Naruto was beginning to think that this was all pointless.
He could see it all. Every movement, every angle, every hand seal in perfect clarity.
He just couldn't move fast enough. His new personal Sensei, Baki, was about to strike on his left side, though he would do a feint to the right first.
Naruto could see it clearly and therefore was able to raise his guard on the left to block Baki's arm.
The force behind the blow was too much, and he went skidding across the ground, struggling to keep his footing. He groaned at the intense pain in his arms.
Dodging was out of the question, he just wasn't fast enough.
Hastily raising his arms, Naruto blocked another blow, and once more went sliding across the ground. He was little more than a punching bag for his Sensei now.
He hadn't even skidded to a stop this time when Baki appeared in front of him. His guard finally broke, and Baki's punch landed squarely on Naruto's chest.
All of the air in his lungs raced to escape. Whatever was left by the time he hit the ground was abruptly expelled.
"That was better," Baki said.
Naruto barely heard his Sensei as he fought to breathe, but he was watching Baki. His Sensei wasn't above attacking him while he was down. The spar hadn't stopped.
"It was not better, Sensei," Naruto returned once he was able to speak. "I've improved in my ability to use the Byakugan, but I'm not getting stronger... I'm not getting any faster."
Baki nodded slowly, thinking over Naruto's words as his student got to his feet.
"If I could use Chakra in these spars, I would be able to improve," Naruto continued, and immediately knew he'd misspoken.
"Many Shinobi have said that before, and those Shinobi are dead now, Naruto!" Baki said sharply, "Chakra is a tool of the Shinobi, a useful tool, but still a tool. You must train yourself to be able to fight without it. When it comes down to it, that's what really matters."
"I don't understand."
"The majority of Shinobi have never bothered to train without chakra, to enhance their body at its most basic level," Baki explained, clearly switching into lecture mode. "Because of this, many have found ways to prevent Shinobi from using their Chakra, if only temporarily. It's enough, though."
"How is that possible?" Naruto asked curiously.
"The most common way is Chakra Restriction Cuffs. However, those aren't used in battle because they only prevent more chakra from flowing through a Shinobi's system, but don't close it off entirely." Baki paused, taking a moment to think of how to best explain it. "Chakra Cuffs only work when the target is unconscious, as that's when barely any chakra is flowing through their system. When they wake up, they aren't able to access enough chakra to break the cuffs. However, if you were to somehow put those cuffs on someone in a battle when a lot of Chakra is flowing through their body, they could break them immediately."
Naruto remained silent.
"The most famous way, however, is the Uzumaki Clan's Chakra Locking Seals."
"Don't seals have to be physically applied? If one were to keep their distance, surely that would prevent them from being used?" Naruto asked, and Baki shook his head.
"For most Shinobi, that's the case. However, the Uzumaki Clan is one of the most powerful clans in the world because of their mastery over the sealing arts." Baki shook his head as if in disbelief of his own words. "They can create seals out of thin air, and move them through the air like Kunai to hit targets."
YOU ARE READING
Blind Sight (COTK Book 1)
FanfictionNaruto, Prince of the Land of Wind, has gone as Miyasato his entire life, blind, and confined to the Daimyō's palace for his safety. People are after him, and as his eighth birthday draws near, it is decided he must train to become a Shinobi in Suna...
