Rin looked at Sakumo Hatake in a slight daze.
She had only seen Kakashi’s father once before, and even then, it had been from a distance.
That had been when she, Obito, and Kakashi were playing until dusk, and Konoha’s White Fang came to take Kakashi home.
Beneath the setting sun, the two white-haired figures had gradually disappeared into the distance, the larger hand holding the smaller one…
To be honest, this was Rin’s first time speaking to him face-to-face.
Konoha’s White Fang was undoubtedly one of Konoha’s most prominent figures, and Rin’s breathing became slightly rapid.
At that moment, she saw Sakumo give her a gentle smile and nod.
Rin suddenly felt that she could trust him, and his earlier instructions involuntarily resurfaced in her mind.
“Use my hand like a blade, wait for an opening, and strike the back of his neck… Is that what he meant?”
A flash of inspiration struck her, and the vast amount of swordsmanship experience she had previously received surged through her mind.
Sakumo’s instructions might have seemed vague to someone else, but they had revealed precisely what Rin was missing.
Yes, she didn’t need to be holding a real blade to apply the principles of swordsmanship.
A blade was ultimately a weapon—an extension of the wielder’s body.
In that instant, she understood how to defeat Might Guy.
Rin gave Sakumo a grateful look.
“Of course I trust you.”
After saying that, she turned toward Guy, who had already assumed an attacking stance and was ready to strike again.
“Let’s continue.”
Guy was already growing impatient.
Once a match began, he focused solely on fighting.
Even the arrival of the famous Konoha’s White Fang, which had caused a stir among his classmates, failed to distract him.
He tensed his body once more and launched the same kick toward Rin.
His father had taught him to get back up after falling.
Guy wanted to prove that the kick he had practiced so diligently could land if he tried it again!
However, when Rin saw Guy launch the same attack, she felt slightly puzzled.
He hadn’t changed his approach at all.
Was he really that straightforward, or was this some kind of trick?
Regardless of whether it was a trick, Rin’s body instinctively reacted the moment Guy kicked.
This time, she didn’t perform a backflip.
Instead, she waited until Guy was extremely close before suddenly stepping sideways and narrowly avoiding his foot.
The difficulty wasn’t in the sidestep itself.
It lay in waiting until Guy had committed so much force to the kick that he could no longer change its course. New chapters come out on g.com first.
Rin’s body almost brushed against Guy’s foot as she executed an extraordinarily precise dodge.
To the observers, the maneuver appeared extremely dangerous.
However, within the swordsmanship experience Rin possessed, such life-or-death movements were commonplace.
A shinobi battle could be decided in a single instant.
She had perfectly evaded Guy’s attack.
Now it was her turn.
The momentum of Guy’s missed kick caused his entire body to lean forward uncontrollably.
At that moment, Rin had already raised her palm and smoothly launched a horizontal knife-hand strike.
Guy had just passed Rin, leaving his entire back exposed to her.
“Whack!”
Rin’s knife-hand strike accurately hit the vulnerable point at the back of Guy’s neck.
Although Guy was strong and exceptionally durable, even he couldn’t defy the limitations of the human body.
A vulnerable point remained vulnerable regardless of how well someone had trained.
Guy’s eyes rolled back, and he immediately lost consciousness.
Kiyono Shuji stared at the result, finding it difficult to accept what had just happened.
Rin had defeated Guy so easily that it resembled an adult effortlessly handling a child.
At that moment, Sakumo’s voice reached his ears.
“The victor has already been decided. Why haven’t you announced the result?”
Kiyono Shuji finally snapped back to reality, raised his hand, and announced, “The winner is Rin Nohara!”
The surrounding students erupted into cheers.
Their excitement wasn’t only because Rin’s movements had been exceptionally graceful, but also because she had defeated a boy using taijutsu.
Most of the students came from shinobi families.
Although they were still young, their parents had already taught them many basic facts about combat.
Therefore, they had a general understanding of how difficult such an achievement was for a girl their age.
Rin’s eyes curved into happy crescents as she enjoyed her classmates’ cheers.
She looked at Obito, who was cheering more enthusiastically than anyone else, and then at Kakashi, who couldn’t help but applaud lightly.
The sight filled her with satisfaction.
Of course, Rin knew that her easy victory had been possible only because of Sakumo’s guidance.
She couldn’t help but look toward the place where he had been standing.
However, the white-haired figure had already vanished without a trace.
Noticing Rin’s questioning gaze, Kiyono Shuji explained, “Lord White Fang just left. Before leaving, he said that you performed extremely well and even gave him some inspiration.”
“He also said that you could visit his home with Kakashi whenever you have time. If you’re interested, he can teach you more about swordsmanship.”
Kiyono Shuji’s eyes filled with envy as he spoke.
In the current Konoha, Sakumo Hatake was the most popular candidate to become the next Hokage. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Kiyono Shuji also wished he could establish a connection with him.
Rin exclaimed excitedly, “Really?”
“Kakashi’s father is such a kind person.”
At that moment, Obito and Kakashi approached Rin.
Obito said somewhat sourly, “Rin, you can visit the Uchiha clan too. There are many skilled swordsmen among the Uchiha.”
Whether Obito could actually persuade any of them to teach Rin was another matter.
However, Rin didn’t doubt his claim.
After all, her swordsmanship experience had come from a young Uchiha, and different forms of swordsmanship shared many of the same principles.
Remembering the distinctive tear troughs of the young man repeatedly mentioned in her notebook, she couldn’t help but ask, “Obito, is there a young man with deep tear troughs among the Uchiha?”
Obito looked completely bewildered.
He couldn’t remember anyone matching that description.
Seeing this, Rin could only shake her head helplessly.
Obito knew almost nothing, so she would have to investigate the matter herself.
At that moment, Kakashi’s lazy voice reached them.
“Rin, don’t pay attention to that idiot Obito. I’ve told you many times that you’re too lenient with him.”
“Would you like to come to my house tonight? Since my father invited you, you’re welcome to visit.”
Rin nodded excitedly.
Of course she wanted to go.
Sakumo might be able to give her further insight into swordsmanship and help her become stronger.
Moreover, he was Kakashi’s father, and Rin wanted to get to know him better.
Standing nearby, Obito became extremely displeased.
However, since Rin had already accepted the invitation, he immediately added, “Kakashi, I want to go too.”
Kakashi replied mercilessly, “But my father didn’t invite you.”
Obito felt deeply hurt and couldn’t help but pout.
Perhaps because he was thinking about his deceased parents, a trace of sadness entered his voice.
“What’s so great about having a father?”
Seeing Obito’s expression, Kakashi wanted to reply that having a father was indeed wonderful.
After all…
Konoha’s White Fang had always been Kakashi’s greatest source of pride.
Who wouldn’t be proud to have a father like him?
However, after seeing Obito’s expression, Kakashi decided that it would be better not to provoke him any further.
It really helps the fic grow!