Chapter 8: Training (Part 3)

Chapter 8: Training (Part 3)

Since Kazama had grasped the principle of nature transformation, cutting leaves was no longer his only option. Instead, he chose to train with a sword.

Both activities aimed to refine cutting ability, but why limit himself to slicing leaves, which had almost no other benefits? Leaves were soft, making it easy to develop a feel for cutting, and they were abundant, costing nothing. From this perspective, choosing leaves seemed reasonable.

However, Kazama was not a native of the ninja world. To him, accomplishing multiple goals with one action—hitting two birds with one stone, or even three—was the ideal approach. After considering his options, he decided to train with a sword.

In the ninja world, swords and blades were not strictly distinguished, and there was a legacy of swordsmanship, though ordinary people had little access to it. This was understandable. But Kazama was different. His grandfather, Kosuke, was a master swordsman, skilled enough to fight even Jonin-level opponents. Teaching Kazama was well within his capability, so inheriting swordsmanship was not an issue for him. This was the first reason.

The second reason was simple—no matter how flashy ninjutsu appeared in the storyline, taijutsu still played a crucial role in actual combat. Even formidable figures like the Third Hokage and Orochimaru resorted to staff and sword techniques when fighting. Sword training was, therefore, essential. Otherwise, in close combat, he would have nothing but a kunai, which was hardly ideal. Mastering a proper weapon could make a huge difference in battle.

The third reason was Wind Release. Due to its sharp nature transformation, unless one mastered it to a degree where it could be controlled like an extension of the body, using it barehanded could be dangerous. Unlike Chidori, which concentrated lightning chakra into the hand, Wind Release techniques rarely took a similar form. Since Kazama was committed to specializing in Wind Release, it was inevitable that he would need a weapon. Training early was necessary.

Kazama's training method was similar to cutting leaves. Yataro assisted by dropping pre-prepared leaves from the trees. These lightweight leaves followed unpredictable trajectories as they fell, affected by slight breezes, making their paths difficult to predict.

Kazama wielded a long, straight wooden sword—thick-backed with a thin blade, palm-wide, and as long as his arm. His training involved swinging the sword to strike the falling leaves. The wooden blade lacked sharpness, so even if he hit a leaf mid-air, it wouldn't split without chakra enhancement. Thus, each swing required not only speed, strength, and accuracy but also precise chakra control.

When he could cleanly cut a leaf in mid-air with a single strike, both his swordsmanship and Wind Release would be considered at a foundational level.

Aside from sword training, Kazama also needed to practice archery.

In fact, he had started training with a bow as soon as he was capable of moving freely. Initially, he just wanted the ability to hunt and improve his meals. After all, when Kosuke was away on missions, Kazama's food quality dropped significantly. He had no complaints—self-sufficiency was the answer. A bow and arrows were his choice because nothing was more fun and useful than shooting prey from the trees.

Traps were another option, but as a child, Kazama lacked the strength and skill to set up traps capable of capturing large animals.

What started as playful experimentation turned into his most reliable attack method. With a bow in hand and a forest around him, he was confident he could outmaneuver any of his Academy classmates. Too bad that scenario was just a fantasy for now. Still, it didn't stop him from considering the bow as his primary weapon in the future.

In the ninja world, long-range fighters were mostly seen as ninjutsu users—like the Third Hokage, a walking arsenal of jutsu. But the concept of sniping didn't exist here. That gave Kazama room to experiment, develop, and innovate.

Sniping tactics originated from modern firearms, which allowed ultra-long-range attacks. Though bows had limited range, Kazama, coming from a modern world, had one question: "Have you ever seen a sniper crossbow?" Or a collapsible bow? With modern advancements, bows and crossbows could reach distances of a kilometer. Sniping was feasible.

For assassinations, long-range sniping was the perfect solution—silent, distant, and deadly.

The effective range of a bow already surpassed most ninjutsu attacks. In direct combat, Kazama could remain at the battlefield's edge, evading attacks while striking at will. A ninja might be powerful, but what good was their strength if they couldn't reach him?

Most ninjutsu required hand seals, meaning a bow's quick draw and release could be faster than a ninja forming a jutsu.

More importantly, ninjutsu consumed chakra, while archery only required stamina. The longer a fight dragged on, the greater Kazama's advantage.

For long-range combat, he had a bow. For close-range, a sword. Now, he just needed a reliable battle companion. The perfect hunter was almost complete. Wait—this was the ninja world, not a hunting ground. But the idea was still viable.

As for a companion, Yataro was decent but couldn't be a main battle partner. This was another issue Kazama had to address.

The pack of wolves in the forest remained his best bet, but so far, none of them had shown signs of chakra awakening. If all else failed, he'd have to borrow some money from Kosuke before graduating from the Academy and buy a ninja beast.

Imagining the future—a battlefield where ninjas struggled through jutsu exchanges and hand-to-hand combat while Kazama sniped them down from afar, one arrow at a time—the vision was simply too beautiful.

"Kazama, Kazama, wake up! The teacher is coming!"

Kazama, lost in his dream of crafting the perfect combat system, was suddenly shaken awake. Squinting, he followed his deskmate's gaze and saw their Academy instructor, already fuming.

Sigh. No more sleep.

Before the teacher could act, Kazama stood up and walked out of the classroom to accept his punishment—standing outside. The afternoon sun was blinding, making him feel drowsy again.

Yet he was fully awake now.

Most of the time, dreams were quickly forgotten. But this time, Kazama repeatedly recalled the thoughts from his dream and memorized them.

Clearly, this unique combat approach suited him perfectly. Low chakra consumption meant higher endurance. Long-range attacks ensured safety. As for power? Well, Wind Release chakra could amplify cutting force. Once he mastered Wind Release, every arrow he shot would carry chakra-infused wind energy. Who would dare to take that head-on?

With his path set, the next step was training.

Bows were easy—his stockpile contained plenty of high-quality materials he had collected during his forest explorations. Whenever he found a better one, he discarded the inferior. Now, what remained were only top-tier materials.

This was only possible in Konoha, where vast forests provided endless resources.

For his wooden sword, he needed to carve a new one. No problem—cutting wood was just another way to practice slicing.

As for a companion, that required urgent attention. Kazama was considering asking Kosuke for help. The deeper parts of the forest surely held valuable creatures, but they were also dangerous. He wasn't about to take unnecessary risks—Kosuke was his best option.

He could already picture the future—ninjas struggling in close combat or trading flashy jutsu while he calmly sniped them from a distance, one shot at a time.

What a beautiful sight.