Nara Dan watched Kakashi circle around him, observing him without seeming eager to attack.
He smiled faintly.
"Your speed has improved."
"Why are you still so hesitant?"
As he spoke, he curled his right index finger and flicked it lightly. A tangible chakra pellet shot out at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
"Bang!"
Kakashi felt a burst of pain in his left shoulder, and his high-speed movement was abruptly interrupted.
"That predictive ability..."
"Teacher Nara's reaction speed is definitely far beyond mine."
"My left arm's mobility has been cut in half!"
"But Teacher Nara didn't attack my right hand."
Kakashi's expression turned serious. He squeezed his trembling left hand, then drew the White Fang Blade from his back.
Clearly, Nara Dan was telling him to attack with everything he had and not hold back.
"Let's go all out!"
Next came Kakashi's chance to show off his Kenjutsu.
The previous assessment had tested him in several areas, so Kakashi hadn't used much Kenjutsu. He'd mainly used it to test the waters.
Using Taijutsu against Teacher Nara on a real battlefield would be no different from asking to die.
He'd have a better chance of surviving if he kept his distance and kited him with ninjutsu.
But this time, Nara Dan's lesson was clearly focused on Taijutsu, so Kakashi could fight without holding back.
At once, the Training Ground filled with the whoosh of blades, flashes of lightning, and swirling dust.
The short blade in Kakashi's hand became a streak of lightning that tore through the night, swift and fierce.
Its keen edge made the skin of the two onlookers prickle with pain.
Ino Rinya watched Kakashi's speed and the sharpness of his blade with lingering trepidation.
He wondered how long he'd last if he took Kakashi on himself. Probably less than ten seconds.
He'd be run through by Kakashi.
"Hey, Nana..."
Ino Rinya secretly tugged at Hyuga Nana's sleeve.
"If you fought Kakashi, could you keep up with him?"
Hyuga Nana was watching the fight with her Byakugan fully activated, veins bulging at her temples. At the question, she froze.
Then Hyuga Nana furrowed her brows.
"Kakashi's speed really has..."
"Already surpassed that of most Chunin."
"I think it'd be very hard for me to react in time."
What if she used that technique, Rotation, which the clan head had personally taught her not long ago?
But Hyuga Nana quickly shook her head.
I still couldn't do it. Rotation is primarily a defensive technique, after all.
Unless I could interrupt Kakashi's attacking rhythm at just the right moment...
And make him run into me himself.
Just like Teacher Nara is doing now.
Meanwhile, Kakashi continued attacking Nara Dan.
He spun, leaped, rose, and ducked, his small body darting around the Training Ground, all to deliver a stronger, faster slash.
But it still didn't work against Nara Dan.
Nara Dan held a standard Kunai and met every one of Kakashi's strikes with precision, sparks flying.
No matter how fast Kakashi moved or how tricky the angle of his slash was, Nara Dan could block it with ease. The force of his parries even left Kakashi's arm numb.
And what's more...
Hyuga Nana, with her Byakugan active, could see even more.
Teacher Nara hasn't moved from his spot once!
And he hasn't even used his left hand!
Kakashi was naturally struggling in the fight. Beads of sweat slid from his temple into the corner of his eye, but he didn't dare blink.
"I'm completely suppressed."
"It's not like my last assessment with Teacher Nara."
"He isn't crushing me with sheer strength or speed."
"It's a different kind of suppression."
"His strength is about the same as mine, and I can see his speed with my own eyes."
"But every time I attack Teacher Nara, it feels as if I'm handing him my blade."
Just as Kakashi was at a loss, Nara Dan caught another one of his strikes and kicked him away, putting some distance between them.
"Have you realized it, Kakashi?"
Nara Dan spoke suddenly, calmly pointing out Kakashi's flaw.
"Last time, I said you hadn't inherited even a fraction of White Fang's true skill."
"Didn't you go back and think about it?"
"Kenjutsu isn't simply about moving faster or choosing trickier angles."
"That isn't Kenjutsu. It's just swinging a blade."
"I've fought White Fang."
"What made his swordsmanship formidable wasn't speed, but precision!"
The other two focused their attention, knowing that what came next was the kind of valuable insight ordinary shinobi might never hear in their entire lives.
"In Kenjutsu, the lowest level competes with strength."
"The middle level competes with speed."
"And the highest level competes with rhythm!"
That was the rhythm Hyuga Nana had just mentioned. As a Gentle Fist user, she was more sensitive than Kakashi to matters of timing and rhythm.
Hyuga Nana looked enlightened, while Ino Rinya was completely baffled.
After speaking, Nara Dan moved and attacked Kakashi.
Now the roles of attacker and defender were reversed, but Nara Dan didn't seem nearly as hurried and fast as Kakashi had.
Instead, he swung his Kunai with composure, tracing one graceful black arc after another. Even the two watching from outside could clearly see his attacks.
But Kakashi was now so thoroughly suppressed that all he could do was defend desperately. He couldn't bring his tremendous speed into play at all.
Every one of Nara Dan's strikes landed at the precise moment Kakashi's moves changed, leaving him in unbearable discomfort.
"Rhythm comes from moves you can control."
"Pouring all your strength and speed into every slash..."
"Is the stupidest thing you can do."
"It wastes stamina and traps your moves in a rhythm you can't control."
As he spoke, Nara Dan struck Kakashi's blade as Kakashi struggled to hold on. Then, using the force of the recoil, he smoothly turned and slashed.
The force of the recoil and the perfect timing made the turning slash flow naturally, like a heavenly immortal descending from the skies or an antelope hanging its horns on a branch, without the slightest hitch between moves.
Kakashi panted heavily. His strength spent, he could only watch as the Kunai came at his skin from a strange angle.
But he wasn't the least bit panicked. Instead, excitement shone on his face at what he'd learned.
He hadn't felt this exhilarating sense of progress since his father died.
Hard work alone could bring improvement, but it was too slow.
Once you got used to having cheats, how could you adjust to leveling up at a snail's pace?
"What you need to do now isn't deliver even stronger slashes."
"You're still young, but your potential for growth in strength has reached its limit."
"Continuing to train like this will only damage your body's potential."
"You need to learn to use only seven-tenths of your strength and leave three-tenths in reserve for changes."
"That way, you can make more variations in your moves and reduce the damage to your body."
After Nara Dan finished speaking, he casually tossed the Kunai aside, and Kakashi hurriedly caught it.
"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Nara!"
Kakashi bowed respectfully. By now, he had fully accepted Nara Dan as his teacher and was completely convinced.
"Clap, clap, clap, clap."
Suddenly, a round of applause rang out. A figure wearing the Red White Fan slowly walked over.
Just made it in time—here's the third update! Please, everyone, help me boost the numbers!
Thanks to Black Domperidone for the tip!
Thanks to Love Fontaine for the tip!
Thanks, boss! You're so generous!
Before you continue