Chapter 17 – Internship and Kenjutsu Lessons
Ninja Academy – Classroom
As soon as Taichi stepped into the room, his eyes landed on Kakashi and Obito, who were locked in another one of their heated squabbles. Rin stood to the side, looking completely helpless.
Taichi couldn't help but smirk. Kakashi was cool and aloof with just about everyone—you could stand next to him all day and he might not say more than a couple of words. But with Obito? It was like they were born to be rivals. Obito would poke at Kakashi whenever he got the chance, and Kakashi… well, he had a knack for replying with just one line that could make Obito's blood boil.
While thinking this, Taichi walked toward them. The two combatants didn't even notice his approach, but Rin did.
"Taichi, did you need something?" she asked.
"Rin, I'm here for Kakashi," Taichi replied, glancing at the silver-haired boy. "But I guess he's too busy to bother with me."
Rin chuckled behind her hand.
Kakashi finally noticed him, instantly dropping his "battle mode" and switching to his usual icy demeanor. Seeing that only made Taichi recall his earlier thoughts, and he started laughing again.
"Sorry," Taichi said quickly. "Just remembered something funny."
Kakashi tilted his head slightly, confused, but didn't press. Instead, he pulled a scroll from his tool pouch and handed it over.
Taichi took it, but when he unrolled it, his eyes widened in shock. Wait… he didn't just swipe this, did he?
As if reading his mind, Kakashi said, "Don't get the wrong idea. My father told me to give this to you himself." He went on to explain his father's philosophy—that people were more important than missions.
Hearing this, Taichi felt a deep respect. No wonder this is the man who would give up a mission to save his comrades. In his eyes, people always came first.
But the weight of the favor hit him like a rock. How am I ever going to repay something like this?
And then another thought crept in—the "White Fang's suicide" incident that was supposed to happen in the future. Maybe… I can change that. Maybe I can stop it.
"Taichi, what's with the daydreaming?" Kakashi asked, breaking his thoughts.
"Ah, nothing. Just thinking I can't let Sakumo-senpai's expectations go to waste. Kakashi, after training today, come with me to buy a sword. I'll need your advice."
"Sure," Kakashi agreed without hesitation.
"Hah? Taichi, you're learning swordsmanship? Our Uchiha sword style is famous across the shinobi world, you know!" Obito piped up.
"Idiot. Like you can just hand out the Uchiha sword style to outsiders," Kakashi shot back.
"Wha—!? Arrogant jerk! Who are you calling an idiot?" Obito yelled, but quickly realized he'd backed himself into a corner and dropped the topic.
"Whoever asks is the idiot," Kakashi added casually.
That sent Obito into orbit, and soon they were bickering all over again.
Taichi just sighed. These two really are a comedy duo.
"Rin, I'll head off now—class is about to start."
"Okay."
---
Later that day, during a break, Taichi skimmed through the scroll. It was a complete and well-rounded foundation in kenjutsu, with a focus on speed, precision, and lethal efficiency—true to the style of the White Fang. As far as basic swordsmanship manuals went, you probably couldn't find a better one in all of Konoha.
[You have read Hatake Kenjutsu: Fundamentals. Related comprehension increased.]
[You have learned: Hatake Kenjutsu Lv.0 (1/10).]
[You focused on studying Hatake Kenjutsu. Ninja Apprentice EXP +1.]
Taichi felt a wave of pressure. Another skill that needs endless practice… pain and joy in one package.
---
Hokage's Office
The Third Hokage was in the middle of "observing" through his crystal ball when—poof!—the door opened. Startled, he shoved the crystal ball under the desk.
Tsunade stepped inside, catching his guilty little move. She gave him a disdainful glance. If it had been Jiraiya doing that, her fist would've already been in his face.
"At least try to respect me as your teacher, Tsunade. I am still the Hokage," Sarutobi said helplessly.
Truthfully, he felt a deep guilt toward her. The deaths of Nawaki and Dan still carried unanswered questions. The village didn't refuse to investigate—they were too afraid to.
Both he and Tsunade knew the most likely culprit was Danzō. But… what could he do? Remove Danzō and the entire political balance of Konoha would shift. Without the overwhelming power and authority of the First or Second Hokage, Sarutobi could only hold things together through checks and balances. Changing that now would mean tearing the system apart—and he didn't have the resolve for that.
Tsunade didn't bother with small talk. She set an internship certificate on his desk. She couldn't just let Taichi stroll into Konoha Hospital to "help out" with no credentials. That would be embarrassing. At least with this, he'd have an official position—and a paycheck.
Sarutobi glanced at the document, then raised an eyebrow. "Taking on a student, are you?"
You couldn't blame him for thinking that. Why else would someone go this far for a stranger?
"No. In my current state, what could I even teach him?" Tsunade replied, her mind flicking to her hemophobia.
"He's talented," she added. "I tested him—solid medical ninjutsu and theory. All he needs now is hands-on experience. Let him train at the hospital and he'll improve fast."
Sarutobi's face darkened for a moment, but he nodded. "If you've already tested him, I've nothing more to say. Matsushita Taichi is a good kid. I've been keeping an eye on him for a while. Have him report to Biwako at the hospital."
Even if Tsunade insisted she wasn't taking a disciple, the way she was running around for Taichi said otherwise. The special medicine incident was proof enough.
As long as Tsunade was doing something productive—meeting people, forming bonds—instead of gambling away her days or drinking herself into oblivion, Sarutobi was happy. This, after all, was his way of making amends to a student.
Tsunade took the signed certificate without another word and left the office.
Out in the hall, she glanced at the paper in her hand. "Not bad, huh? Let's see how you thank me for this." She tucked it into her jacket and strode off.
Konoha's Small Woodland
After school, the three gathered once again for training.
On one side, Guy was hammering straight punches into the trunk of a massive tree. Each blow made the bark shudder and the leaves tremble. He counted aloud with every strike—already at five hundred eighty-three—his voice brimming with relentless energy.
"Two thousand punches today! If I don't hit the count, I'll run five laps around Konoha!" His fiery declaration echoed through the clearing without pause.
A short distance away, Kakashi was instructing Taichi in the basics of swordsmanship.
Kakashi stood on a flat boulder, short sword in hand. The blade's gleam danced over Taichi's taut fingers as he gripped the practice sword—a weapon Kakashi had brought from home. Beads of sweat rolled from Taichi's chin and splashed onto the tsuba. His stance was tense, his hold awkward.
"The web between your thumb and forefinger should lock against the guard," Kakashi said, tapping the boy's whitened knuckles with the handle of a kunai. "Thumb here. Too tight, and you lose flexibility. Too loose, and the enemy will knock it from your grip."
The tap stung, and Taichi reflexively adjusted. He suddenly noticed how the hilt's diamond-shaped texture fit perfectly with the arc of his fingers. From the distance came the steady thud, thud of Guy's fists meeting wood, blending with the hiss of steel slicing air.
"Now—try a diagonal cut."
Kakashi stepped back three paces. The moment Taichi swung, the silver-haired youth flicked three shuriken his way. The blade met the spinning steel with a sharp clang, the impact jolting Taichi's palm—yet the newly corrected grip spread the force evenly, keeping his stance firm.
As dusk crept in, Kakashi squatted and drew in the dirt with a fallen branch.
"Hatake-style swordsmanship has seven grip variations. This is the foundation." The crude sketch of a hand flowed into the outline of a swordsman.
"Remember—your blade is an extension of your body. The center of balance must flow as naturally as your breath."
Taichi's system prompts began to flash in his mind:
[You've practiced Hatake Kenjutsu—insight increased!]
[Skill "Hatake Kenjutsu" EXP +1]
[Congratulations! "Hatake Kenjutsu" has leveled up to Lv.1 (0/100)]
[Ninja Apprentice EXP +1]
With the skill's breakthrough, a rush of understanding about balance, weight, and edge control poured into his awareness.
He looked down at the reddish marks pressed into his palm by the hilt, then twisted his wrist—spinning the blade in a neat flourish.
Kakashi's eyes flickered with surprise. That flourish was normally taught only after three weeks of training, yet Taichi had pieced it together himself from feel alone.
The evening wind swept through the grove, lifting a swirl of red maple leaves into the air. In that rustling storm of crimson, the afterimages of their blades danced—until teacher and student's movements aligned as one.