After-School Training, Still Unavoidable

"Father?" Kakashi was a little surprised. "Didn't you say you were busy today?"

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

Shin-chan looked up at him and asked, "Are you Kakashi's father?"

"Yes."

"You're so tall, taller than my father Hiroshi."

Hatake Sakumo paused for a moment. "Thank you."

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

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

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

"Kakashi mentioned you at home."

Kakashi froze abruptly, his eyes widening more than usual. "Father!"

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

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

Kakashi turned his face away, his voice muffled. "I just said it casually."

Hatake Sakumo looked at his son's reaction, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. "Since we've met, let's train together today. I was planning to teach Kakashi basic sword techniques. Are you interested?"

Might Guy's eyes lit up instantly. "Yes, very much so!"

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

He had thought he could slack off today.

"Watch carefully."

Hatake Sakumo took the short sword from his back, gripped the hilt with his right hand, and began to demonstrate a set of basic sword techniques.

Slash, chop, lift, stab – each movement carried an indescribable aesthetic.

The sound of the blade cutting through the air was like the sigh of the wind, or the chirping of birds.

Shin-chan's eyes gradually brightened.

So cool.

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

"This is the most basic swordsmanship. Do you want to learn?"

"Yes." Might Guy was the first to raise his hand.

Shin-chan hesitated for a moment, then also raised his hand. "I want to try too."

Hatake Sakumo handed each of them a Wooden Sword.

"First, try holding the sword."

The three children began to practice holding the sword.

Kakashi's movements were very standard. He had clearly practiced many times before. His hand position, the angle of the sword, and his body posture were all impeccable.

Shin-chan held the Wooden Sword, looking left and right. He held it like a fly swatter for a while, then imitated Kakashi's posture.

Hatake Sakumo walked over and helped him adjust his grip.

"Yes, just like that. Don't tense your wrist too much. Relax a bit."

"Mhm." Shin-chan nodded, then relaxed too much, and the Wooden Sword almost fell.

Hatake Sakumo quickly caught it and put it back in his hand. "Don't relax too much either."

Shin-chan blinked. "Then how should I hold it?"

"Moderately."

"How much is moderate?"

Hatake Sakumo fell silent.

Beside them, Might Guy held his sword, his whole body stiff, his expression as tense as if he were going into battle.

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

After that, Hatake Sakumo began to teach the basic movements one by one.

Chop.

Slash.

Thrust.

Pierce.

Kakashi performed the best. Every movement was accurate and precise. It was clear he wasn't practicing for the first time.

Might Guy was the slowest, his movements stiff, and he could never hold his sword steady.

And Shin-chan...

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

The first time holding the sword, his posture needed correction.

The second time swinging the sword, he already had the basic form.

The third time chopping, the force and angle were correct.

The fourth time.

"Uncle, is this right?"

Shin-chan swung his sword, his movements so fluid as if he had practiced for a long time.

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

"Then when can I be as cool as Uncle?"

Hatake Sakumo smiled: "I practiced tens of thousands of times."

"Tens of thousands of times." Shin-chan's face fell, "When will I have to practice until then?"

"It depends on your talent." Hatake Sakumo looked at him, "Maybe very quickly, maybe very slowly."

He paused, then continued: "Those few swings you just did are already better than what many people achieve after practicing all day."

Shin-chan blinked: "Really? Can I rest now?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Swordsmanship values perseverance."

Shin-chan sighed and continued to swing his sword.

One, two, three...

Beside him, Kakashi was also practicing, but his gaze occasionally drifted towards the Red Figure. He had to admit that Shin-chan's progress was astonishingly fast.

He had followed his father to practice swordsmanship since he was young to achieve his current proficiency, while Shin-chan, after watching his father demonstrate once and swinging a dozen times, already had the basic shape.

This feeling made Kakashi feel a sense of discomfort he couldn't quite explain.

An hour later, the sun began to set in the west.

"Alright, that's all for today." Hatake Sakumo clapped his hands.

Might Guy collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.

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

Shin-chan put down the wooden sword and stretched his wrists. "Uncle, are we training again tomorrow?"

"You want to train?"

"Yes." Shin-chan nodded. "I want to be as cool as Uncle."

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

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

"Mm." Hatake Sakumo nodded. "I'll give you the wooden swords. If you come again tomorrow, bring them along."

Evening, Nohara House.

"I'm home!"

Shin-chan pushed open the house door and walked into the living room, carrying the wooden sword.

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

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

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

"Mm." Shin-chan nodded and placed the wooden sword on the table. "His father is very powerful. He knows how to wield a sword."

Miya wiped her hands and walked over to look at the wooden sword.

"What's this?"

"Uncle gave it to me. He's teaching us swordsmanship, and we're going again tomorrow."

Miya looked at him with some surprise. "You like swordsmanship?"

Shin-chan thought for a moment and nodded seriously. "Yes. The way Uncle wields his sword is very cool. I want to learn too."

The corners of Miya's mouth curved upwards slightly.

This child, it was rare for him to be so dedicated to something.

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

Shin-chan's movements stopped, and he blinked, looking at Miya.

Miya looked at his expression and her heart skipped a beat. "What's wrong?"

"Um." Shin-chan's voice grew smaller and smaller. "I think I promised two people."

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

Shin-chan shrunk his neck. "Not at the same time, but the same after school."

"Then isn't that the same time?"

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