🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃Exactly one week later🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃

Iroko POV

"I'm going to teach you ninjutsu now," said Sasuke-sensei.

HELL YEEAAAAAAHHH!!!

"So, wait, I'm really going to learn new ninjutsu?" I asked eagerly.

Sasuke-sensei nodded. I turned around so as not to face him, and celebrated wildly, then turned back to him with an earnest expression.

"Ok, then," I said. "I'm ready."

"Iroko, believe me when I say I was fully aware of your skepticism this past week. Now, believe me when I say it wasn't just to augment your physical capabilities.

Sasuke-sensei held out his right hand. "Listen closely. The jutsu I am going to teach you is an A-rank, meaning its a highly powerful jutsu but also equally as dangerous to the user. One of its most glaring weaknesses is something that could be easily solved if you wielded the Sharingan, but you don't, and under normal circumstances, you can't use it at all at that, but I've devised an alternative for it. All the exercises you've done up to this very point was to provide you with the means to safely use it without the drawback handicapping you."

Then, a blue-ish white aura started to gather around Sasuke-sensei's hand, and a soft tweeting-like sound began to emanate.

"The name of this ninjutsu is Chidori," said Sasuke. The blue-ish white aura around his hand then exploded into a bright, barrage of electricity closely gathered around his hand. I could hear a multitude of sounds like chirping birds from it.

"Chidori," I muttered after him.

Next, he took a step a forward and blitzed past me. I couldn't track him with my eyes at all. I swerved around and saw, just in time, him slice through five trees in succession. They were cleanly cut through and the burning embers from the Chidori lingered in the bark.

My jaw dropped. "Ultimate...!"

The Chidori dispersed from his hand, like a discharged electrical output, and the trees all crashed down into the ground at the same time.

"You're saying I could do that?!" I gasped.

He nodded. "Here." He gave me a small blank piece of paper.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" I asked.

"It's called a Litmus Paper. It's fabricated from a special tree that lives on chakra. I want you to leak some of your chakra into it."

"Okay then." I did as he said, and immediately the paper crumpled and wrinkled tenfold without me doing anything to it. "Huh? What just--"

"When this paper is exposed to even the slightest bit of chakra it reacts accordingly to the chakra nature your body has an affinity for," Sasuke-sensei explained, "and it looks like my suspicion was correct. Because the paper wrinkled it means you have a natural affinity for Lightning Style."

I stared down at the paper. A natural affinity for Lightning Style. Just like Dad?

Sasuke-sensei took the paper off my hands and placed it inside his cloak. "Since we know that, your training on how to utilize the Chidori will be easier since you're already adept at Lightning Styled jutsu, too."

I became confused. "I'm already adept at Lightning Styled jutsu?"

"That technique you call the Flash jutsu? You've been emitting Lightning-natured chakra into your feet, thus giving you that burst of speed. The same is applied when you use Chakra Flow for your kunai and shuriken. The reason why their speed and cutting power is increased is from Lightning chakra you imbued it with to induce high-frequency vibrations with it. Finally, you've shown yourself able to already gather lIghtning chakra in your hands (but not in the way needed for the Chidori). All of these are already quite advanced ninjutsu."

"So, all this time," I realized, "I've already been super proficient at Lightning Style?"

"Moreso than the average genin," Sasuke-sensei answered. "The real reason for the exercises was to allow you to cover the glaring weakness of the Chidori which is tunnel vision."

He then explained exactly what the tunnel vision weakness of the Chidori was and what needed to be done to counter it, allowing me to understand the need for the exercises.

"Wait, what?" I asked upon hearing something kind of daunting.

"You'll understand once you're able to activate it," Sasuke-sensei said. "Now let's begin. Despite how skilled you are with Lightning Styled jutsu, in order to be able to manifest and safely maintain the Chidori you need to learn and perform the Hand Seals needed for it, and because I don't have two hands to show you..."

Sasuke-sensei reached into his cloak and pulled out a scroll. He unrolled it before me and revealed a set of hand seals carefully and painstakingly painted with detail across the cloth. I counted seventeen hand seals.

"Why are there so many?!" I cried.

"I told you the Chidori is an A-rank jutsu, not a simple technique. This second part of your training will be much harsher than the last. You'll be drained dry of chakra. But if you can master it, you will gain the upper hand in your fights to come and be a step closer to achieving your dream. Are you up for it?"

I've finally been given the opportunity to learn something new, I thought, standing up. With this jutsu under my belt, I'll be a step closer to reaching Naruto-sensei as the ultimate ninja. Not to mention, I would basically be Sasuke-sensei's successor. Who cares if it'll be hard? (The hard path is all I've known) My friends, my rival, everyone in the rookie class, they're probably all giving it their all. I can't afford to fall behind.

My response to Sasuke-sensei's question was raising my hands and slapping them together, performing the Monkey seal, according to the scroll. "This how you do it?"

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Asami POV

I could feel the tingly sensation of the chakra as it gathered together in my hand. I had to focus or it would fail to form correctly if at all. Hisao-sensei watched eagerly to see if I could add the final nature to it.

I had been vigorously training over the course of the three weeks, endeavoring to control a special jutsu Hisao-sensei had been teaching me.

The Particle Style.

"I came upon this jutsu during the time I had spent in the Stone Village," he had explained to me. "There came a time when I was assigned a mission with the Tsuchikage himself. Upon seeing him use the Particle Style in battle for the first time, my analysis system, as you called it, had kicked in and I had unknowingly replicated the jutsu from him!

"Naturally, the Tsuchikage became very upset that I learned a hiden technique (moreso that easily) and almost had me executed for it. He had eventually agreed to allow me to live with it at the persuasion of his granddaughter who managed to convince him that he needed a successor to preserve the jutsu."

Suddenly, Hisao-sensei had instantly ignited it with both hands. It was sphere-shaped and surprisingly huge. Within the sphere was a white glowing orb that shone like a star and resembled incredibly compact white flames.

"And now I wish to pass it on to you. If you're wondering why couldn't Iroko and Yuura learn this, it's as I said before: this is something only you can learn. Your skills, technique and prowess on the field have proven that. I believe that you'll be able to handle this technique with precision." He dispersed the Particle Style.

Hisao-sensei. There was so much about this... person that I didn't know. Who would have guessed that he's affiliated with the Tsuchikage? Questions about him kept on emerging in my head. Who was his creator? How and when did he pick up so many ninjutsu (like Soku's)? Why does he always wear shades? That's the reason why I had taken him up on his offer. What I can learn from him might reveal things about the Leaf that have remained hidden to me for so long.

Getting back to the present, the Particle Style was no joke. It was taking every ounce of my fortitude to even just manifest it, much less maintain it. Hand seals weren't required to create it, only the gathering of the chakra in one's hands, so that wasn't where the difficulty lay. Where I truly struggled was learning to combine three chakra natures together, simultaneously, and hold it in that form while it continuously consumed chakra.

"Remember," Hisao-sensei came in, "you're very adept at Fire Style so add that first, then Wind Style can come after as it's your natural affinity, then Earth Style last."

It was true. Even though Wind Style was my natural affinity, I was better adept at Fire Style. Hisao-sensei had previously taught me a Wind technique called Gale Palm in the middle of last week just to help me become more accommodated with the chakra nature.

I was now able to hold together the Particle Style from the Wind and Fire nature. It resembled Hisao-sensei's with the white flaming orb and there was pyramid-shaped barrier forming around it but it flashed in and out without maintenance. I assumed that was because I hadn't added the final nature.

"Yes, very good, Asami!" Hisao-sensei smiled. "Now to add Earth Style. This will be the most straining step."

It was straining even now just trying to hold it, but all the same. I breathed deeply then began the final process. I needed delicate and extremely fine chakra control to do this. Little by little, I added the Earth nature, and the pyramid barrier was starting to maintain itself which meant it was working...

...but I was using up far more chakra than I ever had. I became nauseated and lightheaded, the Particle Style started to dissipate.

Hisao-sensei noticed. "It's alright, Asami! You've done excellently well today, there's no need to push yourself!"

"No...!" I huffed. "I can... do this!"

I stood my ground and released even more chakra. I had above-average reserves so I could expel some more before I became incapacitated. The Particle Style held its form again but the pyramid-shaped barrier was no longer there.

Just a bit more!

But I had vastly overestimated myself. Before I knew it my body gave out and I couldn't hold the Particle Style any more.

However, it didn't dissipate. Instead, I accidentally released it from my hands and it pelted across the field. As soon as it hit the ground it grated at the soil like a saw machine, sinking into the ground at an incredibly slow pace until it exploded, creating a large crater in the ground.

Hisao-sensei looked down at me. "Why don't we take a break?"

"So it would seem integrating two change in chakra natures is your limit," said the android, handing me a daifuku, "which is by no means a bad thing. There are many ninjas (jonin as well) who struggle to mix in even a second chakra nature. But I have to ask, does Wood Style not incorporate Earth and Water Style? You display no signs of difficulty utilizing it, so how then can you not use Earth Style?"

The memories resurfaced themselves. I did not want to answer him but I felt I owed him that much.

"When I was Orochimaru's guinea pig, he injected the First Hokage's cells into me. He expected me to die right then and there, but miraculously I was a match. When that happened, my genes were altered and I had automatically obtained Wood Style. I could perform the jutsu but only from the First's cells, it wasn't something that had naturally occurred in me. So although I'm able to use Water and Earth Style for Wood Style, it's just Wood Style I can use them for."

"I see, that clears up many things," said Hisao-sensei. "I apologize if I made you remember things you did not want to remember."

I bit into the daifuku, saying nothing.

"At any rate, since Earth Style is not a chakra nature you have yet to naturally acquire and two chakra natures are your limit, your Particle Style may remain as it is for some time," he continued. "However, that's not a bad thing in itself either." He pointed at the crater in the ground. "I believe you can continue to use the Particle Style in its current state, given the damage it's able to do, but since, strictly speaking, it's not the definite jutsu we should give yours a different name."

He rubbed his chin with his hand, pondering about it.

"How about Atom Style?" He suggested. "Since it's a premature version?"

Is he serious? "Sure."

"Then so be it!" he smirked. "Atom Style is its name!"

He was weirdly enthusiastic about this. But I guessed since I was inheriting his jutsu he couldn't help but be excited. Even so, this was a surprising amount of emotion shown for an android, not that I was one to talk.

"You've been the one asking me questions all this time," I said, having finished my daifuku. "What about your end of the deal?"

"Ah, yes, of course!" he responded. "Well, go on then. Ask any question about me you want, except for my shades. (That's a bit too touchy a subject.)"

I deadpanned. I suppose he was weary after all. "What happened to your hand?"

He looked down at his right hand. On either side of the palm, there was a deep, all-too noticeable scar. It looked like it was once a gash.

Hisao-sensei made a quiet and modest smile. "Oh, this? Would you believe me if I told you I couldn't remember?"

I felt my eyes widen. "You don't remember?"

"Not don't, can't. I've been trying to for a long time now." He gazed out at the sun that starting to set. His shades gleamed. "Memory loss is a truly horrible and terrifying thing."

My fist was clenched. I could feel it shake from the emotion of sorrow.

I know.

Third-Person POV

"Combustion Style: Burning Rush!!!"

Kazue blew up the near parameter with a powerful strike, trying to land a hit on his combatant.

"Goddammit!!" He gritted his teeth. He cleared away the smoke so as not to block his vision. "Thought I hadja at that time!"

The opponent landed gracefully before the hotheaded ninja. "If you want to land a blow on me, you're going to have to predict my movements."

The opponent was a fairly tall person with a lean but masculine figure. They were clad all in black and grey. They wore a Gyodo mask to cover their face but their light brown, almost blond hair spilt from behind their head in a long ponytail.

Kazue grinned. "Predict your movements, huh?"

He whipped out eight kunai with explosive tags tied to them and flung them all around his opponent. As soon as they exploded he lunged forward at the man, performing the hand seals Bird, Rat then Serpent.

"Combustion Style: Flame Serpent!" He released a great snake-like flame that went straight for the man.

He flickered out of its way and into the air, but even then the snake-like flame threw itself upward at him.

He's limited my escape routes by using the explosive tags and made a Flame Serpent to home in on me should I still manage to find a way out, he thought. Not bad.

He flickered away from the Flame Serpent once again and as he approached the ground from his hand out he cultivated a massive 12-ft long pole with a banner bathed in flame attached to the top of it.

With a great sweep of the banner, the fire from the explosive tags and the Flame Serpent, making a beeline for him, were obliterated instantly.

Combustion Style (炎遁/Neton): the signature Kekkei Genkai of the Katsumi clan made up of Fire Style and Lightning Style. It is said to be the pinnacle of art in Fire Style.

There are two stages to Combustion Style. The first stage involves blending Lightning nature into Fire nature; this accelerates the molecules of the Fire chakra to create highly condensed and blazing flames that release explosions on impact. This is the Combustion Style in itself.

The second stage, which is the highly advanced successor to the first, is achieved by increasing the heat of the Fire nature and releasing even more amounts of Lightning chakra (both of which require a large dosage of chakra and precise chakra control) to form plasma-based flames that have far greater explosive properties and far more destructive and searing flames. This second stage is known as 'Taiden Bakuhatsu' 帯電爆発. Though, only a handful of members from the Katsumi clan know this technique.

Kazue here has shown that he has a good grasp on Combustion Style and is even able to apply shape transformation. His status as a prodigy in his class speaks for itself, Kazuki.

The man was suddenly behind Kazue.

Before the hotheaded ninja could even react properly he delivered a blow from the bottom of the banner pole to his head.

As Kazue fell unconscious, his body then exploded in smoke revealing a log of wood.

Don't tell me...!

The man's reflexes flared at light speed. He spun round and deftly swung his banner to intercept a massive Fire Ball Jutsu. The banner absorbed the jutsu completely but the impact of it nearly through him off his balance.

"How's that for predicting your movements?" came Kazue's prideful voice.

"Very good," he answered.

"Damn straight, don't underestimate me!!" Kazue boasted triumphantly. "Now let's go at it again!"

"You're in a fiery mood today," the man noted.

"Why do you think? The Exams are just around the corner!" Kazue explained. "There ain't time to be playing around anymore!"

You were playing around before? "Is there something about it that has you in anticipation?"

"It's not something, it's someone," Kazue's mind drifted to Iroko. He actually managed to make it back from his mission, and it was a C-rank gone wrong like mine, at that. But if you think you have what it takes to surpass me, you're full of s#&! I'll show you why I'm the greatest, you and Toothpick. "Not to mention, my old man'll be watching, right?"

The man did not say anything.

Kazue sighed. "I don't know what it was he said to you when he told you to train me, but you can go back and tell him that I have no intention of losing the Chunin Exams. I'm still seizing the #1 spot, and only the #1 spot, whether he watches me or not. I ain't doing it to make him proud, anyway."

"If you say so."

"Tch, whatever," Kazue piqued. "So are we going again or what?"

"Whenever you're ready." He crouched low, ready his banner.

Kazue stood still for a moment...

..and then he pounced. "Combustion Style: Burning Rush!!!"

*

*

*

Two weeks later on Friday morning.

10:00 AM

THE CHUNIN EXAMS BEGINS.