“Let’s go, Asuma.”
Domaru Akimichi ambled over while chewing potato chips.
He wore a loose, oversized coat.
His cheeks were round and plump, and crumbs from the chips still clung to the corners of his mouth.
“Yeah.”
Asuma Sarutobi answered, but his gaze was still fixed on Kurenai Yuhi’s retreating back.
Domaru followed his line of sight, then looked away again.
He kept crunching on his chips, his face full of I don’t get it.
He did not understand.
How could girls be better than potato chips?
What was the point of chasing after one every day?
“I’m coming.”
Asuma finally withdrew his gaze, sighed, and followed Domaru toward the school gate.
The relationship between the Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka clans and the Sarutobi clan could be traced back to the Warring States period, before Konoha had even been founded.
The three clans had sworn an alliance passed down through the generations through their earrings, and the Sarutobi clan had been the witness to that oath.
That was why the round earring on Domaru Akimichi’s ear was a token personally given to him at birth by an elder of the Sarutobi clan.
This bond, which had continued from the Warring States era into the age of ninja villages, was deep in a way outsiders found difficult to understand.
Therefore, Asuma had a good relationship with classmates from the Ino-Shika-Cho clans.
Or rather, under the guidance of their parents’ generation, even the new generation would quickly become familiar with one another.
…
The Hatake residence.
Sakumo Hatake sat beneath the veranda outside the paper sliding doors, wiping his short blade.
Hearing the courtyard gate open, he looked up and saw Kakashi leading several people inside.
His gaze swept over Kiyohane, Rin Nohara, and Obito before he revealed a gentle smile.
“You brought friends home today, Kakashi.”
Kakashi gave a small nod.
“Father, Kiyohane and I are practicing swordsmanship together.”
“Kiyohane is interested in swordsmanship too?”
Sakumo looked at Kiyohane.
Kiyohane nodded.
“Yes.”
Sakumo Hatake was a tragic figure in the original story.
In the end, he had abandoned a mission to save his comrades, only to be destroyed by the very comrades he had saved and by the village’s public condemnation.
One could question Sakumo Hatake’s mental endurance, but his strength was undeniably real.
Chiyo and her grandson Sasori were both geniuses.
Clearly, Chiyo’s son and daughter-in-law had not been weak either, yet in the end, they had both been killed by Sakumo Hatake.
Even after so many years, Chiyo had still never managed to take revenge.
That alone was enough to show Sakumo’s strength.
“Is that so?”
After all, in his view, Kiyohane could completely follow Tsunade’s path.
“I’ve always been very interested in swordsmanship, Lord Sakumo,” Kiyohane said.
For Kiyohane, swordsmanship was indeed a path worth developing deeply.
A kunai, to put it simply, was a double-edged dagger.
It was flexible enough in close combat, but it suffered against longer weapons.
Swordsmanship was different.
With a good blade in hand, even ninjutsu could be infused into it.
Among the many Water Release techniques developed by Tobirama Senju, quite a few were meant to be used together with a short blade.
An inch longer meant an inch stronger.
That principle applied no matter what world one was in.
“I see.”
Sakumo Hatake nodded, the smile in his eyes deepening.
“Thank you for looking after my son.”
He was usually busy with missions and often had to leave the village.
Many times, even when he wanted to practice swordsmanship with Kakashi, he could not find the time.
Now that Kakashi had found a peer with similar interests to spar with, Sakumo was genuinely happy.
Thinking of that, Sakumo simply stood up, walked to the weapon rack at the edge of the yard, and took down four wooden swords.
He handed one to Kakashi and kept another in his own hand.
“Since you’re here, I’ll teach you a few tricks about swordsmanship.”
He also beckoned toward Rin Nohara and Obito on the other side of the yard, then handed the remaining two wooden swords to them.
“You two should come listen as well.
It never hurts to understand a little more.”
Rin was somewhat flattered.
She knew Kakashi’s father was an important figure.
The name Sakumo Hatake was famous throughout Konoha.
She quickly walked forward and knelt properly to the side.
Obito was not nearly as enthusiastic.
He dawdled over and sat cross-legged beside Rin, still muttering inwardly.
What was there to learn about swordsmanship?
He was someone who would awaken the Sharingan in the future.
Once he saw a ninjutsu, he would learn that ninjutsu.
Why learn swordsmanship?
Obito’s opinion was that he might as well spend the time maintaining the yellow goggles he wore.
Sakumo stood in front of Kiyohane and the others, holding the wooden sword.
His aura was completely different from the gentle man he had been a moment ago.
“The core of swordsmanship does not lie in techniques, but in judgment.
Judging distance, timing, and even your opponent’s intent.”
“The Hatake-style swordsmanship of my line emphasizes speed and precision.
The blade does not need to be too long.
The shorter the weapon, the greater the risk.
Sakumo spoke calmly.
Although this was his family’s swordsmanship, what he was explaining was only the most basic content.
Many sword styles shared the same principles, so it was not particularly special.
The most unique aspect of his swordsmanship was using a special method to inject chakra into a sword.
When used, it would produce a flash of white light.
That was also the origin of his title, Konoha’s White Fang.
Rin listened seriously, but her mind had actually already begun to spin.
She understood every sentence Sakumo said, but when they were connected together, they made her feel a little dazed.
Swordsmanship was clearly not where her talent lay.
As for Obito, it sounded like incomprehensible scripture to him.
If Rin had not been here, Obito probably would have fallen asleep already.
[Collectible trait detected: Sword Fanatic.]
[D-rank Trait: Sword Fanatic.]
[Effect: You are naturally sensitive toward swordsmanship.
Even the dullest practice sounds like heavenly music.
Swordsmanship talent increases by 20%.]
[Synthesis: Two evolution routes.]
[Route One: Add E-rank Trait: Swordsmanship Foundation + E-rank Trait: Initial Sword Sense to synthesize D-rank Trait: Blade Affinity.]
[Route Two: Add D-rank Trait: Counter-Technique Instinct + D-rank Trait: Sword Path Mastery to synthesize C-rank Trait: Innate Sword Bones.]
A new prompt appeared before Kiyohane’s eyes.
Sword Fanatic…
Kiyohane looked at the trait, somewhat surprised.
Could it be something like perfect pitch?
And this [Sword Fanatic] was actually D-rank.
So far, the traits he had obtained from others were almost all E-rank.
Only when Tsunade got drunk had she dropped the D-rank [Great Strength] trait.
Sakumo casually teaching once had already dropped a D-rank trait.
As expected of Konoha’s White Fang.
“Rather than saying more, I’ll demonstrate once.”
As Sakumo spoke, he carried the wooden sword to the wooden target in the yard.
“I can learn it after watching a few times,” Kakashi said confidently.
Sakumo did not say anything else.
He only tightened his grip on the wooden sword, his wrist sinking slightly.
Then he swung.
The motion was simple, even plain.
The wooden sword struck the target with the sound of cutting wind.
Kiyohane suddenly realized this was an excellent opportunity to observe the Hatake family’s swordsmanship up close.
He immediately focused his mind and entered a state of concentration.
[Persevering Willpower] activated!