"Let's take a break."
After saying that, Kakashi casually let the ninja blade fall from his hand and then sat down directly on the ground.
He was clearly at his limit. After all, he was only six years old—his stamina and chakra reserves had already been pushed to their peak.
"Your swordsmanship is improving very quickly. Just now, I was basically using my full strength."
Kakashi wasn't lying. He wouldn't stoop to flattering an employer just for a bit of mission pay. Earlier, he had fully unleashed Lightning Release to boost his speed and Wind Release for razor-sharp slashes, holding nothing back.
Yet every attack had been blocked by Uchiha Yoichi.
Yoichi's blade had even been wrapped in lightning as thick as a finger.
Although Wind Release countered Lightning Release, Yoichi's raw strength was far greater. If Kakashi tried to rely on Wind Release to break through the lightning coating on Yoichi's blade, Yoichi would simply turn it around and bully him with brute force.
Even though Yoichi's swordsmanship lacked formal techniques, his speed was terrifying and his strikes carried crushing power. Combined with the extreme acceleration of Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Kakashi felt that if Yoichi truly went on the offensive, he wouldn't be able to hold out—he'd be forced to counter with ninjutsu.
"Then let's rest for a bit," Yoichi wrote on paper. "Eat something to recover. We'll continue afterward."
He then brought over the food containers, all filled with highly nutritious meals.
Fresh seafood, freshly grilled meat, various fruits, and even a few medicinal soups that—while not exactly delicious—were still tolerable.
Yoichi didn't care much about money. In a world with supernatural power, making money was far too easy. Those nobles hoarding wealth were practically doing it on his behalf.
Kakashi didn't hold back either. Over the past few days, he'd been living off the food Yoichi bought. Still, he couldn't help but wonder—ninjas weren't short on money, but was this level of spending really okay?
Just as Kakashi was about to dig in, a slip of paper was suddenly pushed toward him:
"Your father is also very good at making money. Your family just happens to be frugal."
This guy…
Kakashi felt helpless. He seriously suspected that Uchiha Yoichi was from the Yamanaka clan. Otherwise, how could Yoichi respond perfectly to whatever he was thinking these past few days? It was downright terrifying.
After eating and resting, Kakashi suddenly spoke up.
"You know about the rumors in the village, right?"
"You mean the rumors about me exploiting my teammates, or even deliberately abandoning them? Yeah, I know."
Kakashi froze for a moment, then continued,
"Did someone tell you?…Never mind. One of my classmates from the Ninja Academy told me. Even they know about it now—if that's the case, a lot of people in the village must know. Before, it was just a small group spreading it, but this time it spread way too fast."
Yoichi had naturally learned this from Kakashi's inner thoughts. Recently, aside from his home and this training ground, he barely went anywhere else—he'd only just found out the rumors had spread so widely.
"Let them talk," Yoichi wrote calmly. "Those ignorant idiots can only believe rumors anyway."
Kakashi paused, then asked curiously,
"You really don't care?"
"Why should I care about them? If they dare say it to my face, I'll kill them. Then they'll learn what happens when you're weak and still run your mouth."
"…And what if the one spreading the rumors is stronger than you?"
"Then I'll remember it. And once I'm stronger than them, I'll kill them then."
Kakashi fell silent.
He didn't think Yoichi was joking.
With the way Yoichi trained now, becoming stronger was only a matter of time. Just from Yoichi's swordsmanship alone, Kakashi already felt a growing pressure.
A week ago, this person hadn't even entered the basics of swordplay. One week later, he was already close to overpowering him.
I should train harder too… When I have time, I should ask my father to teach me deeper sword techniques.
"Let's continue training—"
Before Kakashi could finish, both he and Yoichi turned their heads toward the same direction.
Moments later, three shinobi emerged from the forest, each wearing a mask different from animal designs and dressed in ANBU-style attire. The one in front even wore a black cloak.
They quickly approached Yoichi and Kakashi. The black-cloaked ANBU spoke first.
"Uchiha Yoichi. We are Root operatives. We have something to discuss with you."
Kakashi immediately understood—they were here to dismiss him. Seeing Yoichi nod, he stood up and walked off to the side.
Once Kakashi left, Aburame Ryoma continued,
"Uchiha Yoichi, the rumors about you in the village grow worse by the day. Even Root has received reports. But to Lord Danzo, none of that matters—as long as you hand over Lightning Release Chakra Mode and join Root—"
"Enough."
Uchiha Yoichi removed his metal face mask and let out a slow breath. When he opened his eyes again, the Sharingan within them now bore two tomoe.
"So this is Root—despicable and shameless as ever. First you spread rumors about me, then you show up pretending to be saviors, offering to 'fix' the rumors in exchange for Lightning Release Chakra Mode.Oh, and you want me to join Root too—what, to research the Sharingan? Let me guess what's next. You'll assign me dangerous missions. If I succeed, I keep going. If I fail, you'll just recover my corpse. Truly worthy of Root."
Ryoma's expression changed sharply—though with a mask on, it made little difference in front of Yoichi.
"Uchiha Yoichi, don't maliciously speculate about Root or Lord Danzo. We are those who protect the village from the shadows—"
Zzzzz—!
A sudden, piercing electric screech erupted.
Lightning exploded across Yoichi's body as he instantly flashed forward toward Ryoma and the others.
"Uchiha Yoichi, you dare—!"
Ryoma's heart clenched. He hadn't expected Yoichi to actually attack—and at such terrifying speed!
The ten-plus meters between them vanished in an instant!
"Insect Sphere!"
Ryoma formed seals rapidly, releasing a swarm of insects like a black cloud from his body. Under his command, they surged forward in waves toward Yoichi.
Once enveloped by the swarm, a target would be drained of chakra and die.
But the thunder only intensified.
A blinding bolt of lightning and crackling arcs tore straight through the insect sphere. Before the other two Root shinobi could even form hand seals, Yoichi drove a brutal punch straight into Ryoma's face.
Crack!
Boom!
The mask shattered. Ryoma's body was sent flying over ten meters by the force of the blow.
The other two Root operatives finally reacted, shouting "Die!" as one drew a blade to slash while the other leapt back to prepare ninjutsu.
Yoichi gave them no chance.
Lightning surged again, his speed like a thunderbolt. The lightning coating his body deflected ordinary attacks as he struck them back with fists and knife-hand blows.
"Get lost," Yoichi said coldly. "Just seeing Root makes me sick. I wouldn't give Lightning Release Chakra Mode to a dog, let alone you. I'll report this to Elder Kenji."
"Uchiha Yoichi—!"
"If you want to fight, come. But I'll kill you with everything I have!"
Yoichi drew his ninja blade. The lightning around his body didn't fade—instead, it grew even more violent.
At that moment, Kakashi rushed back over. Though he hadn't heard the full exchange, Yoichi suddenly attacking had startled him.
"Attacking Root… I'll report this to Lord Danzo. Even if you're an Uchiha, you won't escape punishment!"
Ryoma touched the injury on his face, then glanced at Kakashi. The white hair and short blade made it obvious—this was the son of Konoha's White Fang.
And this area wasn't far from the village. The commotion would soon draw ANBU.
After the three Root operatives finally withdrew, Uchiha Yoichi collapsed to the ground, his entire body aching.
Continuously releasing Lightning Release chakra far beyond his body's limits was an immense burden.
He could feel damage even in his muscles.
Still, hearing Root's shameless intentions had enraged him beyond restraint.
Kakashi asked quietly,
"Are you okay? What are you going to do next?"
"I pushed past my physical limits. A couple of days' rest should fix it. Let's stop here today—I'm going to see the clan elders."
Before putting his metal face mask back on, Yoichi gave Kakashi one last message:
"Kakashi, the ones behind the rumors about me are Root shinobi. Remember what they did today. You might face the same thing someday."