The winter sun was warm and gentle, its rays making people feel cozy and filling the air with a touch of tenderness.
Ever since Orochimaru had left, Uzumaki Kuming's residence had returned to its usual peacefulness. In the courtyard, Uzumaki Kuming gently rocked in his reclining chair, watching Uchiha Itachi and Kakashi spar.
For Uzumaki Kuming, aside from enjoying this hard-won peaceful life, the most important thing was nurturing Konoha's next generation. Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi were the two people he paid the most attention to.
There were four people traveling with Uzumaki Kuming. Besides his student, Uchiha Itachi, there were Kakashi Hatake, Rin Nohara, and Obito.
During their stay in the Land of Flowers, Uzumaki Kuming had taught Kakashi some techniques for using Lightning Armor, as well as how to perform it. Without the limitation of the Sharingan, Kakashi's Chakra reserves were about the same as his father's. Even among Jonin, Kakashi couldn't be called lacking in Chakra.
His substantial Chakra reserves gave Kakashi the possibility of using Lightning Armor.
Years ago, Kakashi had relied on his own strength to develop Chidori. Chidori actually shared some similarities with Lightning Armor: when used, Lightning Release Chakra strengthened the body, greatly increasing the user's speed and strength.
However, Chidori didn't provide Lightning Armor's defensive capabilities, and young Kakashi couldn't control Chidori's tremendous speed. For that reason, Minato Namikaze had forbidden him from using it.
But now, Uzumaki Kuming was trying to help Kakashi fully complete the Chidori technique—or, rather, he was trying to teach Kakashi to fight like the Third Raikage!
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
In the courtyard, Kakashi's short sword clashed repeatedly with the Heavenly Feather Blade in Uchiha Itachi's hands. The force sent Itachi's small body stumbling back several meters. Faint arcs of lightning coiled around the short sword in Kakashi's