Tōma couldn't help feeling impressed as he watched Sakura train.
Her chakra control was even better than he'd expected. She cleared tree climbing on the first try, and judging by her progress, water walking wouldn't take long either.
"Alright," Tōma said. "That's enough instruction for now. Sakura, keep practicing by the river."
Hand-holding wasn't his style.
"Thank you, Tōma," Sakura said seriously. The way he explained chakra control made her realize just how vast the gap was. Not just in strength, but in understanding.
So this is what a jonin is like…
Tōma nodded once, then vanished, heading toward the other training ground.
Sakura slapped her cheeks lightly.
Focus. Learn water walking first. Then go watch Sasuke and think about what Tōma said.
Sasuke…
The moment his face crossed her mind, the other voice in her head roared awake.
It's just water walking. I've got this!
"What happened?"
When Tōma arrived, Naruto was sulking while Kakashi scratched his head, clearly at a loss.
"Tōma! Kakashi-sensei's playing favorites!" Naruto shouted. "He taught Sasuke this super cool jutsu, and I got something totally normal!"
"Oh? That's unforgivable," Tōma said gravely. "Clear favoritism."
"Tōma, don't fuel him," Kakashi groaned. "You know why."
Sasuke stood off to the side, silent. His eyes still carried a mix of shock and heat. He'd clearly seen Chidori up close. Even as a demonstration, its presence was overwhelming.
"So," Tōma said, turning back to Naruto, "what did Kakashi teach you?"
"Something called Gale Palm," Naruto muttered. "Doesn't sound strong at all."
"Huh. That one?" Tōma blinked. "I can use it too."
Naruto froze.
"You can?"
"Of course." Tōma formed seals, deliberately slow this time.
A spiraling current of wind wrapped around his body, controlled and dense, like a moving pressure field.
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed.
Reshaping a jutsu's form that cleanly… no wonder the Third spoke so highly of him.
"Wait, wait!" Naruto waved his arms. "That's Gale Palm? It looks totally different from what Kakashi-sensei showed!"
"That's because Tōma's chakra control is absurd," Kakashi said tiredly. "Same jutsu. Different execution."
"Oh," Naruto said, clearly not understanding.
Sasuke smirked.
"If this idiot actually masters it at that level, it'll suit him perfectly."
"Huh? Why?" Naruto asked, momentarily ignoring the insult.
"Because your stamina is ridiculous," Sasuke replied coolly. "Your taijutsu's sloppy, but if every hit is boosted like that, people won't be able to take it head-on."
Naruto imagined himself charging through enemies like a storm and started grinning to himself.
"Idiot," Sasuke muttered.
"Hey! Who are you calling an idiot?! And earlier you called me stupid!"
"Only took you that long to notice. That proves my point."
"Enough," Tōma said calmly. "Sasuke's right. This jutsu fits you."
"But Chidori's way cooler," Naruto complained. "Lightning and all."
"Suitability matters more than flash," Tōma said. "Besides, Gale Palm has room to grow. Naruto, you know about the Cloud Village?"
"Another ninja village?"
"They have a technique called Lightning Chakra Mode," Tōma explained. "They coat their whole body in chakra. Fast. Strong. Impressive."
Naruto's eyes sparkled.
"So," Tōma continued, "if they can do that with lightning, why not wind? Wind Style Chakra Mode."
Naruto stared, then shouted, "That sounds awesome!"
Tōma demonstrated briefly, lightning crackling around his body like a living shell. The air vibrated.
Naruto's jaw dropped.
"I'm doing it! I'm gonna make Wind Style Chakra Mode!"
Tōma smiled faintly. Interest secured.
Kakashi clicked his tongue.
"That level of Lightning control… learning Chidori won't be hard for you at all."
"Then leave Naruto to you," Tōma said. "Teach him properly."
"Hey, wait—" Kakashi started, but Naruto's blazing stare forced a sigh. "Fine."
Tōma stepped back, wisely choosing not to involve himself further. Teaching Naruto theory was torture. Teaching Rasengan in a few days was impossible.
Sure enough, it didn't take long before Kakashi looked like he'd aged ten years.
Eventually, he staggered back over.
"Tōma," Kakashi said weakly, "do you really think Naruto can pull off that chakra mode thing?"
"Unlikely," Tōma admitted. "But it'll improve his control regardless. And he's Naruto. He tends to surprise people."
"…Fair enough."
Kakashi straightened and turned serious.
"Alright. Sasuke. Tōma. Time for the true essence of Chidori."
Finally.
Sasuke's breath caught. That jutsu radiated power even from the sidelines. If he mastered it, maybe—just maybe—he could close the distance.
Tōma focused as well. He already had his own version, but Kakashi's understanding mattered.
Kakashi began explaining.
Then he froze.
On Tōma's hand, lightning gathered. Stable. Focused. Familiar.
Sasuke stared.
"…You already know it?"
"More or less," Tōma said. "I was heading this way anyway. Your explanation just cleared the last hurdle."
Sasuke exhaled slowly.
Figures. Of course it's him.
Kakashi rubbed his temple.
So this is what real talent looks like…
"Alright," Kakashi said at last. "Sasuke, practice here. Don't compare yourself to Tōma. He built his foundation first. You're skipping steps."
"I know," Sasuke said quietly. "It's Tōma, after all."
Kakashi glanced at Tōma again.
To earn that kind of acknowledgment from an Uchiha… his past must've been something else entirely.
Some people stayed exceptional wherever they went.
And Tōma felt like one of those people.