White Fang Shatters

As the Martial Factions of various nations began to make their moves, Konoha too entered an atmosphere of preparing for war. Many Jonin had already been dispatched to gather intelligence.

Only the elites of the major clans remained behind to rest and recuperate, awaiting the coming conflict.

The Hatake Clan's Training Hall was exceptionally spacious and imposing.

Two figures darted back and forth across the arena, exchanging dozens of blows in the blink of an eye.

Two streaks of lightning flashed, and one figure was sent flying, skidding several meters across the ground before coming to a stop.

"Big Brother, you're not doing so well!"

The arrogant taunt was followed by hearty laughter. It was Hatake Kawafune.

He held an Eight-Faced Han Sword, also a high-quality Chakra weapon, with flickering lightning still lingering along its blade.

Sakumo rose to his feet and dusted off his backside, ignoring his younger brother's mockery.

He was already used to it. Ever since his brother had turned ten, he had never won another sparring match. As the elder brother, he could no longer find any dignity through martial strength.

Chakra in his hand gave off a white glow once more. With a flash, he appeared before Kawafune, his short blade pointed straight at his throat.

Kawafune's expression grew serious as well, and he raised his sword to block.

When the strike failed to land, Sakumo instantly retreated and stopped a short distance away from Kawafune again.

The Hatake Clan emphasized killing in a single strike. Having transitioned from a Samurai school to ninja, weapons were their finest companions.

"Lightning Flash."

Kawafune bent his left leg into a half-crouch, placing the Eight-Faced Han Sword at his waist. Lightning-nature Chakra flickered around his feet, crackling with a "sizzle, sizzle."

His right leg suddenly exerted force. He moved so fast that not even an afterimage remained, appearing before Sakumo in the next instant.

Sakumo had seen this move many times already, yet it still left him in awe. Combining lightning-nature Chakra with an iai slash was easy.

But achieving his younger brother's speed and power made it nearly impossible to counter. In martial arts, speed was the one thing no technique could overcome.

There was no time to dodge. He could only raise his Chakra short blade high and take the attack head-on. He did not know how much longer this ancestral short blade would last.

With a crisp crack, the short blade snapped in two. As Sakumo stared in stunned disbelief, the Eight-Faced Han Sword stopped at his neck, close enough for him to feel its icy edge.

"Big Brother, don't blame me."

"Go have Old Tie forge you one. Our family can afford it."

His words still echoed through the Training Hall when he had already reached the door. Feeling that he had done something bad, Kawafune fled faster than a rabbit.

"That was an ancestral blade!"

"Kawafune, you little brat, get back here!"

Sakumo finally snapped out of his shock. He tossed aside the broken blade and stood there raging helplessly, but Kawafune had already vanished without a trace.

For a moment, Kawafune did not know where to go. He walked down the road, kicking innocent little stones, and before he knew it, he had wandered to the Hatake Armory.

Upon entering the shop, the attendants all bowed and greeted him. "Second Young Master."

Kawafune nodded in response. After all these years, he had grown accustomed to his status.

His father had died on a mission, and his mother had died in childbirth. Only he and his mission-crazed older brother remained. Fortunately, the family business was not small, or the two children might have starved to death.

To improve the clan's financial situation—and for his own better life—Kawafune had used modern knowledge to improve the forging furnaces.

This allowed the blacksmiths to smelt higher-quality materials, and he had single-handedly built Konoha's largest Weapon Shop.

The Hatake Clan now ranked among the wealthiest in Konoha.

With war just around the corner, business was unbelievably good as well.

When he arrived at the forging room, the wave of heat rushing at him made him frown slightly.

A burly, bare-chested man in his forties jogged over with a smile and greeted him, "Second Young Master, what brings you here today?"

This was Old Tie, a blacksmith they had "invited" from the Land of Iron at a high price and with overwhelming force.

Thanks to the excellent forging conditions and generous pay, he had willingly stayed on to work for the Hatake Clan.

"I broke White Fang."

"Forge one for my brother as soon as possible."

Kawafune said it with a perfectly calm expression.

Old Tie's mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg. He knew all too well how much the eldest young master cherished that ancestral short blade. He had never even succeeded in taking a look at it.

"Stop spacing out. Use the best materials too. It can't be worse than my sword."

"Otherwise, it'll break again next time. What a hassle."

Kawafune was not worried about his brother. He simply felt that the weapon's poor quality affected their sparring.

"You can rest assured about my craftsmanship. I'll finish it as quickly as I can, though creating something comparable to your Eight-Faced Han Sword won't be easy."

The moment the conversation turned to his profession, Old Tie seemed like a different person. His whole demeanor changed.

"It's fine. I'm not the one who has nothing to use."

"Alright, I have nothing else to do. Go get busy."

As he spoke, Kawafune waved Old Tie away. He then took another leisurely lap around his family's business before departing.

He was in an excellent mood. Looking at the customers ahead, he did not see customers at all—only gleaming silver.

His brother's anger had probably not subsided yet, so he might as well go find Tsunade.

Kawafune headed straight for the Senju Clan estate. The Senju Clan had integrated into the common populace, but Tsunade still lived at home in Konoha.

He remembered that she had a hapless younger brother, Senju Nawaki. The poor kid would die on the battlefield in the coming Second Great Ninja War.

Thinking of that, Kawafune decided he had to protect his future brother-in-law's life properly.

When he arrived at the Senju Clan estate, it was his first time there. As expected of Konoha's former greatest clan, even the entrance was grand and imposing.

He knocked on the gate and waited quietly outside.

Before long, the gate opened, and an elderly woman appeared before him.

"What business do you have with the Senju Clan?"

The elderly woman was likely just a servant, but her tone was not at all humble. Even the gatekeeper of a prime minister held rank; Kawafune did not mind.

"I am Hatake Kawafune. I've come to see Tsunade. Please inform her."

Kawafune maintained proper courtesy and a gentle smile.

"So it's Lord Kawafune. Please come in. Tsunade-sama instructed us about you."

That surprised Kawafune. He had not expected Tsunade to have already informed her household.

Following the elderly woman through the gate, he was not led inside. Instead, they went to the Training Ground.

Tsunade was teaching her younger brother taijutsu.

When she saw Kawafune arrive, delight appeared on her face. With a raised hand, she blocked Nawaki's attack.

"Practice on your own for now. Someone has come to see me."

Tsunade released Nawaki's leg and walked toward Kawafune.

"I didn't expect you to come see me today."

"I was planning to visit the Hatake Clan when I had time."

At home, Tsunade no longer wore her plain combat uniform. The Gambling Outfit from his memories perfectly displayed her stunning figure.

Kawafune stared, entranced, his mind filled with neutrons, electrons, and...

"Ah, I came here to take refuge too. Look, I didn't even have time to change out of my clothes."

Kawafune wore a combat uniform and had the Eight-Faced Han Sword on his back, forming a sharp contrast with Tsunade's casual attire.

"What happened?"

Tsunade's curiosity was piqued as well. What disaster was he taking refuge from?

With a bitter smile, Kawafune told her how he had broken the ancestral treasure blade and how his older brother was currently furious.

Tsunade burst into laughter. She had not expected Hatake Sakumo's famed weapon to be broken by his own younger brother.

"So I could only come hide out with you for a while. Do you have time to share a drink with me?"

Kawafune's gaze burned as he stared intently at Tsunade.

"Later. We can have lunch together and drink a little at noon."

Tsunade had not yet become unhinged enough to drink in the morning, so she invited Kawafune to lunch instead.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

"Since I have nothing to do, how about I give Nawaki some guidance too?"

Kawafune saw through Nawaki's strength at a glance. At eleven or twelve years old, he had only barely reached Genin level.

It had to be said that the kid was completely wasting his talent. The First Hokage's grandson was only this good?

Tsunade was also clearly the type to spoil her younger brother. She did not show even a hint of ruthlessness during sparring.

It was obvious she had never heard the famous saying: sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in wartime.

"That would be Nawaki's honor."

Naturally, Tsunade did not refuse. Since Kawafune could break Hatake Sakumo's blade, his strength was certainly not as simple as the rumors claimed.

Besides, she knew her own shortcomings. Having someone else guide Nawaki was a good thing too.