Can't Get Either Side? I Get It!

The familiar courtyard.

Kyohiko returned home, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

He opened the gate and stepped inside, only to freeze in surprise. Having been away for several days, the place was not the chaotic mess he had imagined; instead, quite a few new facilities had been added.

There were more sandbags.

Furthermore, in certain spots around the courtyard, some things had been planted...

Herbs?

However, the front door and windows were covered in dust, making it look as though no one had entered.

Kyohiko opened the door, went inside, and tidied up the room.

"So tired!"

He did not immediately go to train, but instead went to the study to rummage through his things, finally finding a book after searching for a long time.

Sword Technique Notes

Sword technique.

Kyohiko opened it to find a summary of Senju Tobirama's sword techniques.

Judging by the logic and concepts, the subsequent Dance of the Crescent Moon, Konoha Style: Willow, and similar techniques all drew their sword-fighting philosophy from Senju Tobirama's ideas.

"White Fang's approach is assassination, a single strike to kill."

"Senju Tobirama's approach is to use illusions, ninjutsu, and various other means as a cover to create an opportunity for a lethal strike."

"The Flying Thunder God Slash serves a similar purpose."

Coming from an enemy, Madara's evaluation of "despicable" was the greatest compliment to Senju Tobirama's tactical style.

And what about himself?

Kyohiko finished reading carefully, conceptualizing in his mind.

He did not intend to specialize in sword techniques.

For him, the blade was a means of exercise and tempering.

However, the White Fang Sword Technique seemed to have also enhanced his reflexes and his skill with ninja tools?

"No, to be precise, it should be the reaction speed of my hands and the speed of my strikes."

Kyohiko recalled carefully, finally drawing a conclusion.

In other words.

The White Fang's sword technique and philosophy required extremely keen judgment, as well as astonishing reaction and strike speeds.

Kakashi did not quite possess such conditions.

Someone like Minato Namikaze, with the god-like speed of the Flying Thunder God, could still control it with ease.

That was talent.

If Kakashi had possessed that level of talent, he wouldn't have needed the Sharingan at all to master the Chidori to a level suitable for combat.

Of course.

Kakashi's talent wasn't bad, but compared to Minato Namikaze or White Fang, he was still a level behind.

"My talent in this area is certainly not as good as White Fang's."

"Therefore."

"I should take the strengths of both and compensate for my own weaknesses as much as possible; only then can I become stronger before the war arrives!"

The current ninja world might appear to have entered a brief period of peace, but in reality, conflicts existed everywhere, and small-scale wars were breaking out.

It wasn't just between Konoha and Kirigakure; the same was true for other villages.

War could erupt at any moment; he absolutely could not rely on the concepts of the original timeline and blindly wait for the right time.

Rest was sufficient.

Time to train!

Kyohiko went downstairs and continued his training.

By evening, seven or eight sandbags were swinging at him from all sides. He struck quickly, knocking three of them away, then ducked low to slip through an opening, escaping to the perimeter.

As his strength increased and he became familiar with the process, the current training had lost its effectiveness.

He needed to build a mechanism and have a Shadow Clone operate it.

At night, Kyohiko went to sleep early.

However.

Suddenly, he jolted awake, his hand immediately grabbing the kunai at his side as he reached the window in an instant.

But the next moment.

"You child, why are you still so vigilant even inside the village?"

Jiraiya pushed open the window.

Kyohiko was stunned.

"Teacher?"

He put away his kunai and asked in surprise, "It's so late, why are you here instead of resting?"

"I came to have a chat with you."

Jiraiya looked around, feeling a bit embarrassed, "Do you have time?"

"Of course."

Kyohiko stood up.

Outside, Jiraiya was sitting on the roof.

The bright moon hung high in the sky.

He held sake in one hand and juice in the other, patting the spot beside him when he saw Kyohiko.

Kyohiko went over and sat down.

Jiraiya looked like he had something on his mind.

"You just drink the juice."

"Mm."

Kyohiko took it and took a sip.

Orange juice.

It tasted pretty good.

Jiraiya drank his sake and began to talk to himself.

The content...

It was nothing more than the usual philosophy about peace.

The same old tune.

Kyohiko was not surprised; given Jiraiya's personality, if it weren't the Land of Waves, but the Land of Rivers, and the opponent were the Land of Wind, he might have hesitated and chosen not to interfere.

The Land of Water and Kirigakure were a different situation.

Talking about peace with them was truly like playing the lute to a cow.

His current hesitation and doubt sounded partly influenced by Hiruzen Sarutobi, and secondly, out of concern for Konoha's current state; if a conflict with Kirigakure occurred in the Land of Waves, it could further escalate and lead to damage for Konoha.

This was indeed a reasonable consideration.

He listened quietly until the end.

Jiraiya said: "Kyohiko, you are different from ordinary children; you always have surprising thoughts and words. Do you think—haha, I asked in vain, you already said before that we should stop them."

He took another drink, talking as he drank.

Rather than chatting with Kyohiko, it was more like Jiraiya was sorting out his own thoughts.

He just needed a listener.

However.

Wasn't Minato Namikaze in the village?

Well, that was fine; who knows, he might even be able to gain something from this.

Kyohiko narrowed his eyes, fighting off his sleepiness.

As a child, being woken up in the middle of the night made him incredibly sleepy, but Jiraiya's distress was not something that could be solved by a single piece of advice.

He was simply too lost in his own heart.

Fortunately, Jiraiya's philosophy of peace was not yet fully solidified, so there was still time.

As for that old stubborn Hiruzen Sarutobi—

Kyohiko didn't care if he dropped dead!

He listened quietly.

When Jiraiya finished speaking with a long sigh, he finally asked: "Teacher, what you are actually worried about is that Konoha's current strength is insufficient, and you fear that interfering in the Land of Waves will trigger a conflict with Kirigakure, leading to a weakening of strength that invites attacks from other ninja villages, right?"

"Mm, there are considerations in that regard."

Jiraiya nodded.

Kyohiko said: "I don't understand the governance of the village, nor do I understand the grand trends of the ninja world or the clashes between nations, but when I fought with people as a child, I always called my friends to beat others together, or at the very least, I could use things like candy to trade and get others to join me."

Why talk about chivalry with evil cultists like those from Kirigakure?

Jiraiya was stunned for a second, then couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Candy...

Truly a child's tactic.

Yet, it is quite effective.

Children can hardly move their feet when they see candy, but between nations and ninja villages, is it really as simple as a playground scuffle?

Jiraiya smiled.

"Anything else? Keep going."

"If it were up to me, the Land of Waves is like a training ground. Both the other party and I want to train there, but the difference is, I don't want to monopolize it. Since he does, I'll pull in others who don't want him to have it all and we'll fight him together."

"Fight him together..."

Jiraiya frowned.

The Land of Waves occupies a unique position for maritime transport, but that only applies to the Land of Fire and the Land of Water; it holds little interest for other nations.

How would one form such an alliance?

If one had to name a candidate, it would only be Kumogakure.

Kumogakure would not want to see either Konoha or Kirigakure gain control of the Land of Waves.

"There is another way: I go find someone to stir up trouble so that neither side can take it. As for the others, I'll figure out how to deal with them later."

"Neither side can take it?"

Jiraiya was stunned.

Then, he suddenly slapped his forehead.

"I am such a fool! Your words make perfect sense, Kyohiko. I already have a general direction, and the person I'll find is an absolute expert among experts."

As Jiraiya spoke, he quickly vanished using Body Flicker.

It seemed he was off to find Orochimaru.

If the goal were to bring the Land of Waves over to the Land of Fire's side in the current situation, it might be difficult, but when it comes to causing destruction and acting as a spoiler, that man is an absolute expert.

Furthermore.

That other person, Danzo, is also an expert in this regard!

Jiraiya cursed himself for his stupidity.

That such a simple matter required Kyohiko to remind him—perhaps...

His own thinking had truly become too narrow!