#41 - Chapter 41 Preparation before the exam

"Naruto."

Naruto was pondering how to encourage Sakura to firmly participate in the Chunin Exams when he heard Sakura's voice in his ear.

"Hmm?"

"Um... can I train with you these few days? I can pay."

Kakashi said he would help them train the day before yesterday, but he seemed to have completely forgotten about it because of the Chunin Exams.

Now Sakura lacks confidence in her own strength and is eager to improve herself, so she can only turn to Naruto for help again!

Of course, she could also look for Sasuke... but this time she simply wants to improve her strength, not deepen her relationship with Sasuke.

Naruto is stronger, so it's better to find Naruto!

Moreover, Sakura feels that Sasuke will definitely reject her, only Naruto's side still has a breakthrough.

"Okay."

Naruto was thinking about how to boost Sakura's confidence and encourage her to firmly participate in the Chunin Exams.

Now, facing Sakura's request, he naturally wouldn't refuse her.

"Really? Thank you, Naruto!" Sakura didn't expect Naruto to agree this time, and immediately hugged Naruto happily!

"......"

Naruto grabbed Sakura's arm and pushed her away from him, "Don't be happy too early, it's 10,000 ryo a day, not a penny less!"

Although he must agree to Sakura, he still has to do business.

He can't make a loss!

"No problem!" Sakura imitated Naruto's usual appearance and gave an okay sign with a smile.

"Naruto, I can pay too!"

Sasuke had been listening to the conversation between the two, and when he saw Naruto agreed to help Sakura train, he quickly spoke up.

"Well, you can join too." Naruto glanced at Sasuke and said.

Earning one share of money is earning, and earning two shares is also earning for the same amount of time!

There's no reason for him to refuse Sasuke.

And if he really refuses Sasuke and only agrees to Sakura, this girl will definitely start thinking wildly again.

After receiving the money, Naruto took Sakura and Sasuke to the riverside under the bridge.

"Sasuke, you've already mastered the water walking technique, right?"

"Yeah."

Sasuke nodded and walked directly onto the water surface.

Judging from his calm appearance, it can be seen that he has completely mastered this technique.

"Sakura, what you need to learn in the next five days is this."

Naruto looked at Sakura and said lightly, "Concentrate your chakra on the soles of your feet, similar to climbing a tree, and step on the surface of the river."

"In the early stages of training, you can first try stepping on the river with one foot. When you can step on the river with one foot, you can proceed with training with both feet."

"I understand, Naruto!"

Having received guidance, Sakura was particularly serious about her training this time.

Just like Sasuke doesn't want to always stand behind Naruto, Sakura doesn't want to always drag Naruto and Sasuke down!

She also wants to fight alongside them!

"Sasuke!"

After arranging Sakura, Naruto called Sasuke up, "I can't teach you much about ninjutsu. If you want to continue to improve your strength from me, I can teach you two abilities!"

"One is Taijutsu!"

"The other is swordsmanship!"

"Which one do you want to learn?"

The so-called Taijutsu is close combat skills and improving physical fitness, while swordsmanship is an ability that Sasuke has never been exposed to.

So after hesitating for a moment, Sasuke chose swordsmanship!

"I want to learn swordsmanship!"

"If you want to learn swordsmanship, go get the Executioner's Blade, by the way... bring me a knife too."

Naruto can't use the Kusanagi Sword to practice with Sasuke, after all, the sharpest knife in this world can't resist a lightsaber!

Not long after,

Sasuke returned with two swords on his back.

One was the Executioner's Blade, and the other was a ninja short sword that Sasuke temporarily bought at the ninja tool shop.

Naruto took the short sword, twirled it, and swung a slash that directly cut off a tree three meters away!

"Barely usable."

Naruto held the short sword and said to Sasuke, "Come on, pick up your sword and slash at me!"

The Executioner's Blade is a relatively heavy weapon, and Sasuke felt a little heavy holding it in both hands.

He gripped it tightly and slashed at Naruto!

"Too slow, too weak. The Executioner's Blade is a heavy sword. To use this sword well, you must have great strength! Again!" Naruto caught Sasuke's slash with one hand and said lightly.

"Again!"

After catching Sasuke's slashes a few more times, Naruto said again: "There are many ways to use a knife, either chop, or slash, or stab, or pick... don't just chop and slash, you can try attacking me with the knife from all directions!"

Having received guidance, Sasuke held the Executioner's Blade in both hands and began to learn other uses of the knife.

At first, he was very clumsy, but after only a dozen minutes, he was already able to skillfully use some relatively simple knife techniques.

An hour later, his slashing movements were no longer awkward and didn't look like a novice at all.

In the evening,

Sasuke practiced swordsmanship until his hands were numb, but he had basically mastered some basic movements of the knife.

Naruto witnessed Sasuke's progress in one day and had to admit his extraordinary talent.

At the same time,

Sakura, who had been practicing water walking all day, was soaked all over, but she also made obvious progress.

She originally had a good talent for controlling chakra.

Now, after a day of training, she can basically stand firmly on the water surface, and she only needs to practice a little more to completely master the water walking skill.

The originally planned five-day training time is probably more than enough!

Naruto estimates that Sakura only needs to practice for another day, at most two days, to completely master the water walking technique!

"Let's end today's training here, meet here at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

Naruto waved to the two of them and turned to leave.

Judging from the current situation, Sakura has not given up the idea of participating in the Chunin Exams, otherwise, there is no need for her to work so hard!

As for Sasuke, these few days of training will not allow his strength to rise to a higher level, but it can also allow him to better cope with the upcoming Chunin Exams.

His current companions should not be the problem for him to pass the Chunin Exams.

The remaining problem is how to deal with the Sand Village, Orochimaru, and Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Should he disrupt the Sand Village and Orochimaru's invasion plan, and should he save Hiruzen Sarutobi?

Is he to be a great hero who saves Konoha, or continue to live in Konoha as a little transparent?

"If I tell the old man Sarutobi that Orochimaru and the Sand Village have colluded and are about to launch a large-scale invasion of Konoha during the Chunin Exams in more than a month, what will happen?"

"If Konoha prepares in advance, will the Sand Village give up the invasion? If the Sand Village and Orochimaru give up attacking Konoha, what will happen in the future?"

"If the old man Sarutobi doesn't believe me and nothing changes, then should I save him when he is in danger?"

"Or choose to stand by and watch?"

Many, many things, Naruto finds it difficult to make a decision.

Because anything he does may lead to an unknown result.