"Let's take a break."
Kakashi dropped the ninja blade in his hand as soon as he finished speaking, then sat down on the ground.
He was reaching his limit. After all, he was only six years old, and his stamina and Chakra were already completely depleted.
"Your Kenjutsu has improved very quickly. I was almost using my full strength just now."
Kakashi wasn't lying. He wasn't so shameless as to curry favor with his employer over such a small mission reward. He had held nothing back when he used Lightning Release to increase his speed and Wind Release for sharp slashing attacks.
Yet Uchiha Yoichi had blocked them all. He had even wrapped finger-thick strands of Lightning Release Chakra around his ninja blade.
Although Wind Release countered Lightning Release, Uchiha Yoichi was stronger, too. If Kakashi used Wind Release to counter the Lightning Release and shatter the electricity around his opponent's blade, Uchiha Yoichi would simply rely on his strength to overpower him.
Uchiha Yoichi's Kenjutsu might lack proper techniques, but his speed was incredible and his strikes were heavy. Combined with the extreme speed of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Kakashi felt that if Yoichi fought back, he absolutely wouldn't be able to hold out. He would have to counter with Ninjutsu.
"Then let's rest for a while and eat something to replenish ourselves. We'll continue later."
Uchiha Yoichi wrote this on paper, then brought over the food box. It was filled with nutritious food.
Fresh ingredients, freshly roasted meat, various fruits, and even some medicinal soups that didn't taste too bad.
Uchiha Yoichi didn't care about money. In a world with supernatural powers, earning money was far too easy. The nobles who hoarded wealth were merely helping him hoard it.
Kakashi didn't hold back either. He had been freeloading on the food Uchiha Yoichi bought these past few days. Still, he was a little curious. Ninjas weren't short on money, but was it really fine to spend so extravagantly?
Just as Kakashi was about to enjoy the food, a note was suddenly held out to him: "Your father is also very good at making money. Your family is simply frugal."
This guy.
Kakashi felt helpless inside. He strongly suspected that Uchiha Yoichi was from the Yamanaka Clan. Otherwise, how could he answer whatever Kakashi was thinking these past few days? It was downright terrifying.
After eating, while they were resting, Kakashi suddenly spoke. "Have you heard the rumors in the village?"
"You mean the rumors that I use my teammates and even deliberately abandon them? I've heard them."
Kakashi froze for a moment, then continued, "Did someone tell you?
"Never mind. A former classmate from the Ninja Academy told me. Even they know about it, so I'm afraid quite a few people in the village do, too. At first, only a small number of people were spreading it, but this time it spread far too quickly."
Uchiha Yoichi had naturally heard it from Kakashi's thoughts. Aside from his home and this training area, he rarely went anywhere during this period, so he had only just learned that the rumor had spread.
"Let them talk. Those ignorant idiots can only believe rumors like these."
Kakashi was startled and asked curiously, "You 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 someone has no strength but still runs their mouth."
"What if the person spreading the rumor is stronger than you?"
"Then I'll remember it. Once I become stronger than him, I'll kill him!"
Kakashi fell silent. He didn't think Uchiha Yoichi had been joking. With the way he was training so hard, becoming stronger was only a matter of time.
Kakashi felt pressured just by looking at Yoichi's progress in Kenjutsu.
A week ago, this man hadn't even entered the basics of Kenjutsu. A week later, he was already close to suppressing Kakashi in a fight.
I should train properly, too. When I have the time, I'll ask Father to teach me more advanced Kenjutsu.
"Let's continue training."
Before Kakashi could finish speaking, he and Uchiha Yoichi simultaneously turned their heads toward the other side.
Three ninjas soon emerged from the woods. They all wore masks unlike the faces of animals, and they were dressed like Anbu. The leader was also wearing a black cloak.
The three quickly arrived in front of Uchiha Yoichi and Kakashi. The Anbu in the black cloak spoke. "Uchiha Yoichi, we're Root Ninjas. We have something to discuss with you!"
Kakashi immediately understood that they wanted him to leave. However, after seeing Uchiha Yoichi nod, he stood up and walked aside.
After Kakashi left, Aburame Ryoma continued, "Uchiha Yoichi, the rumors about you in the village have been spreading more widely each day. Even Root has received word of them. However, none of that matters to Lord Danzo. As long as you hand over the Lightning Release Chakra Mode Nintaijutsu and join Root—"
"Shut up."
Uchiha Yoichi removed his Metal Mask, then sighed. When he opened his eyes again, they had become the Two Tomoe Sharingan.
"Root truly is shameless. First, you spread rumors about me. Then you pretend to be kind and come to offer me advice, using the promise of settling the rumors to demand the Lightning Release Chakra Mode from me.
"Oh, you also want to recruit me into Root so you can study the Sharingan? Let me hear what else you want to do. Have me carry out some extremely difficult missions, then let me continue if I complete them. If I fail, reclaim my corpse. Root really lives up to its name!"
Aburame Ryoma's expression changed when he heard this. Fortunately, he was wearing a mask, though in front of Uchiha Yoichi, wearing one or not made no difference.
"Uchiha Yoichi, don't maliciously speculate about Root and Lord Danzo. We protect the village from the darkness—"
Crackle!
It was like a sudden, explosive cry.
Lightning suddenly surged around Uchiha Yoichi's entire body. He then flashed toward Aburame Ryoma and the other two.
"Uchiha Yoichi, you dare?"
Aburame Ryoma's heart tightened. He hadn't expected Uchiha Yoichi to dare attack them. More importantly, Yoichi was unbelievably fast!
The distance of more than ten meters vanished in an instant!
"Insect Sphere!"
Aburame Ryoma rapidly formed hand seals. In an instant, insects like a black cloud poured out of his body. Under his command, they surged toward Uchiha Yoichi in wave after wave like the tide.
Once surrounded by the swarm, a person could only be devoured until their Chakra was completely consumed and they died.
However, the thunder suddenly grew fierce. A dazzling flash of lightning and splattering arcs of electricity tore through the Insect Sphere. Before the other two Root Ninjas could use their Ninjutsu, Uchiha Yoichi took advantage of the opening and slammed his fist into Aburame Ryoma's face.
Crack!
Bang!
The mask shattered, and Aburame Ryoma was sent flying more than ten meters by Uchiha Yoichi's punch.
The other two Root Ninjas reacted at the same time. They shouted angrily, "You're courting death!" One drew his blade and slashed, while the other leaped back and prepared to use Ninjutsu.
But Uchiha Yoichi had no intention of giving them the chance. Lightning surged around his body once more, and his speed became as swift as thunder and lightning.
The lightning wrapped around his body could also defend against ordinary attacks. He struck again with his fists and palm blades, forcing the two of them back.
Uchiha Yoichi said coldly, "Get lost. Just looking at Root makes me sick. I wouldn't give you the Lightning Release Chakra Mode even if you were dogs. I'll report this matter to Elder Kenji."
"Uchiha Yoichi..."
"If you want to fight, come at me. But I'll fight to the death and kill you!"
Uchiha Yoichi drew his ninja blade. The lightning surging around him still hadn't faded—instead, it had grown even more violent.
Kakashi Hatake arrived at this moment. Although he hadn't heard what the two sides had said, he had been startled when Uchiha Yoichi suddenly attacked.
"You attacked Root. I'll report this to Lord Danzo. Even if you're from the Uchiha Clan, you won't escape punishment!"
Aburame Ryoma touched the injury on his face, then glanced at Kakashi. His white hair and similar short blade made it clear that this was the son of Konoha's White Fang.
Besides, they were not too far from Konoha. The disturbance caused by the Ninjutsu would attract the Anbu.
After the three Root Ninjas left, Uchiha Yoichi finally sat down, his whole body aching. Continuously releasing such a large amount of Lightning Release Chakra, far beyond what his body could endure, had placed a heavy burden on him.
He felt that even his muscles had been damaged!
However, hearing Root's shameless intentions had genuinely made Uchiha Yoichi so furious that he had acted impulsively.
Kakashi asked, "Are you all right? What are you planning to do next?"
"I exceeded my body's limits. Two days of rest should be enough. That's all for today. I'm going to find the clan elder next."
Uchiha Yoichi picked up the Metal Mask from the ground. Before putting it on, he said one last thing to Kakashi. "Kakashi, the Root Ninjas are behind the rumors being spread about me. Remember what they did today. You might encounter the same thing someday..."
Please vote.
Before you continue