"Even though it was less than ten days, you went through various kinds of training, from climbing trees to walking on water. You've mastered every step from chakra control to its release and maintenance," Asuma said, a note of pride in his voice. "You now possess the strength of a qualified Chunin. Just being able to externally release wind chakra is something no weak ninja can accomplish."
Naruto couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. Gale Palm. Whirlwind Fist. With these two new techniques, his own strength had skyrocketed once again. The key to both techniques was the same: the application of wind chakra. The Gale Palm added it to his shuriken; the Whirlwind Fist added it to his fist.
A new idea sparked in Naruto's mind. "Asuma-sensei, what if... what if I could apply Wind Release chakra to my *entire* body? What would happen then?!"
Asuma's expression changed. "Naruto, if you could do that, then developing a complete Wind Style Chakra Mode in the future would be a piece of cake. However, that's not comparable to what you've learned. The difficulty would be B-rank at least, Jonin level, or even higher."
Of course, Naruto knew it wouldn't be simple, but he also saw that the core principle wasn't much different. Using the power of wind to propel a shuriken or destroy a stone was essentially a form of "enhancement." What he wanted to do now was just apply that same enhancement to his entire body. Even if he couldn't achieve the ultimate goal of a true Wind Style Chakra Mode, he could at least increase his speed and the power of his taijutsu. This idea had even been seen in the future with Boruto, who used the Gale Palm to wrap himself in wind and increase his movement speed. Naruto, however, wanted more than just speed; he wanted to enhance his strength and destructive power as well.
Asuma understood his train of thought. Simply using Wind Release to "wrap" oneself to increase speed and strength was still within a predictable range, and a far cry from a true chakra mode. A real chakra mode involved activating every meridian, pressure point, and cell in the body to exert power beyond normal limits. There was no way Naruto could do that at his age. But just using the wind to push himself forward... that might not be impossible.
Asuma himself had never tried it for a simple reason: not enough chakra. It wasn't that he had less chakra than Naruto, but it was inefficient for him to waste a large amount just for a boost in speed and strength. He was better off focusing that chakra into his blades to kill an enemy directly. It was a matter of trade-offs. But Naruto was different. His vast reserves allowed him to be "inefficient." After all, this was the chakra monster who used shadow clones to accelerate his training. Asuma's interest was piqued.
"Alright, Naruto. Let's use your remaining time to complete this technique. Wrap yourself in wind jutsu to increase your speed and strength!"
"Okay, Asuma-sensei!"
In the following days, aside from occasional study sessions with Hinata, Naruto spent all his time training with Asuma. Perfectly wrapping his entire body in wind chakra was far more difficult than enhancing a shuriken. The difficulty was extremely high. Fortunately, with Naruto's relentless drive and Asuma's expert guidance, their progress was incredibly rapid. After another seven or eight days, Naruto had mastered the new technique. Asuma named it the Body Flicker of the Wind.
The "Body Flicker Technique" itself was a broad concept. It ranged from the basic academy version to specialized forms like Gaara's Sand Body Flicker or Zabuza's Mist Body Flicker. It even included things like the Fourth Raikage's Lightning Chakra Mode and space-time ninjutsu like the Flying Raijin. The Wind Body Flicker that Naruto had created was a powerful and effective application. Not only could it instantly increase his speed, making it seem like he was teleporting, but it could also be used defensively. The moment an enemy's attack connected, he would dissolve into a gust of wind and disappear, similar to the sand and mist versions. But for a ninja school student to accomplish this was unheard of.
Asuma suddenly lunged, his knife stabbing forward. It instantly pierced Naruto's body. But the next moment...
"Wind Body Flicker!" Naruto's body dissolved into an invisible wind. His real body had already moved far away and was launching a counterattack. "Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
One after another, wind-blessed shuriken shot towards Asuma with incredible speed. Asuma smiled slightly, swinging his special chakra blades to knock them all down. But at that same moment, Naruto's real body, having used the flicker to get behind him, burst forward with all his chakra and strength. "Wind Style: Whirlwind Fist!"
The violent attack made even Asuma feel a deep sense of crisis. He quickly spun around and met the attack with the same move.
*BOOM!*
The air crackled as their fists collided. The force of the impact sent both of them flying backward, their arms aching from the strain.
"Well done, Naruto!" Asuma exclaimed in praise. "Wind Body Flicker, Gale Palm, Whirlwind Fist... You've mastered all three. That's enough for you to handle most enemies!"
Naruto was also very proud. "Hehe, I have to thank you for your guidance, Asuma-sensei!"
Asuma shook his head. "Even with my guidance, to reach this level in just over two weeks is a result of your own talent and hard work. I can't take all the credit." And he truly meant it. A ninja with vast chakra, astonishing physical power, proficiency in taijutsu and shadow clones, and now equipped with incredible speed, a long-range attack, and a close-range powerhouse... such an opponent would be difficult even for a seasoned Jonin like himself to deal with.
"Naruto, you've graduated. I really don't have anything left to teach you."
Naruto's heart was moved, and he couldn't help but give a sincere bow. "Thank you, Asuma-sensei. If it weren't for your help, I never would have been able to complete my wind-style training. Thank you!"
Asuma lit a cigarette, took a deep puff, and smiled. "I only taught you because I was curious about you, and... well, Wind Style ninja are extremely rare. Of course, the most important reason was that I was bored. But now, looking at you, I feel a real sense of accomplishment, helping you gain this much power in such a short time. My break is over, though. I can't just sit around doing nothing. Starting today, I'll be taking missions again. From now on, you'll be on your own, Naruto."
Naruto's eyes reddened. "Ah, I understand, Asuma-sensei! Thank you for your help! I'll never forget it!"
Asuma ruffled Naruto's hair. "Alright, I should go. Goodbye, Naruto."
"Goodbye, Asuma-sensei..." Naruto watched his teacher's back as he walked away, feeling a mix of emotions. Though they weren't officially master and apprentice, in his heart, Naruto already regarded Asuma as a true teacher. Naruto's philosophy was simple: if someone helps you and treats you well, you treat them well in return.
He sighed deeply. "Might Guy-sensei has already taken his team, and now Asuma-sensei is gone on a mission. It seems for the rest of the time, I can only rely on myself."
Naruto walked home through the bustling streets of Konoha. Stalls lined the roads, the sounds of merchants hawking their wares filled the air, and the streets were crowded with people. A hot summer wind blew, carrying the chirping of cicadas. Summer vacation was already halfway over, and Naruto had already set a new goal for himself.