We Can Support You Too!

However.

"Next time, I will definitely be able to fight alongside you!"

Kurenai Yuhi promised firmly.

What she was angry about wasn't the concealment, but her own powerlessness.

Kakashi was silent.

In his mind, the previous scene still lingered, and he kept replaying the battle just now.

A Mist Village Jonin, a Hozuki genius.

Even though he had been a ninja for two and a half years, opportunities for such exchanges were few and far between.

As he reflected, he realized—

Kyohiko's speed and reflexes were becoming stronger and stronger; especially today, both his reaction time and the speed of his strikes were several notches faster than before.

Or rather.

Was his control over speed even better than it had been?

Kakashi thought of his own predicament, and his heart stirred. After hesitating for a long while, he finally spoke up.

He was much less arrogant now than he had been at the beginning.

Besides.

The person before him, although starting slower than himself, now displayed talent that was no less than his own.

Exchanging ideas and asking for advice was not shameful.

Being unable to win and dying on the battlefield in the end—that was what was truly shameful.

"Kyohiko, may I ask, how do you train your reflexes?"

"Reflexes?"

Kyohiko thought for a moment and said, "I hung a dozen sandbags in my courtyard and used their chaotic counter-swings to train my ability to listen to the wind and discern positions, as well as my judgment and reflexes. It's hard to tell if it's effective yet."

"It must be effective. Your reflexes and speed control are much stronger than before. I'll try this method when I get back. Thank you, Kyohiko."

Kakashi said.

Having received his answer, he pondered for a moment, and a way to return the favor had already formed in his mind.

"Are you serious about practicing with the blade?"

"Of course I'm serious. My idol is the Second Hokage, and I heard he practiced with the blade as well, so I want to do the same. Besides, practicing with the blade has truly made me feel a new sense of progress."

Kyohiko replied.

The dead are truly useful!

Whether it was something the Second Hokage actually said or whether he truly admired the Second Hokage, as long as he pushed it onto Senju Tobirama, no one would doubt its authenticity.

At the very least, Kakashi wouldn't.

Kakashi nodded.

"After we return to the village, I'll give you one of my father's old collection blades. Only a real blade can train real skill."

He paused for a moment, then quickly added, "It's not a chakra weapon, just an ordinary samurai sword, but for training and daily use, it's perfectly fine. If you don't mind..."

"How could I mind!"

Kyohiko was overjoyed.

Although this was no longer the era of the samurai, a qualified and reliable samurai sword was very expensive and difficult to acquire; he couldn't afford one yet.

He thought for a moment.

"I'll consider the blade a loan. Once I have enough money in the future, I'll pay you back."

"No need."

Kakashi shook his head. "I can't use that many blades by myself, and they're useless just sitting there. When the time comes, just pick the one that feels most comfortable to you."

"That works too."

Kyohiko pondered for a moment and didn't decline further.

It wasn't a throne; there was no need for three refusals and three acceptances, right?

Exchanging ideas with Kakashi more often in the future and progressing together was better than anything else.

Kurenai Yuhi said, "I think that from now on, we should do as Kyohiko suggested earlier: maintain regular knowledge exchanges so we can all progress together."

"Like a library?"

Kakashi added.

Kyohiko seemed to suddenly remember something and proposed, "A single tree cannot make a forest, and a single leaf cannot ignite the fire of Konoha. I don't think such a good thing should be limited to just the three of us; we could let more people who are willing join in and share knowledge."

"Oh, that sounds great!"

Kurenai Yuhi's eyes lit up.

Restricted to their own squad, swapping back and forth, it really only amounted to those few types of knowledge and ninjutsu.

Everyone was a comrade.

If truly needed, teaching one another was actually nothing to fuss about.

Just as Kyohiko had said.

Knowledge must be put to use for its true value to be realized.

If this way of thinking and this philosophy could be passed on to more people, the value of knowledge would only continue to rise.

"Limited to those who join?"

Kakashi asked.

Kyohiko nodded: "That goes without saying. Although we share knowledge so that we may all grow stronger, if some people reap without sowing, it will eventually dampen everyone's enthusiasm for progress and innovation."

"I understand."

Kakashi realized.

As the three were chatting, laughter drifted in from outside.

"A fine proposal."

"Teacher."

Kyohiko, Kakashi, and Kurenai Yuhi stood up in unison.

Jiraiya walked into the main hall, sat down, and waved his hand. He then picked up a teacup from the side, gulped down several mouthfuls, and said: "It's decided. We will escort Mr. Ichiro Matsuyama back tomorrow, then head straight back to Konoha to avoid any accidents."

"Yes!"

The next morning.

The inn was in shambles; the owner had repaired it as much as possible, but the traces of yesterday's battle were still visible.

Ichiro Matsuyama looked on, heart racing, more certain than ever that he should leave as soon as possible.

Money could always be earned later!

He couldn't wrap his head around it.

"Jiraiya, just who is Gato, that he could hire so many Mist Village ninja to take action?"

Ichiro Matsuyama was not a ninja, but he knew a thing or two about the state of the ninja world.

In any ninja village, Jonin were rare and elite experts.

Opportunities to hire someone like Jiraiya, who led a squad of Genin, at a low price were quite rare.

Two Jonin.

Would stealing his cargo even cover the cost of their services?

Jiraiya gave a light cough, finding it difficult to explain too clearly.

He couldn't exactly say—

The two Jonin from the Mist Village hadn't originally intended to attack.

However.

He had baited them slightly, and that was how these two big fish took the hook and attacked him and his students.

From the employer's perspective, that wasn't exactly honorable.

However, he had indeed gathered quite a bit of information regarding Gato.

"Gato has deep cooperation with the nobles of the Land of Water, and many aristocrats from the Land of Water involved in their business are backing him from the shadows."

Jiraiya replied.

After hearing this, Ichiro Matsuyama fell into deep thought, then looked up with a start.

"They want to monopolize the shipping business!"

"Monopolize shipping?"

Jiraiya was stunned.

Ichiro Matsuyama's expression was grave.

"Yes, the maritime trade between the Land of Water, the Land of Fire, and the Land of Lightning is mostly conducted via shipping, and the Land of Waves plays a massive role in that."

Jiraiya was no merchant.

In this regard, he was indeed not as sensitive as Ichiro Matsuyama.

But.

Once Ichiro Matsuyama mentioned it, he immediately understood that controlling the Land of Waves held great benefits for the Land of Water, and the same held true for the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.

In the short term, the Land of Waves might become the center of a power struggle.

Jiraiya frowned.

In that case, Konoha, the Land of Fire...

He remained deep in thought.

Ichiro Matsuyama lowered his voice: "Jiraiya, are you truly not considering taking action regarding the Land of Waves? As long as you have the intention, I can help facilitate contact with several families in Kyoto."

There were people in the Land of Water interested in the Land of Waves, and naturally, there were those in the Land of Fire as well.

However.

They were not strong enough to seize the business in the Land of Waves on their own; they still needed to see if Konoha was willing to cooperate and provide assistance.

Jiraiya pondered for a long time.

In the end, he still shook his head.

"Mr. Matsuyama, this matter must be decided by the Hokage. If you need, I can help convey your request to the Hokage, but I cannot say whether he will agree."

"Sigh! If your Third Hokage were willing, would I still need to ask for your extra help?"

Ichiro Matsuyama's voice dropped even lower.

Jiraiya was speechless.

He understood the logic, but his words carried no weight; he couldn't even push through a simple optimization of the Ninja Academy system, let alone intervene in the Land of Waves given the current situation.

"I can only guarantee that I will report the entire situation regarding the Land of Waves."

"That will do. If there is even a glimmer of hope, Jiraiya, you must tell me. Many of our families in Kyoto are... ahem, anyway, you understand."

"Mn."