"Naruto, you did well this time." Shinji said gently to Naruto.
Naruto scratched his hair, saying with an embarrassed look, "Hehe, I remembered it from when Shikamaru usually talked about it, but it's a bit too complicated."
Sasuke, however, raised an eyebrow and looked at Shikamaru.
Although Naruto's reflexes and strength were key, Shikamaru's good use of tactics was also a method.
"The key to tactics also requires you to have enough strength and on-the-spot reactions to be effective." Shinji shook his head.
If his disciple made progress, he naturally had to praise him.
"As for you, Sasuke, your problem is quite significant."
After praising Naruto, Sasuke's performance naturally also needed to be addressed, and it was an opportunity to lecture these disciples.
"While relying on usual intelligence is not wrong, you are improving, and Naruto is also improving."
"You overlooked this point. In the future, you need to pay more attention to this aspect."
After Shinji finished speaking, he patted Sasuke's head.
"Yes, sensei." Sasuke nodded thoughtfully.
"However, since you lost, you'll need to come to me for your assignments starting tomorrow, okay?" Shinji said with a smile.
Even though Sasuke was good at theory, when he thought about having to add sixty assignments every day, the smile vanished from his face.
Shinji clapped his hands and said to his students, "Alright, since you're back, let's begin training. I most likely won't be going out for a while."
Seeing Hinata, he also casually asked, "Hinata, do you want to train with Naruto and the others?"
Hinata, who was called, paused, then nodded.
Although she was called over by Ino, she was very happy to be able to train with Naruto.
"Okay, then let's all work hard together."
After saying that, Shinji immediately split into several Shadow Clones, each taking disciples to begin training.
As for Hinata, it wasn't that he didn't want to take her as a disciple. It was because the system's disciple slots seemed to have reached the current maximum, and another reason was...
As for the Hyuga clan, even if Hiashi was willing, the other elders probably wouldn't agree. After all, those guys rarely left their homes and had no idea of Shinji's current status.
From this point, it could also be said that compared to Fugaku, Hiashi was a bit lacking.
Several Shadow Clones took Shikamaru and the others to their respective positions to begin training, while Shinji's main body walked out of the training ground with Naruto.
"Naruto, show me the third stage of the Rasengan." Shinji said to Naruto.
Naruto nodded upon hearing this and extended his right hand, beginning to gather Chakra.
As Naruto condensed it, the surrounding wind stirred. However, just as Naruto gradually formed the prototype of the Rasengan, it instantly exploded and dissipated in the next moment.
"It's like this again." Naruto vigorously scratched his hair, failing at the last moment every time.
"It's already very good, Naruto." Shinji reached out and patted Naruto's head, comforting him.
After all, Naruto had already completed ninety percent of the task of condensing the Rasengan with one hand.
"The direction of your middle finger output and ring finger adjustment is not wrong."
Shinji held Naruto's hand, pointing at each of Naruto's fingers as he spoke.
"However, the reason you can't fully use it is due to the imbalance in your Chakra flow."
"Moreover, your muscle memory has not formed correctly yet, leading to an inability to achieve perfection in the final compression step."
Naruto listened to Shinji's analysis, nodding along.
"Sensei, what should I do then?"
"Of course, it's to familiarize yourself with it day in and day out, so your body forms muscle memory."
Shinji spread his hands. This indeed had no other solution. Naruto just had to practice more in his free time.
"But recently, I've always been stuck on this step." Naruto said, troubled.
He had been stuck in the final stage for a long time. Compared to previous training, the progress was too slow.
Tap—
Shinji, annoyed, joined his index and middle fingers and tapped Naruto's forehead.
"Haste makes waste. I should have taught you this principle."
Naruto, wincing in pain, wore an embarrassed expression.
Shinji stood up, putting his arm around Naruto's shoulder as he spoke, "However, later, you can go to the small stream and maintain the rotation and compression of the Rasengan."
"When you can create a vacuum in the small stream, try to condense it again, and the Rasengan should be usable."
"Oh, right!"
Naruto clapped his fist into his palm. Using external pressure would make it easier to form muscle memory.
Shinji had already explained this when they had increased the weights before.
"I'm going now, to master the Rasengan as soon as possible." Naruto, having found a solution, immediately shouted with full motivation.
Seeing Naruto's dedication, Shinji was very satisfied.
Creating another Shadow Clone, Shinji had the Shadow Clone follow Naruto. He himself walked back to the training ground, came to Shikamaru's side, and simultaneously dispelled the Shadow Clone.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, stopping his action of extracting Yin Chakra.
"Sensei."
"Hmm, Shikamaru, want to play a game of shogi with me?"
Shinji said as he pulled out a scroll from his ninja tool pouch and unsealed the shogi board from within.
"Alright."
Shikamaru's eyes lit up at this sight. After all, compared to training, he preferred this kind of activity.
If he had to choose to move or use his brain, he would choose to use his brain.
"Sensei, don't lose to me later, okay."
After saying that, Shikamaru began to set up the board.
Shinji smiled and said, "Don't worry, if I lose to you, your training tasks for tomorrow will be cut in half."
"It's a deal, sensei."
Shikamaru immediately became excited upon hearing this. For him, being able to beautifully slack off was definitely the happiest thing.
However, as the battle on the board became intense...
Shikamaru couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. He found that no matter what tactic he used, it seemed his teacher could perfectly detect it and then restrict him.
Thinking of this, Shikamaru shook his head, reached out and flipped over the board, saying helplessly, "Sensei, I surrender."
"Want to play another game?" Shinji asked, pointing to the board between them.
Although Shikamaru had the thought, he restrained his impulse and shook his head. "Not today, lest I have to add more tasks later."
"You're still like this." Shinji shook his head helplessly.
"Heh, it's my nature, nothing I can do." Shikamaru chuckled softly.
Shikamaru said to Shinji, "By the way, sensei, there seems to be a teacher in the school recently who is often intentionally or unintentionally approaching Naruto."
Shinji nodded, responding indifferently, "Hmm, since you've already noticed, just deal with him using your method."
As soon as Shikamaru mentioned it, Shinji knew who this person was. Aside from the idiot Mizuki, there was probably no one else.
If another disciple had brought it up, he would have had to think a bit about how to resolve it. But if it was Shikamaru, then he could just leave it to him to handle.
"Sensei, you trust me that much?" Shikamaru said a bit helplessly.
He had brought it up to avoid trouble for himself.