobi Asuma thought for a moment and asked, "Wood Release, how about that?"
"Wood Release!"
Karin couldn't help but exclaim, then she nodded repeatedly like a pecking chick.
Wood Release had too great a reputation!
Shizune beside them was a bit surprised.
Without cell transplantation, learning Wood Release was extremely difficult.
Creating a Kekkei Genkai from scratch wasn't just about effort and talent; it even involved luck. Even if someone had already blazed a trail, even if Sarutobi Asuma taught her everything he knew, Karin might not be able to master Wood Release in ten years.
Of course, Karin was only 12 years old now. Ten years later, she would only be 22, so this timeframe wasn't really an issue.
"That guy Asuma, he's not intentionally trying to make Karin give up, is he?"
Shizune thought, amused and exasperated.
"Karin, to master Wood Release, you first need a profound understanding of Earth Style and Water Style chakra nature transformation, as well as powerful chakra control. But even then, you might not be able to master it."
"You need to be prepared that you might not achieve it even after 10 years."
"Do you still want to train?"
Sarutobi Asuma's expression turned serious.
10 years?
Karin was shocked and couldn't help but hesitate.
At this moment, Sarutobi Asuma added, "Of course, if you master Wood Release, dealing with that guy Naruto will be a piece of cake; you can beat him up anytime!"
Beat him up, hang him up and beat him, Sarutobi Asuma meant it literally!
Upon hearing this, Karin became excited, then gritted her teeth, "I'll learn!"
"Wood Release it is!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded. "Alright, starting today, you'll focus your spare time on cultivating Wood Release, beginning with Earth Style and Water Style chakra nature transformation."
Karin left happily. Shizune spoke up, "Asuma, wouldn't my Kekkei Genkai, Heavenly Water Life Creation, be more suitable for her?"
Heavenly Water Life Creation was a fusion of Water Style and Yang Style chakra nature transformations.
Karin's own chakra possessed excellent healing abilities, and she had already studied Medical Ninjutsu. If she cultivated the Kekkei Genkai of Heavenly Water Life Creation, it might yield twice the results with half the effort.
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head. "If she liked Heavenly Water Life Creation, she would have said so directly."
"This girl wants an offensive ninjutsu!"
Shizune chuckled. "That's true."
"If she really masters it, that guy Naruto will be in trouble."
Although Wood Release didn't necessarily mean it was extremely powerful, with Karin's constitution and chakra amount, once she mastered Wood Release, she would definitely be much stronger than Yamato.
"Hahaha, hearing you say that makes me even more eager. Then we shall wait and see!"
Sarutobi Asuma laughed.
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