Death of White Fang

Time slipped by amid grueling swordsmanship practice, and Shinichi spent nearly all his time at the dojo training with his sword.

However, beneath Konoha's calm surface, undercurrents had begun to stir.

A rumor about White Fang of Konoha had quietly sprung up from who knew where, spreading rapidly through the streets and neighborhoods like silent mold.

The heart of the rumor was alarming: White Fang of Konoha, Hatake Sakumo, had abandoned a mission vital to the village, causing it to suffer enormous losses.

The rumor sketched a vague but ominous picture: the mission apparently involved influential figures in the capital of the Land of Fire, and might even have implicated the Daimyo. (Note:)

Because the matter was so important, the village had sent a top-tier ninja like Hatake Sakumo to ensure everything went smoothly.

But at the crucial moment, the hero in whom everyone had placed their hopes had chosen to abandon the mission.

The villagers had no way of knowing the mission's specifics, and they understood even less about why White Fang had given up.

But one thing they were certain of as they passed the rumor from mouth to mouth was this: his actions had brought immeasurable harm to Konoha.

Some even whispered that the Daimyo, far away in the capital, had already conveyed his displeasure to the Third Hokage.

This tide of criticism against the hero swept through the village for more than half a month. At teatime and after meals, one could always catch a few words about it.

Then, one day, it was as if an invisible hand had suddenly clamped around its throat. The rumors abruptly stopped.

All public discussion vanished in an instant, as though it had never existed, leaving only an unsettling silence in the wake of a powerful suppression.

Shinichi knew what that silence meant.

That famed figure of the Shinobi World, White Fang of Konoha, was probably... gone.

He sheathed his sword and gazed up at the gloomy sky, feeling neither joy nor sorrow.

Time passed quietly. There were only three days left until the Konoha Ninja Academy opened.

In eastern Konoha stood a modest building called the Yamashita Kendo Dojo.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sharp whistle of blades cutting through the air and the fierce clashes rang out without pause.

After a while, the dojo suddenly fell silent.

"..."

Yamashita Shuji stood silently, gripping the remaining half of his sword hilt.

He first looked at the mangled broken blade in his hand, then raised his eyes to the black-haired boy before him. The boy stood with his sword sheathed, his breathing steady, and scarcely a bead of sweat on his brow. Shuji's gaze was complicated.

Every sparring match over the past few days had left him marveling at his disciple's almost monstrous constitution.

"You're ready to graduate."

After a long silence, Yamashita Shuji finally spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of emotion and relief.

"I... have nothing left to teach you."

From the moment this disciple had joined the dojo over a year ago, Shuji had recognized his remarkable talent for swordsmanship and a composure far beyond that of his peers.

But he had still underestimated him.

Especially over the past month or so. Ever since the boy had defeated Kakashi, the genius famed throughout the village, at the Ninja Academy, it was as if some invisible shackle had been completely broken.

His understanding of swordsmanship and the speed of his progress had advanced by leaps and bounds. Concepts that once required repeated guidance now clicked after a single explanation, and he could even apply them in new ways.

Yamashita Shuji didn't know what had caused this transformation. Perhaps the victory had given the boy a newfound confidence? Or perhaps he had simply been building toward this for a long time?

He had no way to investigate, but he could see the result: this boy had indeed reached the limits of what Shuji could guide him in along the path of the sword.

At his words, Shinichi slowly returned his sword to its sheath, taking care to do so flawlessly. He turned toward Yamashita Shuji and bowed solemnly.

"Thank you, Sensei, for your careful instruction over the past year."

Yamashita Shuji waved a hand, a rare trace of warmth on his face. "It's your own hard work and talent. Remember, the path of the sword has no end. You've only just begun. From here on, you'll have to walk your own path."

Shinichi straightened, his gaze calm and resolute.

"Yes, Sensei. I'll remember."

Shinichi didn't leave immediately. After a moment's thought, he respectfully asked, "Sensei, if I want to advance further in swordsmanship and study it more deeply in the future, where should I go?"

His question was about more than his personal training. He was also discreetly probing the future advancement path of the Swordsman occupation.

"The swordsmanship traditions of Konoha are already vast and profound enough to keep you studying for a long time," Yamashita Shuji said. He paused, then added, "Still, when it comes to the Orthodoxy and purity of swordsmanship, the universally acknowledged holy land of this age is the Land of Iron. It's a nation of samurai. If you ever get the chance to visit, it would certainly benefit your swordsmanship."

The Land of Iron?

Shinichi repeated the name to himself. If Konoha's swordsmanship couldn't meet the Swordsman occupation's future advancement needs, then perhaps that neutral nation of samurai really would be his destination.

Of course, that was a long way off.

He was currently a Ninja Academy Student in Konoha, and would become a ninja in the future. His movements would inevitably be subject to many restrictions.

Shinichi made a note of it for now, then changed the subject. With genuine sincerity, he said, "Sensei, to thank you for your careful instruction over the past year, I'd like to host a small thank-you banquet tomorrow evening at Aji no Takumi, a restaurant in the village. Would you be willing to honor us with your presence?"

His gratitude for his teacher's guidance was sincere, but the banquet clearly served a deeper purpose.

Shinichi understood the customs of this world very well. Just as in modern Japan, a graduation of this sort tended to be marked by a simple, intimate celebration among the master and disciple or a small circle of people, with a focus on ceremony and fellowship. The point was simply to express one's feelings.

But what he planned was entirely different.

Drawing on the customs he remembered from his previous life, he intended to turn the banquet into a fairly large social gathering.

He planned to invite not only Sensei Yamashita and the other disciples at the dojo, but also to send out invitations—or at least spread the word—to bring together people from every circle he knew or had come into contact with.

The matron of the orphanage that had raised him and the children he knew; the master and workers at the blacksmith's who had looked after him; the owner and colleagues at Aji no Takumi, where he had once worked; his classmates...

Through this lively, unusual feast, he wanted to convey one message, clear and unmistakable, and embed it in the minds of everyone attending, as well as anyone who heard about it:

Higashino Shinichi had officially graduated from the Yamashita Kendo Dojo and become a formally recognized, genuine Swordsman.

This would be an efficient way to plant the idea. It was a crucial step in advancing his Trait from Swordsmanship Apprentice to Swordsman, as well as another precisely calculated move to cultivate his public image and push his Trait to the next level.

Holding a banquet on this scale would naturally cost a fair amount.

But money really wasn't much of a problem for Shinichi at this point.

As an orphan registered with Konoha, he received a basic living allowance every month. After entering the Ninja Academy, he had also earned a substantial scholarship thanks to his top grades.

Of course, those were just drops in the bucket. What really mattered was that not long after enrolling, he had formally applied to the school for a student loan, citing the need to buy more specialized training equipment and maintain his nutrition so he could keep up his high-intensity training.

The application process was supposed to take time, and the amount was limited.

However, when the loan was finally approved and paid out to him a few days ago, Shinichi had been surprised. The sum was far higher than he'd expected—generous, to say the least.

It seemed the impact of defeating Kakashi had come into play once more.