CHAPTER 48

Without the corresponding strength and talent, some things truly do remain the domain of geniuses with exceptional insight and ability.

"I understand. Thank you, Mizuki-sensei." Sakura felt a wave of relief. Hearing that she wasn't completely hopeless soothed the sting to her confidence, which had taken a hit from the overwhelming amount of new information earlier.

Mizuki hadn't intended to teach Haruno Sakura anything too troublesome or advanced—particularly not high-level ninjutsu. Much of the theory he was working with remained incomplete, and even with her intellect, a Genin might quickly burn out on pure abstract theory. And as for powerful jutsu… how could he teach techniques he hadn't mastered himself?

From a bird's-eye view, if he wanted to make the most of Sakura's high IQ and learning potential, then laying a strong foundation was essential. The top priority now was to instill his unique system of thought and methodology into her. If possible, he'd eventually find a capable assistant as well. Right now, he had too many research topics on his plate, and even a shinobi's time and energy were limited.

'No wonder research in the previous world always relied on small teams. A single person is insignificant when faced with endless unknowns. No wonder even Orochimaru keeps assistants like Yakushi Kabuto around—clever, insubordinate, but undeniably useful. Talents like that are rare.'

"Take a break for now, Sakura. Balancing work and rest is just as important," Mizuki suggested. "If you're up for it, we can just chat for a while."

"Alright." Sakura agreed. Her brain was a little fried from the last few hours of study.

"Honestly, I'm curious—why did you come to me for guidance? There are plenty of stronger ninja in Konoha, and some can teach you more powerful ninjutsu. Wouldn't they be a better fit?"

Sakura looked a little embarrassed. "To be honest, I don't really know many of the elite shinobi personally. But in the Forest of Death, Mizuki-sensei helped me a lot. Without you, I don't think we would've made it out or passed the second exam. So… I think you're the most suitable teacher for me. And I want to become strong enough to help Sasuke."

"Oh?" Mizuki raised an eyebrow. "You remember what I told you back then?"

"Yes, Sensei. You said that one day I'd have to become a real asset to my team, not just hold them back." Sakura's tone was firm now.

Mizuki nodded, but remained cautious. "I'll be honest—I'm not sure if following me is the best thing for you. You have your own strengths and talents. Logically, another teacher might suit you better. Studying my methods might distract you from the path you're best suited for, and that could affect your future."

"This is my decision. I still believe Mizuki-sensei is the right teacher for me."

"Alright, alright, don't be so serious." Mizuki chuckled. "It's not like I'm refusing. Let's change the subject to something lighter. Who do you think is the strongest among the Genin in the third test? And who's the weakest?"

Sakura gave it some thought. "I'm not sure who the strongest is, but I'm probably the weakest. I think the top contenders are either Sasuke or Hyūga Neji."

"Hah." Mizuki smiled. "Let me rephrase—who do you think has the most talent, the best potential for the future?"

Sakura shook her head. "That's even harder to tell… but I think Sasuke's Sharingan is really powerful."

"Fair enough. Being able to assess strength accurately is an important skill for a ninja," Mizuki began. "So here's something useful: out of all the Genin in this year's Chūnin Exams, not a single one could defeat Sunagakure's Gaara right now."

"What?!" Sakura gasped. "There's someone that strong in the exam? Then… what about Sasuke?"

"You don't need to worry too much. I said now. Give it a month, and with training from someone like Kakashi, it's hard to say. Gaara's strength is unusual—it comes from a special condition. For now, yes, you're the weakest in terms of head-on combat. But that only applies to straightforward matches. There are many kinds of battles."

"And when it comes to talent… well, it's subjective. But I can tell you who has the lowest potential—Dosu Kinuta from the Hidden Sound."

"Really?" Sakura blinked, a little surprised.

"Yes. Despite limited natural talent, Dosu underwent invasive modifications under Orochimaru to become a human weapon. That says a lot. Orochimaru wouldn't waste resources on someone unless they were easy to discard."

"So…"

"Exactly. If you handle it right, Dosu isn't a difficult opponent. People like him crumble when they lack intelligence and foresight. Even average Chūnin could beat him with the right tactics. You have a month to prepare. Apart from Naruto, Dosu might be the most beatable target in your bracket."

"Naruto?" Sakura frowned. "Isn't he strong, though? I feel like he's been getting a lot better."

"He's not weak, but his flaws are even more obvious than Dosu's. With the right strategy, a lesser ninja could still take him down. Remember what the Third Hokage said after the prelims?"

"'Information and response'?" Sakura recalled.

"Exactly. How you reach the final round without exposing too many weaknesses is key," Mizuki nodded. "Alright, let's get back to studying. What I'm about to teach you is one of those techniques that grows with you. The stronger you become, the more terrifyingly effective it will be. It's a strength amplifier, essentially."

"Yes, Sensei. But…" Sakura hesitated. "Even if it's useful later, I'm still so weak right now. Will this really help me become a Chūnin?"

"Not yet," Mizuki admitted. "But in a month? It's hard to say."

"Okay." Sakura turned back to her notes, trying to hide her disappointment.

Her casual question, however, stirred something in Mizuki's mind.

'Maybe I've been too ambitious…'

Relying on his overwhelming intellect, he'd always aimed to cut directly to the source—to pursue the truth of chakra and combat efficiency, skipping the 'useless' fundamentals. He'd neglected basic ninjutsu, opting instead to improve only his chakra control and theory.

As he pondered, Mizuki held up his right hand and channeled chakra. A flicker of red light ignited in his palm. The flame sharpened, the color deepened—turning from red to a rich blue, until it crystallized into a radiant, white-blue sphere of searing fire.

'So many prototypes completed… yet none directly improve combat performance. Aside from the omnipotent potion—with its side effects—I've produced nothing that's practical in a fight. I was ready to reach for the heavens… but never checked if I was still standing on solid ground.'

He glanced at Sakura, still diligently scribbling notes.

'It really does help, talking to smart people. Like the saying goes—"Of the three people walking beside me, one may be my teacher." The ancients weren't wrong.'