103: Chapter 103 Training! The Current Status of the ThreeKakashi stood on the water, looking down at Naruto, who was soaked to the bone, with a nonchalant "it's none of my business" expression.
"His talent is indeed impressive; he managed to stand up on his first attempt, which is commendable, but."
He changed the subject, his tone becoming serious like that of a headmaster, "Controlling chakra requires absolute focus and stability; even the slightest external interference will ruin everything."
This is just calm river water; if it were on a turbulent sea, the situation would be a hundred times worse!
You still have a long way to go; you need to practice more.
After reprimanding Naruto, Kakashi turned to Sakura: "Alright, Sakura.You understand the principle behind treading water now."
You can choose to try it here, or you can go back and continue your tree-climbing training with Sasuke to build a solid foundation.As for Naruto, you…"
Kakashi glanced at Naruto, who was still splashing around in the water."Stay here and practice.When you can jump around on the surface of the water and chase each other without falling in, you'll be considered qualified."
After saying that, Kakashi didn't linger.He turned around, leaped lightly across the water a few times, and disappeared into the woods on the riverbank.
"I'll go back and check on the Tazner family first."
"What?I clearly succeeded just now!It was Kakashi-sensei who sabotaged me!"
Naruto climbed ashore, standing on the bank, soaking wet, and muttered grumbling in the direction Kakashi had disappeared.
He wrung out the water from his clothes, looked at the calmly flowing river, and felt a deep sense of resentment.
Sakura glanced at the still-complaining, drenched Naruto, and then thought of that lonely and stubborn figure in the forest—Sasuke.
Without much hesitation, she made her choice immediately.
"Um… Naruto," Sakura began somewhat shyly, "I think Kakashi-sensei is right, my tree-climbing training might need some more practice!And Sasuke-kun is all alone there…"
I'd better go back and practice with him!You stay here and keep practicing treading water!
After saying that, without waiting for Naruto's response, Sakura blushed and quickly ran back the way she came, heading straight for the training forest where Sasuke was.
"Hey!Sakura!You bastard."
Naruto watched Sakura's rapidly disappearing figure, stomping his feet in anger, but then deflated, resignedly looking at the water's surface."Hmph!I'll train then!Once I've mastered it, let's see if you dare underestimate me again!"
He carefully gathered his chakra again and stepped onto the water.
This time, he was more focused, trying to feel the changes in the water flow under his feet, and carefully maintaining his balance.
Time passed by in focused training.
Naruto devoted himself wholeheartedly to practicing treading water, trying again and again, falling into the water, and trying again.
Although Kakashi's "interference" annoyed him, it also made him realize the importance of dynamic control.
He gradually began to get the hang of it, and was able to stand on the water for longer and longer periods of time, and even tried to move a few steps slowly.
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When Sakura rushed back to the woods where Sasuke was training, the scene before her made her heart skip a beat.
Sasuke was covered in mud and debris, and sweat soaked his hair, which clung to his pale cheeks.
He charged at the scarred tree again and again, each sprint filled with a reckless ferocity.
"Sasuke-kun."
Sakura stepped forward with a pained expression, mustered her courage, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "Actually.there's a trick to climbing trees, and that is."
"I don't need your pity!"
Sasuke abruptly interrupted her, his voice hoarse and cold.
He didn't even look back at her; he simply raised his arm and resolutely brushed away her attempt to approach.
He stared intently at the mark on the tree, his eyes sharp as knives."I can do it myself!"
After saying that, he took a deep breath, ignoring his physical exhaustion and pain, and gathered his chakra again to begin another round of charging!
Sakura's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, her concern instantly turning into a look of grievance and hurt.
Looking at Sasuke's dusty, stubborn, and lonely back, she felt a lump in her throat and her eyes reddened slightly.
Silently lowering her head, she walked to the side, squatted down with her knees drawn up to her chest, and buried her face in her arms.
Sasuke caught a glimpse of Sakura's lonely and aggrieved figure out of the corner of his eye, and a strange, indescribable feeling swept through his heart, as if he had been gently pricked by a tiny needle.
But the next second, the flames of revenge and that deep-seated pride instantly burned away that touch.
'I don't need.I don't need anyone's help!'
Sasuke roared in his heart, 'This path, filled with blood and darkness, is destined to be borne by me alone!I will walk it alone!'
He gritted his teeth, cast all distracting thoughts aside, and once again threw himself wholeheartedly into the seemingly endless, self-torturing training.
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Time passed, and the next morning arrived.
At the construction site of the magnificent but still unfinished Netherland Bridge, massive bridge frames stretch out into the vast sea.The sea breeze carries a salty, fishy scent.
Sakura sat listlessly on the railing at the edge of the bridge, her legs dangling in the air, and yawned widely.
"Hey, little girl, you seem pretty relaxed here all by yourself?"
Tazuna walked over carrying his tools, a teasing smile on his face."Where are the other three?That loud, blond kid, that cool kid with the perpetually serious face, and your masked teacher?Where did they all go?"
"Sasuke is probably still training," Sakura said, pointing to the faintly visible forest in the distance."Kakashi-sensei is training with him.As for Naruto…"
She turned around and shouted towards the surging sea below the bridge, "Hey—!Naruto—!Stop playing around!Come up here—!"
Dazner peered out at the undulating waves.On the sea, not seeing anyone, he asked in confusion, "Don't you two need to train?That cool guy named Sasuke seems to be working really hard."
Sakura's face lit up with a hint of smugness as she put her hands on her hips and said, "Because I'm really good!I passed the tree-climbing training on my first try!As for that Naruto guy."
She pouted, "Don't worry about him, he's a monster with an inexhaustible amount of chakra!Kakashi-sensei is making him practice walking on water."
She paused, then puffed out her chest and added, "That's why Kakashi-sensei felt comfortable letting me protect you!"
"Oh?Really?"
Tazuna looked at Sakura's petite figure, his face full of suspicion."You're asking a little girl like you to protect me?"
"What.what kind of look is that?"
Sakura, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, angrily jumped off the railing, "I'm really good!I'm."
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