Chapter 043: While Others Tread Water, Sasuke Walks on Lava

Naruto was entangled, caught between two watermelon-headed fellows.

The larger one, Might Guy, introduced himself as a jonin of the Hidden Leaf; the smaller, Rock Lee, was a year ahead of Naruto in the Academy—a senior, so to speak.

The two of them wanted Naruto’s weighted training exoskeleton.

With business knocking at his door, Naruto naturally wouldn’t refuse. He had no shortage of money; what he wanted from Might Guy was knowledge or technique—something he didn’t already know.

“A clever young man,” Might Guy said, raising his thumb. “Your choice is the right one! I don’t know if this decision was made consciously, but I’ll give you a piece of information for free!”

“For jonin like us, the most valuable things we possess are never weapons or money!”

“But the crystallization of our youth and passion!”

Experience, knowledge, or perhaps wisdom—this seemed to be what Might Guy meant.

Naruto certainly agreed with that view. He knew well that, for seasoned veterans like them, their most precious assets were exactly that: experience and knowledge.

In the end, Might Guy exchanged a set of taijutsu training methods for two exoskeleton suits.

Naruto even added adjustment mechanisms to the suits, teaching them how to select training modes. All they needed to do was replace the chakra crystals regularly; if they ran out, simple firewood would do.

“Don’t underestimate this training method,” Might Guy said with a wink. “This regimen is a prerequisite for an important jutsu, passed down from my father. Master it to the fullest, and you’re welcome to come find me—I’ll teach you the technique.”

Naruto nodded as well, smiling. “My weighted exoskeleton is just the basic model; it can be upgraded. Whenever you feel it no longer challenges you, come to me for a free upgrade.”

And then the big and little watermelons marched off into the distance, shouting their slogans as always.

Naruto had heard something about Rock Lee before. Among the students a year ahead, there was one whose chakra pathways were blocked by birth, making chakra flow difficult and rendering him incapable of performing ninjutsu.

In the Academy, and even throughout the village, this person was mocked as a hopeless case, someone with no chance of becoming a ninja.

Yet Rock Lee was determined to prove that even without ninjutsu—even relying solely on taijutsu—one could still become a great ninja.

Naruto made no judgment on Rock Lee’s choice. Whether one became strong didn’t depend on the ability to use ninjutsu, but on having enough willpower, wisdom, and luck.

As for Might Guy—

Naruto dared not underestimate him; he could sense that Might Guy’s physical strength was terrifying, perhaps the greatest he’d encountered in both his lives combined.

As for the training method Might Guy shared, Naruto could tell that, followed to the letter, it would surely create a taijutsu master.

However, for Sasuke and Akiyo, it was still too early to learn that.

In the days that followed, Naruto’s training for the two was gradual and adapted daily. For instance—

“Today, we’re going to learn to climb trees. No hands—just your feet, as if walking on flat ground,” Naruto said.

Sasuke looked incredulous. “How is that possible? Is something like that real?”

“Why not? Watch me.”

Then, under Sasuke’s awe-struck gaze, Naruto calmly walked step by step up a tall tree.

“You might think this is the power of spirit machinery, but no, I only used chakra,” Naruto shrugged. “For reasons I don’t fully understand, chakra in this world seems to be omnipotent—it can do anything. In versatility, I’d say chakra surpasses spirit machinery energy, which is limited to mechanical applications.”

Sasuke wanted to retort: “But you can’t use chakra for machines either!”

Some time later, Naruto announced, “Good, you’ve learned to climb trees. Now we’ll practice walking on water.”

A few days passed.

“Water walking’s done. Now, let’s try walking on oil.”

A few more days—

“Oil walking’s mastered. Next: oil and water mixed together... and I’ve added a little ice.”

...“Today we’re walking on mud.”

...“Today, let’s try walking on unset number forty-two concrete.”

...“Today’s subject: non-Newtonian fluids.”

...“Today—molten iron.”

...“How about we try walking on lava?”

Are you just messing with us now?!

Since the mud lesson, you haven’t demonstrated a thing! Can you walk on these yourself?

Sasuke swore that if he could beat Naruto, he’d make sure to give him a good thrashing.

Akiyo, on the other hand, climbed up without complaint.

Still, Sasuke had to admit that Naruto’s training methods had greatly improved him. In the past, his Clone Jutsu could only produce a fleeting, useless illusion. Now, with the same amount of chakra, he could make four or five clones, even manipulate them a little to pretend they were Shadow Clones.

But it was still useless.

In the hands of a tactician like Kakashi or Orochimaru, such clones would be deadly. But for a rookie like Sasuke, they were just for show.

By the way, Might Guy and Little Lee—the master and disciple, not father and son—appeared every day, watching the training. Sometimes they enthusiastically joined in.

Naruto noticed that the pair always set the exoskeleton weights to maximum. Little Lee ended up gasping for breath, while Might Guy seemed unfazed. Yet Naruto could tell that Guy’s condition was actually much worse; his limbs trembled, and he was more battered than Lee. His air of ease was merely bravado.

The reason for Guy’s worse performance was simple: Naruto’s weighted exoskeleton didn’t apply a fixed burden, but rather a percentage. Since Guy’s physique was far superior, the load he bore was much greater as well.

Perhaps at some point, he regretted his pride and stubbornness, clutching aching muscles and bones. But remembering his disciple’s clear, admiring gaze, he must have reignited his own “youth.”

Once the fundamentals were set (even overtrained), Naruto initiated phase two: developing their skills.

“Are we really doing this?” Sasuke stood at the training ground, an apple balanced on his head in front of a target.

Akiyo faced him from over ten meters away, holding Naruto’s mechanical crossbow.

Naruto stood to the side, shouting, “Don’t worry! This is a proven training method—fantastic results! If you do this, your Sharingan’s abilities will improve dramatically!”

“But you know how awful Akiyo’s aim is! Someone save this poor child!” Sasuke cried out, desperate.