Izumi no Kami Kanesada RX-78

"Report to the Void Division tomorrow, understand?"

"Hmph."

Kakashi pouted haughtily, silently picked up his short sword, and returned to the house.

Clap, clap, clap...

Hatake Sakumo lightly applauded and praised, "As expected of a genius appointed captain of Anbu's Fifth Squad at the age of nine.

"Beneath your exceptional Fire Style Nintaijutsu lies equally outstanding talent with the sword. Every time I see you, you bring another surprise.

"But... Mai, it seems you don't have a weapon that truly suits you, do you?

"Kakashi, go fetch that thing."

What was it?

Could it be some heirloom famous blade of the Hatake Clan?

Kakashi, who had been licking his wounds inside, was no longer acting haughty. A minute later, he obediently emerged carrying a black lump and shoved it into Uchiha Mai's arms.

Uchiha Mai examined it and found it extremely heavy in his hands. It appeared to be a piece of ore.

The ore was only the size of a fist, yet it weighed roughly seven or eight jin. By estimation, it was denser than gold.

"What is this?" Uchiha Mai asked doubtfully.

Hatake Sakumo smiled and explained, "This is a metal ore capable of conducting chakra.

"No matter how good someone else's weapon is, it will never be as handy as one tailored for yourself.

"Back then, I specifically sought out this ore in order to forge chakra-conducting short swords.

"Only during the forging did I discover that weapons did not need much of this metal added to them. Too much would affect their toughness. After forging my and Kakashi's short swords, more than half of it remained.

"You like uchigatana. This ore is just right for forging one."

"Wow, this ore must have cost you quite a bit, right?" Uchiha Mai clicked his tongue.

Metal ores capable