Internship and Swordsmanship Training (Please Bookmark, Follow, and Vote)

Ninja Academy classroom.

The moment Taiichi entered the classroom and glanced around, he spotted Kakashi and Obito competing with each other, while Rin stood beside them with a helpless expression.

Taiichi found it amusing as well. Kakashi always acted cool around everyone else; if no one took the initiative to speak to him, he might not say more than a few words all day. But when it came to Obito, the two seemed like natural enemies. Obito seized every opportunity to needle Kakashi, while Kakashi could make Obito lose his temper with a single sentence.

Lost in thought, Taiichi had already approached the three of them. The two bickering boys had not noticed him yet, but Rin Nohara beside them was the first to spot him.

She watched Taiichi walk toward them.

"Taiichi, do you need something?" Rin asked.

"Rin, I'm looking for Kakashi, but it seems he doesn't have time for me yet." Taiichi could not help smiling as he looked at Kakashi.

Rin covered her mouth with one hand and giggled quietly.

At that moment, Kakashi noticed Taiichi as well. He knew why Taiichi had come, and immediately switched from "battle mode" back to his aloof demeanor. Seeing Kakashi like that and recalling his earlier thoughts, Taiichi could not help laughing again.

"Sorry, I just thought of something funny." Realizing his lapse in manners, Taiichi immediately apologized.

Kakashi was completely baffled by the laughter, but seeing Taiichi say that, he did not think much of it. He took a scroll from the Ninja Tool Pouch at his thigh and handed it to Taiichi.

Taiichi did not think much of it at first, but when he accepted the scroll and looked at it, his face filled with shock. Could Kakashi have secretly taken this out?

Kakashi seemed to see through his thoughts. "Don't overthink it. My father personally asked me to give this to you." As he spoke, he relayed his father's belief that talent was what truly mattered.

Taiichi could not help feeling deep respect after hearing that. No wonder he was someone who could abandon a mission for the sake of his teammates. So in his heart, talent was the most important thing. He owed a huge favor this time. How was he supposed to repay it? Thinking of the future "White Fang Suicide Incident," he wondered whether he could change something. Could he spare White Fang from that tragic ending?

"Taiichi, what are you thinking about? You look completely out of it." Seeing that Taiichi had stayed silent for so long, Kakashi asked.

"Oh, I was thinking that I absolutely can't let Senior Sakumo down. Kakashi, come with me to buy a sword after training today. You can give me some advice." Taiichi set aside his thoughts. There were still an estimated three years before the White Fang Suicide Incident. It was too early to dwell on it now. What he needed to do was grow stronger; otherwise, when the time came, he might not even have a chance to help.

"Sure. I can give you some advice on that." Kakashi agreed readily.

"Hey, Taiichi, are you going to learn swordsmanship? Our Uchiha Style Swordsmanship is famous throughout the Ninja World!" Obito said from the side after overhearing their conversation.

"Idiot, can you even teach Uchiha swordsmanship to an outsider?" Kakashi could not resist taking a jab at him.

"Ah! You stuck-up Kakashi, who are you calling an idiot?" Obito realized that what he had said was unreliable, so he used the opening to drop the subject.

"Whoever asks is the idiot." Kakashi showed no mercy.

That truly enraged Obito. Forgetting that other people were nearby, he started fighting with Kakashi again.

Taiichi watched helplessly from the side. Those two really were a pair of living treasures.

"Rin, I'm heading off first. Class is about to start." Taiichi said goodbye to Rin Nohara.

"Okay."

It was a peaceful day.

During breaks, Taiichi took the time to read through the scroll. It truly was a comprehensive yet foundational swordsmanship scroll, but it emphasized speed, precision, and ruthlessness—perfectly matching the characteristics of White Fang's swordsmanship. As far as basic swordsmanship went, there might not be a better scroll in all of Konoha.

[You read Hatake Basic Swordsmanship. Related comprehension has increased.]

[You have learned Hatake Style Kenjutsu Lv0 (1/10).]

[You focused on studying Hatake Style Kenjutsu. Genin profession experience +1.]

Looking at the prompts on the panel, Taiichi felt the pressure on him rise again. Another skill that required constant practice. It really was painful and joyful at the same time.

Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage, who had been intently spying, was startled by a loud BANG and hurriedly hid the crystal ball beneath his desk.

Tsunade entered the office and saw Hiruzen Sarutobi's furtive movements. She immediately knew what he had been up to again. She curled her lips in disdain. If it had been Jiraiya, she would have greeted him with a fist already.

"Tsunade, you should at least show some respect for your teacher. I'm the Hokage, after all," Hiruzen Sarutobi said helplessly. To be honest, he felt deeply guilty toward Tsunade, his student. There were still many doubts surrounding the deaths of Nawaki and Dan. It was not that the village did not want to investigate—it simply did not dare to.

That was why Tsunade appeared cordial with him while remaining estranged at heart, while Jiraiya had left the village three years ago under the excuse of gathering intelligence.

Both he and Tsunade knew perfectly well that Danzo was most likely involved. But what could they do? He could not bring himself to deal with Danzo. It was not merely a matter of personal feelings; it also involved Konoha's political balance.

He did not possess the immense strength and prestige of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, or the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. He could not suppress all of Konoha through personal power alone, so he had relied on decentralization and balance in the early days to secure the position of Hokage. And now, changing things would require drastic measures. He truly could not make up his mind.

Tsunade did not waste words with him. She directly took out an internship certificate and handed it to Sarutobi for his signature. Naturally, she could not let Taiichi simply go to Konoha Hospital and help out without an official position. Would that not embarrass Tsunade? At the very least, she had to arrange proper employment for him. Thus, this internship certificate came into being—the kind that paid a salary.

Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted the document, gave it a look, and asked in surprise, "Are you taking on a disciple?"

It was no wonder Sarutobi thought so. They were neither relatives nor friends. Who would go out of their way to do something like this for another person, even bringing the matter to the Hokage?

"I have no such intention. What could I teach him in my current condition?" Tsunade said helplessly, thinking of her hemophobia.

"He's a promising talent. I tested him, and his Medical Ninjutsu and knowledge are both solid. What he lacks now is practical experience. Let him train at the hospital, and he can improve even more."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened at those words, and he did not dwell on it further.

"Since you've tested him, I won't say anything else. Taichi Matsushita is indeed a good child. I've been keeping an eye on him for quite some time. Let him go find Biwako at the hospital later."

Although Tsunade said she was not taking a disciple, judging by how much she was doing for Taichi Matsushita, their relationship could not be shallow. After all, Tsunade had also helped introduce that special-effect medicine before.

As long as Tsunade could do something, form bonds with people in the village, and not spend every day gambling or drinking herself senseless, he was happy. In the end, this was also a teacher trying to make up for his failures toward his student.

After receiving the signed internship certificate, Tsunade said nothing more and turned to leave the Hokage's Office.

Once outside, she looked at the certificate in her hand. I'm not eating your meals for nothing. I got this for you now, so let's see how you thank me. With that thought, she tucked the certificate into her clothes.

Konoha forest.

After school, the three gathered again to train.

Guy was practicing straight punches against a large tree nearby. The tree trembled with every punch he threw, and he loudly counted each one. He had already reached 583.

"I have to throw 2,000 punches today! If I don't finish, I'll run five laps around Konoha!" His passionate shouts never stopped.

On the other side, Kakashi was teaching Taiichi basic swordsmanship.

Kakashi stood atop a bluestone, holding his Short Sword. Reflected light from the blade swept across Taiichi's tensed fingertips. He gripped the hilt in an awkward posture, sweat dripping from his chin onto the sword guard. The sword in his hand was a practice blade Kakashi had brought from home.

"Hook the web between your thumb and index finger against the guard. Press your thumb here." Kakashi suddenly tapped Taiichi's whitening knuckles with the handle of his kunai. "Grip it too tightly and you'll lose flexibility. Grip it too loosely and the enemy will knock it out of your hand." Taiichi adjusted his grip as though shocked by electricity and found that the diamond pattern on the hilt fit the curve of his fingers perfectly. In the distance came the steady thudding of Guy striking the tree, interweaving with the whistle of blades cutting through the air into a unique rhythm.

"Now try a diagonal slash." Kakashi took three steps back. The instant Taiichi swung his sword, the silver-haired boy suddenly flung out three shuriken. When the blade collided with the projectiles, Taiichi felt his palm go numb—the adjusted grip had actually spread the impact evenly across his entire hand.

As dusk deepened, Kakashi picked up a branch and drew in the dirt. "Hatake Style Kenjutsu has seven variations of the grip. This is the foundation of the foundation." The outline of a hand in the soil gradually extended into the figure of a person holding a sword. "Remember, a sword is an extension of your body. When holding it, your center of gravity should flow as naturally as breathing."

As Kakashi taught him, the panel continued to display prompts.

[You practiced Hatake Style Kenjutsu. Related comprehension has increased!]

[Your Hatake Style Kenjutsu skill has improved. Experience +1.]

[Congratulations. Your Hatake Style Kenjutsu skill has advanced to Lv1 (0/100).]

[You focused on practicing Hatake Style Kenjutsu. Genin profession experience +1.]

As the skill leveled up, insights into Hatake Style Kenjutsu merged into every part of Taiichi's body.

Taiichi stared at the red marks the hilt had left on his palm, then suddenly turned his wrist and spun the sword in a flourish. Surprise flashed through Kakashi's eyes. This was a movement he should only have encountered after three weeks of practice, yet Taiichi had comprehended it on his own through his understanding of balance. The evening wind swept maple leaves across the ground, and the afterimages of two long swords gradually overlapped amid the swirling red leaves.