Chapter 27: Third Stage
"Since you've already activated your Sharingan, let's try to copy my Chidori."
Since Sasuke had completed the second stage of training, the third stage would have to wait for Sakura and the others to join. So Kakashi decided to teach Sasuke the Body Flicker Technique first, and also let Sasuke get familiar with his Sharingan.
Hearing the word "copy," Uchiha Sasuke felt a surge of excitement. Zabuza had told him that Kakashi was a Copy Ninja.
And now he also had the Sharingan!
Although he couldn't copy Ninjutsu other than Lightning and Fire Release, the attribute-less Ninjutsu Rasengan, and Kakashi's Chidori, should both be copyable!
However, a few minutes later, Uchiha Sasuke began to doubt his life!
Why couldn't he copy it?
Was it because the technique's rank was too high?
But why could Kakashi easily copy thousands of Ninjutsu?
"Don't rush. Once your Chakra control improves further and you become proficient with the Sharingan, you should be able to do it."
Kakashi patted Sasuke's shoulder and explained, "Once you learn the Rasengan, it will be proof of your improved precise Chakra control. By then, learning other Ninjutsu will be much simpler."
After speaking, she left, leaving Sasuke alone to get acquainted with his Sharingan.
After Kakashi left, Uchiha Sasuke regained his confidence.
"That Kakashi guy is right, I should learn the Rasengan first. As long as I learn a high-difficulty Ninjutsu like the Rasengan, I can prove that my Chakra control has become stronger!"
"Control, huh... That's it!"
Looking at the sea in front of him, Uchiha Sasuke suddenly thought of a good idea. He would re-do the second stage of training before Sakura and the others completed it!
The sea surface is always turbulent. If he could stand on the unsettled sea while completing the second stage of training, his control over Chakra would definitely become stronger than it was now!
No sooner said than done, Uchiha Sasuke wasted no time and immediately went to the turbulent sea to train.
...
In the following days, Uzumaki Naruto, relying on the cheat-like training of Shadow Clones, also completed the second stage of Rasengan training.
Although he was ahead of Sakura, he wasn't happy, partly because he was behind Sasuke, and partly because being the second to finish meant no reward, though thankfully no punishment either.
And Sakura, on the third day after Naruto finished, finally completed the second stage.
When Sakura completed the second stage, Naruto and Sasuke didn't immediately anticipate the third stage of training; instead, they were curious about what kind of punishment Sakura would receive!
As for Sakura herself, she looked at Kakashi with trepidation, hoping she wouldn't punish her too harshly!
"Well, let's put the punishment aside for now. Let's start the third stage of training."
Kakashi wasn't in a hurry about that; it was better to proceed with the third stage of training first.
After all, the bridge was almost finished, and she wanted to see who among the three could complete the third stage before they returned.
"Huh?"
Naruto felt a bit disappointed. He should have been worried about Sakura being punished, but for some reason, he was very curious and not worried at all.
Conversely, Sakura let out a sigh of relief first.
"The first stage involves irregular Chakra rotation, the second stage tests power, and the third stage is to maintain the Chakra at its fastest irregular rotation and maximum power."
As Kakashi spoke, she took out a balloon and demonstrated.
"Sharingan!"
At this moment, Uchiha Sasuke immediately activated his Sharingan, attempting to copy Kakashi's every move.
"What?"
When Naruto heard Sasuke exclaim "Sharingan," he subconsciously turned his head to look, only to see that the other person's eyes had turned red, and there was a small black tomoe in the red pupil.
Compared to Kakashi's left eye, it only had two fewer tomoe!
Even Sakura was shocked; eyes just like Kakashi-sensei's!
Although she had heard Sasuke ask Kakashi-sensei how to activate the Sharingan that day, she didn't know what exactly happened afterward.
She hadn't expected Kakashi-sensei to actually teach Sasuke how to activate the Sharingan!
"Hey, hey, Kakashi-sensei, why does Sasuke have the same eyes as you? I want to learn this Sharingan too!"
After Uzumaki Naruto reacted, he immediately felt that Kakashi-sensei was biased, only teaching Sasuke the Sharingan!
"That's Sasuke's reward for completing the second stage," Sakura quickly interjected, pulling on Naruto's arm.
"Hmph, the Sharingan is our Uchiha Clan's Bloodline Limit; even if you wanted to learn it, you couldn't."
Uchiha Sasuke snorted, feeling a hint of pride at the same time. With his Sharingan activated, he had already left them far behind!
"Liar, then why does Kakashi-sensei have it?" Naruto immediately retorted.
"That was given to her by a dead last from our Uchiha Clan before he died."
"Really, Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi nodded in response, but thought, Sasuke, I hope Obito doesn't hear you calling him a dead last!
Seeing Kakashi confirm it, Naruto couldn't help but feel upset again. That Sasuke guy now had the same Sharingan as Kakashi-sensei, he must have become even stronger. Just when he had finally caught up to him, he was now left far behind again.
"This time we're using a balloon, but you can't pop it. You have to maintain the Chakra ball, which is irregularly rotating at its fastest and most powerful, inside this balloon."
After Kakashi demonstrated, she had them start trying.
This stage could be said to be the most difficult, as an inflated balloon without water is too fragile and will pop with the slightest touch.
"A balloon? And I can't pop it?"
Just hearing it, Naruto felt immense pressure. This kind of ultra-fine Chakra control was what he was worst at!
Sakura and Sasuke, however, were confident.