Stimulated by Lightning Style Chakra Mode, the opponent's neural response may have already reached a non-human level.
"Let's stop here for today, Kakashi. You're already exhausted."
About half an hour later, Kakashi's stamina gradually gave in—he was panting heavily, his legs trembling as he stood, and his knife-wielding arm quivered faintly.
It was obvious his overall energy and focus had dropped to a point where further training was inadvisable.
Kakashi didn't push himself. He simply sat on the ground, gasping for air.
"You've made good progress these days. At this rate, you'll soon be ready for the next phase of White Fang Swordsmanship training."
Hakushi said so.
"But, I still can't touch your body."
Kakashi seemed to pressure himself.
"Don't rush things like that. Everyone has a physical limit, and for you this is the stage to build your foundation—not the time to crave overwhelming power. Only when your foundation is solid, can your ceiling be raised."
"Is that so?"
Kakashi gripped the White Fang Short Knife in his hand and glanced at it.
"Also, your swordsmanship has reached the current limit for your age. Further breakthroughs aren't necessary now, and your body can't keep up. Next, you need to study the nature transformation of Chakra. What are your Chakra Attributes?"
Hakushi asked.
"Lightning and Earth."
"Dual attributes, huh? And one of them is Lightning Style, the sharpest in thrusting—you may be even more suited for swordsmanship than Sakumo-sensei."
Lightning Style is, among Escape Techniques, the fastest type and the most suitable for pairing with Taijutsu.
"Alright then, let's set aside Earth Style for now. Next, I'll teach you to master the nature transformation of Lightning Attribute Chakra, so you can synchronize it perfectly with your Taijutsu and swordsmanship. With this, there will no longer be any bottleneck on your path to Jonin. It'll bring you closer to your goal."
At this point, Hakushi glanced at Kakashi.
Kakashi lowered his head, subconsciously gripping the White Fang Short Knife tighter.
"Closer to that 'goal'… It's definitely another step forward..."
◎
After parting ways with Kakashi, Hakushi headed back to the Uchiha Clan Land.
Then walked toward the underground laboratory.
Kakashi's training can be left to itself for now. The most important matter is to bring the surviving Uzumaki Clan members held in Hidden Grass Village back to the Land of Demons.
"It's been a month already. Should be about time for them to emerge..."
Hakushi muttered while descending the staircase.
In the corner of the underground laboratory, there stood two large floor-standing glass cylinders—these were the cultivation devices used to grow his 'clones.'
This time, he created two clones.
Embedding an Immortal Technique system is troublesome, and their bodies need to be strong enough to handle powerful Immortal Techniques. So, the making of these clones took far longer than the creation cycles for Earth General and Shadow Dancer.
Though Earth General and Shadow Dancer have now been re-imbued with Immortal Technique systems and had another performance breakthrough, these two newly born clones, in their initial form, are undoubtedly more advanced.
"Too bad I don't know Yin-Yang Style, the legendary technique that creates all things, or else this would have finished even faster..."
Even though Chakra with Yin Yang attributes was infused, using Yin Style and Yang Style, Hakushi knew that this was not truly using Yin-Yang Style.
Since Yin Style and Yang Style are separate entities, while Yin-Yang Style is a comprehensive term—able to create form invisibly and grant life force and soul.
Because he can't reach the level of creation like Yin-Yang Style, Hakushi uses other means to supplement what's lacking.
He uses Natural Energy as a source of life energy, and his own Soul Fragment to act as the clone's soul.
The main role of Yin Style and Yang Style here is to mold materials, creating vessels that house Natural Energy and his Soul Fragment.
However, Hakushi has never heard of anyone in Ninja Realm nowadays who can utilize Yin-Yang Style—it's probably long lost.
This Secret Technique, Hakushi had only glimpsed in bits and pieces from Uchiha Clan records.
Putting aside Yin-Yang Style for now, Hakushi stepped to the cultivation devices and gazed through the glass at the creations within.
His shadow began to protrude with substance, as if sensing something—as if a terrifying creature was about to break free.
Just as the Shadow Blade was about to take shape, Hakushi lowered his head and said to the Shadow Dancer in his shadow, "Don't worry, these are your little sister and brother."
When the Shadow Dancer heard this within the shadow, she paused, withdrew the forming Shadow Blade back into the shadow, vanishing silently.
Seeing Shadow Dancer quiet down, Hakushi finally felt at ease.
Turning back toward the cultivation devices, he saw that the two clones inside had already opened their eyes.
One clone felt like a cold mechanical entity, operating strictly by programmed routine.
Invisible waves expanded from those inorganic eyes, stirring up a gentle breeze in the laboratory that ruffled the pages on nearby workbenches.
Bam.
Both glass units shattered at once.
The solution filled with Natural Energy splashed everywhere, soaking the floor.
Hakushi had already taken several steps back the instant the glass burst, avoiding any splash on himself.
He stared ahead as two silhouettes—one big, one small—leapt from the broken cultivation devices.
One figure stood upright on the wet floor, but if looked closely, her feet didn't touch the ground; there was a hovering gap, her whole body floating.
She had a cascade of jet-black hair, silky and fine.
Her slender body, perfectly proportioned, was clad in a traditional Witch's Attire of white top, red skirt.
Her hands, exposed past the white sleeves, were pale as jade and hung naturally.
Her beautiful face resembled fine craftsmanship, about sixteen years old, appearing older than Shadow Dancer.
Her eyes radiated rings outward in layers.
These were inorganic pupils, with outer turquoise and inner deep violet fused together, possessing a soul-piercing allure.
Even though she was breathing, the overall impression she gave was more like a lifeless icy corpse, or perhaps an emotionless machine.
On her slender, snow-white clad shoulder perched silently a four-legged infant beast—catlike yet not, beastlike yet not.
This little beast was jet-black all over, with a spiral horn on its head; its eyes were bright blue, and blue lightning flashed across its dark skin, making its existence impossible to ignore.
It lay quietly on the witch-girl's shoulder, forming a single unified entity with her.
Hakushi first glanced at the four-legged infant beast on the witch's shoulder, then shifted his gaze to the witch-girl, a satisfied smile crossing his face.
"Welcome to the world, Raidenmaru, and… Amewano. Sorry, but there's a mission right now—I hope you two can take a trip. I trust neither of you have any objections?"