"Alright!"
Naruto jumped down, then formed the seals with his hands and launched his ninjutsu once more. "Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
As his control over his chakra grew more precise, the power of the Gale Palm surged.
*CRASH!*
He clapped his hands together, and with a sharp snap, a powerful wind erupted from his palms. In an instant, sand and rocks went flying as a violent gust exploded outwards with Naruto at its center. Asuma Sarutobi instinctively raised an arm to shield his eyes from the debris.
*This kid...* Asuma thought, impressed. *Once his control improves, the advantage of his massive chakra reserves is immediately brought into full play. Although the ninjutsu itself is still unrefined, the sheer force behind it is enough to send bricks flying. This boy, Naruto... he might just be able to elevate Wind Style to a level no one has ever seen before.*
At that moment, Asuma fully accepted Naruto. He spoke in a deep, serious voice, "Alright, Naruto. From this moment on, I will truly teach you. Not just the Gale Palm, but all kinds of Wind Style ninjutsu. The knowledge, the skills, the secrets—I will teach you everything without reservation. How much you can comprehend will depend on your own ability."
Naruto's face lit up with pure ecstasy. "Really?! Thank you, Asuma-sensei! I'll definitely do my best to learn everything!"
One of the reasons Asuma agreed was that he genuinely saw Naruto's boundless potential. The boy's current strength already made him a leader among his peers, and his will was unparalleled—he worked hard and practiced at any cost. That kind of fighting spirit was enough to inspire anyone.
On the other hand, for Asuma, having such a student was a rare opportunity. Wind Style ninja were exceptionally uncommon, let alone one with a future as promising as Naruto's. They say a great teacher is hard to find, but isn't a talented student just as rare? Of course, there was also a more practical reason. Asuma had just left the Twelve Guardian Ninja and returned to Konoha. He hadn't been assigned as a team leader or started taking on missions yet, leaving him in an extremely rare state of leisure. Otherwise, he wouldn't have had the time or energy for this.
"Naruto, since I'm determined to teach you, I won't go back on my word," Asuma said. "However, you must be mentally prepared. Practicing ninjutsu is not only difficult, but it can also be incredibly tedious."
Naruto thought to himself, *I've endured the system's electric shocks. What kind of difficulty could be worse than that?* He clenched his fists. "Don't worry, Asuma-sensei! I will never give up!"
"Very good. Then, let's get started."
From that point on, Asuma began to guide Naruto with his full attention. When it came to proficiency in Wind Style ninjutsu, no one in the entire Leaf Village could match him, save for perhaps Danzo Shimura. Across the entire ninja world, there were few teachers more suitable. Naruto was filled with gratitude. With the guidance of such a renowned expert, his abilities would surely improve by leaps and bounds. He was now certain he could achieve the system's goal of completely mastering the Gale Palm well within ten days. At this rate, he could probably do it in five. For the first time, Naruto felt a smile spread across his face, full of confidence and expectation for the future.
***
At the same time, within the deserted Uchiha clan compound, Sasuke once again entered his family's secret archive. The shelves were lined with the remaining scrolls of their clan's jutsu. He had searched through them many times before. Reaching for the very last scroll at the top of a cabinet, he finally grasped it.
*Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique.* The scroll read: *Learning Difficulty: B-rank, Jonin level.*
Sasuke stared at the words, his fists clenching until the scroll creaked in his palm. *Jonin-level difficulty... Even if I learn it, will it be enough to defeat Naruto?* Deep down, Sasuke was skeptical. *Why did I lose to him? Was it just his abnormal Shadow Clone Technique? Yes. Was it his overwhelming taijutsu? Yes.* But as he calmly analyzed it, he knew it was more than that. The root of the issue wasn't the external techniques. It was the fundamental source of their power.
Sasuke was an analytical person, especially when he forced himself to be level-headed. The initial resentment and anger from his loss had been suppressed, and as he calmed down, he began to see the truth.
*Naruto... To use a high-level ninjutsu like the Shadow Clone Technique so freely, it's not just about his talent for ninjutsu. His enormous chakra capacity is the fundamental reason. Furthermore, his physical strength is formidable, which is why he can unleash such powerful taijutsu.*
Sasuke stared at his own hands, his eyes glinting. *I don't have as much chakra as he does, and my physical strength isn't on his level. These are things that can't be compensated for by just learning more ninjutsu. A battle comes down to two things: strengthening your advantages and covering your weaknesses. Since I can't beat Naruto in terms of raw chakra and strength, I can only maximize my own advantages.*
Sasuke was very clear on what his strengths were. *The Sharingan's insight, my mastery of ninjutsu, and my superior taijutsu skills.*
*If I want to play to my strengths, then first, I must continue to hone my taijutsu. If I can't win with strength, I will suppress him with technique. Taijutsu, kenjutsu, shurikenjutsu—I'll combine them with my Sharingan, using wires, kunai, and shuriken to create dazzling attacks. Second, I need to improve my ninjutsu, mastering more techniques to counter Naruto's attacks from every angle. And finally...*
His thoughts settled on the most crucial key. *The power of the Sharingan.*
Sasuke knew that no matter how talented he was, the Sharingan would always be his greatest asset. As long as he could improve its power, his own strength would surge substantially. But the problem was, how? With his family and clan gone, there was no one left to answer his questions. But he already vaguely understood the key.
*That was the night I first awakened my Sharingan...* he remembered. *Without a doubt, only extreme pain, anger, despair, and grief can unlock the Sharingan and enhance its power.*
At that moment, Sasuke knew what he had to do. *In the past, I suppressed my emotions too much. It was too painful, so I never let myself recall the tragic events of that night. But it's precisely because of that cowardice that my Sharingan's power has never improved.*
Sasuke clenched his fists, a bitter resolve hardening within him. *From today on, I will force myself, again and again, to immerse myself in the pain and sorrow of that night. Only then can I rapidly improve my visual prowess.* It was the most suitable path for him, and also the most cruel. But Sasuke didn't hesitate. For the first time in years, he let the memories come flooding back.
Red. A scene drenched in blood. The scarlet full moon enveloped the Uchiha compound, making it seem as if the entire world was bleeding. A young Sasuke, excitedly returning from training, suddenly stumbled upon a tragic scene on the street.
Corpses were everywhere. Blood flowed like a river.
"Ahhhhhhhhh—"
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