A New Challenge
Sasuke panted heavily, his hands covering his eyes as the strain of using the Sharingan took its toll. He glanced at Naruto, who stood calmly with his usual gentle smile, not a drop of sweat on his brow. The stark contrast between them was impossible to ignore.
"What a terrifying Bloodline Limit," Sasuke muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with both frustration and admiration.
Kakashi, observing from the sidelines, raised an eyebrow. "Hmm, it seems this Bloodline Limit is even more impressive than I thought," he remarked, his tone casual but his mind racing. He turned to Naruto, curiosity gleaming in his visible eye. "Naruto, I'm curious—what's the principle behind your Ghost Path techniques? How do they work?"
Naruto adjusted his glasses, his expression thoughtful. "You can think of it as a transformation of attributes derived from light and water. Flowing water can generate electricity, and light can produce heat. Different movements and interactions can create various attributes, which is the foundation of the Ghost Path. It's rooted in scientific principles, so it's a bit complicated. You probably wouldn't understand."
Kakashi and Sasuke exchanged glances, both silently acknowledging that they didn't fully grasp Naruto's explanation. Still, they nodded sagely, pretending to comprehend.
"I see," Kakashi said, stroking his chin. "It's truly a remarkable Bloodline Limit."
Naruto continued training with Sasuke for the rest of the day. Recently, Sasuke and Kakashi had been focusing on mastering the Lightning Release, specifically the Chidori technique. Naruto, however, remained dedicated to refining his swordsmanship and chakra control, all while secretly yearning for a breakthrough in his spiritual pressure.
He had a feeling that such a breakthrough wasn't far off.
"Now that I'm an official ninja, the missions will inevitably involve witnessing life and death. Perhaps I'll find a way to access the world where souls reside," Naruto thought, his eyes darkening with determination.
The Third Hokage's Surprise
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had never anticipated that Naruto's progress would be so rapid under Kakashi's guidance. In less than a month, Kakashi had exhausted his repertoire of techniques to teach. For Naruto, the development of his Bloodline Limit and swordsmanship took precedence over traditional ninjutsu, leaving Kakashi feeling somewhat redundant.
Unless… Kakashi could reclaim his swordsmanship.
The legacy of Konoha's White Fang, Kakashi's father, was legendary. Kakashi had once been a prodigy not only in ninjutsu and taijutsu but also in kenjutsu. However, after his father's tragic death, Kakashi had abandoned the sword, burying that part of himself along with his grief.
One evening, Kakashi returned home feeling lost. He opened a hidden compartment and retrieved his father's sword, its blade still gleaming despite years of neglect. As his fingers brushed the cold hilt, memories long buried resurfaced, and with them, the muscle memory of his former skills.
He hadn't forgotten after all.
Joint Training Camp
In the weeks that followed, Team 7 undertook several missions, many of which involved combating bandits. The team had grown more proficient, no longer fazed by the sight of blood. Even Sakura had adapted, playing her role perfectly. They gathered intelligence, formulated plans, and executed them flawlessly.
Kakashi was pleased with their progress, but he recognized their shortcomings. They lacked real combat experience and the sharp instincts that came from facing opponents of equal or greater strength. To address this, Kakashi organized a joint training camp with Might Guy and Kurenai Yuhi, two other renowned jōnin.
Guy, ever enthusiastic, agreed immediately. Kurenai, after some consideration, also consented. The combination of Guy's taijutsu expertise, Kurenai's genjutsu mastery, and Kakashi's versatility promised a well-rounded training experience.
When the three teams gathered, Naruto immediately noticed the varied gazes directed at him. Hinata's eyes, once shy, now burned with admiration and determination. Neji and Kiba, however, regarded him with thinly veiled hostility. Neji's resentment stemmed from their past encounters, while Kiba's competitive spirit drove him to challenge Naruto repeatedly, despite his consistent losses.
Kiba, unlike Neji, harbored no lasting animosity. To him, battles were battles, and life was life. Naruto's calm and gentle demeanor made it hard to dislike him, even in defeat.
Over the course of the seven-day training camp, Naruto deepened his understanding of genjutsu under Kurenai's guidance. He realized how formidable a genjutsu specialist could be. Kurenai's ability to dismantle his illusions with ease inspired Naruto to explore new possibilities, such as layering illusions within illusions to overwhelm his opponents.
From Guy, Naruto learned the basics of the Eight Gates, a powerful but dangerous taijutsu technique. While Rock Lee, Guy's protégé, had trained relentlessly to master it, Naruto's natural physical prowess allowed him to grasp the fundamentals quickly. However, the risks associated with the Eight Gates—severe physical strain and potential death—made it a technique few dared to use.
Hinata's transformation was one of the most surprising outcomes of the training camp. Once timid and reserved, she now exuded confidence. In a one-on-one spar, she nearly defeated Sasuke, only losing when he activated his Sharingan.
As the camp drew to a close, Guy, tears streaming down his face, proposed a celebratory dinner. "We've all grown so much!" he declared, his voice booming. "Let's share a meal and reflect on our progress!"
The teams agreed, and the evening was filled with laughter and camaraderie. For Naruto, it was a rare moment of peace amidst his relentless pursuit of strength. But even as he enjoyed the company of his peers, his mind remained focused on the path ahead.