Naruto rebirth! Born again with a system.

Chapter 38: The Fang Over Fang!

The morning sun streamed through the windows. of the Inuzuka compound as Kōzaru stirred from the deepest sleep he'd experienced in weeks. His body ached with the residual soreness from yesterday's mission, but it was a good ache—the kind that came from pushing limits and surviving the trial of a life or death mission.

Yuki and Riku were still curled up on their beds, their breathing deep and steady as they remained in a deep sleep.

The scent of cooking meat drifted from the kitchen, drawing him from his room like a beacon. His mother was already up, her movements efficient and purposeful as she prepared what looked like enough breakfast to feed a small army.

"About time you woke up," Mika said without turning around, her enhanced senses having detected his approach long before he entered the kitchen. "Eat up. We have work to do today."

The breakfast was substantial—grilled meat, rice, and vegetables that would provide the energy needed for intensive training. As he ate, Yuki and Riku padded into the kitchen, their own noses drawn by the scent of food.

"Look who finally woke up," Mika said, laughing as both hungry pups ran over to her, nuzzling into her legs as they fussed for attention.

Mika had prepared portions for them as well, understanding that ninja hounds needed proper nutrition to maintain their capabilities too as she placed down their food bowls onto the floor.

"Finish up and get your gear on," she then said, her voice carrying the authority of a pack alpha. "Meet me outside in the training yard with both pups. It's time to see what you've really learned." She said with a furious grin, sending a shiver running down Kōzaru's spine.

The training yard behind the compound was a familiar space—packed earth worn smooth by generations of Inuzuka training, wooden posts bearing the scars of countless practice sessions, and the lingering scents of chakra and determination. Mika was already waiting, her posture relaxed but alert, Kiba sitting calmly beside her.

"So," she said, her sharp eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest, evaluating his stance and the way Yuki and Riku flanked him, "how are you doing with your All-Fours Jutsu and Man Beast Clone techniques?"

"Managing well," Kōzaru replied, his voice carrying the confidence earned through recent combat experience. "The coordination is getting smoother, and the chakra control is more efficient."

"Good. Now show me." Her tone brooked no argument. "Attack me with your best combination. And don't you dare hold back—I'll tan your hide if you do."

Kōzaru felt his heart rate increase, remembering Shibi's training about commitment in combat. She was right—holding back would only earn him a scolding and waste both their time.

"Yuki, Riku," he called out, his hands forming the familiar seals. "Man Beast Clone Jutsu!"

The transformation was smoother than it had ever been, both ninja hounds shifting into perfect copies of himself in puffs of chakra-infused smoke. The three identical figures stood in formation, their coordination already evident in their synchronized movements.

[Chakra: 151/151 - 91/151]

"All-Fours Jutsu!" he then called out, dropping into the bestial stance as chakra flowed through his and his clones bodies.

[Chakra: 91/151 - 61/151]

The transformation was immediate and intoxicating. His muscles strengthened, his senses sharpened further, and his movements gained the fluid grace of a predator. Yuki and Riku mirrored the change, their own enhanced forms crackling with the same energy and chakra.

Without further warning, they attacked.

The coordination was breath-taking—three figures moving as one mind, their assault patterns designed to overwhelm through pure synchronized aggression. Kōzaru came from the front, his enhanced speed allowing him to close the distance in a heartbeat. Yuki flanked left, her smaller size making her harder to track, while Riku circled right, his bulk providing crushing force.

Mika's eyes widened slightly—the first sign of genuine surprise he'd ever seen from her. For a moment, she was forced to take the assault seriously, her own enhanced reflexes kicking in as she dealt with the three-pronged attack.

The clash was brief but intense. Mika's Inuzuka-style taijutsu was a master class in combat, her movements flowing like water as she redirected their attacks and exploited the tiny gaps in their coordination. Her counter-attacks were precise and devastating, each strike calculated to disrupt their formation, demonstrating a Taijutsu level that clearly outclassed his own.

Within seconds, it was over. Kōzaru found himself flat on his back, the breath knocked from his lungs. Yuki and Riku were sprawled nearby, their transformation jutsu dispersing as they hit the ground. The coordinated assault that had seemed so powerful had been dismantled with surgical precision.

"Now that," Mika said, not even breathing hard, "was impressive." She said with a large grin on her face.

Kōzaru struggled to sit up, his body protesting the impact. "Impressive? You just demolished us without breaking a sweat."

"That's not the point." She moved to help him stand, her expression carrying genuine pride. "I never expected you to be able to move in coordination with not one but two ninja hounds at your age. You have certainly improved while I have been away."

The validation was meaningful, but Kōzaru was more focused on how drained he felt. The combination of techniques had burned through his chakra reserves faster than he'd expected, leaving him winded." Watching as his chakra bar slowly climbed back up.

"But," Mika continued, her tone becoming instructional, "you're being inefficient with your chakra usage. Why are you using your own chakra to transform the pups?"

Kōzaru blinked, confusion evident on his face. "What do you mean?"

"The Man Beast Clone technique," she explained, her voice taking on the patient tone of a teacher. "You're supposed to use their chakra for the transformation, not your own. By tapping into their energy reserves, you can save your stamina for actual combat instead of wasting it on maintenance."

The revelation hit him like a physical blow. He'd been performing the technique incorrectly this entire time, burning through his own chakra when he should have been coordinating with his partners' energy. The inefficiency explained why he always felt so drained after using the combination.

"I... I didn't know I could do that," he admitted, his voice carrying the embarrassment of someone who had just realized a fundamental error.

"Most people don't," Mika said, her expression softening slightly. "It's an advanced application that requires true partnership with your ninja hounds. The fact that you've been managing without it shows how strong your bond with them has become."

"The man beast clone isn't like a normal clone jutsu, or even the shadow clone jutsu. You are using your ninja hound to transform and take on your own shape, through your bond and teamwork you can achieve a much more powerful effect than any other type of clone jutsu, making more man power without costing you an ounce of chakra if done right." She explained.

Kōzaru had never thought about it like that, seeing that he could get all of the benefits of the shadow clone jutsu, without the drawbacks of having to split your chakra between clones.

Mika turned to survey the training yard, her eyes moving to the collection of practice posts and targets. "Since you've reached that level of coordination, I'd say you're ready for the next technique."

Kōzaru's exhaustion was instantly forgotten, replaced by anticipation at the thought of learning advanced Inuzuka techniques.

"Fang Over Fang," she said, her voice carrying the weight of tradition. "Gatsūga. One of our clan's signature techniques and the foundation for everything that comes after."

The name sent a thrill through him. He remembered the technique from the anime—a devastating spinning attack that could smash through nearly any defence.

"Kiba," Mika called out, her massive ninja hound rising to his feet with fluid grace. "Time for a demonstration."

She moved to the center of the training yard, her posture shifting into the preparatory stance for the technique. Kōzaru could feel the change in her chakra signature—a subtle shift that spoke of gathering power and focused intent.

"The key," she said, her voice carrying across the yard, "is complete unity with your partner. You don't just fight together—you become one entity with a single purpose. Watch carefully."

"Man Beast Clone!" she called out, her hands forming seals with practiced efficiency.

Kiba transformed into an identical copy of Mika, their chakra signatures merging in a way that made them nearly indistinguishable. The coordination was perfect—two bodies moving as one mind, their synchronization so complete it seemed supernatural.

"Gatsūga!" they called out in unison, their forms beginning to spin with increasing speed.

The technique was devastating to witness. Two spinning vortexes of destruction launched across the training yard, their rotation creating a distinctive drilling effect that carved through the air with visible force. The practice posts they targeted didn't just break—they were pulverized, reduced to splinters by the sheer violence of the attack.

The impact with the tree line was even more impressive. Ancient oaks that had stood for decades were cut down like wheat, their massive trunks no match for the concentrated force of the technique. The sound was tremendous—a combination of splintering wood and rushing air that spoke to the attack's devastating potential.

As the technique ended, Mika and Kiba landed gracefully, their forms separating as the spinning stopped. The destruction they had caused was breathtaking—a clear path of devastation that stretched nearly fifty meters across the training ground.

But it was the scent of her chakra that truly impressed him. His enhanced senses detected the full scope of her power—level 30, a high-level jōnin whose capabilities far exceeded anything he had imagined. The casual way she had dismantled their coordinated assault suddenly made perfect sense.

"Wow," he breathed, his voice carrying genuine awe. "I had no idea you were so strong."

"Twenty years of active service," she replied matter-of-factly. "Power comes with experience, and experience comes with surviving missions that should have killed you."

She turned to face him, her expression becoming serious. "Now it's your turn to practice. Remember—use their chakra for the transformation, not your own. The efficiency will make all the difference."

"How do I—" he began, but she was already walking away.

"Figure it out," she called over her shoulder. "That's what training is for. And don't come inside until you've made real progress. We've got three days before you report back to duty—make them count."

As she disappeared into the compound, a familiar chime echoed in his mind:

[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE: Learn the Fang Over Fang: Reward 500 EXP and 1 skill point]

The quest parameters were clear, but the execution would be anything but simple. Looking at the devastation his mother had caused, Kōzaru understood that he was attempting to learn one of the most powerful techniques in the Inuzuka arsenal, or like his mother said, the baseline for everything that came after.

"Alright, you two," he said, turning to Yuki and Riku, who were still recovering from their earlier defeat. "Ready to learn something that might actually be dangerous?"

Both ninja hounds barked in response, their tails wagging as their looked up at him with a confident bark. They had proven themselves in combat, and now they would prove themselves in training.

The path to mastering the Gatsūga would be long and difficult, but with three days of intensive practice ahead, Kōzaru was determined to unlock the technique that would take his combat capabilities to the next level.

The training yard awaited, and with it, the challenge of achieving true unity with his ninja hound partners.