Chapter 22: Sasuke: Am I The dead last?
Soon, half a day passed.
Uzumaki Naruto was still training arduously, making no progress whatsoever.
This couldn't help but make him question his life.
Kakashi-sensei had broken the water balloon in one go during the demonstration; it looked so easy!
But why was it so hard for him?
Was this the difference between a genius and the dead last?
Damn it!
What about Sasuke and Sakura? Have they succeeded already?
As expected, Kakashi-sensei made them train separately to guard against me, the dead last, right?
The prolonged lack of progress gradually made Uzumaki Naruto dejected and dispirited.
"What, you're already giving up? Didn't you say it was simple? Maybe Sasuke and Sakura have already succeeded by now."
Kakashi, who was half-lying on a tree reading a novel, noticed Naruto's dejection at this moment and spoke up to provoke him.
"Damn it, just this level of training! Watch me complete it within three days!"
Uzumaki Naruto, as expected, couldn't stand the provocation and immediately resumed training with renewed vigor, even setting a deadline for himself.
He forced himself to break through his limits within this tight timeframe.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Uchiha Sasuke also made no progress. But the thought that Naruto or Sakura might have succeeded pressed down on him with such urgency that he couldn't breathe, daring not to rest even for a second.
As for Sakura, although she had found the method, actually controlling it was still not easy, but it seemed she was not far from success.
...The next day.
When the four members of Team 7 finished breakfast and prepared to continue training.
Sakura suddenly spoke up.
"Um, Kakashi-sensei, I have completed the first stage of training."
Originally, Sakura didn't want to say it so soon, fearing she might hurt Sasuke and the others, but on second thought, perhaps this would further inspire Sasuke and the others' fighting spirit, so she finally said it.
"What?"
Indeed, upon hearing this, Uzumaki Naruto froze instantly.
Similarly, Sasuke's right hand clenched unconsciously, and the sense of urgency in his heart grew even stronger.
Next, would he be surpassed by Naruto?
"Well done, Sakura. Unlike some people who talk big."
Kakashi patted Sakura's shoulder in praise, then turned to glance at Naruto and Sasuke, a hint of a smile seemingly in his eyes.
Damn it!
"I'm going to train."
Uzumaki Naruto left the sentence with a mix of defiance and shame, then quickly ran off.
Uchiha Sasuke silently walked in the opposite direction from Naruto.
"Kakashi-sensei..."
Sakura looked at Sasuke, then at Naruto, her eyes filled with worry.
"It's fine. They won't be that fragile. Some things they can only break through on their own. Have faith in them."
Kakashi rubbed Sakura's hair to comfort her.
"Mmm..."
Sakura thought about it and chose to trust them as well.
"Let's go. I won't teach you the second stage yet. We'll wait until they complete it, then teach you all together. After all, teaching it again is quite bothersome. For now, continue learning the true Earth Style: Earth Wall that you haven't finished. Since you understand Chakra's Shape Transformation better now, your skill in carving a dog head must have improved quite a bit, right?"
"..."
Sakura heard this and wasn't sure how to react. She didn't want to learn the dog head carving! She had actually learned the Earth Style: Earth Wall quite some time ago, but because it lacked the dog head carving, it was deemed an incomplete jutsu.
Forget it. This is also training for precise Chakra control and Chakra Shape Transformation.
Over the next two days.
Sakura continuously practiced the dog head Earth Style: Earth Wall. According to Kakashi, she must be able to complete the dog head carving the instant she releases the Earth Style: Earth Wall.
Mastering this point was still quite difficult.
But Kakashi told her that once she mastered this move, her Ninjutsu release speed in the future would definitely be faster.
Therefore, Sakura was extremely serious about training the dog head Earth Style: Earth Wall.
...And on Uchiha Sasuke's side.
He was currently lying on his back on the grass, looking up at the sky.
"If the method is wrong, even trying ten thousand times won't lead to success. What exactly should I do?"
"Damn it, am I the dead last?"
Uchiha Sasuke also began to doubt his life. Was he really a genius just because those weaklings in the Ninja Academy praised him?
No! Genius or whatever...
He somewhat disliked others using the word 'genius' to negate his efforts.
But at this moment, he began to doubt whether geniuses truly didn't need effort.
Otherwise, why did Kakashi become a Jonin at age 12?
While he, at age 12, couldn't even complete the first stage of training?
Thinking of this, Uchiha Sasuke gritted his teeth, angrily grabbed the nearby water balloon, and squeezed it with all his might.
Bang—
Suddenly, the water balloon burst, splashing him with water.
The icy water instantly extinguished the rage in his heart, calming him down instead.
"Wait, that feeling just now?"
Uchiha Sasuke suddenly sat up, and the scene from just now flashed through his mind.
The water balloon burst because his five fingers squeezed and deformed different parts of the balloon. Squeezing...
"That's right! It's this!"
Uchiha Sasuke was overjoyed. Previously, he had only made the water rotate in one direction.
So, what if he applied rotational force from different directions?
Thinking of this, Uchiha Sasuke quickly took another water-filled balloon and began experimenting.
Indeed, after using Chakra to control the water flow to surge from different directions, the deformation of the water balloon was much more severe than before.
"Not enough. I need the water flow to exert outward pressure from even more directions."
Immediately after, Uchiha Sasuke wildly manipulated his Chakra, causing the water inside the balloon to surge madly, completely abandoning the regular rotation from before.
Bang—
With a 'bang,' the water balloon exploded!
"I finally did it!"
Seeing this scene, Uchiha Sasuke couldn't help but smile.
"Cough, cough~"
But soon, he coughed, suppressed his smile, and then turned to look for Kakashi.
..."Yo, the third day is almost over, and you still haven't finished?"
"Sasuke already finished, and he even said he needs to quickly start the second stage of training."
Just as Uzumaki Naruto was scratching his head, extremely anxious, he suddenly heard Kakashi's voice, laced with a hint of laughter. Naruto's heart suddenly sank.
"I, I'm almost done too!"
Uzumaki Naruto turned his head to look into the distance, where Kakashi had appeared on a tree at some unknown time, and said with a slightly guilty tone.
"Really?"
"Really! Kakashi-sensei, you should hurry back first."
Uzumaki Naruto said, feeling somewhat guilty and anxious.
"Alright then, I'll be leaving first."
Kakashi turned and prepared to leave.
Seeing this, Uzumaki Naruto felt inexplicably disappointed. Although he really wanted Kakashi to leave, when the other person truly left without mercy, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
"Ah, right. Everyone has their own strengths and things they are good at. Don't rush; take it slow."
Kakashi ultimately stopped his steps, turned back, and gave him a small hint.
"My strengths? And things I'm good at?"
Uzumaki Naruto fell into deep thought upon hearing this. What were his strengths?