Malphegor
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HSU: Ch. 125
🕑 Added 2025-01-08 19:47:17 +0000 UTCAt the edge of the Valley of the End, a small clearing had been made in the forest.
Under Masashi's watchful eye, the four little ones were enthusiastically shouting, "Hee-yah! Hee-yah!"
Since he was teaching, the first thing he worked on was laying a foundation for Yang Release. After all, it had no upper limit and was widely applicable.
To build a foundation for Yang Release, of course, taijutsu came first.
"Remember, focus on form first. Power comes later," he called out, adjusting Karin's stance slightly. "Each movement should flow naturally into the next."
This was obviously a far cry from the flashy ninjutsu training scenes the kids had envisioned. However, the vibrant and dazzling giant ice arm in the distance never failed to rekindle their motivation. Every few minutes, one of them would glance at it, their eyes shining with fire.
From the start, the four kids demonstrated distinct differences in aptitude.
As Masashi predicted, Naruto and Sasuke excelled, showing outstanding learning abilities—they were born to be ninjas.
Karin performed slightly better than Haku in learning, making him seem like the weakest among the four. Yet Masashi noticed how Haku's movements, though slower to learn, were more precise once mastered.
However, even Haku, who appeared to lag behind, was still far ahead of most others.
All four were undoubtedly genius-level talents, with two of them hiding overpowered potential beneath their genius exterior.
He silently admired them. The sight of their tired faces brought back memories of his own training days.
He had also started training at the age of three, but compared to these four little ones, his own efforts seemed lackluster.
"Alright, take a break."
He clapped his hands to signal the four to pause and catch their breath.
"Teacher, who's stronger, me or him?" Naruto and Sasuke immediately blurted out at the same time.
The eager, expectant looks in their eyes showed their strong sense of competition.
That was a good thing.
The Ninja Academy's team-based teaching system was designed with this in mind.
"You're both amazing in different ways," Masashi said, then turned to Sasuke with a knowing look. "You're even stronger than Itachi was at your age."
"Really!? I'm better than my brother?" Sasuke's expression lit up like a small star igniting.
It was predictable that he would go home and demand praise from his family, and Itachi would probably respond with a resigned, "Ah, yes, yes."
Naruto, on the other hand, had no interest in Itachi. His interest was focused solely on Sasuke. So, being told he was "amazing too" didn't satisfy him; it didn't hit his sweet spot.
His expression now was like, "Lame, tied with that annoying Sasuke again."
He kicked at the ground, avoiding eye contact.
"Take a good rest, and we'll continue shortly," Masashi reminded them sternly. "You have a bit more time, so no fooling around. Recover properly. Foundation matters more than speed at this stage."
As soon as he finished, the difference between children from ninja clans and non-ninja clans became apparent.
Although today was their first day of training, Naruto and Sasuke had grown up surrounded by ninja life. Thanks to their upbringing and their parents' unconscious guidance, they already had a basic understanding of how to recover efficiently without further instruction from Masashi.
Karin and Haku, on the other hand, were different. They either didn't understand recovery methods or didn't grasp them well enough, so he had to guide them. He knelt beside them, demonstrating the proper breathing technique.
"Remember this feeling," he advised while demonstrating. "You're going to be ninjas. Ninja recovery is different from regular people's recovery. Think of it like recharging—every breath should have purpose. You need to build this habit and make it instinctual now."
Each ninja clan developed its own recovery techniques tailored to their unique ninjutsu systems, optimizing endurance.
Among them, the Senju clan's recovery methods were particularly versatile and compatible with most ninjutsu styles, thanks to their broad knowledge of jutsu.
Since Masashi wasn't familiar with the recovery methods of the Uzumaki or Yuki clans, he taught them the Senju technique, which he used himself.
It didn't matter much—what mattered was that they had a method.
After some time, he called them to regroup. Their breathing had steadied, and their eyes were clear again.
"The first step to becoming a ninja is feeling chakra," Masashi said. "Let me explain what chakra is."
"Teacher, I know this one!" Naruto eagerly raised his hand high, nearly jumping in place. "Chakra is inside the body! With chakra, you can be a ninja and use jutsu!"
Sasuke gave Naruto a disdainful side glance, saying nothing.
His father had told him just the day before how amazing his teacher was and to study hard, so he was determined to be the perfect student.
And that jutsu his teacher used earlier? It was seriously impressive.
"Oh, really?" Masashi smiled. "Then, Naruto, why don't you tell everyone—what is chakra?"
"Yes! Chakra is… um…" Naruto's face gradually turned blank, his earlier confidence evaporating.
Huh? What was it again? Chakra is… chakra?
"Idiot," Sasuke muttered "quietly," though everyone could hear him clearly.
"Sorry, teacher, I think I don't actually know," Naruto admitted sheepishly, scratching his head.
"That's fine. I didn't know at first either—that's why we need to learn," Masashi said nostalgically. "When you get to the Academy, don't disregard what the teachers teach, even if it's just textbook knowledge. Knowledge you think is useless might just be something you don't need right now."
The kids nodded, though Naruto still looked slightly embarrassed.
"Now then, let's talk about chakra. Originally, this world didn't have chakra. You've heard the story of the Sage of Six Paths, right?"
"Yes! The Sage created chakra!" Naruto's quick reflexes for answering questions were unmatched. His enthusiasm hadn't dimmed despite his earlier mistake.
"Who told you that?"
"My dad said so."
"Then remember to tell your mom tonight that your dad has hidden money behind the wedding photo in the living room."
"Got it!"
After giving the Hokage the punishment he deserved, Masashi resumed the lesson.
"The Sage of Six Paths revealed the truth of chakra, including its composition. This allowed everyone, in theory, to feel and use chakra, which also led to the existence of ninja beasts. Even animals can use chakra." Masashi held up one finger.
"First, understand this: how much chakra a person can use depends on their ability to access it, while the maximum amount of chakra they can have depends on their physical and mental energy. Think of chakra like the fibers in your muscles—you have two main types."
"Slow-twitch fibers are like your physical energy—they work longer, give you endurance, keep you going. Fast-twitch fibers are like your mental energy—they give you quick bursts of power, sharp and intense. Your chakra is what happens when both types work together."
"Just like how a muscle needs both types of fibers to work at its best, you need both physical and mental energy balanced to create strong chakra. That's why some ninjas who only train their bodies can't use complex jutsu, and why others who only study scrolls can't maintain their techniques for long. You need both, working together."
At this point, he praised Naruto, noting how the boy's earlier embarrassment had made him more attentive.
"Naruto has the best stamina among you, so he will have the most chakra."
"Yeah!" Naruto cheered, finally getting the recognition he wanted.
"Don't get too excited yet," Masashi doused him with a metaphorical bucket of cold water. "Having a lot doesn't mean you'll be strong. Control and usage are a whole different matter."
In the original timeline, Naruto's chakra control and usage were disastrous before graduation, earning him the title of "dead last."
"Don't worry about that for now. First, I'll teach you how to mold chakra, then how to build your chakra reserves. The more you practice molding and controlling it, the stronger you'll become in the future."
"Teacher," Haku raised his hand this time, "what happens to our chakra when we don't use it? Does it just disappear?"
"Good question," Masashi nodded, pleased by the thoughtful inquiry. "Chakra naturally flows back into your system when not being used, replenishing your stamina. This is why knowing how to balance chakra usage and stamina recovery during battle is a fundamental skill for ninjas. Without a solid foundation in chakra control, you can't become a strong ninja."
Human learning ability was truly amazing, which was why the concept of talent exists.
It was like how some people weren't great at academics but were naturally skilled at fighting, relying purely on their instincts to outmatch others' intellect.
As for who that might be, Masashi wasn't going to name names.
As the sun was setting, the four children under his training had almost reached their physical limits. Through his experienced eyes, he could see the varying levels of exhaustion.
They were panting heavily, their tongues practically hanging out like dogs from the Inuzuka clan would when exhausted. Sweat dripped from their faces, creating small dark spots on the training ground beneath them.
"That's enough for today," he said, and the four children felt like they had just heard the voice of an angel.
The teacher was handsome, the teacher was strong, but the teacher was brutal.
That was Sasuke's impression of Masashi after a day of training. The young Uchiha's legs trembled slightly, but his eyes still held that characteristic fire.
On the other hand, Naruto didn't think too much. Naturally energetic, he felt invigorated after pushing his stamina to its absolute limit.
Karin and Haku, however, were both exhausted and happy.
When they first managed to feel chakra, they were so excited they wanted to jump for joy.
Molding chakra on the very first day of training would probably earn them the label of prodigies elsewhere. But for Masashi, having four geniuses handed to him meant that failing to mold chakra on the first day would almost feel like an insult to his skills.
Generally, there were two reasons why someone failed to mold chakra: either they lacked talent, or their teacher's methods were poor, leaving the student to figure it out on their own.
But these four—each of them had talent so extraordinary it would make any other ninja clan envious.
Once Naruto and Karin entered the Ninja Academy and showcased their abilities, coupled with Kushina being the wife of the Hokage, the Uzumaki clan might even consider rebuilding their legacy.
When that time came, the one most awkwardly caught in the middle might very well be Kushina herself.
Overall, the resurgence of the Uzumaki clan would benefit the ninja clans of Konoha, but it wouldn't be as simple as it seemed. There would inevitably be factions trying to obstruct it.
Even within the Hokage faction, some would resist.
However, none of that concerned Masashi. He had finally decided to teach someone and didn't care about anything else.
"Teacher, can we start learning ninjutsu tomorrow?" Haku, the most eager of the group, asked.
Having personally experienced the night of his clan's massacre, he yearned for power more than anyone.
In this regard, he was very similar to the Sasuke from the original timeline.
The difference was that Haku sought power not for revenge but for protection.
"What are you thinking? You've only just started molding chakra, and you're already talking about using it?" Masashi flicked Haku's forehead lightly. "Today, you were just standing still, but tomorrow, you'll have to start running."
"Running?"
"Do you see real ninjas standing still while fighting?" Masashi conveniently ignored the fact that he often fought while standing still inside Susanoo.
"Ninjas move while using ninjutsu. Building and molding chakra while moving is a basic requirement. Once you master that, you can move on to chakra control. Only after achieving sufficient control can you start using techniques."
"Oh!" Haku nodded in sudden realization. "I understand. I'll work hard!"
Good—eager to learn, with the right attitude. Masashi was very satisfied. Unlike certain other students I could name from my past life.
"Don't worry. As your teacher, I will teach you well and won't abandon you midway. I'll not only teach you ninjutsu but also many important life lessons."
"Life lessons?"
"The ninja world isn't just about ninjutsu," Masashi said, calling over the other three kids. Their faces turned attentive, even Naruto's usual restlessness settling into focus. "Ninjas are still human. Most of the time, dealing with people and situations is the norm. Some missions even require handling things without using ninjutsu at all."
"Eh?" Naruto sounded visibly disappointed, his shoulders slumping. "That doesn't sound cool at all."
"You're wrong, Naruto," Masashi gave him a side glance, remembering a certain orange-clad ninja who changed the world more with his words than his jutsu. "Sometimes, a ninja can be even cooler without ninjutsu."
"Really?"
"I'm your teacher. Would I lie to you? Especially to you three boys—remember this early on. Think of it like walking through a field of mud without getting dirty. Do you know what that means? It means that as you grow up, you'll face many temptations. But you must learn to handle them wisely. This is one of my most valuable life lessons from years as a ninja."
"I know! I know!" Naruto raised his hand eagerly. "I've heard Mom tell Dad about the three taboos for ninjas. But she never said what they are."
"That's too shallow," Masashi shook his head, looking regretful. "The taboos are just the surface. The deeper lessons are beyond what you need to know at your age." Let's save those particular life lessons for much, much later.
The kids didn't fully understand, but they figured that since their teacher was so amazing, whatever he said must be right.
So, they silently committed it to memory.
"Alright, that's it for today. Go home, rest well, and reflect on what you learned today. Remember the feeling of molding chakra, but don't do it at home," Masashi said. "If you try molding chakra secretly, I'll know. And if you disobey, I won't teach you anymore."
Haku froze, alarmed, as he had been planning to practice more tonight. His slight tension didn't escape Masashi's notice.
"Don't think you can endlessly push your stamina without consequences," Masashi continued, reading their expressions with precision. "The cost of overexertion is something you can't afford yet. In a ninja's life, there are things you must never do unless you're in a life-or-death situation."
This was a mistake he had made in his earlier life and didn't want these kids to repeat.
His stern expression intimidated the children. The three boys immediately pounded their chests, swearing they would be the most obedient.
Karin, unable to mimic their gestures, clenched her fists to show her resolve.
Masashi was pleased. He patted her head to praise her, and the little girl shyly buried her head into his stomach, giggling.
"It's getting late. Hold hands and form a circle," Masashi said, returning to his usual gentle demeanor. He took Karin's hand first and called for the others.
Haku quickly grabbed Masashi's other hand.
Naruto and Sasuke, awkwardly holding hands, were more straightforward when it came to picking a third partner.
Activating the Flying Thunder God, Masashi first appeared at the Namikaze residence to drop off Naruto and Karin. There, Naruto and Sasuke exchanged an embarrassingly cringy declaration of rivalry that they would one day look back on with mortification.
Don't ask. Just know it involved a duel at the Valley of the End.
Masashi thought that if he had friends like these, he'd have dug an underground bunker for Minato on the spot.
Finally, after the two finished their theatrics, he grabbed Sasuke and Haku, quickly teleporting away.
