Hatake Sakumo's Guidance

"Teacher, I think I can break through your attacks during the seventh move and the twenty-fifth move like this..."

"If you use a move like that, I can suppress it with this move and then make your attack fall within my prediction..."

After the spar, the two began to debrief and discuss.

Looking at Uchiha Yuan, Hatake Sakumo couldn't help but recall the time he was teaching Kakashi while marveling at Yuan's rapid progress. After every training session, he would point out Kakashi's mistakes.

After the debriefing of their spar, Hatake Sakumo asked, "How are the village's recent battles?"

Uchiha Yuan replied, "Just two days ago, news came that Sunagakure had once again invaded the borders near the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain.

However, Sunagakure has now retreated and is currently in a standoff with us at the border."

Hatake Sakumo's expression turned reminiscent, and he sighed softly, "Sunagakure, they are a group of crazy gamblers.

Because the climate and terrain of the Land of Wind are the harshest among all countries, Sunagakure will gamble whenever they have the slightest opportunity."

"Teacher is right. Two years ago, Sunagakure was defeated by Orochimaru at the Kikyo Incident, suffering heavy casualties, and thus sued for peace with our village. But now they are attacking our village again."

Hatake Sakumo said thoughtfully, "For Sunagakure to risk attacking Konoha again; it seems the other three great ninja villages are planning a major move against our village."

He paused and lamented, "Orochimaru is an excellent junior, with the greatest prestige among the Sannin. He is very likely to be the Fourth Hokage."

Hearing this, Uchiha Yuan smiled and said, "Teacher, you are not clear about the current situation of the village. The Fourth Hokage has already been chosen, but it's not Orochimaru."

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

"Is it Tsunade?"

"No."

Hatake Sakumo frowned, "Could it be Jiraiya?"

"Neither, it's Minato Namikaze."

Hatake Sakumo was slightly shocked, "It's Kakashi's Jonin instructor, Minato."

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

Uchiha Yuan gave a sarcastic smile and said, "Teacher, although we think Orochimaru is the most suitable candidate for the Fourth Hokage, the Third and the others are not willing to give up power.

And with Orochimaru's prestige, they cannot and will not be able to manipulate him as a puppet from behind the scenes.

From my observation, just before the Fourth Hokage was chosen, the village's propaganda about the front lines mentioned Jonin Minato's name very frequently, clearly suppressing information about Orochimaru.

Jonin Minato earned the title of Yellow Flash on the battlefields against Iwagakure and Kumogakure, killing many Iwagakure and Kumogakure ninja with his extremely fast movement speed.

But it's meaningless to talk about this now. The Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself during the Night of the Nine-Tails' Rampage several months ago, and the Third Hokage is currently acting as Hokage."

Hatake Sakumo fell silent for a long time, then said with a complex expression, "I never imagined so many things would happen in the village."

Uchiha Yuan scoffed, "This is the Konoha High Command led by the Third Hokage. For power, they can even suppress their own carefully cultivated disciple, Orochimaru."

"How is Kakashi now?"

Hatake Sakumo frowned. If what Uchiha Yuan said was true, he was worried Kakashi might get caught up in the village's power struggles.

"Kakashi-senpai should be in the Anbu right now. The last time I encountered him, he was very cold towards his classmates, isolating himself from everyone."

Hatake Sakumo sighed softly, "Alas, this child has worked hard."

Uchiha Yuan suddenly remembered something and asked, "Teacher, do you know a genin named Might Duy?"

A faint smile touched Hatake Sakumo's lips as he nodded. "He is a very hardworking and respectable ninja. He is filled with the Will of Fire."

"He sacrificed himself."

"Is that so? I didn't expect Duy to have sacrificed himself too."

Hatake Sakumo's face showed a look of loneliness. "Can you tell me how Duy sacrificed himself?"

Uchiha Yuan's expression turned respectful. "According to information from the clan, on the battlefield against Kirigakure, the forward troops encountered the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Duy-senpai held the line alone."

"He displayed power beyond imagination, killing four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen on the spot."

"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen have been famous in the Ninja World for a long time. To think that four of them died at Duy-senpai's hands in one battle, many in the village found it unbelievable."

Hatake Sakumo smiled with admiration. "I always knew Duy was a powerful ninja. He could endure the villagers' long-standing mockery and not care about it at all."

Then, his gaze turned to the sky, as if he could see that familiar green figure.

Rest in peace, my friend.

Next, Hatake Sakumo said, "Although we have repelled Sunagakure for now, they will attack again. This is likely because the village is showing signs of weakness on the battlefields against Iwagakure and Kumogakure. This Ninja World War is only halfway through."

Uchiha Yuan chuckled, "Fortunately, Iwagakure and Kumogakure have always had their grudges and cannot unite to attack us together; otherwise, the war on the front lines would likely become even more dire."

Hatake Sakumo's expression turned solemn. "Once the war drags on, you genin will eventually be sent to the battlefield too."

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

Hatake Sakumo said sternly, "In the previous two Ninja World Wars, genin had the highest casualty rate. Although your current strength is no weaker than an elite chūnin, you must remember that any accident can happen on the battlefield."

"Even jōnin can die at the hands of a genin if they are careless. I will teach you the experience I've gained on the battlefield."

A period of time later.

"I should be going back."

After finishing his explanation on how to identify traps on the battlefield, Hatake Sakumo suddenly said.

Immediately after, the Shadow Clone he possessed changed its demeanor, its sharp gaze vanishing.

"Bang."

The Shadow Clone then performed hand seals and dissipated on its own.

At the same time, four Shadow Clones standing at four different angles simultaneously performed hand seals, dispelled the barrier they had erected, and then vanished together.

Uchiha Yuan stood in place, exhaling a puff of gray mist. The nearby weeds, upon contact with this gray mist, immediately showed clear signs of wilting.

'The teacher is a soul after all, and the Shadow Clone he possessed was tainted with the Yin energy of the departed.

Fortunately, this bit of Yin energy doesn't affect me much. As long as I discard the Chakra of this Shadow Clone, it won't have any impact on me.'

At this moment, a blur quietly streaked through the nearby bushes.

The next second, a foul wind suddenly rose, and a Giant python with red and black patterns opened its maw and lunged towards Uchiha Yuan.