Familiar Stinky Foot Smell

For the next while, Shin-chan lived a completely different life from before.

After school each day, he no longer went with Might Duy and Might Guy to "burn their youth." Instead, he carried his Wooden Sword and went to train with Kakashi and the others.

Hatake Sakumo's teaching style was completely different from Dai's.

Dai's lessons were all about "burning your youth" and "breaking through your limits." Simply put, you trained as hard as you could, and when you couldn't go on, you kept training.

Hatake Sakumo's lessons, on the other hand, were systematic and gradual.

"The point isn't to swing your sword as fast as possible, but to make sure each swing is accurate." Hatake Sakumo held Kakashi's hand and corrected his angle. "Your wrist is too stiff. Relax."

"Shin-chan, your stance is fine, but your footwork is unsteady." Hatake Sakumo stepped behind Shin-chan and lightly tapped his heel with his foot. "Your sword and body need to work together. You can't just move your arms."

He taught them more than just Blade Techniques. He also taught them how to use Chakra.

"Refining Chakra isn't enough on its own." Hatake Sakumo stood in front of a large tree. "You have to learn to control it, to make it flow according to your will."

He demonstrated Tree Climbing, Water Walking, and concentrating Chakra along the blade.

Shin-chan studied hard. This stuff was much easier to understand than "youth."

He already knew how to Refine Chakra, and he'd figured out how to concentrate it in his hands and feet while climbing the mountain last time.

Now Hatake Sakumo was teaching him how to make Chakra flow more precisely, how to use it alongside Blade Techniques, and how to keep it steady in a real fight.

Shin-chan caught on immediately.

"Try concentrating Chakra along the blade." Hatake Sakumo handed him the Wooden Sword. "Then gently slice through this leaf."

Shin-chan took the sword and Closed his eyes. A warm sensation welled up from his stomach, flowed down his arm into his hand, then from his hand into the Wooden Sword.

Then he opened his eyes and gave it a gentle swing.

The leaf split down the middle, its edges perfectly clean.

Hatake Sakumo's eyes widened slightly.

Kakashi watched from the side, a complicated glint flashing in his eyes as well.

The days passed.

Shin-chan's progress was astonishingly fast.

His swings grew steadier, his footwork more nimble, and his Chakra control more precise.

Sometimes Hatake Sakumo would demonstrate a new move, and Shin-chan could imitate most of it after watching just once.

As Hatake Sakumo watched the child in Red Clothes, his feelings grew more and more complicated.

Like Kakashi, the boy was a true genius.

A few more days passed. After teaching them a new move, Hatake Sakumo watched the two children spar in the sunset.

The crisp sound of Wooden Swords striking each other rang out.

Kakashi's attacks were fierce and precise, each strike aimed at a vital point.

Shin-chan's defense looked loose, but he always managed to block just in time.

No, not just in time.

He was anticipating the attacks.

Shin-chan seemed to know where Kakashi's next strike would land.

Hatake Sakumo narrowed his eyes.

The boy wasn't just talented. He had a kind of instinctive intuition, too.

The two fighters stopped, both drenched in sweat.

"Shin-chan," Kakashi suddenly said. "How did you know I was going to attack on the right just now?"

Shin-chan tilted his head and thought about it. "I don't know. It just felt like it."

Kakashi fell silent.

At dusk, Shin-chan finished his training as usual and headed home with his Wooden Sword.

He pushed open the door.

A Familiar Stinky Foot Smell hit him in the face.

Shin-chan's nose twitched, and his eyes lit up at once. "Dad!"

He kicked off his shoes and dashed into the Living Room.

Sure enough, a man was sitting on the sofa.

He wore a green shirt, his hair was a little messy, and he had a tired smile on his face. He hadn't even taken off his socks, and had simply propped his feet up on the coffee table.

"I'm home," Nohara Hiroshi said with a smile, opening his arms.

Shin-chan threw himself into his arms.

"Dad."

"All right, all right. Did you miss me that much?"

"I did." Shin-chan nodded hard. "You were gone for so long this time."

"The mission took a while." Hiroshi rubbed his head. "Let me have a look. Hmm, you don't seem to have lost weight. You look like you've got even more energy, too."

Shin-chan wriggled free of his arms and said excitedly, "Dad, guess what? I've been learning Blade Techniques lately."

"Blade Techniques?"

"Look." Shin-chan stood straight and raised his sword. He took a deep breath, then swung it down.

The blade flashed, and the Wooden Sword stopped firmly in midair.

Nohara Hiroshi's eyes widened. "You learned that?"

"Yep." Shin-chan proudly wagged his head. "Kakashi's Father taught me. He's really strong."

Hiroshi froze.

Kakashi?

That name sounded familiar.

Didn't Lord Sakumo's son have the same name?

"Is his name Kakashi Hatake?" Nohara Hiroshi couldn't help asking.

Shin-chan gazed at him with admiration. "Dad, you're amazing! You've never even met him, and you still know his name."

"So, you've been training with Lord Sakumo?"

"Lord Sakumo?" Shin-chan tilted his head. "I don't know. He's just Kakashi's dad."

Nohara Hiroshi looked toward Miya, who was standing by the kitchen entrance.

Miya nodded. "Shin-chan's been going every day lately. He comes home drenched in sweat from training."

Hiroshi looked down at Shin-chan, a complicated emotion flashing through his eyes. "Shin-chan, come here."

Shin-chan walked over. Hiroshi picked him up and sat him on his lap.

"Let Dad get a good look at you."

Shin-chan blinked and sat still obediently.

Hiroshi looked at him, then suddenly smiled.

"My son's all grown up."

"I'm always growing."

"Not that kind of growing up." Hiroshi patted his head. "You've grown in another way. You're learning new things, sticking with them, and making Dad proud."

Shin-chan tilted his head. "Are you only proud of me now, Dad?"

Hiroshi paused, then burst out laughing. "No, no. I've always been proud of you. I'm just even prouder now."

Miya came out of the kitchen carrying dishes. "Enough talking. Go wash your hands and eat."

"Okay." Shin-chan hopped off Hiroshi's lap and ran to wash his hands.

At the dinner table, Hiroshi turned to Miya.

"Miya."

"Hmm?"

"Lord Sakumo is a legend of Konoha." Hiroshi looked conflicted as he asked once more for confirmation. "He's been teaching Shin-chan this whole time?"

"That's right." Miya nodded. "He teaches him every day, and even gave him a Wooden Sword."

Hiroshi put down his chopsticks and fell silent for a moment. "Then we should go thank him."

"You're right. Shin-chan's been going there every day, so he must have caused them a lot of trouble."

"And there's Might Duy, too," Hiroshi said. "Shin-chan trained with him at first. It was only for a few days, but he taught him sincerely."

Listening nearby, Shin-chan suddenly asked, "Dad, are you going to thank them?"

"Yes." Hiroshi nodded. "They taught you, so we should go thank them properly. It's only polite."

Shin-chan blinked.

"Do I have to go, too?"

"Of course." Hiroshi rubbed his head. "You should come along. It'll mean more."

Shin-chan thought it over, then nodded. "Okay!"