Hatake Sakumo: Qingyu, You Are the Strongest I Have Ever Seen

As the sun rises and sets, the journey continues.

The Land of Grass is located northwest of the Land of Fire, bordering the Land of Earth.

Its land area is not large, and its terrain is mainly composed of undulating hills and vast grasslands. As far as the eye can see, most of the area is a continuous sea of grass.

For this reason, the Land of Grass lacks both natural geographical barriers and abundant mineral resources, and has been struggling to survive in the cracks between the Five Great Nations for many years.

But it was precisely because of its barrenness and lack of defenses that the ninjas of Kusagakure developed a skill in infiltrating and lurking in the grasslands and hilly areas.

They are adept at using the terrain to conceal their movements, using grass and mounds as cover, lying in wait like venomous snakes, waiting for the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to their prey.

After arriving in the Land of Grass, Qingyu indeed experienced its unique landscape.

"We've arrived in the Land of Grass."

Qingyu looked ahead.

The wind blows from afar, and the grass waves surge in layers, like an endless green ribbon spread across the earth.

Occasionally, you can see a few lonely trees, their branches and leaves tilted in the same direction by the wind.

Qingyu walked in the group, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

Unlike the deserts of the Land of Wind, the temperature difference between day and night is small, and there are endless grasslands and occasional rolling hills everywhere.

It's too quiet.

This silence, however, made Qingyu a little wary.

In the Land of Wind, the harsh environment itself serves as a natural barrier, making it impossible for enemies to hide.

But in the Land of Grass, anything can be hidden in these waist-high grasses.

Moreover, some places have unique environments.

Examples include giant bamboo forests, Mushroom Forest, and mountain forests.

Once inside, the ninja can easily conceal themselves.

"This place is truly beautiful."

Hyuga Ginka's voice came from the side.

Qingyu nodded.

"It's really beautiful."

This wasn't just a polite remark.

Such scenery is not common in Konoha.

Hyuga Ginka turned her head and glanced at Qingyu.

The light of the setting sun fell on Qingyu's profile, making his already handsome features even more distinct.

At that moment, Hyuga Ginka suddenly realized something.

She found that she needed to tilt her head slightly to see Qingyu's eyes clearly.

When did it become like this?

Hyuga Ginka quickly recalled the events in her mind.

When they first met at the Training Ground, Qingyu's head didn't even reach her eyebrows. She looked down at him and even lectured him in a senior's tone.

Now, his height has caught up with mine, and he's even slightly taller.

Boys grow up fast at this age, but isn't it a bit too fast?

Is this the source of the Senju Clan's power?

Hyuga Ginka was puzzled.

"There might be danger lurking beneath this beauty."

Hatake Sakumo.

"Although the Land of Grass claims to be absolutely neutral, that's because they have no choice between the major powers. The ninjas of Kusagakure are hardly friendly; they are skilled in concealment, poison, and ambush. Fighting them on the grasslands is more troublesome than dealing with Sunagakure in the desert."

Qingyu nodded.

"That's what I think too."

The Land of Grass doesn't have many scenes in the original work, but every time it appears, it's not a very good one.

The extreme punishment prison of Hozuki Castle, and the exploitation of Kusagakure and her mother by Uzumaki Karin ------

"The scenery here is so boring."

Tsunade walked at the very back of the group, arms crossed.

This is the problem with having large breasts; they feel heavy after running for a long time.

Although it's not a big deal for her physical condition, it will still tire her out a bit.

"It's all grass, grass, grass, nothing but grass. There's not even a decent mountain. You can't see anything at all. It's not even as interesting as the dice in a casino spinning."

Tsunade complained.

Because she had carried out countless missions, she was already tired of the scenery, and it wasn't her first time visiting the Land of Grass.

Qingyu smiled slightly upon hearing this.

Tsunade's ability to steer any topic towards gambling is truly her style.

Dusk deepened without us even realizing it.

The temperature on the grassland began to drop rapidly, and a chill crept into the breeze.

Hatake Sakumo stopped at the edge of a sparse grove of trees, looked around, and nodded.

"Let's camp here tonight."

A few unidentified trees were scattered sparsely on the grass in this grove, their dense canopies barely providing some shelter from the night wind.

--

Most importantly, the terrain here is slightly higher than the surrounding grasslands, offering a wide field of vision and making it less susceptible to surprise attacks.

Kakashi and Hyuga Ginka began setting up the tent.

Hyuga Ginka took out the folded tent fabric from her backpack and skillfully unfolded it, while Kakashi used Kunai to drive the four corner anchors into the ground.

Qingyu walked around the camp, using the Shadow Clone Technique to create two clones. One leaped onto a treetop to keep watch, while the other set up several warning wires around the camp.

A small bell is attached to the end of the wire; the bell will ring if someone touches the wire.

The main body then walked into the camp and took out several teapots and water bags from its backpack.

Tsunade leaned against a tree, watching Qingyu bustling around, and thought to herself that this kid was becoming more and more responsible.

Although she always called Qingyu "little brat," she knew in her heart that this brat was more reliable than many Chunin or even Jonin.

After the tents were set up and the cordon was laid out, Qingyu walked up to Hatake Sakumo.

"Senior Sakumo, could you please give me some pointers on swordsmanship?"

Hatake Sakumo was wiping his short sword when he heard this. He looked up, glanced at Qingyu, and then nodded.

"Good."

Hatake Sakumo stood up.

Qingyu also drew the Sword of the Thunder God.

The two walked to an open space next to the camp.

Tsunade stood up from under the tree, brushed the grass clippings off her skirt, and looked over with great interest.

Kakashi and Hyuga Ginka also stopped what they were doing and turned their gaze to the two figures in the open space.

"Bring it on."

Hatake Sakumo let Qingyu make the first move.

"Here I come, Lord Sakumo!"

Qingyu didn't stand on ceremony.

He pushed off with his feet, and his figure flashed.

Body Flicker Technique!

With the speed boost from "Body Flicker Technique," Qingyu covered ten meters in the blink of an eye.

He gripped the Sword of the Thunder God, and as his Fire Release Chakra flowed, a layer of flames enveloped the sword.

Uchiha Style: Flame Light Slash!

The flames condensed into a thin line on the sword, which then transformed into a fan-shaped Flame Blade that shot through the air with the swinging motion.

Hatake Sakumo's body flickered slightly.

The Flame Blade grazed his shoulder, and the scorching heat blew the white hair on his forehead.

"The speed is good, but the trajectory of the slash is too straight."

While dodging, Hatake Sakumo, his tone like he was explaining knowledge points to students in a classroom.

"A straight, direct strike is the most powerful, but also the easiest to predict. Try changing the angle at the last moment of the swing to prevent your opponent from reacting in advance."

As he spoke, he dodged Qingyu's second Flame Blade that followed closely behind.

Seeing this, Qingyu moved closer and stepped forward.

Clang!

Sword of the Thunder God and the dagger clashed head-on for the first time.

Dance of the Crescent Moon!

The next moment, Qingyu's figure split into three, with two Shadow Clone attacking Hatake Sakumo simultaneously.

This is also the Konoha-Style Swordsmanship that Qingyu learned from Maruboshi Kosuke, but this technique is not as high-level as "Leaf Village Style: Willow".

With a swift swing of his short sword, Hatake Sakumo first cleaved the Shadow Clone on the left, then swept it horizontally to obliterate the Shadow Clone on the right.

Qingyu's sword had already been blocked by him.

The two swords clashed in mid-air, sparks flying from their blades.

"Lord Sakumo is so strong."

Hyuga Ginka stood at the edge of the camp, her white pupils reflecting the figures of the two.

"My father is certainly very strong."

Kakashi's tone was filled with pride.

"Qingyu's ability to persist for so long already demonstrates his astonishing swordsmanship talent."

Hyuga Ginka nodded.

She was well aware of the gap between herself and Qingyu.

If it were her standing in front of Hatake Sakumo right now, she probably wouldn't even last three rounds.

Qingyu not only held on, but was also able to launch a counterattack.

"His swordsmanship is indeed exceptionally talented."

Hyuga Ginka said.

The two players on the field began to trade blows.

Qingyu could sense that Hatake Sakumo was clearly feeding him a set of moves.

Qingyu then planned to use his strongest swordsmanship.

Leaf Village Style: Willow!

Qingyu's figure vanished into thin air like willow catkins scattered by the wind.

At the same time, in Hatake Sakumo's eyes, an overwhelming array of sword shadows appeared in the air.

Each sword shadow was incredibly sharp, radiating a chilling killing intent, making it impossible to distinguish which one was the real attack.

Hatake Sakumo was startled; he hadn't expected Qingyu to possess such a technique.

But with his willpower and experience, he broke free from the Genjutsu in Setsuna.

But in that moment of distraction, Qingyu had already gained time.

Qingyu slashed forward with his sword.

Hatake Sakumo could only belatedly realize what was happening and swung his sword to catch up.

But this was within Qingyu's expectations.

Strength of a Hundred!

Qingyu suddenly exerted force in his sword-wielding arm, releasing Chakra in an instant, and the explosive power was transmitted along the blade.

Hatake Sakumo felt a sudden jolt in his wrist as a brute force far exceeding that of a normal ninja pressed down on his short sword.

The force was so great that it made his hand go numb slightly, and he almost dropped the dagger.

His pupils contracted slightly.

Strength of a Hundred?

Qingyu has already learned this move?

Hatake Sakumo quickly adjusted the angle of his grip on the sword, using leverage to deflect most of the impact.

At the same time, he pushed off with his feet and slid back two steps, completely dissipating the force.

Seeing that Hatake Sakumo had successfully blocked the attack, Qingyu took the initiative to sheathe his sword and retreat.

"That's enough for now, Sakumo- senpai."

Qingyu sheathed the Sword of the Thunder God and shook his head.

"Leaf Village Style: Willow" is a surprise attack technique; its first use often catches the opponent off guard.

If it were to happen again, without the element of surprise and with Hatake Sakumo's vigilance, the effect would be greatly diminished.

Hatake Sakumo sheathed his short sword, walked up to Qingyu, and gently patted him on the shoulder.

You're already very capable.

Hatake Sakumo sincerely praised him.

"At your age, you've already managed to blend Genjutsu and swordsmanship so naturally. Your swordsmanship talent is the strongest I've ever seen."

Hearing his father's assessment, Kakashi clenched his fists, realizing something.

He realized he might never surpass Qingyu in swordsmanship, and Qingyu was a towering mountain blocking his path.

Because his father had never given him such high praise before.

However, even if he can't catch up in swordsmanship, he still has other paths to take.

Kakashi thought, even if he couldn't compare to Qingyu in swordsmanship, surely he could handle Lightning Style, right?

"Lord Sakumo is too modest."

Qingyu shook her head.

Hatake Sakumo's fame surpassed that of the Sannin, and on the battlefield, he personally killed Chiyo of Sunagakure's daughter-in- Chiyo and son, a feat that few in the entire Shinobi World could match.

And yet he remained so humble.

Upon hearing this, Hatake Sakumo gave a faint smile.

"The way of the sword is boundless; you will surpass me sooner or later."

Hatake Sakumo.

To be honest, he genuinely felt that Qingyu would surpass him in swordsmanship in the future.

The future belongs to these young people.

[Collectible trait detected: Heart of the Swordsmanship Apprentice]

[D-Rank Trait: Heart of the Swordsmanship Apprentice]

[Effect: You will learn other people's sword techniques more easily.]

Qingyu looked at the words that appeared before her eyes and understood.

The Heart of the Swordsmanship Apprentice makes it easier for him to learn swordsmanship from others.

In other words, this is a trait specifically designed for learning by stealing others' skills.

With this trait, you'll learn more efficiently when sparring with others in the future.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sakumo."

Qingyu said.

The two of them weren't really fighting; it was more like they were exchanging blows, allowing Qingyu to improve even faster.

Hatake Sakumo waved his hand and turned to Earth Flow.

Night deepened.

The chirping of insects rose and fell across the grassland, and occasionally, the calls of some unknown animal could be heard in the distance.

--

After the tents were set up, Tsunade arranged for a system of taking turns keeping watch at night.

"Qingyu and I are in the first class."

Tsunade said.

After the arrangements were made, everyone dispersed. Hatake Sakumo crawled into his tent and lay down, while Kakashi and Hyuga Ginka also returned to their own tents.

Qingyu walked to the edge of the camp and sat down against a tree.

Tsunade walked over from behind and sat down next to him.

The starry sky overhead was clearer than that of Konoha, with the Milky Way stretching across the heavens and stars scattered throughout the night.

"Sister Tsunade, I want to go train for a while."

Qingyu said.

Tsunade nodded.

"Alright, I'll keep an eye on things. You go and cultivate."

Qingyu stood up and walked out of the camp.

Where are you going?

Tsunade asked.

"A spot a little further from the camp, so as not to disturb their rest, and I can also keep watch for any commotion outside."

Don't go too far.

"Knew."

Qingyu's figure quickly disappeared into the night.

He stopped on a small hill about 300 meters from the camp.

This location offers a wide field of vision, allowing you to see the situation at the camp and monitor the activity on the surrounding grasslands.

Qingyu then began refining Wind Release Chakra.

The [Darkness of the Shinobi] trait that dropped from Shimura Danzō increased his Wind Release talent by 60% and also extended the range of his Wind Release Ninjutsu.

Such a great boost, it would be a waste not to use it.

Wind Release Chakra condensed in his palm, and airflow began to flow between his fingers, producing a faint whistling sound.

Qingyu compressed his Wind Release Chakra into a thin, curved blade of energy, which he then attached to the Sword of the Thunder God.