The next afternoon, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at Tsunade’s residence right on time.
He didn’t use the front gate.
With his status, making a grand visit would only make Kiyohane nervous.
Kiyohane was standing in the yard, holding a wooden sword and practicing the basic Konoha-style swordsmanship step by step.
Hiruzen stood beneath the shade of a tree beside the wall, quietly observing him.
As far as swordsmanship went, Hiruzen was not a shinobi whose sword skills were as strong as Sakumo Hatake’s.
Compared to a sword, he also preferred the staff transformed from Enma.
But he was, after all, respected as the Professor of Ninjutsu.
He had some understanding of nearly every jutsu that existed in Konoha, and swordsmanship was naturally no exception.
Kiyohane’s fundamentals were very solid.
That was Hiruzen’s first impression.
From the way he gripped the sword, to the points where he applied force when striking, to the speed with which his body returned to position when he withdrew the blade, everything was steady.
How old was this child?
How long had he even been practicing swordsmanship?
Hiruzen’s hand slowed as he packed tobacco into his pipe.
Smoking would interfere with his observation of Kiyohane, so Hiruzen lowered the pipe and clasped his hands behind his back.
After practicing for a while, Kiyohane began practicing Water Release ninjutsu.
Water Release: Water Bullet Barrage!
Kiyohane refined chakra, formed hand seals, and fired water bullets from his hand like projectiles.
Hiss, hiss, hiss!
The water bullets struck the wooden stake, leaving deep pits one after another.
Not bad.
Hiruzen thought inwardly.
He respected Tobirama-sensei.
When he was young, he had also studied Water Release ninjutsu quite deeply.
Later, however, he discovered that his study of all five basic nature transformations was rather good.
At that moment, Kiyohane suddenly lowered his sword and glanced in Hiruzen’s direction.
Hiruzen was slightly startled.
Had he been discovered?
Even if he had not deliberately concealed himself, he should not have been found so easily.
This brat’s perception was much sharper than he had expected.
[Collectible trait detected: Water-Nature Chakra Mastery (Hiruzen Sarutobi Version).]
[C-rank Trait: Water-Nature Chakra Mastery (Hiruzen Sarutobi Version).]
[Effect: When training Water Release ninjutsu, you will receive a comprehension boost equivalent to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s youth.]
What Hiruzen did not know was that Kiyohane had looked over because he had seen the system suddenly appear.
What kind of trait is this?
C-rank?
Kiyohane looked at the prompt floating before his eyes and confirmed that he had not misread it. Get faster updates on g.com.
E-rank traits included things like [Attitude Is the Mask of the Heart] and [Swordsmanship Foundation].
D-rank traits included [Great Strength], [Sword Fanatic], and [White Fang’s Insight].
But this was the first time a C-rank trait had dropped so far.
And its effect was that when training Water Release ninjutsu, he would gain the comprehension of Hiruzen Sarutobi in his youth.
Who was Hiruzen Sarutobi?
The Professor of Ninjutsu, possessing all five chakra natures.
In his youth, he had personally been taught by Tobirama Senju and had been an existence capable of terrifying enemy villages on the battlefield.
It was no exaggeration to say that in the early years, he had been called the Strongest Hokage for good reason.
In the future, during Orochimaru’s Konoha Crush plan, even Orochimaru himself would say that if Hiruzen Sarutobi had been ten years younger, he would have been killed.
One could imagine just how powerful Hiruzen had been at his peak.
Even if it was only the comprehension he had possessed in his youth, when applied to Water Release, it would still be enough to crush the vast majority of jonin.
“Since you’re already here, Lord Hokage, why not come in and sit for a while?”
Kiyohane was somewhat surprised.
Then he put away the wooden sword and spoke toward Hiruzen’s direction.
Hiruzen only assumed Kiyohane was surprised because he had suddenly appeared here and did not think too much of it.
He walked out from beneath the shade of the tree.
Aside from a hint of surprise at having his presence noticed, his face also carried approval.
“No need.
I only came to take a look.”
He waved a hand.
“Your swordsmanship is progressing well.
Who taught you?”
“Mostly, I practice by myself following scrolls.
I also spar with Kakashi often.
A few days ago, Lord Sakumo gave me some pointers as well.” Kiyohane answered truthfully.
Hiruzen nodded and did not continue asking.
Watching through the crystal ball and seeing it with his own eyes were indeed two entirely different feelings.
Through the crystal ball, he could only see the movements.
He could not see the details.
But standing so close today, he could clearly sense the ease and control in Kiyohane’s sword strikes.
This child really was suited to the path of swordsmanship.
Moreover, Hiruzen still remembered that Kiyohane was training in Water Release ninjutsu.
Water Release and the sword.
This is bad.
Why do I feel like I’m seeing traces of Tobirama-sensei?
“Tsunade told me about the Sword of the Thunder God.”
Hiruzen brought out the hand he had been holding behind his back, took a puff from his pipe, and spoke slowly.
Kiyohane raised his head and waited for him to continue.
“I can give you that ninja tool.”
Hiruzen looked into Kiyohane’s eyes.
“But there is one condition.”
“Please tell me, Lord Hokage.”
“At the end of this semester, take first place in the entire Academy.
How does that sound?”
In Hiruzen’s view, Kiyohane was a child worth cultivating.
If Kiyohane had only possessed Uchiha blood, Hiruzen would have continued observing him for some time.
Of course, the Sword of the Thunder God would not have been given out either.
But the important thing was that Kiyohane also had half Senju blood.
That changed the meaning completely.
Toward the Senju clan, Hiruzen still felt guilt in his heart.
First, he had not had time to repay Tobirama-sensei before that Hokage had instead stayed behind to cover their retreat, protecting them even though they were the Hokage’s own guards.
Second, the Senju clan had dissolved itself and merged into Konoha.
They no longer enjoyed any extra privileges or resources.
On top of that, Kiyohane supported the Will of Fire.
Hiruzen had no reason not to bring this child into his field of cultivation.
“Of course, Lord Hokage.
No problem.” Kiyohane nodded.
Although he had only taken second place in his class before, even across the entire grade, he was still among the top.
After all, there were not that many students in this year’s intake, and most of them were civilian shinobi.
Most civilian shinobi had not received early education.
Even if they had talent, it would only show in the later stages.
Hiruzen gave a satisfied hum.
“By the way, if you can keep taking first place, I may consider giving you something else as well.”
After saying that, he did not wait for Kiyohane to answer.
With his hands behind his back, he slowly walked out.
Kiyohane replayed the promise Hiruzen had dangled before him and watched his back disappear beyond the courtyard gate.
“Taking first place in the entire Academy isn’t exactly difficult.” Kiyohane rubbed his chin.
Even without these traits, having the Sharingan while still in the Academy already put him far ahead.
His biggest opponent at the moment was really only Kakashi.
After being stimulated by him, Kakashi would definitely work even harder than in the original timeline, and naturally become stronger.
Unfortunately, Kiyohane had a cheat.
Traits, let me see your limits!
Next, Kiyohane’s goal was to trigger all kinds of traits.
What kind of behavior triggered traits most easily?
After observing for a while, Kiyohane had discovered that aside from crowded places, the other method was defeating enemies.