Chapter 454: The Power of Two Ninja Swords
The instant Mugetsu swung his lightning blade, a bloom of shimmering purple electricity flashed across Kakashi's vision.
Swish!
Rumble!!
Kakashi, who had been moving at full speed, halted abruptly, not because he wanted to, but because Mugetsu's slash was already in front of him. He had no choice but to swing first and meet it head on.
Purple lightning collided with the yellow lightning dragon, and the dragon was split in two almost instantly, dissolving into the air.
Kakashi poured chakra out desperately, trying to hold the strike back. But the purple lightning exceeded his limit. Even using everything he had, he could only resist for a single second.
Bang!
The next moment, Kakashi was blasted backward and slammed hard into the ground.
The result surprised him.
It was not that he doubted Mugetsu's ability to defeat him instantly. What shocked him was the way Mugetsu chose to test him.
In the past, Mugetsu would give his disciples enough space to display their abilities before making his move.
With Mugetsu's strength, if he attacked directly, the test would end in an instant, and there would be no point in doing it.
As Kakashi pushed himself up, still puzzled, he suddenly noticed the changes around him.
The dense forest that had been here moments ago was gone. Only stumps remained. Slightly higher slopes had been shaved flat. The ground was littered with shattered trunks and chunks of rubble.
That single slash had cleared everything like a blade running through grass.
Kakashi's eyes widened.
"That slash had an attack range like this?"
It far exceeded his understanding of Lightning Release swordsmanship.
To Kakashi, Lightning Release sword techniques were about single target burst and lethal penetration.
Mugetsu's casual strike rewrote that belief. Kakashi realized, with a jolt, how shallow his understanding truly was.
"What I blocked just now was only the aftershock," Kakashi thought, even more stunned by Mugetsu's control.
With his current strength, he could not directly withstand a slash like that. If the main force had been aimed at him, he would not have lasted even a second. He would have been cut apart instantly.
"The intensity of your nature transformation barely meets the minimum requirement," Mugetsu said, giving a slight nod.
If Kakashi's Lightning Release nature transformation had been any weaker, he would not have been able to stall even the aftershock for that single second.
"Keep attacking," Mugetsu said, laying down the rules for the next test. "This time, you can only use sword technique. No Breathing Technique, and no chakra."
Kakashi brushed the dust off his clothes and tightened his grip on the White Fang short blade as he stepped forward.
After reaching Constant State, the Breathing Technique could maintain a focused rhythm almost automatically. If he was not allowed to use it, he had to consciously shut it down.
Kakashi's gaze sharpened.
He lunged forward and slashed at Mugetsu's chest. The short blade ripped through the air like lightning, with no hesitation and no restraint.
Clang!
Steel rang.
Mugetsu pulled a katana from a scroll, the one Shisui had given him, and drew it in a smooth motion to block.
Kakashi did not change expression when the first strike failed. He immediately transitioned, gripping the short blade tightly and thrusting toward Mugetsu's heart, perfectly embodying the truth that a shorter weapon was often more dangerous up close.
Mugetsu's sword was already there.
He held it horizontally and caught the thrust at the exact timing, as if Kakashi's intent had been written on paper in front of him.
Kakashi understood this was a test, so he abandoned defense entirely and attacked with everything he had.
Each strike was aimed at a vital point.
He pressed like a storm.
Yet Mugetsu remained calm, blocking every cut, every thrust, every angle. It felt as if Mugetsu had some kind of precognition, and the sensation was eerily similar to fighting his own reflection when Kakashi was using Transparent World.
But Kakashi knew the truth.
Mugetsu was not using Breathing Technique or chakra either. He was meeting him with pure swordsmanship alone.
This was not the first time Kakashi had experienced something like this.
When the White Fang was still alive, his father personally refined Kakashi's swordsmanship. A sword technique beginner fighting a true master with a fearsome battlefield reputation was not training, it was humiliation.
If Kakashi had not admired his father so deeply, he might have been traumatized back then.
Now, Kakashi could no longer be called a beginner. Years of training and real combat had made his swordsmanship truly competent.
Even so, facing Mugetsu made him feel like he had returned to those early days.
Thud!
Mugetsu struck the back of Kakashi's sword hand with the flat of his blade.
The White Fang short blade flew out of Kakashi's grip and spun away.
"Your swordsmanship is barely adequate," Mugetsu said as he sheathed the katana.
Mugetsu had not focused much on sword training before obtaining No Thought Strike, relying instead on the small amount of experience he had received from Kakashi's reward burst.
But after gaining Proficient level No Thought Strike, Mugetsu possessed a level of sword technique that most people would struggle to reach in a lifetime.
This was one thing Mugetsu genuinely liked about the Teacher System.
When it granted an ability, it also came with the knowledge needed to use it, so the reward would not become something useless.
Mugetsu's rapid mastery of seven chakra nature transformations had also benefited from that same function.
Normally, a person needed an extremely high level of swordsmanship to cultivate No Thought Strike to Proficient level.
With the system, Mugetsu had reversed the order. He gained swordsmanship because he obtained Proficient No Thought Strike.
It could not compare to someone who had walked the path step by step, but it was undeniably convenient.
Kakashi retrieved the fallen short blade, and a faint anticipation rose in his chest.
Mugetsu had said the Lightning Release sword technique he was going to teach would be no worse than the Golden Skyline.
Calling Guy's strength entirely dependent on the Golden Skyline was unfair. The Eight Gates and Rock Breathing were the true core. Still, the Golden Skyline undeniably gave Guy a massive boost.
Kakashi had lost more than once because of it. It was a frighteningly complete and powerful taijutsu.
Guy's strength had already undergone a qualitative leap after comprehending Rock Breathing Chakra Mode. Kakashi knew he could not surpass Guy in a short time.
But if he had a Lightning Release sword technique that could rival the Golden Skyline, at least he would not always be forced into the same helpless position.
"Let's move," Mugetsu said, leading Kakashi away.
Even though he had chosen a secluded spot, the commotion from that first slash had been too loud. If they stayed, they risked being interrupted.
This was where the Byakugan's long range vision was invaluable.
Sensory ninjutsu could only detect chakra. The Byakugan saw directly, more thoroughly and with greater detail.
Once they reached a better location, Mugetsu spoke.
"The Lightning Release sword technique I want to teach you is One Thought Cut. It is an unrivaled slash unleashed by concentrating all your power while entering a state with no thoughts and no desires."
Kakashi listened with intense focus.
The name sounded strange, but that did not matter. Strength was the only thing that mattered.
When the actual teaching began, Mugetsu gave Kakashi an enlightenment.
Without the enlightenment and the system's teaching buff, Kakashi's current level could not learn One Thought Cut.
That was why Mugetsu had said Kakashi could barely learn it. He needed the system's support. Without it, he simply could not.
Because they were on the battlefield, Mugetsu did not teach for long. After a few hours, he brought Kakashi back.
On the way, Mugetsu used appraisal on Kakashi again.
One Thought Cut did not even appear on Kakashi's skill list.
That meant Kakashi had not gained any proficiency in it yet.
This was exactly what Mugetsu expected.
Guy had trained Golden Skyline for a long time before he even got started, and even now, he still had not reached Proficient level. Powerful skills were difficult to master, that was simply reality.
…
Shisui returned to Konoha alone.
Walking through the bustling streets that matched his memories, then stepping into his empty home, he suddenly felt a strange sense of melancholy.
The uncle who had cared for him when he was young was gone.
Mugetsu was also gone.
Now in Konoha, he was even Mugetsu's only disciple.
Shisui was not a sentimental person. The feeling came quickly and faded just as quickly.
He cleaned the house a little, then began to train.
He would not be separated from Mugetsu and the others for long. Once the Jonin assessment ended, he would leave Konoha again.
That evening after dinner, Shisui did not continue training.
Instead, he went to Fugaku's home.
He was not there for Fugaku.
He was there for Itachi.
Shisui had not forgotten his responsibility to guide Itachi. If he wanted to prevent Itachi from becoming the cold, ruthless rogue ninja of the future, he had to plant the right thoughts early.
Fugaku was clearly delighted by Shisui's visit.
Although Fugaku, stationed in the rear, did not know the title Shisui the Body Flicker, that one skirmish alone, with Shisui and Obito, had brought enough honor to the Uchiha clan.
"How long do you plan to rest this time?" Fugaku asked with a smile.
He had assumed Shisui's whole squad had returned to the rear to recover.
"If nothing unexpected happens, I'll return to the battlefield the day after tomorrow," Shisui replied after thinking for a moment.
He would take his Jonin assessment tomorrow. Based on Kakashi and the others' experience, the result would be out a day later.
So Shisui planned to leave for the battlefield the day after tomorrow, regardless of whether he was promoted or not.
"The main purpose of my return is to participate in the Jonin assessment," Shisui added. "I won't be staying long."
Surprise flickered across Fugaku's face.
If he remembered correctly, Shisui was only eight years old.
If Shisui passed, he would become an unprecedented eight year old Jonin.
The record Kakashi had just broken would be broken again, immediately.
"Itachi," Fugaku said, turning and praising openly, "you should learn from Shisui. This is the kind of genius that makes our Uchiha clan proud."
Young Itachi did not understand their conversation. He did not even understand what Jonin meant.
Still, he nodded obediently.
Compared to Obito, Shisui sounded smart, and he did not say things that made people feel lost.
"Whether I pass is still uncertain," Shisui said with a smile, patting Itachi's head. "If I fail, then Itachi, you shouldn't learn from me."
Shisui was usually calm and quiet, but now and then, he would toss out a small joke.
"With your ability, Shisui, you'll most likely pass," Fugaku said, already imagining what people would be talking about in a few days.
"Being cautious reduces mistakes," Shisui replied, shaking his head.
"I can't help much with the written exam in the short term," Fugaku said after thinking. "That depends on long term accumulation. But I can give you some practical guidance on Fire Release."
As the head of the Uchiha clan and captain of the Konoha Police Force, Fugaku was busy.
Whether he could make time depended on who was asking.
If it was Shisui, a future pillar of the Uchiha, Fugaku would squeeze time out.
Shisui had originally planned to keep things simple, then take Itachi out for a walk and some gentle guidance.
But Fugaku was too enthusiastic, and Shisui found it difficult to refuse.
Fugaku had treated him well. Even if that kindness was tied to Shisui's talent, it was still kindness.
"Then I'll trouble you," Shisui said at last.
Fugaku led Shisui and Itachi to a nearby open area.
Shisui had fought the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and he was now about to attempt the Jonin assessment.
Fugaku would not underestimate him.
If Fugaku did not want to sleep on the street tonight, he definitely could not fight in his own courtyard.
"Itachi, stand over there and watch carefully," Fugaku instructed. "Do not get too close."
He was confident he would not harm Itachi no matter what.
He was not as confident about Shisui.
Then Fugaku looked at Shisui. "Shisui, don't hold back. Use your full power."
Shisui considered it, then directly entered Flame Breathing Chakra Mode.
Fugaku was the Uchiha clan head. Shisui had not heard of any major battlefield achievements from him, but he believed Fugaku's strength should surpass at least two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Shisui wanted to test what Flame Breathing Chakra Mode would do against an opponent of that level, especially since Fugaku had told him to go all out.
Shisui drove his breathing to the extreme.
A massive amount of oxygen flooded into his body and was converted into power.
The moment Flame Breathing Chakra Mode activated, Shisui's chakra began to drain rapidly, and he felt the changes surge through him.
Physical enhancement was only a side effect.
The true specialty of Flame Breathing Chakra Mode was enhancing Fire Release chakra nature transformation, raising the power of flames by a large margin.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Shisui brought his hands together, instantly converting the chakra gathered in his throat into Fire Release chakra, then exhaled it in a single breath.
Roaring flames erupted, forming a giant fireball that surged straight toward Fugaku.
Fugaku, who had just finished his own hand signs, froze with a question forming on his face.
As an Uchiha, he was also preparing to open with the Great Fireball Technique.
He had not expected Shisui to release it without hand signs.
Fugaku had practiced for years and still could not do that.
Shisui's performance left him both surprised and deeply puzzled.
.....
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