Chapter 32: Is Your Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu Genuine?
"Damn it! Why is it always just a little bit off!"
Uzumaki Naruto took advantage of the short break while heading to the mission site to try the third stage of his training again, but the balloon always popped after only ten seconds or so.
Now, he was the only one in Team 7 who hadn't learned the Rasengan, which made him feel a real sense of urgency.
The Rasengan was passed down from the Fourth Hokage; the Fourth passed it to Kakashi-sensei, and then Sensei passed it to them.
Now that he was the only one who hadn't learned it, Naruto couldn't help but feel a bit left out.
"That's it! Kakashi-sensei, and Sasuke, can one of you lend me a Sharingan? I want to try copying the Rasengan with it!"
Naruto, acting out of desperation, suddenly had a flash of inspiration and quickly called out to Sasuke and Kakashi walking ahead, speaking as if he were joking.
"You idiot, how can you borrow something like an eye!"
Before Sasuke and Kakashi could even respond, Sakura couldn't sit still and furiously punched Naruto on the head!
No, in this world, as long as one knows Medical Ninjutsu, eyes can actually be plucked out and used immediately upon being plugged in!
Kakashi thought silently to himself, though the image of Naruto using the Sharingan...
"Hehe, I'm just kidding!" Uzumaki quickly covered his head, explaining to Sakura with a forced smile.
It wasn't that he really wanted Kakashi's or Sasuke's eyes; he just wanted to get their attention so they would teach him some Rasengan techniques.
Although he knew roughly what to do for the third stage, he really wanted to know the best way to do it and if there was a simpler method.
"Fine, I can tell you a way, but don't go around saying I was the one who taught you your Rasengan later on." Kakashi hesitated for a moment before deciding to tell him a method.
"What is it? Tell me quickly!" Hearing that there was indeed a better way, Naruto immediately perked up.
You're intentionally ignoring the second half of my sentence, aren't you? Kakashi's eyes held a hint of helplessness. "Even though you're already training using Shadow Clones, for the third stage, you're having each Shadow Clone train individually."
"Huh? Is that not right?"
"It is right. In fact, that's the correct way. But since you're in such a hurry for results, you can only implement an alternative method."
"What method?" Uzumaki Naruto looked at Kakashi in confusion.
"Have a Shadow Clone use both hands to assist you in condensing the Rasengan."
With no other choice, Kakashi had to tell him the method Naruto used for the Rasengan in the original story.
"Shadow Clone assistance?" Uzumaki Naruto looked thoughtful upon hearing this, and then his face lit up with joy. "I see! I get it now!"
Seemingly having figured something out, he immediately used the Shadow Clone Jutsu and produced one Shadow Clone.
Then, the main body held out his right hand, placing a balloon in the center of his palm, while the Shadow Clone raised both hands and began to manipulate it over the main body's right hand.
This time, the balloon actually stayed steady in the palm of his hand without any sign of bursting.
"I did it! Hahaha! I finally succeeded!"
Soon, Uzumaki Naruto excitedly held up the balloon in his hand and couldn't help but shout.
"Idiot—"
Uchiha Sasuke was a bit speechless at the sight. A Seal-less Ninjutsu like the Rasengan was meant for a sudden burst of power to catch the enemy off guard.
As it turned out, if this idiot Naruto wanted to attack, he had to summon a Shadow Clone first. By the time the Shadow Clone helped him condense the Rasengan, the enemy would have long since prepared.
"Alright, let's keep moving." Kakashi looked away and walked forward, but after taking a step, he thought for a moment and turned back to remind him, "Naruto, when you have time, you should still practice condensing the Rasengan with one hand. After all, relying on a Shadow Clone leaves too many openings."
"Yeah! I know." Naruto nodded, but the joy on his face was still unmistakable as he caught up and asked expectantly, "By the way, Kakashi-sensei, when do the Chunin Exams start?"
Clearly, he only wanted to show off his skills in the Chunin Exams at this moment, completely forgetting Kakashi's reminder from a moment ago.
"It should be soon."
Kakashi wasn't sure about the answer either, so he just said it would be soon.
—
In the days that followed.
Kakashi would complete the system's daily missions if they were easy and skip them if they weren't. He felt that whether he got those hundred shinobi orbs or not didn't really matter; there was no need to make things hard for himself.
Even so, his Chakra reserves reached 1.50 Ka.
During this time, Kakashi would also occasionally teach Naruto and Sakura Ninjutsu, as well as guide Sasuke in the application and development of Chidori.
Sakura, in particular, learned Ninjutsu very quickly. Not only did she learn the Water Clone and Hiding in Mist Technique, but she even learned the Water Prison Jutsu and the 44-seal Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu today.
As for where Kakashi learned this 44-seal Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu, he naturally wrote a letter to ask Zabuza.
"Kakashi-sensei, is the Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu really 44 seals? It's so complicated."
Having completed the Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu for the first time, Sakura felt like she was completely burned out.
"Of course. Would I make up dozens of seals just to trick you?" Kakashi immediately answered loudly, as if that could hide his guilt.
A Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu with only a few seals was definitely a bootleg version. It wasn't because he didn't know it. Besides, this 44-seal Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu was taught by Zabuza, and there was no reason for him to lie.
"Kakashi-sensei, if Sakura doesn't want to learn complex Ninjutsu, you can teach me!" Seeing this, Naruto immediately paused his training and ran over, looking at Kakashi expectantly.
"Naruto, you can't even use Ninjutsu with two or three seals properly, yet you're talking big here!" Sakura rolled her eyes at Naruto and complained, feeling a bit speechless.
Just then, an eagle's cry suddenly came from the sky. Kakashi looked up, and relevant memories immediately surfaced in his mind.
Is the Hokage summoning everyone?
"That's enough for today. Let's head back to the Village."
Thinking of this, Kakashi ended the day's training and took them back to the Village.
Soon after returning to the Village, he announced their dismissal.
"I'm exhausted today, I'm going home too." As soon as Kakashi left, Sakura couldn't hold on any longer; she just wanted to go home and lie down.
"Hey, wait, Sakura! How about we go grab a bite to eat and relax?" Naruto didn't want to go home so soon; after all, he was all alone at home, and it was too boring.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Sasuke, who also lived alone, silently walked toward his home.
However, from the moment they entered the Village until now, Sasuke felt that something was slightly off.
It seemed like there were more strangers in the Village?
It wasn't because he remembered everyone in the Village, but because there were more people on the streets whose dress and appearance didn't look like they were from Konoha Village.
This couldn't help but add a hint of inquiry to his eyes.
Just as Uchiha Sasuke was wondering what was happening, the sound of an argument suddenly came from behind.
It sounded like that idiot Naruto shouting.
"Idiot—"
Sasuke stopped in his tracks, a flash of helplessness appearing in his eyes. In the end, he turned around, planning to go over and take a look.