Chapter 20: Imparting! (Please read!)
AI Model: gemini-2.0-flash
With the mission concluded, Xuan Yi and his three companions sealed the Air Ninja corpses into a scroll and departed for Konoha, arriving there on the third day.
This mission took six days in total.
Upon returning to Konoha, Sakumo Hatake was responsible for submitting the mission report, while Xuan Yi and the other two disbanded and returned to their homes.
Strolling through the streets, Xuan Yi pondered the information he had gathered on the way back about Air Ninja Village.
Air Ninja Village was no more.
Air Ninja remnants were scattered, occasionally appearing to oppose Konoha.
But they were all seeking death.
The original location of the Air Ninja was in the eastern part of the Land of Fire, south of the Land of Hot Water, by the sea.
He was currently unsure if there was an aerial fortress beneath the Air Ninja Village ruins.
He also hadn't obtained any information about the Zero-Tailed Beast, so he wasn't sure when it existed.
However, the Sealing Jutsu used to seal the Zero-Tailed Beast was stolen from Konoha.
And the Regeneration Secret Technique also originated from Konoha.
Xuan Yi hadn't heard any information about the destruction of Air Ninja Village; Sakumo Hatake spoke very little about it.
"Perhaps it was because the secret technique was stolen?"
Xuan Yi guessed.
Fortunately, he didn't necessarily have to personally inspect the Air Ninja Village ruins.
With his current Genin status, it would be difficult for him to leave the Village alone.
"Good thing I have a cheat... I'll prepare first and learn the Four Symbols Sealing."
"Let's see if I can get my hands on the Zero-Tailed Beast by overdrawing the future."
Xuan Yi had a good sense of his own limitations.
With his current strength, trying to find the Zero-Tailed Beast would likely result in a terrible death.
Don't be fooled by how easily they dealt with a dozen Air Ninja this time.
That was because Sakumo Hatake was there.
At the same time, Uchiha Namiichi and Yamanaka En were both Chunin.
Especially Uchiha Namiichi, who had activated his Sharingan with two tomoe, his strength was formidable.
Just his close-range taijutsu was enough to easily defeat Xuan Yi.
After resting for half a day at home, Xuan Yi brought a gift and visited Sakumo Hatake the next day.
Sakumo Hatake had mentioned that he could ask him for Swordsmanship advice, and Xuan Yi naturally wouldn't let that opportunity pass.
Even if it was just a polite remark, he shamelessly took it seriously.
And Sakumo Hatake was clearly not that kind of person.
After a few days of interaction, Xuan Yi could feel that he was a senior who was very enthusiastic about nurturing the younger generation.
So, of course, he had to seize the opportunity.
Regardless of whether Sakumo Hatake would take him as a disciple, he would first learn the skills.
...
When Xuan Yi arrived, Kakashi also happened to be home, not on a mission.
So, after putting down the gifts, the three of them went to an open space surrounded by trees.
There were many wooden targets nailed to the trees, with traces left by Shuriken, likely a place where Kakashi used to train.
"Kakashi, Xuan Yi, you two try first."
Sakumo Hatake said with a smile, then specifically instructed, "Kakashi, Xuan Yi's Swordsmanship has improved greatly!"
Kakashi looked at Xuan Yi and asked, "Iai Slash?"
Xuan Yi nodded, "I've made some small gains."
Kakashi drew his short sword from his back, "Then let me see it."
As his words fell, Kakashi charged towards Xuan Yi.
Xuan Yi's body crouched low, his right hand on his sword hilt.
However, Kakashi, who was charging head-on, suddenly leaped up, passing over Xuan Yi, and attacked from behind.
Xuan Yi was unaffected, his body drew a semicircle clockwise, drawing his sword as he turned.
Clang!
The short sword drawn from bottom left to top right precisely collided with Kakashi's descending short sword.
Immediately after, Xuan Yi switched to a two-handed grip on his sword and swung down.
Clang!
Kakashi blocked the strike, but his expression changed, and he couldn't help but stumble, "Such a heavy sword!"
Xuan Yi seized the opportunity to press his attack.
For a moment, the clang of metal on metal was incessant.
Kakashi retreated repeatedly, but after only seven or eight moves, Kakashi stabilized his footing and then began to counterattack.
Xuan Yi had been practicing Konoha-Style Swordsmanship for less than a year.
After the two Iai Slash attacks didn't fully succeed, his Swordsmanship became ordinary, and after Kakashi counterattacked, he quickly became flustered.
He was abused again!
However, Xuan Yi still gritted his teeth and held on, concentrating on blocking Kakashi's every strike, and trying to absorb Kakashi's Swordsmanship, then counterattack.
Although he was beaten back every time, he still made some slight progress.
Sakumo Hatake, who was observing from the side, nodded slightly.
It doesn't matter if you can't win; you must be able to learn, and be willing to learn.
After more than fifty exchanges, Kakashi's short sword rested on Xuan Yi's neck.
Although he still lost, he managed to hold on for over fifty exchanges, which was a significant improvement from before.
"Xuan Yi, you've made great progress."
"Especially with your Iai Slash, if the timing is precise, it's easy to kill an enemy with one strike."
Kakashi commented.
Sakumo Hatake smiled, "Xuan Yi already killed two Air Ninja remnants with that move on this mission."
Kakashi was surprised to hear that and looked at Xuan Yi in astonishment.
Xuan Yi smiled, "Those two's Swordsmanship was far inferior to yours, Kakashi, and they greatly underestimated me."
Next was Sakumo Hatake's teaching time.
Xuan Yi was actually already familiar with Konoha-Style Swordsmanship, so Sakumo Hatake didn't teach basic moves, but rather started by teaching how to exert force.
How to exert force to make the sword faster and more powerful.
This exertion of force was not just physical strength, but also the technique of Chakra bursts.
When Chakra bursts from the feet to form the Body Flicker Technique, Chakra can naturally also burst from the hands, just like Tsunade's monstrous strength, causing punching power to skyrocket.
Swordsmanship is the same.
Without considering the addition of nature transformation, the competition in Swordsmanship is essentially a competition of neural reaction speed, strength, and speed.
And after these techniques were taught, it was time to practice.
How to practice?
Of course, through actual combat.
Xuan Yi was repeatedly defeated by Sakumo Hatake and Kakashi, father and son.
After three consecutive days, his mind was filled with the clashing of swords.
On the fourth day, Kakashi went on a mission.
Xuan Yi was also given a day off.
But he couldn't stop and rest; he spent this day studying Sealing Jutsu and genjutsu.
Unconsciously, seven days had passed.
9 AM, Konoha Village main gate.
The White Fang's team gathered again, and Xuan Yi's second mission began.
Mission - Holiday Training - Mission - Holiday Training.
A Ninja's life is just that monotonous.
And the 42nd year of Konoha passed by without him realizing it.
Whoosh~
Xuan Yi exhaled a hot breath, "If nothing unexpected happens, the change will be this year."
"What kind of mission would cause such immense losses to the country?"
"Abandoning a mission to save comrades, can I change that?"
"I hope it's after March..."
In March, Xuan Yi would be able to overdraw the next ten years again.
At that time, his strength should be able to improve further.
At least his Swordsmanship should see a significant improvement.
After receiving guidance from Sakumo Hatake in the past few months, his Swordsmanship had improved very quickly.
Coupled with ten years of refinement, it certainly wouldn't be bad.
"Xuan Yi!"
A familiar voice entered his ears, startling Xuan Yi awake. He looked up and couldn't help but smile, "Jiraiya-sensei!"
Jiraiya leaped down from the rooftop, came before Jiraiya, and Xuan Yi bowed respectfully.
Jiraiya smiled and waved, "Come with me!"
Xuan Yi curiously followed.