"Kakashi, let's spar. I've been practicing some sword techniques recently."
Just a few steps outside, Kiyoshi turned to Kakashi.
Encountering Orochimaru and Tsunade had been purely accidental.
He hadn't forgotten his purpose today—to see if he could trigger a new skill entry.
Konoha's White Fang was renowned throughout the ninja world. Even Minato Namikaze himself had admitted that the legendary Sannin respected him.
That alone was proof of Sakumo Hatake's strength.
The sword techniques he used were likely far from ordinary.
Whether Sakumo's techniques were self-created or a secret passed down through the Hatake lineage, Kiyoshi had no way of knowing.
"All right."
Kakashi hesitated briefly, then nodded in agreement.
His mind felt like a foggy mess.
Practicing swordplay would allow him to clear his thoughts.
He stopped and headed elsewhere, claiming he needed to fetch a short blade.
"I've got it."
Kiyoshi drew the small katana from behind his back.
"Not using the wooden ones?"
"No."
Kiyoshi shook his head.
Wooden training swords felt entirely different from iron. Once accustomed to one, switching to the other would require additional time. Better to train with a proper blade from the start.
Kakashi was a genius; he wouldn't truly get hurt.
And with Kiyoshi's Sharingan, he wasn't easy to strike, nor could he hurt Kakashi.
"All right."
Respecting Kiyoshi's request, Kakashi climbed through another window and retrieved a short blade.
Kiyoshi glanced casually. The blade gleamed white, with a faint metallic sheen—he couldn't tell which metal it was.
This wasn't a weapon he could afford. Even the small katana in his hand was second-hand and modest in size.
It wasn't that he didn't want a bigger one; each extra inch would cost significantly more.
His finances simply didn't allow such extravagance.
"Let's begin."
Kakashi and Kiyoshi moved to a relatively open part of the yard.
"All right."
Kiyoshi nodded.
At the words, Kakashi drew his blade and charged.
The edge sliced through the air, creating a sharp wind.
Kiyoshi's eyes sharpened as he raised his blade to block.
The strike was fast, but Kiyoshi's recent training and skill entries had improved his physical prowess, allowing him to manage the attack.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of blades colliding echoed through the courtyard. Sparks flared briefly before vanishing in the rhythm of their strikes.
Kiyoshi furrowed his brows. Kakashi's swordsmanship was indeed impressive.
Compared to Kiyoshi's still-developing skills, Kakashi pressed relentlessly, precise and swift, leaving no gaps.
"Even if I don't trigger a new skill entry, I can still identify my weaknesses."
Kiyoshi thought to himself.
His stamina surpassed Kakashi's. Even if his movements consumed more energy, the Night Moon Clan's innate talent and skill bonuses allowed him to maintain the fight.
This would reveal the areas he needed to improve.
…
Inside the house:
"That guy didn't even greet me…"
Shizune watched Kiyoshi leave.
Last time, out of curiosity, she had stared at him until he noticed, leaving a strong impression on her.
"He's really starting to resemble…"
Shizune whispered to herself.
In just a short time, she could see Kiyoshi had grown taller.
With a small katana on his back, the Uchiha clan emblem on the fan was just barely covered.
He was becoming the dark-skinned, hidden cloud ninja she had imagined—except his skin wasn't so dark, and his lips weren't as thick.
"What are you daydreaming about?"
Tsunade's voice snapped Shizune back to reality.
"Sorry, Lady Tsunade."
"You should go out too. The rest is for us here to handle."
Tsunade's expression grew serious. The fewer people who knew, the safer it was. Too much information could be dangerous for a ninja.
"Yes… Lady Tsunade."
Shizune quickly packed the sealed scrolls and left, bowing slightly.
"Hehe, so young."
Orochimaru opened his mouth in an exaggerated angle, expelling a saliva-stained scroll from his throat.
"Orochimaru, don't be so disgusting like a snake!"
Tsunade said, clearly disgusted.
"All right, Sakumo, let's get down to business."
…
Outside the yard, Shizune hurried along.
She had been wandering nearby when a sharp metallic clash caught her attention.
"What are Kiyoshi and Kakashi doing?"
She looked through the wooden fence and saw them practicing.
"Kakashi's father is the legendary White Fang of Konoha… and Kiyoshi is sparring with Kakashi?"
Shizune was surprised.
They were in the same class, though Shizune usually kept a low profile.
Since her uncle Kato's death, Lady Tsunade had kept her close.
She remembered Kiyoshi had sparred only once, against Obito, and even then, he had won.
Curious, Shizune walked toward the two.
A few minutes passed.
Sweat had formed on Kiyoshi's forehead.
His stamina was impressive.
With a wooden training sword, he wouldn't even feel tired. But the small katana he held was made of iron and considerably heavy.
"Kakashi, your swordsmanship is impressive. Now I'll get serious."
Kiyoshi closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his left eye glowed scarlet, like dripping blood.
A single tomoe rotated slowly.
Kakashi's movements suddenly appeared slower, as if a bird was flapping through thick syrup, every movement resisted by invisible viscosity.
Upon activating the Sharingan, Kakashi's strikes faltered slightly, thinking:
"Sharingan."
Other Uchiha in their class had their eyes, but only Kiyoshi had opened his.
Few Uchiha could awaken the Sharingan.
For Kakashi, this was the first time facing an Uchiha with it.
He gripped his blade harder, trying to rely on speed.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their blades collided incessantly.
Kakashi's brows furrowed, his gaze hardening.
After several rounds, Kiyoshi shifted from passive defense to proactive offense.
The next exchanges were entirely different.
Kakashi's strikes, once effortless, were now anticipated precisely by Kiyoshi. His rhythm faltered.
Clang!
Kiyoshi countered during Kakashi's brief lapse. His blade grazed Kakashi's, producing a crisp metallic ring.
Kakashi stepped back, tightening his grip, expression serious:
"So that's it. The Sharingan not only sees through an enemy's moves, it elevates your own reactions…"
"Exactly. This is the power of the Sharingan."
Kiyoshi nodded.
Once activated, the Sharingan amplified one's insight and perception.
Chapter End