There Was Still No Escaping After-School Training

"Dad?" Kakashi looked surprised. "Didn't you say you had something to take care of today?"

Hatake Sakumo walked toward them. "The mission ended early, so I thought I'd come train with you."

Shin-chan looked up at him. "Are you Kakashi's dad?"

"That's right."

"You're really tall. Even taller than our Hiroshi."

Hatake Sakumo paused. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. My name is Shin Nohara, and I'm five years old."

"Shin Nohara." Hatake Sakumo repeated the name, looking a little surprised.

Shin-chan blinked. "Do you know me, Uncle?"

"Kakashi mentioned you at home."

Kakashi froze, his eyes widening slightly. "Father!"

Hatake Sakumo ignored him and continued speaking to Shin-chan. "He said there was an interesting classmate in his class."

Might Guy looked utterly shocked. "Kakashi actually mentioned Shin-chan at home?"

Kakashi turned his face away, his voice muffled. "I only mentioned him in passing."

Watching his son's reaction, Hatake Sakumo's lips lifted slightly. "Since we've run into each other, let's train together today. I was planning to teach Kakashi the basics of Blade Techniques. Are you interested?"

Might Guy's eyes lit up at once. "Yes! Very much!"

Only Shin-chan's face fell. "Huh? We have to train?"

He'd thought he could slack off today.

"Watch closely."

Hatake Sakumo took the short sword from his back, gripped its hilt in his right hand, and began demonstrating a set of basic Blade Techniques.

He swung, chopped, swept, and thrust, every movement carrying an indescribable grace.

The blade slicing through the air sounded like the wind singing, or a bird calling.

Shin-chan's eyes gradually brightened.

So cool.

Hatake Sakumo sheathed the sword and looked at the three children.

"These are the most basic Blade Techniques. Do you want to learn?"

"I do." Might Guy raised his hand first.

Shin-chan hesitated, then raised his hand too. "I want to give it a try."

Hatake Sakumo handed each of them a Wooden Sword.

"First, try holding it properly."

The three children began practicing their grips.

Kakashi's form was perfect. He'd clearly practiced many times before; the placement of his hands, the angle of the blade, and his stance were all impeccable.

Shin-chan looked the Wooden Sword over from every angle, holding it like a flyswatter for a while before copying Kakashi's stance.

Hatake Sakumo went over and adjusted his grip.

"That's right. Don't tense your wrists too much. Relax a little."

"Mm-hmm." Shin-chan nodded, then relaxed too much, and the Wooden Sword nearly slipped from his hands.

Hatake Sakumo caught it just in time and put it back in his hands. "Not that relaxed."

Shin-chan blinked. "So how am I supposed to hold it?"

"Moderately."

"How much is moderately?"

Hatake Sakumo fell silent.

Nearby, Might Guy clutched his sword, his entire body stiff and his face tense as if he were heading into battle.

"Relax." Hatake Sakumo patted his shoulder. "The sword is your partner, not your enemy."

Then Hatake Sakumo began teaching them the basic movements one by one.

A swing.

A chop.

A sweep.

A thrust.

Kakashi did the best, each movement precise and well-executed. Clearly, it wasn't his first time practicing.

Might Guy was the slowest. His movements were stiff, and he could never quite keep a steady grip on the sword.

And Shin-chan...

Hatake Sakumo watched Shin-chan's movements, his gaze gradually growing more focused.

The first time he held the sword, his posture needed correcting.

The second time he swung, he was already starting to look the part.

By the third chop, his strength and angle were right.

The fourth time—

"Uncle, is this right?"

Shin-chan swung his sword, the movement so smooth it looked as if he'd practiced for ages.

Hatake Sakumo was silent for two seconds, then nodded. "Yes. That's it."

"When will I be as cool as you, Uncle?"

Hatake Sakumo smiled. "I've practiced tens of thousands of times."

"Tens of thousands?" Shin-chan's face fell. "How long will that take?"

"It depends on your talent." Hatake Sakumo looked at him. "It could be quick, or it could take a while."

He paused, then continued, "Those few swings you just did were already better than what many people manage after a whole day of practice."

Shin-chan blinked. "Really? Then can I take a break?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Blade Techniques require perseverance."

Shin-chan sighed and kept swinging.

Once, twice, three times...

Nearby, Kakashi practiced too, but his gaze kept drifting toward that Red Figure. He had to admit, Shin-chan was improving at a startling pace.

He'd been practicing with his father since he was little to reach his current level of skill. Shin-chan, on the other hand, had only watched his father demonstrate once and swung the sword a dozen times, yet he'd already gotten the basics down.

The feeling left Kakashi vaguely uncomfortable, though he couldn't quite explain why.

An hour later, the sun began to set.

"All right, that's enough for today." Hatake Sakumo clapped his hands.

Might Guy collapsed onto the ground and panted heavily.

Kakashi wiped the sweat from his forehead, his expression still calm.

Shin-chan lowered his sword and rolled his wrists. "Uncle, are we training again tomorrow?"

"Do you want to?"

"I do." Shin-chan nodded. "I want to be as cool as you."

"I just got back from a mission, so I'll be free for the next few days," Hatake Sakumo said. "If you want to keep learning, you can come here at this time every day."

Shin-chan's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Mm." Hatake Sakumo nodded. "You can keep the Wooden Swords. Bring them along if you come tomorrow."

That evening, at the Nohara House.

"I'm home!"

Shin-chan pushed open the front door and walked into the Living Room with a Wooden Sword in his hand.

Miya poked her head out of the kitchen. "How was training today?"

"I trained with Kakashi's dad today. His style was completely different from Thick-Eyebrow Uncle's." Shin-chan plopped down at the dining table.

Miya paused. "Kakashi? The silver-haired boy you mentioned a couple of days ago?"

"Mm." Shin-chan nodded and set the Wooden Sword on the table. "His dad is amazing. He can do all sorts of tricks with a sword."

Miya wiped her hands and came over to look at the Wooden Sword.

"What's this?"

"Uncle gave it to me. He taught us Blade Techniques, and I'm going again tomorrow."

Miya looked at him, a little surprised. "You like Blade Techniques?"

Shin-chan thought for a moment, then nodded earnestly. "I do. Uncle looks really cool with a sword, and I want to learn too."

The corners of Miya's mouth lifted slightly.

It was rare for him to take such an interest in anything.

"Then you're not training with Might Guy and the others tomorrow?"

Shin-chan stopped moving, blinked, and looked at Miya.

Seeing his expression, Miya's heart sank. "What is it?"

"Well..." Shin-chan's voice grew quieter. "I think I promised two people."

"You promised two people, for the same time?"

Shin-chan shrank his neck. "Not the same time. After school on the same day."

"Isn't that the same time?"

Shin-chan lowered his head and mumbled, "I forgot."