"Did Lady Tsunade injure your mouth early this morning?"
When Kakashi saw Uchiha Yoichi arrive wearing a metal face mask, he deadpanned the remark without changing his expression.
[Why does this feel like he's copying me? And isn't wearing a metal mask uncomfortable? How does he even breathe through it?]
Uchiha Yoichi rolled his eyes. If he could still speak, he wouldn't have let even a six-year-old get away with that comment.
He quickly wrote on a piece of paper:
"Not uncomfortable at all. Breathing has been taken care of. It's getting late—let's start training."
After reading the note, Kakashi suddenly felt as though his inner thoughts had been completely seen through. He shot Yoichi a suspicious glance.
But since this was what the employer requested, he could only comply.
Kakashi then drew a ninja blade from his back. The moment it left its sheath, sharp hissing sounds rang out, and pale white light wrapped around the blade.
"The sword style I use was taught by my father. It mainly relies on Wind Release chakra—please be careful."
Wind Release's cutting power combined with Lightning Release–level movement speed—this was the core of the White Fang's swordsmanship.
Kakashi had trained with his father since childhood. He had already possessed genin-level strength at five years old. There was no way he hadn't learned his father's blade techniques.
That said, he was facing an employer, not an enemy. Even if he used White Fang swordsmanship, it would only be as a sparring partner—the Wind Release cutting power couldn't be pushed too high.
Kakashi swiftly closed the distance, lowered his stance slightly, and thrust forward with his blade.
The sharp cutting pressure was like a fierce gust of wind. Uchiha Yoichi immediately raised his blade in a reverse grip to block.
Clang!
Sparks flew as the two ninja blades collided.
Kakashi remained calm, withdrawing his blade and slashing back. Though Yoichi only had a one-tomoe Sharingan, his perception was still sharper than Kakashi's. Weak lightning chakra wrapped around his blade as he blocked again.
One strike. One block.
Their exchanges grew faster and faster, until it was nearly impossible to clearly see their arms moving.
Yoichi was steadily becoming more familiar with swordplay. Kakashi's attack angles grew increasingly tricky—sometimes Yoichi could see the attack coming clearly, yet the angle made blocking it extremely awkward.
More than an hour later, the two finally stopped to rest.
Yoichi replayed the training in his mind. He could feel that his blade handling had already become smoother. If he continued training this way, his improvement would definitely accelerate.
"Training like this alone still isn't enough. When my father trained me, he used many different sword styles as sparring methods, and even mixed in ninjutsu and other tactics."
After finishing his water and pulling his mask back up, Kakashi turned to Yoichi and spoke.
"I plan to take some out-of-village missions soon. Ninjas only gain the most deeply ingrained experience through real combat."
After thinking for a moment, Kakashi added,
"Can you take me along? We could form a two-man team—that way we'd be able to accept B-rank missions."
Yoichi wrote in response:
"Even without forming a team, I can still accept B-rank missions. And why would you choose me? Haven't you heard the rumors in the village?"
Kakashi replied calmly,
"A ninja should rely on their own judgment. You don't look like someone who would sell out their teammates—there'd be no benefit for you in doing that."
After a brief pause, he turned his head slightly.
"Besides, there aren't any teams available right now. My mission record is thin—without teaming up, I'd be lucky to even get a simple C-rank mission."
To ensure mission success, Konoha didn't assign missions randomly. In theory, genin could accept C-rank missions, but alone they could only take D-rank ones.
The same principle applied to chūnin.
Even though Kakashi was a chūnin with sufficient strength, he was only six years old. He had graduated as a genin just last year, and his mission history was sparse—mostly D-rank tasks. Under such circumstances, B-rank missions were out of reach.
He had heard that Uchiha Yoichi had completed several B-rank missions. After spending a few days together, Kakashi also didn't believe Yoichi was the kind of person who exploited teammates to complete objectives. That was why he made the suggestion.
Yoichi thought for a moment before writing:
"We'll talk about it later. Even if we do missions, it won't be for at least another half month."
Kakashi's strength wasn't weak—certainly far better than the genin teammates Yoichi had before.
Yoichi added another line:
"If we form a team, I must be the leader. During missions, you follow my commands."
Kakashi nodded.
"That's only natural. I don't have any leadership experience anyway."
Elsewhere
"Hiruzen, an Uchiha has obtained Kumogakure's secret taijutsu. Why didn't you tell me about this?"
Inside the Hokage's office, a man with his right eye wrapped in bandages and leaning on a cane questioned Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Danzo, it was only Tsunade's speculation before. It was confirmed just a few days ago."
Hiruzen set down his pipe and replied expressionlessly. Tsunade had only informed him two days after confirming it herself—and the technique was something Uchiha Yoichi had obtained personally. What was he supposed to say?
Hiruzen knew exactly what Danzo was thinking—he'd known his old comrade for decades.
But Konoha had never enforced a rule requiring ninjas to hand over their techniques. There were plenty of clans with secret arts. If he set such a precedent, how would other clans react?
"That's Kumogakure's secret taijutsu," Danzo pressed. "Hiruzen, if Root could obtain it, we could forge the sharpest blades possible—ones that could eliminate countless enemies for Konoha!"
Danzo understood Hiruzen's concerns, but the target was an Uchiha brat with a questionable reputation in the village.
And Lightning Release Chakra Mode was simply too valuable.
It was the Raikage's signature taijutsu. Even within Kumogakure, only a handful of shinobi—likely fewer than thirty—could practice it.
"If you won't speak to him," Danzo continued coldly, "then let me try. He's just an Uchiha, after all. Hiruzen, Konoha has plenty of Lightning Release users—what we lack are techniques."
Hiruzen fell silent.
After a long moment, he lit his pipe again, took a puff, and finally spoke:
"Danzo, mind your methods. The Uchiha clan has been quiet lately—don't go too far."
"Hmph. Hiruzen, you've already forgotten why Sensei confined the Uchiha to the Police Force in the first place. Uchiha Fugaku's ideas will never be accepted by Homura and Koharu."
With that, Danzo turned and left the Hokage's office.
The one who truly inherited Sensei's will was me. You only became Hokage because you were one step faster.
Back at the Root base, Danzo immediately gave an order:
"Summon Ryoma."
Not long after, a Root operative appeared. Seeing Aburame Ryoma, Danzo issued his command directly:
"Ryoma, the Uchiha named Uchiha Yoichi has obtained Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Go and ask whether he's willing to hand over that taijutsu."
"And if he refuses?" Ryoma asked.
Danzo's voice turned cold.
"Then he'll have to experience the cruelty of the shinobi world."