"Useless!" Sasuke concluded after observing the technique for a while.
'What's the difference between this and a miniature Susanoo?'
'Probably just the reduced chakra consumption.'
Sasuke shook his head. He had envisioned the Lightning Armor as a low-consumption ninjutsu usable in his normal state. If this was the best it could do, he might as well stick with the Susanoo.
Still, it wasn't a complete loss. He had gained some insights into the Thunder God Susanoo.
The overly intricate human body couldn't be perfectly replicated in its normal state.
Instead, like the Chakra Armor, he only needed to mimic a few major meridians and the dantian.
This simplified Lightning Armor offered significantly greater defensive capabilities than before.
After a moment of quiet contemplation, Sasuke suppressed all traces of activity.
He walked to the side, picked up a ninjutsu scroll, glanced at it briefly, and casually tucked it into his waist pouch.
This technique, called Lightning Release: Binding Technique, was a gift from the Third Hokage.
Naruto and Sakura had each claimed the Vacuum Great Sphere and Hard Vortex Water Blade, respectively.
Truthfully, Sasuke had no shortage of fire or lightning ninjutsu. In fact, he possessed the strongest fire and lightning techniques in Konoha.
What he truly wanted to learn—techniques like the Flying Thunder God Technique and Impure World Reincarnation—were undoubtedly beyond the Third Hokage's willingness to teach.
So, when the Third Hokage asked what ninjutsu he wanted to learn, Sasuke casually requested a technique to restrain enemies.
After all, he already possessed offensive ninjutsu and was developing defensive techniques. What he truly lacked was a binding ninjutsu.
The Lightning Release: Binding Technique was a rare binding ninjutsu within the Lightning Release repertoire.
When used in conjunction with a teammate or Shadow Clone, it could be advanced into the Four-Pillar Binding Technique and the Sixteen-Pillar Binding Technique.
Of course, with sufficient skill, a single person could also perform these techniques.
For instance, Sasuke had only been studying the technique for a few days and could already execute the Four-Pillar Binding Technique solo.
Mastering the ultimate Sixteen-Pillar Binding Technique was now just a matter of time.
In the original timeline, the Sixteen-Pillar Binding Technique had once restrained one of Pain's clone for a significant period.
For Sasuke, this ninjutsu was better than nothing.
After tucking the scroll into his waist pouch, Sasuke bit his thumb and performed the Summoning Technique.
With a poof, a ninja cat with pointed ears and chaotic, raccoon-like fur appeared in his place.
"Young Lord Sasuke, what is it?" Tahi greeted him the moment he materialized.
"Hmm." Sasuke handed over the catnip drink and the scroll containing the mysterious stone. "Please ask the Granny Cat to investigate the origins of this stone. Also, gather any information on Kazahana Dotō's travels throughout the ninja world during his years away from the Land of Snow."
After Kazahana Sōsetsu, the tempestuous elder brother of Kazahana Dotō, inherited the title of Daimyō of the Land of Snow, Dotō vanished from the country for several years.
It was during this time that he gathered the Wolf Fang Avalanche and other rogue ninjas, eventually returning to the Land of Snow to assassinate his brother and usurp the throne.
The stone likely came into his possession during those years of absence.
All of Sasuke's future plans hinged on chakra, so naturally, the more he had of this vital resource, the better.
After issuing his instructions and seeing Taka off, Sasuke tidied up the training grounds and headed toward his underground laboratory beneath the family estate.
He resumed his research into Yamato's cells and the Hero's Water.
Meanwhile, on the bustling streets of Konoha...
Naruto, who had run into Sakura on the street by chance and been soundly beaten by her, encountered an unexpected visitor to Konoha while fleeing.
Crash!
Rounding a corner, Naruto collided with a peculiar young man walking the opposite way. The youth had purple paint smeared across his face and carried a backpack wrapped in bandages.
"Ouch! That hurt!" Kankuro staggered backward several steps, feeling as if he'd collided with solid steel rather than a person.
Rubbing his throbbing, reddened forehead, Kankuro glared at the newcomer and snapped, "Watch where you're going!"
"Hey, you with the shit-yellow hair, are all Konoha ninjas this reckless?"
As he spoke, Kankuro reached out to grab Naruto by the collar.
Hearing this, Naruto, who had been about to apologize with a smile, froze. His smile instantly vanished, replaced by a look of annoyance as he seized Kankuro's outstretched hand.
"You with the face covered in demonic scribbles, are your eyes broken? This is clearly the golden hue of a brilliant little sun!"
'How fast! I didn't even see him move!'
Kankuro was inwardly shocked that Naruto had managed to grab his right hand before he could react.
He silently increased the force in his grip, trying to wrench free, but even when he exerted his full strength, Naruto's hand remained clamped around his wrist like a steel vise, allowing no movement whatsoever.
'A taijutsu ninja?'
Sensing the immense power radiating from every joint in Naruto's hand—as if even a single finger possessed greater strength than his entire arm—Kankuro's expression darkened slightly.
"So, you're actually a taijutsu ninja renowned for your strength, huh?"
Kankuro glared fiercely at Naruto, his left hand surreptitiously reaching behind him toward his puppet.
"Looks like I'll have to teach you a proper lesson."
"Kankuro, what are you planning?! Are you going to use that?! Stop it!"
A tall, blonde girl stepped forward, her voice stern.
"Naruto, let go."
"Hmph!"
Naruto released Kankuro's right hand with a dismissive snort.
Sakura approached, her gaze sweeping over their appearances. "You're from Sunagakure, right? Even though Konoha and Sunagakure are allied nations, provoking Konoha ninja in Konoha village is hardly a friendly gesture."
"Your Konoha jerk bumped into me first! Hmph!" Kankuro rubbed his numb right hand, glaring at the girl as he muttered.
"Heh, we apologize for that. Naruto didn't mean to." Sakura smiled placatingly, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Naruto bumped into you, and you cursed him out. Let's just call it even, okay?"
At these words, Kankuro glanced at Sakura, noticing her forced, ingratiating smile (or so she thought), her fair, smooth skin, and her unremarkable figure.
Clearly, she was just an ordinary—even rather weak—ninja.
"This is between me and this guy," Kankuro growled, unleashing a hint of his aura and killing intent, the threat unmistakable. "It's none of your business. If you meddle, I'll beat you to a pulp first."
"Heh."
Sakura's smile vanished instantly.
What was Kankuro's meager aura compared to the crushing pressure she had once faced from Kisame Hoshigaki?
A woman who had weathered raging storms wouldn't flinch at a gentle breeze.
Her light green eyes narrowed as she regarded Kankuro coolly. "Looks like this won't be resolved so easily."
Naruto, standing beside her, inwardly tensed. He knew that the calmer Sakura's tone became, the more dangerous she was.
With this thought, Naruto couldn't help but cast a pitying glance at Kankuro.
Kankuro flew into a rage, convinced this guy was taunting him again. Just as he was about to retort, Sakura suddenly turned her head to the right.
"And you, the one lurking in the shadows—have you watched enough?"
'She noticed Gaara?!'
Kankuro's heart jolted, swallowing the words he was about to blurt out.
'This girl's not as simple as she looks!'
Though outwardly brash and impulsive, Kankuro, as a puppeteer, possessed an inner refinement and keen perception.
Following Sakura's gaze, a red-haired youth with an icy expression materialized in their line of sight.
"You're a disgrace to our village!" Gaara said coldly, casting Kankuro a dismissive glance.
What followed was a terse exchange of names:
"What's your name?"
"What's yours?"
"I'll remember you."
"I'll remember you too."
The brief confrontation ended as the Sunagakure trio departed. Sakura and Naruto now knew one crucial piece of information:
The Chunin Exams were fast approaching!
___
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