Seeing Naruto recover his spirit so quickly, Chen Xing was slightly surprised.
As expected of Naruto Uzumaki, he thought.
"Your performance just now was acceptable," Chen Xing said. "I can give you a little guidance."
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Really? That's great! What's your name?"
"My name is Chen Xing," he replied. "You can call me Chen Xing, big brother."
Naruto grinned excitedly.
Nearby, Sasuke watched silently. He felt a trace of envy, but his pride prevented him from asking Chen Xing for guidance.
Kakasi noticed Sasuke's expression and shrugged.
Naruto immediately ran up to Chen Xing.
"Chen Xing big brother, what are you going to teach me? Is it that lightning technique you used earlier?"
Chen Xing flicked Naruto's forehead.
"You haven't even learned to walk properly, yet you want to run," he said calmly. "Master the basics first."
Naruto rubbed his head in pain.
Chen Xing continued, "Your chakra reserves are large, but your chakra control is terrible."
Kakasi nodded in agreement.
"That's true. Naruto wastes a lot of chakra, especially when using the Shadow Clone Technique."
Chen Xing looked at Kakasi.
"You already taught them the tree-climbing training, right?"
Kakasi nodded.
"Yes. The Tree Climbing Practice."
That exercise—running up a tree using chakra—was a basic method shinobi used to improve chakra control.
Chen Xing glanced at Naruto.
"With your poor control, even your shadow clones are unstable. That's why your attacks are inefficient."
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.
"So what should I do?"
Chen Xing formed a hand seal.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
A single shadow clone appeared beside him.
Kakasi raised an eyebrow.
"You're letting a clone teach them?"
Chen Xing smiled slightly.
"For something this simple, a clone is enough."
Kakasi turned toward Team Seven.
"Don't underestimate it. Even a clone from someone like Chen Xing could defeat you easily."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, watching the clone carefully.
Chen Xing said calmly, "Follow my clone. It will train your chakra control."
Naruto looked disappointed.
"You're leaving already?"
Chen Xing shrugged.
"I still have something to do."
Then he turned to Kakasi.
"Let's go."
The two shinobi disappeared with a Body Flicker Technique, leaving Chen Xing's clone behind.
Naruto sighed.
"They ran away…"
Suddenly—
Bonk.
The clone knocked Naruto on the head.
"Stop complaining," it said calmly. "You're too weak right now."
Naruto held his head in pain.
The clone continued, "Is there a river or lake nearby?"
Sakura immediately replied.
"There's a small river not far from here."
She had already guessed what the training would be.
Walking on water was the next stage after tree climbing—another chakra control exercise used by shinobi.
The clone nodded.
"Good. Take me there."
Meanwhile, Sasuke watched silently.
He suddenly realized something.
Kakasi-sensei rarely uses shadow clones to train us…
What Sasuke did not know was that Kakasi had a limited amount of chakra because he constantly used the Sharingan, which consumed large amounts of chakra.
---
Hyuga Clan Compound
Chen Xing and Kakasi soon arrived at the compound of the Hyuga Clan.
The clan compound was large and heavily guarded.
Two shinobi stood at the gate.
"Stop," one of them said. "This is Hyuga clan territory. State your purpose."
Kakasi stepped forward.
"We're here to visit someone."
He gestured toward Chen Xing.
"This is Chen Xing, the Fourth Celestial Shadow. He's here to visit Hinata."
The guards exchanged glances.
They had heard of the Peacock King—the famous Fourth Celestial Shadow.
One of them nodded.
"Please wait. I will inform the clan."
---
Hyuga Training Ground
Inside the compound, a young girl was practicing Gentle Fist against a wooden training post.
Her pale eyes and short dark hair made her identity obvious.
She was Hanabi Hyuga.
Nearby stood her father, Hiashi Hyuga, calmly observing her training.
A guard approached quickly and bowed.
"Clan head, Kakasi Hatake has arrived at the gate with a visitor."
Hiashi frowned slightly.
"Who?"
"The Fourth Celestial Shadow… the Peacock King."
Hiashi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And he says he wishes to visit Hinata."
Hanabi paused her training in surprise.
"Someone came to see sister?"
Hiashi remained silent for a moment before speaking calmly.
"Bring them in."