Chapter 173
"Shino Aburame!"
"Rock Lee!"
"The others who reached the finals but couldn't be promoted will also be designated as key development targets…"
"Sakura Haruno! Hyuga Neji!"
"Alright, announce these results!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
…Soon, the news spread throughout Konoha Village.
Kakashi even gathered Team 7 and personally announced the good news.
"Congratulations to the three of you…"
"All promoted to Chunin!"
Naruto froze for a moment, then was overjoyed, leaping high into the air.
"Hooray!!!"
Hinata's face also flushed slightly, and she showed a joyful expression.
"Th-that's wonderful…"
Sasuke, for once, even had the corners of his mouth turn up slightly.
"Hmph, it's only natural."
Kakashi's eyes also curved into crescent moons.
"No matter what, this is an unimaginable great victory…"
Naruto immediately said, "Kakashi-sensei, treat us to a celebration!"
Kakashi scratched his head, "Hmm? Is that necessary?"
"Of course!"
Kakashi smiled, "Well, it's reasonable enough. Alright then, what do you want to eat?"
"Ichiraku Ramen, of course!"
"…Naruto, you really have no new ideas…"
"Are you treating or not?!"
"Treating, treating, treating…"
"Hooray!"
Under Naruto's urging, Kakashi had no choice but to fulfill his promise, taking the three little ones from Team 7 to Ichiraku Ramen.
Team 10 also went to a yakiniku restaurant to celebrate Shikamaru's promotion to Chunin.
Kurenai Yuhi likewise took Team 8 to a dessert dango shop to celebrate Shino Aburame's promotion.
Only Team Guy, although Rock Lee was promoted to Chunin, had to postpone their celebration. To defeat Hyuga Neji, he had used the Eight Gates Formation, even opening the Fifth Gate, and had not fully recovered yet.
Of course, this time Rock Lee did not encounter Gaara, so his injuries were not as severe.
Moreover, defeating Hyuga Neji was a fulfillment of his wish and also completed his promise to Naruto… Just as Naruto was heartily devouring his ramen, slurping it down ravenously.
[Congratulations to the Host for completing the mission: All three members of Team 7 successfully promoted to Chunin!]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving a random reward from the system…]
[Do you wish to open it immediately?!]
Naruto's heart stirred, and the chopsticks in his hand paused momentarily.
It wasn't easy. This mission not only involved himself but also the entire Team 7… Completing it already involved a certain element of luck.
But he was even more curious and expectant, wondering what kind of generous reward such a difficult mission would yield… He immediately shouted in his mind.
"Open!"
Chapter 134: Searching for Tsunade! Danzo and Orochimaru's Conspiracy! Please give me monthly votes!!!
[Please choose one from the following categories: Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Nin-Taijutsu, Sealing Technique, etc.!]
Naruto's heart couldn't help but stir.
"I can actually choose the category myself?"
"Hmm…"
Naruto began to ponder carefully.
"I've already learned quite a few Ninjutsu, from Shadow Clone to various Wind Release Ninjutsu…"
"Although I don't have much Taijutsu, it's pretty much enough, and what I lack is power, not techniques."
"As for Genjutsu… I don't think I'm good at it, and forcing myself to train it wouldn't be very useful."
"Regarding Sealing Technique, while it's very powerful, I can't fully master Adamantine Sealing Chains yet. Too much at once is hard to digest, so learning more Sealing Technique wouldn't be very useful. Moreover, the Pervy Sage said that Adamantine Sealing Chains is already one of the strongest Sealing Technique of the Uzumaki Clan."
Naruto quickly made up his mind.
"I choose Nin-Taijutsu!"
This was almost a given decision.
After all, one of Naruto's big goals now was to spontaneously create Wind Release Chakra Mode!
That could be said to be the ultimate Nin-Taijutsu, most suitable for him.
Before that, if he could first master some truly meaningful Nin-Taijutsu, it would undoubtedly be of great benefit to his own development and creation!
Naruto's current Wind Release: Gale Palm, Wind Style: Whirlwind Fist, Wind Body Flicker Technique, and so on, all had a bit of a pseudo-Nin-Taijutsu feel, but they couldn't be considered true Nin-Taijutsu.
Of course, in reality, what constitutes true Nin-Taijutsu has not been fully recognized in the Ninja World.
Theoretically, pure Taijutsu does not require Chakraconsumption.
It consumes stamina.
But there are exceptions.
For example, the Eight Gates Formation is about unlocking the Chakra lock's restrictions, thereby unleashing power beyond limits, which is undoubtedly an application of Chakra.
For example, Tsunade's monstrous strength is also a focused, destructive offensive unleashed under precise control of Chakra.
But can the Eight Gates Formation or monstrous strength be called Nin-Taijutsu?
Apparently not.
Therefore, judging Nin-Taijutsu solely by Chakraconsumption doesn't seem accurate.
The truly recognized representative of Nin-Taijutsu is the Taijutsu used by the Raikage under Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
For example, Lightning Release: Lariat, Liger Bomb, etc.
This, of course, is primarily Taijutsu used after activating Chakra, specifically under the Ninjutsu"Lightning Release Chakra Mode."
But compared to the Eight Gates Formation, monstrous strength, and so on, there is a very obvious difference… which is the nature transformation of Chakra.
The former clearly activates Taijutsu based on "using Chakra."
But it's just pure Chakra, without nature transformation.
The Raikage's Nin-Taijutsu, however, is undoubtedly augmented with the nature transformation of Lightning Release.
Besides this, Uchiha Shisui's Sword of Kotoamatsukami is also classified as Nin-Taijutsu.
It is clearly Taijutsu infused with Fire Releasenature transformation.
In other words… Nin-Taijutsu itself does not have a universally accepted standard.
Broadly speaking, the Eight Gates Formation, monstrous strength, and even Gentle Fist Eight Trigrams Palm could probably be categorized within it.
And narrowly speaking, it refers to Taijutsu that incorporates Chakra nature transformation.
Naruto chose the Nin-Taijutsu reward.
Immediately… [Congratulations to the Host for acquiring Nin-Taijutsu, Wind Release: Vacuum Sword!]
[This Nin-Taijutsu involves activating Wind Release Chakra within oneself and the sword in hand, thereby forming a state of man and sword as one, with Wind Release Chakra as the link! It allows for close-quarters combat, capable of cutting through all things with the power of Wind Release! It can also unleash sharp Wind Blade Sword Qi with swings and slashes! Furthermore, it can even block and defend against enemy attacks! It is a truly comprehensive and powerful Nin-Taijutsu!]
Upon hearing this, Naruto was overjoyed!
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sword!"
"It sounds so powerful…"
"It can attack and defend, cut through everything up close, and even unleash Wind Blade Sword Qi from a distance!"
"So cool!"
"Looks like I need to buy a good sword…"
Naruto nodded, but there was no rush for that.
At this moment, with Kakashi treating them to a meal, Naruto naturally wouldn't be polite to him.
"Hinata, Sasuke, eat more!"
"Kakashi-sensei is a stingy guy! He rarely treats us to a meal, so we must eat our money's worth!"
Kakashi scratched his head, "When was I ever stingy?"
Naruto said, "Then how many times have you treated us?"
Kakashi thought for a moment, "Well, I suppose I haven't, actually…"
"Exactly! Iruka-sensei used to treat me to ramen all the time!"
"And the Pervy Sage… Ah! Let's not talk about that guy!"
Kakashi smiled slightly, "Now that you mention it, it does seem to be the case…"
"Right, right! Kakashi-sensei, you've done so many missions, you must have earned countless rewards, haven't you?"
"And you're a bachelor, you don't get married, you don't buy things, and besides reading inappropriate adult books, you don't seem to have any other interests…"
"So, Kakashi-sensei must have saved a lot of money, right?!"
Kakashi said, "I should still have quite a bit of money, though I haven't counted it carefully."
Naruto laughed loudly, "So we should eat more, shouldn't we?!"
"Ichiraku's Uncle, another bowl!"
"Coming right up!"
Kakashi: "…"
Although he inwardly groaned, he knew that the entire Team 7 being promoted to Chunin was indeed a huge cause for celebration.
Konoha Village was currently in ruins, eagerly awaiting these young forces to grow strong… When it came time to pay, Kakashi was surprised to realize… he had only eaten two bowls, but Naruto had eaten eleven!
Of course, that wasn't the most frightening part… Hinata had eaten seventeen bowls!
"Although Naruto mentioned it, Hinata, you're the big eater, but this is too exaggerated?!"