Chapter 32: Teaching

Under the Waterfall

Boom!

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"

"Wind Style: Emerald Gale!"

"Earth Style: Quicksand Trap!"

A massive water dragon surged out from the river, controlled by Rin, as it charged toward Kaitan. Simultaneously, Shenu's Thorny Iron Wire attached to his Wind Demon Shuriken created a whirlwind encirclement around the target. Meanwhile, the ground beneath Kaitan transformed into a sinking quicksand pit, carefully set up by Dunko to restrict movement and aid his team.

Facing this well-coordinated attack, Kaitan merely smiled.

He swiftly formed a hand seal. The moment their attacks landed, there was an audible bang! A piece of wood replaced him.

"Ah, the Substitution Technique!" Rin groaned in frustration. Their coordinated efforts hit nothing but a harmless log.

Whoosh!

The three of them panted heavily, drained by the chakra-intensive techniques they had just executed.

"Is that all?"

At some point, Kaitan had reappeared, now hanging vertically next to the waterfall. He formed another hand seal, his expression calm and composed.

With a downward push of his hand, he announced, "Earth Style: Little Rock Pillar."

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Beneath the feet of the trio, dozens of rock pillars shot up, gently hitting them and sending them airborne before stopping short of causing real harm.

"Ahhh!" the three shouted, jumping up in alarm and grabbing at their bruised behinds.

This was the third day of their intense special training under Kaitan's guidance.

Testing Chakra Attributes

Three days ago, under Kaitan's instruction, they had tested their chakra attributes.

Rin: Water and Fire attributes.

Shenu: Wind attribute.

Dunko: Earth attribute.

To help them understand their innate affinities, Kaitan had taught each of them a B-rank Ninjutsu specific to their chakra nature. He wanted them to experience firsthand the complexity of advanced techniques. However, even Kaitan had underestimated his own teaching skills. By the third day, all three could successfully execute their assigned jutsu.

But even with their progress, the trio was no match for Kaitan.

"Damn it, Captain! Didn't you say you only knew a little bit about Ninjutsu beyond Genjutsu?" Shenu shouted, frustrated.

Rin and Dunko both nodded in agreement. They had been deceived by their captain's false modesty. They assumed his claims of limited knowledge were true. Today's sparring session had proven otherwise.

"Seriously, it's like Ninjutsu is an extension of your body!" Rin added. "You see through every attack before we even make it!"

Smiling, Kaitan replied, "It's not that I'm too strong—it's that your proficiency is too low. Once you sharpen your skills, you'll see the difference."

Identifying Their Weaknesses

"Alright, that's enough for today's sparring. Now, let's review your weaknesses."

Turning to Rin, Kaitan began, "Your control over chakra form changes is lacking. Because of this, both your attack speed and power are subpar. You need to work on shaping your chakra more precisely."

Next, he addressed Dunko. "Your form control is just as poor as Rin's. Your quicksand technique takes too long to form, making it predictable. Before moving forward with advanced techniques, you need to lay a solid foundation in form manipulation."

Finally, he looked at Shenu. "Your talent is the strongest among the three. Your speed and jutsu formation are already impressive. Now, you need to focus on mastering the nature transformation of Wind Chakra. It will make your attacks sharper and deadlier."

Kaitan's lessons didn't stop at critique. He explained the basic principles of chakra nature and form manipulation, concepts so advanced that even Naruto hadn't learned them from Jiraiya until later in the timeline. Though difficult, these lessons were essential.

"To become Jōnin, you need to master your chakra nature and eventually combine it with others. This is the foundation for becoming a multi-faceted ninja," he explained.

Progression Through Hard Work

By the end of the third day, Kaitan had drilled them on these fundamentals. His goal was to ensure they reached Jōnin rank before the main events of the story began. After all, if the original cast could achieve this by the Fourth Great Ninja War, his team should be able to as well.

"Alright, that's enough for today! Let's head to the hot springs in the next town. I heard there's a great resort nearby."

The three disciples cheered in unison, their earlier frustrations forgotten. Despite the grueling training, Kaitan was a generous and caring mentor. He treated them to meals, gave them breaks, and encouraged relaxation to maintain balance.

With a dragonfly-shaped wallet gifted to him by his wealthy girlfriend, Yamanako, Kaitan had no trouble covering their expenses.

"It's great having a rich girlfriend," he thought with a grin.

Routine and Growth

The team's daily routine followed a consistent cycle:

A hearty breakfast in the town to start the day.

Rigorous training sessions focused on physical and chakra-based skills.

Breaks for lunch, during which Kaitan would gather intel on their next mission.

Evening night-walk drills in the next town to simulate covert operations.

With no outside interference, the three students showed remarkable progress. While their growth wasn't as meteoric as geniuses like Neji or Sasuke, their steady improvement was evident. Kaitan ensured they focused on building a strong foundation, knowing it would pay off in the long run.

Kaitan's Growth

Unbeknownst to the team, Kaitan himself was undergoing significant development. By teaching his students, he found his own Ninjutsu becoming more refined. His proficiency in Genjutsu, Ninjutsu, and Taijutsu was steadily increasing, and his understanding of ninja fundamentals was unmatched.

"Teaching really is the best way to learn," he mused. "I might not be a spy or a genius strategist, but as a teacher, I can hold my own against anyone—even the legendary Sannin."

With each passing day, Kaitan's confidence grew. He resolved to continue pushing his team, ensuring they reached their full potential before the inevitable challenges ahead.

For now, though, the hot springs awaited.

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