The group continued their journey. The development of this world was truly hard to describe. They had high-tech items like televisions and computers, yet they didn't even have a decent paved highway.
Still, the scenery was pleasant. Yao chatted and laughed with Naruto the whole way, making it feel more like a vacation than a mission. Before long, the group passed a seemingly ordinary puddle.
Splash!
Two dark shadows shot out of the puddle like specters. They wore Hidden Mist headbands, their faces wrapped in bandages, wielding sharp claw-blades attached to chains as they lunged at Tazuna.
"Aah!!" Tazuna fell back, terrified, hitting the ground hard.
"It's... it's ninjas!" Naruto had never seen such a thing; his scalp went numb with fear, and he completely forgot to even pull out a kunai.
Sasuke's eyes sharpened. He instinctively wanted to charge, but the earlier stunt with the shadow clones had drained his chakra. His legs buckled, nearly causing him to trip, leaving him to watch as the shadows closed in.
Then there was Kakashi. That man's acting was so atrocious it was worse than Naruto's—he was seemingly "slashed to pieces" in the very first exchange.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto screamed, his face turning white as paper.
"Tsk. Kakashi-sensei, I can only give that performance a 66 out of 10,000," Yao muttered. He raised his right hand and formed a simple seal.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
BOOM!!!
A violent torrent of fire erupted like a volcanic explosion. It condensed into a searing serpentine dragon that bared its fangs. The sneers on the Demon Brothers' faces froze, replaced by pure terror.
This kid... can instant-cast a Fire Style this terrifying?!
"NO!!"
Their screams were swallowed whole by the roar of the flames. After the torrent passed, only two wisps of smoke remained. The two Mist rogues, along with their weapons, had been vaporized instantly, burned to ash.
A total one-shot.
"So... so strong!" Tazuna stammered from the ground, his voice trembling. He had thought the three kids were unreliable, but in this moment, he realized he was dead wrong. Naruto might be a klutz, but this kid Yao was a straight-up monster.
Yao looked toward a certain spot and said teasingly, "Kakashi-sensei, you can come out now."
Kakashi strolled out from behind a tree. "Ahaha, I'm saved! It's all thanks to Yao!"
Yao was speechless. Kakashi's acting was so bad it was worse than the actors in those cheap adult videos; it was painful to watch.
After dealing with the Demon Brothers, the group finally arrived in the Land of Waves. This small nation surrounded by the sea was steeped in poverty. Dilapidated houses, emaciated residents, and a cloud of sorrow hung over everyone's face. After learning the truth from Tazuna, Kakashi rubbed his chin and made his decision.
"In that case, our mission is changed. We will protect Mr. Tazuna until the bridge is completed."
Hearing the mission upgrade, Naruto didn't show fear. Instead, he was fired up, pumping his fist. "Don't worry, Mr. Tazuna! Gato and his goons can leave it to the Great Uzumaki Naruto!"
Sasuke kept his hands in his pockets and huffed. He didn't speak, but the intent in his eyes was clear. Yao, meanwhile, was indifferent. Staying in the Land of Waves was actually more convenient for him. Being far from the village meant he could use the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu to continue his Wood Style development in secret.
Yao had a hunch. Before long, he would definitely master it.
Thus, Team 7 settled into Tazuna's home. Kakashi handled the overall security and tactical planning, occasionally giving pointers to Naruto and Sasuke. Yao, using the Flying Raijin, vanished into a deserted forest.
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Yao formed the seal.
Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!
Hundreds of shadow clones appeared instantly, filling the surrounding area.
"Groups 1 through 100, focus on form and nature transformation of Earth-style chakra!" "Groups 101 through 200, practice form and nature transformation of Water-style chakra!" "Groups 201 through 300, attempt the fusion of Water and Earth!" "Group 301, practice Yang Release chakra..."
Every shadow clone possessed the ability to think independently. Upon receiving orders, they immediately plunged into their respective training.
Wood Style! It was formed by combining the natures of Water and Earth chakra, then endowed with life through Yang Release. It sounded simple in theory, but execution was grueling. Yao had to rely on this "brute force" method—practicing bit by bit, failing, dispersing, and letting the experience flow back to his original self.
Retry, fail again, return again...
By trading overwhelming numbers for time and experience, Yao's understanding of Wood Style accelerated at an unprecedented rate. Along the way, his mastery over the form and nature transformations of Water and Earth also skyrocketed. He constantly summarized, organized, simulated, and optimized.
In the blink of an eye, another half-month passed.
"The 'containment' and 'shaping' of Earth chakra!" "The 'nourishment' and 'flow' of Water chakra!" "The 'life' and 'creation' of Yang Release!"
"Based on the aggregate of all experience, a fusion ratio of 5:4:1 for these three is the most logical! Let's try it!"
Yao carefully manipulated the three vastly different chakra natures, bringing them together according to the optimal ratio. Earth served as the foundation, providing the framework. Water acted as the medium, granting fluidity. Yang Release provided the vital life force.
"Now!"
Yao's eyes flashed as he injected the Yang chakra into the preliminary blend of Water and Earth.
Hum...
A soft, vibrant emerald light blossomed. The chakra, which previously felt like mere soil and water, seemed to be granted a soul, undergoing the final transformation from energy to matter. Then, a tender, verdant little sapling broke through the sphere of chakra light and grew into physical existence.
It was only a finger high, so slender it looked like a gust of wind could topple it—but it was undeniably wood. It radiated the distinct fragrance and life signature of a real plant!
"I did it!!"
Even with Yao's usual composure, he could not hide his excitement. Heaven helps those who help themselves! Half a month of bitter cultivation and the accumulated efforts of countless shadow clones had finally borne the sweetest fruit. Yao delicately supported the tiny sapling with his chakra, as if holding the most precious treasure in the world.
"Though it's still weak, this is undeniably... Wood Style!"
Going from zero to one is always the hardest part, and Yao had cleared that hurdle. This meant he had officially pushed open the gates to the Wood Style. The next step was to let it grow and strengthen until it became a towering tree—and eventually, a boundless forest!