"Kakashi, let's spar. I recently learned a bit of swordsmanship."
Just a few steps outside the door, Kiyoshi turned and said to Kakashi.
Running into Orochimaru and Tsunade was purely accidental.
He hadn't forgotten the purpose of his visit today, which was to see if he could acquire a Trait.
The White Fang of the Leaf was famous throughout the Ninja World for his short sword, and Minato Namikaze personally stated that he was an individual even the Sannin respected.
This certainly proved Sakumo Hatake's skill.
It was highly likely that the swordsmanship he used was not simple.
As for whether Sakumo Hatake created the swordsmanship himself or if it was a secret technique passed down through the Hatake lineage, that remained unknown.
"Alright." Kakashi hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.
His mind was currently in turmoil.
Sparring with swords would be a good way to shake off these distracting thoughts.
He stopped walking and headed toward another area, saying he needed to grab his short sword.
"I have mine," Kiyoshi said, drawing the small tachi from his back.
"Not using wood?"
"No." Kiyoshi shook his head.
Training swords made of wood felt completely different from those made of iron.
Once one got used to one, they would have to spend time adapting to the other. It was better to use the small tachi from the start.
Kakashi was a genius, he wouldn't truly injure Kiyoshi.
And with the Sharingan, Kiyoshi was not easy to injure, nor would he injure Kakashi.
"Fine." Seeing Kiyoshi's request, Kakashi slipped through another window, grabbing a short sword before coming out.
Kiyoshi glanced at it casually. The sword was entirely white, smooth with a metallic texture. He didn't know what kind of metal it was.
This was certainly not a weapon he could afford.
The small tachi in his hand was secondhand and quite small.
It wasn't that Kiyoshi didn't want a bigger one, but every extra inch meant an extra inch in price.
Kiyoshi's financial resources did not support such extravagance.
"Let's begin." Kakashi and Kiyoshi moved to a relatively open area in the courtyard.
"Good." Kiyoshi nodded.
As the words fell, Kakashi drew his sword and charged forward.
The blade cut through the air, creating a sharp whistling sound.
Kiyoshi's eyes narrowed. He swiftly raised his hand and swung his sword to parry.
Although the strike was fast, the training and the Traits he had acquired recently had significantly improved his physical abilities, allowing him to take the blow.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
The sounds of the short swords clashing echoed through the courtyard. As the blades struck each other, a faint glimmer occasionally flashed, only to be extinguished in the next swing.
Kiyoshi frowned. Kakashi's swordsmanship was indeed excellent.
Compared to Kiyoshi's green swordsmanship, Kakashi pressed hard with precise, quick movements, leaving no unnecessary openings.
"Even if I don't acquire a Trait, it's good to find and address my weaknesses," Kiyoshi thought.
His stamina was better than Kakashi's. Even if his movements wasted more time and energy than Kakashi's, the Yotsuki clan's inherent talent and the Trait bonuses allowed him to hold his own for a while with sustained endurance.
It was the perfect way to expose his flaws.
***
Inside the house.
"That guy, he didn't even say hello to me..." Shizune was secretly watching Kiyoshi as he left.
The last time, she had been curious and kept staring at Kiyoshi, and he noticed her.
This experience left a deep impression of Kiyoshi on Shizune.
"He is becoming more and more like them." Shizune muttered quietly to herself.
In just the past short time, Shizune could feel Kiyoshi had grown taller.
The small tachi on his back perfectly covered the Uchiha clan's flaming fan crest.
He was increasingly approaching the image of the Hidden Cloud ninja she had imagined.
"What are you distracted by?" Tsunade's voice brought Shizune back to reality.
"I apologize, Lady Tsunade."
"You should leave too. The rest of this matter is just between us."
Tsunade's expression gradually became serious.
She looked at Shizune.
The less one knew about this matter, the safer they would be. For a ninja, knowing too much unnecessary information could be detrimental.
"Yes... Lady Tsunade." Shizune hastily packed the sealing scrolls into her bag and lowered her head as she went out.
"Heh heh, how young they are." Orochimaru opened his mouth, his lips moving at an exaggerated angle. A scroll covered in viscous fluid slipped from his throat.
"Orochimaru, don't be so disgusting, acting like a real snake!" Tsunade's voice was filled with revulsion.
"Alright, Sakumo, let's get down to business."
***
Outside the courtyard, Shizune quickly walked out.
She planned to walk around nearby, but a sudden, crisp sound of clashing blades caught her attention.
"What are Kiyoshi and Kakashi doing?"
She looked up. Through the wooden fence of the courtyard, she could see Kiyoshi and Kakashi in the distance.
"Kakashi's father is the legendary White Fang, the unique White Fang of the Leaf. Kiyoshi is sparring with Kakashi in swordsmanship?" Shizune was surprised.
She was in the same class as Kiyoshi.
However, Shizune was usually very low-profile.
Since the death of her uncle, Dan Katō, Lady Tsunade had kept her close.
She recalled that Kiyoshi had never sparred with Kakashi, the only time he sparred was when he defeated Obito, the dead last.
Shizune grew interested and walked towards the two.
Several minutes later.
A thin layer of sweat had formed on Kiyoshi's forehead.
His endurance was good.
If he were using a wooden sword, he wouldn't feel this tired right now.
But the small tachi in his hand was a real iron-forged sword, and it was not light.
"Kakashi, your swordsmanship is good. Now, I'm going to get serious."
Kiyoshi closed his eye. When he opened it again, his left eye had a crimson hue, red as if it were dripping blood.
A single tomoe slowly circled and spun.
Kakashi's movements instantly became much slower in Kiyoshi's vision.
It was like a nimble bird jumping into a thick liquid solution, with every flap of its wings meeting resistance, slowing its actions.
The moment the Sharingan opened, Kakashi's movements paused, and he thought:
"The Sharingan."
There were a few other Uchiha in the other classes, but Kiyoshi was the only one who had awakened his eye.
Only a minority of ninjas in the Uchiha clan could awaken the Sharingan.
This was the first time Kakashi was facing an Uchiha with the Sharingan.
He tightened his grip on the hilt, intending to win with speed.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
The swords in their hands continuously collided.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, his gaze slowly becoming serious.
After several exchanges, Kiyoshi gradually shifted from passive defense to active offense.
The subsequent engagement became completely different.
Every one of Kakashi's strikes seemed to be precisely anticipated by Kiyoshi, and the rhythm that had been effortless moments ago was slowly being disrupted.
*Clang!*
Kiyoshi seized a brief opening in Kakashi's defense and countered with a strike. The blade grazed Kakashi's short sword, sending a crisp metallic hum through the air.
Kakashi took a step back, his hand gripping the hilt slightly tighter, his expression no longer relaxed:
"So that's it. The Sharingan can not only see through the enemy's movements, but it can also elevate one's own reaction speed to another level..."
"Correct. This is the power of the Sharingan," Kiyoshi nodded.
Once the Sharingan is activated, one's perception is significantly amplified.
***
50 stones for bonus.
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