Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu doesn't include Gekkō Hayate's Crescent Moon Dance. That technique is his personal ultimate move—something far beyond the standard sword forms.
It requires the Shadow Clone Technique to execute properly.
And Shigure? He was just a kid who hadn't even graduated from the Academy. Gekkō Hayate had no intention of teaching him a dangerous jutsu like the Shadow Clone Technique.
If misused, it could severely harm the user. It wasn't something a child could afford to experiment with.
However, the ten foundational forms of Konoha-ryū swordsmanship—those, Hayate could teach him.
At the same time, Hayate also wanted to reassess Shigure's talent, to confirm whether what he had sensed before was real.
If Shigure could grasp even the basics of Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu so quickly, then it would be clear—this boy was no ordinary talent.
Ten forms weren't too many. Hayate slowed his movements intentionally, explaining each technique thoroughly, detailing every transition and subtle variation in posture and blade control.
All of it took less than ten minutes.
When he was done, Hayate turned to Shigure.
"Your turn. Show me what you've got."
Shigure smiled.
A confident, unshakable smile.
Because just as Gekkō Hayate finished demonstrating the final technique, the system prompt had chimed in.
[Analysis complete.]
[Congratulations. New skill acquired: Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu.]
In that instant, every detail of the ten sword forms flashed through Shigure's mind as though etched into his very being.
It felt like this ability had always been a part of him—instinctual, natural. Every motion, every variation in stance and flow, was carved into him like stone by blade.
It was as if his body already knew Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu.
Raising the practice sword, Shigure took his stance.
The first swing stunned Gekkō Hayate.
The angle, the precision, the force—it was sharper, cleaner, stronger than his own.
Perfect.
Absolutely flawless.
Hayate stared, confused.
Even among the shinobi of Konoha, few had truly inherited the art of Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu. The number was small.
The records were even stricter. Every student, every lineage—documented.
Given Shigure's background, there was simply no way he could have learned it on his own.
Yet now, before Hayate's eyes, Shigure flowed through the forms one after another—each stroke more refined than the last.
Each movement sharper, more natural, more alive than even his own after years of training.
It wasn't just talent.
It was mastery.
He moved like someone who had practiced these forms for a decade. No—someone who had transcended mere training.
Gekkō Hayate's heart skipped a beat.
This boy—was he truly more talented than him?
More than even the White Fang of Konoha… Hatake Sakumo?
Who is this child?
Who has such monstrous swordsmanship?
Swish!
The wind whistled around the wooden blade as Shigure ended the final form.
Gekkō Hayate's practice sword nearly slipped from his fingers.
Shigure turned to face him.
"Shigure... you... you'll become the second White Fang of Konoha!!"
The pride in Hayate's voice was unmistakable.
At last... the Gekkō Clan will rise—just like the Hatake Clan once did!
The appearance of the White Fang had once elevated the Hatake Clan from obscurity to renown. One genius could change the future of an entire family.
And now... it was happening again.
Shigure stood quietly, waiting for Hayate's response. When he heard it, he was surprised.
"The second White Fang?"
He smiled. After twelve long years of being ordinary, of being overlooked—he had finally revealed his true potential.
But Gekkō Hayate's words also brought him a dose of reality.
Until now, he had been just another unremarkable child. No one had paid him any real attention.
But now… things were different.
Konoha wasn't as peaceful as it seemed. Beneath its bright surface lurked shadows—ambition, suspicion, and schemes.
Shigure was still a hatchling. Even if he had the potential to soar, a bird with wet wings couldn't take flight right away.
Revealing too much too fast could be dangerous.
Danzo… the Third Hokage… They were watching. Danzo, in particular, was a zealot—an extremist who believed Konoha must be protected at any cost.
A talent like his, with no clan backing, no powerful family… would be seen as a pawn to control—or worse, a threat to eliminate.
Shigure's eyes narrowed slightly.
I'll let them see the swordsman in me... But my other talents?
Those will stay hidden—for now.
The Third Hokage wasn't easy to deal with either—certainly better than Danzo, but still a politician.
If something slipped beyond his control, even he would start to feel uneasy.
So becoming the second White Fang of Konoha seemed just right—prominent, but not threatening.
Respectable, but still within bounds.
With that in mind, Shigure glanced at the visibly excited Gekkō Hayate and smiled warmly.
"Really? Brother Hayate?"
"Of course it's true!" Hayate replied confidently. "Your swordsmanship talent already surpasses every active shinobi in Konoha!"
He paused, then added with a grin, "And don't call me 'Brother Hayate' anymore. Just 'Brother' is fine!"
Shigure nodded. "Yes, Brother!"
Hearing the word "brother" made Hayate beam with satisfaction.
"This has to be reported to the Hokage immediately. A genius like you appearing in the Gekkō Clan... we can't let that go unnoticed."
He mustn't be buried in obscurity.
"Shigure, there are even more advanced techniques within Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu," Hayate continued. "But I can't teach them to you yet. You still need more practice."
"I'll teach them to you once you graduate from the Academy."
He was likely referring to the Crescent Moon Dance—a technique that required both mastery and shadow clones.
But Shigure didn't particularly care about that move.
To him, it seemed... unimpressive.
"I understand, Brother."
"Good!" Hayate's mood brightened further when he saw that Shigure wasn't impatient or arrogant. "Want to keep training? I'll practice with you if you want."
Shigure considered it.
He could continue—but what he really wanted now was to go home and examine the new active skills he had just unlocked.
Rubbing the back of his head, he replied, "Brother, don't worry. I'll keep practicing seriously. But I promised to meet up with my classmates today..."
Hayate didn't seem disappointed at all. Instead, he nodded with approval.
"You're right. Building bonds with classmates is important too."
"Go on, then."
"I have a few things to take care of myself—but don't slack off with your sword training!"
He gave a half-smile. "When you graduate, I'll gift you a proper ninja sword. With your talent, paired with Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu, I doubt many Genin at your level will be able to match you."
Hayate had originally wanted to say Shigure was already one of the most skilled shinobi he'd seen—even among full-fledged ninjas.
But he held back.
I don't want to make him overconfident... though maybe that worry is unnecessary.
"Alright, go meet your friends!"
Shigure nodded and looked down at the wooden sword in his hand.
"Keep it," Hayate said. "Use it well. Put in the time."
"I will," Shigure replied, gripping the sword behind his back. "Then I'll be going now, Brother."
"Mm."
As Shigure's figure disappeared into the distance, Gekkō Hayate turned on his heel and made straight for the Hokage Building.
A swordsmanship prodigy has appeared in the Moonlight Clan.
This could be the opportunity our family's been waiting for.
Letting the Hokage know could bring more resources and support to Shigure—training, missions, recognition.
It would benefit both the boy and the clan.
A win-win.
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TN:
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