Konoha Training Ground One.
Chilling blade light flashed across the field. Kakashi held a short blade as he trained with his father, Hatake Sakumo.
Hatake Sakumo nodded slightly, deftly deflecting Kakashi's blade with White Fang in his hand as he said with a smile:
"Your heart is a little unsettled. You need to focus..."
Kakashi was startled.
The moment his father finished speaking, White Fang's blade was already resting against his neck, sending a bone-chilling cold through him.
"Kakashi, there's no need to care about the title of genius. Though you are my son, Hatake Sakumo's son, you have already done more than well enough." Hatake Sakumo smoothly sheathed White Fang, rubbed Kakashi's head, and said softly:
"In the Shinobi World, there are always those with astounding talent who cannot simply be described as geniuses. The First Hokage was one such person, as was Madara Uchiha, and the Second Hokage as well."
Kakashi stubbornly raised his head and said in a low voice, "Father, do you think Seisui Uchiha has talent comparable to the Second Hokage's? Some people in the village have said that his Water Release seems very similar to the Second Hokage's."
After Might Duy became Seisui's household guard, Might Guy, who had once constantly pestered Kakashi for a duel, disappeared.
Obito, who had awakened the Sharingan, no longer came looking for him either, instead immersing himself in Setsuna Uchiha's personal instruction.
The aloof genius had suddenly lost the harassment of two dead lasts, yet he somehow felt strangely uncomfortable.
After Seisui displayed a bit of his strength, the boring but popular topic of "the number one genius" began circulating through the village again.
In the stillness of the night, Kakashi had also wondered who was stronger between himself and Seisui.
At times, he considered Seisui's age, but Kakashi's pride in having always considered himself the strongest among his peers still made him believe that, as Hatake Sakumo's son, he remained the strongest of their generation.
Thus, Kakashi sent Seisui an invitation to spar and even asked his father to observe the match today.
Kakashi knew that his father possessed eyes far beyond those of ordinary people, capable of seeing a ninja's hidden potential...
Hatake Sakumo looked into his son's eyes and slowly shook his head.
"Kakashi, whether Seisui Uchiha's talent is greater than yours is not important. What matters is that you learn to understand your own heart, not be disturbed by outside influences, and focus on your own training."
"Training in ninjutsu and Kenjutsu both requires a state of complete concentration. When you are burdened by reputation and the words of others, your blade grows dull, and your heart cannot remain calm. If that continues, problems will arise in the future."
Seeing Kakashi's confused expression, Hatake Sakumo laughed heartily.
"These are principles handed down from our Hatake ancestors, from back when they were samurai. Even your father can't fully live up to them..."
"Let's both do our best, Kakashi!"
Seisui, who had just arrived at Training Ground One with Muramasa in hand, happened to hear those words, and his expression turned somewhat subtle.
Wasn't Hatake Sakumo explaining things quite clearly when teaching his son?
Don't be disturbed by outside influences and focus on yourself. What a good lesson...
So why couldn't he let it go when it came to himself?
Still, that was only human nature... If it didn't happen to you, how could you know the pain?
"Good morning, Kakashi-kun, Mr. Sakumo."
Seisui slowly approached the Hatake father and son. He first nodded to greet Kakashi, then openly greeted Hatake Sakumo as well, a trace of curiosity in his eyes.
Hatake Sakumo was a man shrouded in a hint of mystery.
He possessed tremendous fame, yet Seisui did not know his fighting style. After all, in Seisui's original timeline, Sakumo had lived only in the praise of others and had never personally taken action...
Yet after only one glance, Seisui could be certain that Hatake Sakumo was exceptionally strong.
His entire being was like a sharp blade that had concealed its edge. He looked utterly ordinary only because he had yet to leave its sheath.
"So it's him. This little fellow has already grown to this point?"
Tobirama Senju examined Hatake Sakumo's appearance and smiled from the bottom of his heart.
"When I saw him at the Ninja Academy back then, I had a feeling that this child had potential and talent..."
"Now he has become an outstanding ninja as well. Very good. He can be considered a leader among the civilians."
Seemingly sensing Seisui's skeptical mood, Tobirama Senju explained on his own:
"The Hatake clan was a family that established itself in the Shinobi World through the way of the samurai during the Warring States Period. But they later suffered revenge from their enemies. By the time Konoha was founded, Sakumo was the only orphan left."
"They are called a ninja clan, but in truth, they only have the name."
Seisui nodded in understanding. As expected of Tobirama Senju, the founder of the Anbu—he knew the Shinobi World's ancient intelligence like the back of his hand. Yet what Seisui said was:
"Tobirama, who asked you? My assessment is that since you didn't arrange a Hokage lineage teacher for him back then, your prediction doesn't carry much weight. Hatake Sakumo simply grew wildly through pure talent..."
"Heh. Do you think geniuses who emerged during my administration had nothing to do with me? Childish!"
Seisui shrugged. Taking credit, huh?
"Seisui-kun, for ninja like us, sparring with most peers is meaningless. Yet fighting older, famous ninja is not particularly convenient either."
Kakashi nodded at Seisui. His gaze paused when it fell upon Muramasa before he continued, "So I want us to compare the results of our training. I apologize for troubling you, and I hope you will forgive me."
"For this spar, if possible, please go all out. My father will watch over the entire match and prevent any accidents."
Seisui nodded slightly. Kakashi had considered things very thoroughly, and his reasoning was sound.
At their age, mastering a C-rank ninjutsu made one an extraordinary genius. Yet Kakashi had mastered C-rank Earth Release before even entering the academy and was promoted to Jonin at the age of twelve.
But as he said, those veteran Special Jonin and Jonin would not be willing to fight a teenage genius.
After all, winning would not be worth mentioning, while losing would turn them into tools for spreading the other person's fame. Who would be willing to do that?
His father, meanwhile, was simply far too powerful, making any real combat value meaningless.
But Kakashi did not understand that, for Seisui, fighting him did not hold much meaning either.
At Kakashi's current age, he had not even developed Lightning Blade yet. How was he supposed to fight Seisui?
Seisui laughed inwardly and looked at Kakashi's slightly unconvinced little face. "Since Kakashi-kun has considered things so thoroughly, then I accept."
In truth, the person Seisui wanted to try fighting even more was Hatake Sakumo, who stood behind Kakashi with a gentle expression.
This man was a genuine Kage Level ninja. He would be better suited to helping Seisui verify his own strength and determine his current level.
After all, Madara Uchiha was watching Seisui.
If he did not figure out his own strength, perhaps some serious trouble would come one day.
Even Seisui could not predict what this old man might pull off.
I'll defeat Kakashi first. If there's an opportunity, I'll try Hatake Sakumo afterward...
The second update will be a little later—
I'll write it during my lunch break. Please wait a moment, dear readers.
Update record after release (0/23)
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