Hatake Sakumo's Guidance

"Teacher, I think I could counter your attacks in the seventh and twenty-fifth moves like this..."

"If you used a move like that, I could suppress it with this one, then draw your attack into my predictions..."

After their sparring session ended, the two began reviewing and discussing the match.

Watching Uchiha Yuan, Hatake Sakumo marveled at how quickly he was improving. At the same time, he couldn't help remembering the days when he had taught Kakashi. After each training session, he would point out Kakashi's mistakes.

Once they had finished reviewing the match, Hatake Sakumo asked, "How has the war been going lately?"

Uchiha Yuan replied, "The latest news came in a couple of days ago. Sunagakure attacked the border near the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain again.

"But they've already withdrawn. Now they're facing off against us along the border."

Hatake Sakumo's expression turned wistful. He sighed softly. "Sunagakure... They're a pack of reckless gamblers.

"The Land of Wind has the harshest climate and terrain of all the countries. If Sunagakure sees even the slightest opportunity, they'll take a gamble."

"You're right, teacher. Two years ago, Sunagakure was defeated by Orochimaru in the Kikyo Incident and suffered heavy casualties, so they made peace with the village. But now they've attacked us again."

Hatake Sakumo looked thoughtful. "If Sunagakure is willing to risk another attack on Konoha, it seems the other Three Great Shinobi Villages must be making a major move against us."

After a pause, Hatake Sakumo said with a sigh, "Orochimaru is an exceptional younger generation shinobi, and the most renowned of the Sannin. He was probably going to become the Fourth Hokage."

Uchiha Yuan smiled at that. "Teacher, you're not up to date on the village's situation. The Fourth Hokage has already been chosen, but it wasn't Orochimaru."

Hatake Sakumo looked surprised. He couldn't think of anyone more qualified than Orochimaru.

"Was it Tsunade?"

"No."

Hatake Sakumo frowned. "Then was it Jiraiya?"

"Neither. It was Minato Namikaze."

Hatake Sakumo was slightly taken aback. "Kakashi's Leading Jonin, Minato?"

"How is that possible? Minato is an excellent shinobi, but isn't he too young to be Hokage?"

Uchiha Yuan gave a scornful smile. "Teacher, even if we think Orochimaru was the best choice for Fourth Hokage, the Third Hokage and the others weren't willing to give up their power.

"And Orochimaru was too influential to become a puppet they could control from behind the scenes."

"From what I observed, just before the Fourth Hokage was chosen, the village's reports from the front lines mentioned Minato repeatedly. It was obvious they were downplaying the reports about Orochimaru."

"Minato earned the title of Yellow Flash on the battlefields against Iwagakure and Kumogakure. He used his incredible speed to kill many Iwagakure and Kumogakure shinobi."

"But there's no point talking about it now. The Fourth Hokage died in the Night of the Nine-Tails' Rampage several months ago, and the Third Hokage has taken over as acting Hokage."

Hatake Sakumo fell silent for a long while, his expression complicated. "I can't believe so much has happened in the village."

Uchiha Yuan sneered. "That's the Konoha High Command, led by the Third Hokage. They're willing to suppress even Orochimaru, a disciple they raised with such care, just to hold on to power."

"How is Kakashi now?"

Hatake Sakumo frowned. If Uchiha Yuan was telling the truth, he worried Kakashi might get caught up in the village's power struggle.

"Kakashi-senpai should be Anbu now. The last time I ran into him, he was very cold toward his classmates and kept everyone at arm's length."

Hatake Sakumo sighed. "Poor kid. He's been through so much."

Uchiha Yuan suddenly thought of something. "Teacher, do you know a Genin named Might Duy?"

A faint smile touched Hatake Sakumo's lips. He nodded. "He's a hardworking and admirable shinobi, full of the Will of Fire."

"He died."

"Is that so? I never thought Duy would die too."

A forlorn look crossed Hatake Sakumo's face. "Can you tell me how Duy died?"

Uchiha Yuan's expression turned respectful. "According to the information from my clan, the forward unit ran into the Seven Ninja Swordsmen on the battlefield against Kirigakure. Duy stayed behind alone to hold them off."

"He showed strength beyond anyone's expectations and killed four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen on the spot."

"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen had been famous in the Ninja World for a long time. Four of them dying at Duy's hands in a single battle seemed unbelievable to many people in the village."

Hatake Sakumo smiled in admiration. "I always knew Duy was a powerful shinobi. He could endure being mocked by the villagers for so long and never let it bother him."

Then he gazed up at the sky, as though he could see that familiar green figure.

Rest well, my friend.

Hatake Sakumo continued, "We've driven Sunagakure back for now, but they'll attack again. The village must be losing ground on the battlefields against Iwagakure and Kumogakure.

"This Ninja World War is only halfway over."

Uchiha Yuan smiled. "Fortunately, Iwagakure and Kumogakure have long-standing grudges. They won't join forces to attack us. Otherwise, the fighting on the front lines would be even worse."

Hatake Sakumo's expression turned grave. "If the war drags on, you Ninja Academy students will eventually be sent to the battlefield too."

Uchiha Yuan nodded. "Yes. I think the village is already preparing for it."

Hatake Sakumo said solemnly, "In the previous two Ninja World Wars, Genin suffered the highest casualty rates. You may already be as strong as an elite Chunin, but remember this: anything can happen on the battlefield."

"Even a Jonin can die at the hands of a Genin if he lets his guard down. I'll teach you the lessons I learned on the battlefield."

Some time later.

"I should be going."

After explaining how to spot traps on the battlefield, Hatake Sakumo suddenly spoke.

The demeanor of the Shadow Clone he had possessed abruptly changed, and the sharpness vanished from its eyes.

"Poof."

The Shadow Clone formed Hand Seals and dispersed on its own.

At the same time, the four Shadow Clones positioned at the four corners formed Hand Seals, dispelled the barrier they had set up, and vanished in unison.

Uchiha Yuan stood still and exhaled a stream of gray breath. The nearby weeds withered visibly when it touched them.

Teacher was a spirit, after all. Once he possessed the Shadow Clone, it was tainted with the yin energy of the dead.

Fortunately, that little bit of yin energy barely affected me. As long as I discarded the Shadow Clone's Chakra, it couldn't harm me at all.

At that moment, a shadow slipped through the nearby bushes.

In the next instant, a foul wind rose, and a giant python with red and black patterns lunged at Uchiha Yuan with its jaws wide open.