Chapter 271: Shadow Clone Jutsu!
The sight of the ugly bird made everyone else anticipate Sarutobi Asuma's rewards even more.
Even Nara Shikamaru, who had been calm before, couldn't help but look eager.
After taking out a scroll and handing it to Naruto, Sarutobi Asuma flipped his palm, and a Chakra Blade appeared out of nowhere. He placed it in front of Uchiha Sasuke and said, "This Chakra Blade is no weaker than Kakashi's, nor the village's other six ninja swords."
"I hope you will protect Konoha with this sword!"
Uchiha Sasuke quickly took it, "Yes, Lord Asuma!"
Clang!
After thanking him, Uchiha Sasuke couldn't help but draw the sword. As he injected Chakra into it, the blade immediately glowed.
"So strong!"
Uchiha Sasuke was shocked. He felt that his Chakra had been greatly amplified by the Chakra Blade.
"If I use Lightning Style..."
Thinking this, Uchiha Sasuke injected Lightning Style Chakra, and with a buzz, the blade crackled with purple electricity.
Instantly, Naruto and the others felt their skin tingle slightly.
This time, even they could feel the power of this sword.
Namikaze Minato, not far away, couldn't help but think, This sword is far more powerful than those seven ninja swords. Similar to Naruto's Nine-Tails Mode or Sage Mode, it greatly enhances the power of Chakra, or rather, improves the quality and essence of Chakra.
The strength of the Tailed Beasts wasn't just their vast amount of Chakra, but also the extremely high quality of their Chakra.
Especially the Nine-Tails' Chakra, which was closest to the Ten-Tails, possessed extremely high Chakra quality and essence.
With the same amount of Chakra, ninjutsu could achieve greater power.
Sage Chakra was the same.
That was why Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and Sage Mode provided such huge enhancements to ninjutsu, the body, and so on.
...
After giving Uchiha Sasuke the Chakra Blade, Sarutobi Asuma looked at Haruno Sakura and said, "Your talent in Genjutsu is excellent. For Medical Ninjutsu, you can go to Konoha Hospital to learn from Tsunade."
"For Genjutsu, become Kurenai's student!"
Haruno Sakura was delighted to hear this, "Yes, Lord Asuma!"
She knew that Yūhi Kurenai's Genjutsu level, according to Kakashi-sensei's evaluation, ranked third in Konoha.
As for the other two ahead of her.
One was the invincible Asuma-sama of the Ninja World.
The other was also a disciple of the person before him, Uchiha Shisui, who called himself the Teleporting Shisui.
However, just as Haruno Sakura thought her rewards were finished.
Sarutobi Asuma added, "Your Water Style is also quite good. I'll teach you a ninjutsu, Water Style Chakra Mode!"
"Water Style Chakra Mode?"
Haruno Sakura quickly asked, "Lord Asuma, is it the same technique as Lightning Style Chakra Mode?"
"Pretty much!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded and explained, "The principle of cultivation is indeed similar – refining Water Style Chakra down to every cell, and then forming an integrated Water Style armor."
Except for Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura and the others gasped.
This was too difficult!
Sarutobi Asuma continued, "Once you master Water Style Chakra Mode, you can easily use the Water Transformation Technique."
"Moreover, for you, any Water Style ninjutsu can be performed with ease."
"Additionally, mastering this mode will greatly enhance your Monster Strength."
They had witnessed the Water Transformation Technique before when they were fighting for the Three-Tails.
"Especially in environments with water, it will greatly improve your sustainable combat ability."
Sarutobi Asuma listed the benefits one by one.
What he didn't say was.
If Haruno Sakura mastered Water Style Chakra Mode, and then combined it with her proficient Yang Release, she could then attempt to cultivate Shizune's Kekkei Genkai, Heavenly Water Life Creation.
Or she could cultivate Lightning Style Chakra Nature Transformation, and then proceed to master Lightning Style Chakra Mode, or even Storm Style Chakra Mode.
Of course.
This was still a bit far off for Haruno Sakura.
However, Sarutobi Asuma had high hopes for her.
"Thank you, Lord Asuma, I will work hard!"
Haruno Sakura bowed sincerely.
Sarutobi Asuma nodded, his gaze falling upon Yamanaka Ino.
Yamanaka Ino immediately looked at Sarutobi Asuma nervously, wondering if she would receive ninjutsu or a summoning beast.
However, Sarutobi Asuma had already made his decision.
Although Yamanaka Ino had diligently studied medical ninjutsu, she was still far behind Haruno Sakura in that regard.
After all, Sakura possessed secret clan ninjutsu.
Mental secret clan ninjutsu could also be considered Yin Style.
It could be divided into two aspects: perception and mental control.
In combat, these roles were often supportive.
Relatively speaking, their killing power and self-preservation abilities were weaker.
Of course, if the Ino-Shika-Cho formation was utilized, Yamanaka Ino's support role would be sufficient.
Everyone's energy was limited; not everyone could be a prodigy skilled in multiple areas.
Furthermore, Yamanaka Ino did not endure hardship as much as Haruno Sakura.
Therefore, as the jutsu formulation appeared and smoke billowed, a summoning beast materialized.
As the smoke cleared, Yamanaka Ino saw that it was a squirrel, completely black except for a tuft of purple fur on its forehead.
"Cute!"
Several girls couldn't help but exclaim.
But could something this cute be very powerful?
Yamanaka Ino felt a little uneasy.
Sarutobi Asuma smiled, "Show us your abilities with your future partner."
The little squirrel immediately nodded, then turned towards a large tree on its right, a wisp of purple lightning appearing on its body before crackling and shooting out.
Boom!
The tree, which would have taken several people to encircle, had its trunk blasted open and then crashed down with a thud.
"So powerful!"
"Truly strong!"
...
Exclamations erupted continuously.
"This Lightning Style is no weaker than Kakashi-sensei's!"
Uchiha Sasuke silently marveled.
Before the falling tree hit the ground, it turned into ashes, and in its place, a new one began to grow.
Handing the scroll to Yamanaka Ino, Sarutobi Asuma's gaze shifted to Akimichi Choji. He smiled, "Choji, I'll teach you a secret technique."
As he spoke, before the shocked gazes of everyone present, Sarutobi Asuma, who had been sitting cross-legged and floating in mid-air, rapidly began to expand.
3 meters!
10 meters!
15 meters!
He grew larger and larger, filling everyone's field of vision.
Moreover, as Sarutobi Asuma's body grew, a terrifying sense of pressure enveloped everyone.
Soon, Sarutobi Asuma's colossal form surpassed a hundred meters, finally stopping at a staggering three hundred meters.
Looking down, everyone appeared as small as ants.
Gulp!
Naruto and the others couldn't help but swallow.
He was too big!
Much more powerful than the Akimichi clan's Expansion Jutsu!
"That Asuma fellow, what doesn't he know!"
Namikaze Minato inwardly chuckled wryly, then thought, "He's using Natural Energy."
"How could he reach this level without mastering Sage Mode?"
In truth, regarding sheer size, some members of the Akimichi clan could also expand to over a hundred, or even several hundred meters, in an instant.
However, in Minato's experience, even when hundreds of meters tall, the Akimichi clan members did not exude such a terrifying oppressive aura.
This was definitely different from the Akimichi clan's Expansion Jutsu.
At this moment, Sarutobi Asuma's body rapidly shrunk. After returning to his original size, he didn't stop, continuing to shrink until he was as small as a fly, hovering in the air.
"So... so amazing!"
Aside from Akimichi Choji, Naruto and the others hadn't seen such a shrinking technique before.
This wasn't like the Transformation Technique used to become small animals.
However, even Akimichi Choji, who had seen it before, widened his eyes in astonishment.
The Size Manipulation technique, or rather, divine ability, had been taught to the Akimichi clan by Sarutobi Asuma through the Jonin Special Training Class.
Within the Akimichi clan, Akimichi Choji's father, Akimichi Choza, had mastered it.
But he couldn't become this small.
But the next moment, Akimichi Choji understood that this technique was different from what Sarutobi Asuma had taught him before.
Sarutobi Asuma, as small as a fly, appeared on Akimichi Choji's shoulder.
However, Akimichi Choji barely felt anything.
It wasn't that he didn't feel Sarutobi Asuma's sudden appearance, but rather, it was as if a fly had suddenly landed on him, unnoticed.
"Lord Asuma, this... has the body's weight also changed?"
Akimichi Choji was stunned.
The previous Size Manipulation technique the Akimichi clan had learned didn't change their mass, meaning their weight remained the same when they shrunk.
"It has indeed changed!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded and smiled.
He had painstakingly developed this Size Manipulation divine ability to level 10 over the years; it truly lived up to the name "divine ability."
Especially when combined with the Transformation Technique.
Poof!
A small cloud of smoke rose.
Sarutobi Asuma transformed into a mosquito.
Then, with a flap of its wings, it flew up.
Once in mid-air, Sarutobi Asuma's form shifted again, becoming an eagle, soaring through the sky.
"They... they can actually fly!"
Everyone's jaws dropped, and they finally understood the importance of the question Choji had asked earlier.
If Sarutobi Asuma's body had shrunk but his weight hadn't changed, even if he transformed into an eagle or a mosquito, he wouldn't have been able to fly.
Everyone had mastered the Transformation Technique.
They could naturally transform into eagles or mosquitoes, but they couldn't fly.
The eagle dived down, and Sarutobi Asuma suddenly reverted to his original form, saying, "This secret technique is also called Size Manipulation, but it's different from the past."
"Shrinking can change one's mass, and when combined with the Transformation Technique, its applications become extremely broad."
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it allows one to traverse heaven and earth.
"Of course, the difficulty of mastering it is also higher. Choji, you must work hard!"
As he spoke, Sarutobi Asuma remotely transmitted the cultivation method for Size Manipulation to Choji.
Choji was extremely excited and quickly bowed, "Yes, Lord Asuma, I will definitely work hard!"
This was because he realized that this secret technique didn't just change the details of shrinking and growing; it also altered the way chakra was stored.
His Akimichi clan stored chakra by converting it into fat, which could then be instantly released during battle.
But now, Sarutobi Asuma's improvement allowed for storage not just through fat conversion.
It could also be achieved through overall body growth.
In other words, by making the body taller, larger, and stronger.
After releasing the energy, the body would return to its original size.
This way, the accumulated power could be even greater.
Akimichi Choji quickly realized that with this, perhaps the Butterfly Transformation could be achieved without secret medicine.
This was why he was so ecstatic.
Sarutobi Asuma nodded slightly, then his gaze fell on Nara Shikamaru.
Nara Shikamaru looked up with nervous anticipation.
He knew that Sarutobi Asuma understood their Nara clan's shadow secret technique.
So, would there be a new, powerful shadow secret technique, just like what happened with Choji?
As he was thinking this, he saw Sarutobi Asuma's mottled shadow twist.
The shadow of a tree was also manipulated and merged into Sarutobi Asuma's shadow.
Then, his pupils contracted sharply as he saw the distorted shadow gradually form into a person.
"Shadow Coalescence Clone!"
"Shadow Clone?"
"Shadow Clone?"
Naruto and the others were in an uproar.
They were all very familiar with the Shadow Secret Technique.
But shadows could also condense into human form?
"Lord Asuma is so amazing!"
"To think he could develop such a powerful secret technique!"
Haruno Sakura, Yamanaka Ino, Tenten, Fūrin, and Oto, the girls, chattered excitedly, their admiration for Sarutobi Asuma reaching its peak.
At this moment, the shadow clone condensed by Sarutobi Asuma detached from his shadow and walked in front of Nara Shikamaru.
Nara Shikamaru couldn't help but reach out to touch it, but his hand passed right through. "It can ignore physical attacks!"
This was as expected.
"It can indeed ignore all physical attacks..."
The shadow clone spoke, then paused. "Unless something is powerful enough to distort space, it cannot make the shadow clone dissipate."
"Lord Asuma, can this technique deal damage to enemies like the Shadow Clone?"
Yamanaka Ino asked.
"Of course!"
As the shadow clone said this, it raised its hand, which then rapidly extended and grasped Yamanaka Ino's neck.
In this regard, it wasn't much different from the Nara Clan's Shadow Secret Technique.
Anything the Shadow Secret Technique could do, the shadow clone could do.
Anything the Shadow Secret Technique couldn't do, the shadow clone could.
Releasing Yamanaka Ino, the shadow clone took another step and then merged into Neji's shadow beside them.
Tenten couldn't help but say, "With this technique, Shikamaru's Shadow Secret Technique can be used more conveniently and stealthily!"
Yamanaka Ino immediately used her sensory ninjutsu and exclaimed, "Hidden in the shadow, I couldn't sense any chakra fluctuations at all!"
"In that case, it can be used for ambushes."
The others nodded in agreement.
Rock Lee curiously asked, "Lord Asuma, you said no ninjutsu is perfect, how can such a technique be countered?"
At this moment, Nara Shikamaru, who had been observing, was actually pondering this question.
While others were marveling at the power of this technique, he was searching for a way to counter it.
Sarutobi Asuma recalled the shadow clone and said with a smile, "No technique is perfect, and every technique can be countered. However, how to counter this one is something you should figure out yourselves."
After saying that, he passed on the method of practicing the technique to Nara Shikamaru.
Nara Shikamaru immediately bowed, "Thank you, Lord Asuma!"
The rewards continued.
After Nara Shikamaru, it was Neji's turn.
Currently, Sarutobi Asuma didn't have any ninjutsu suitable for Neji.
Neji also didn't need any weapons.
Therefore, Sarutobi Asuma gave Neji a summoning beast, a small chameleon.
"Lord Asuma, what abilities does this little guy have?"
Tenten eagerly asked, full of curiosity.
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled upon hearing this. "You'll find out when you see it."
As his voice fell, the chameleon disappeared before everyone's eyes.
Invisibility!
This didn't surprise anyone.
Chameleons could originally "turn invisible" by changing their skin color. It was only natural that this ability would be enhanced after becoming a ninja beast.
Immediately after, the chameleon reappeared and, to everyone's astonishment, rapidly grew larger, eventually reaching over two meters in height. It opened its mouth wide, and its tongue shot out, wrapping around a large tree tens of meters away.
Furthermore, its tongue secreted venom, which corroded the tree trunk with a hissing sound.
"Amazing!"
Rock Lee exclaimed involuntarily.
Tenten nodded in agreement.
Nara Shikamaru said, "With this, it compensates for Neji's lack of long-range attack capability."
Neji quickly thanked him, "Thank you, teacher!"
He really liked this reward.
"Work hard!"
With a brief encouragement, Sarutobi Asuma's gaze fell upon Tenten.
This "pay-to-win" ninja had also given him quite a headache.
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