Ninja Academy classroom.
The moment Taiichi entered the classroom, he glanced around and spotted Kakashi and Obito competing with each other, while Rin stood nearby with a helpless look on her face.
Taiichi found it amusing. 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 chance to throw a jab at Kakashi, while Kakashi could break through Obito's defenses with just one sentence.
Lost in thought, Taiichi had already approached the three of them. The two still bickering had not noticed him, but Rin Nohara beside them noticed him first.
Seeing Taiichi walk toward her, she asked, "Taiichi, do you need something?"
"Rin, I'm looking for Kakashi, but it seems he doesn't have time to pay attention to me yet." Taiichi looked at Kakashi and could not help smiling.
Rin covered her mouth with one hand and snickered as well.
At that moment, Kakashi noticed Taiichi too. He knew why Taiichi had come looking for him, and immediately switched from his earlier "battle mode" 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 he had been rude, Taiichi immediately apologized.
Kakashi was utterly confused by the laughter, but since Taiichi said so, he did not think much of it. He took out a scroll from the Ninja Tool Pouch at his leg and handed it to Taiichi.
Taiichi did not think much of it at first, but the moment he opened the scroll, his face filled with shock. Did Kakashi sneak this out?
Kakashi seemed to see through his thoughts. "Don't overthink it. My father personally asked me to give this to you." Then he repeated his father's words about how talent was what truly mattered.
Taiichi could not help feeling solemn respect after hearing that. As expected of someone who could abandon a mission for his comrades. So, in Sakumo's 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 if he could change something and save White Fang from that tragic ending.
"Taiichi, what are you thinking about? You're so out of it." Seeing Taiichi remain silent for so long, Kakashi asked.
"Oh, I was thinking that I absolutely can't let down Senior Sakumo's expectations. 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 think about that now. He needed to work hard and become stronger first, or he might not even have the chance to help when the time came.
"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 outsiders?" Kakashi could not help firing back.
"Ah—ah—stuck-up Kakashi, who are you calling an idiot?" Obito realized that what he had said was unreliable, so he took the opportunity to drop the subject.
"Whoever asks is the idiot." Kakashi showed no mercy.
That truly made Obito furious. Not caring that others were nearby, he started bickering with Kakashi again.
Taiichi watched from the side, helpless. They really were a pair of clowns.
"Rin, I'm heading back first. Class is about to start," Taiichi said to Rin Nohara.
"Okay."
A peaceful day passed.
During breaks, Taiichi took the time to roughly read through the entire scroll. It truly was a comprehensive and foundational swordsmanship scroll, yet 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 have read Hatake Basic Swordsmanship. Related comprehension has increased.] [You have learned Hatake Style Kenjutsu Lv0 (1/10).] [You have focused on studying Hatake Style Kenjutsu. Genin class experience +1.]
Looking at the notifications on the panel, Taiichi felt even more pressure. Another skill that required constant practice—it was truly painful, yet joyful.
Hokage's Office.
The Third Hokage, who had been intently peeping, 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 movement. She knew exactly what he had been doing again. She curled her lips in disdain. If it had been Jiraiya, she would have already greeted him with a fist.
"I'm telling you, Tsunade, you should at least show some respect for your teacher. I'm the Hokage, after all," Hiruzen Sarutobi said helplessly. Truthfully, he felt deeply indebted to Tsunade as his student. There were still many doubts surrounding Nawaki and Dan's deaths. It was not that the village did not want to investigate—it simply did not dare to.
That was why Tsunade was now only outwardly cordial with him while inwardly estranged, while Jiraiya had left the village three years ago under the pretext of gathering intelligence.
Both he and Tsunade knew perfectly well that this matter was most likely connected to Danzo. But what could they do? He simply could not bear to deal with Danzo—not only because of their personal relationship, but also because of Konoha's current political structure.
He did not possess the overwhelming strength and prestige of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, or the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. He could not suppress all of Konoha through his own power alone. Only by relying on this method of decentralized power and mutual checks could he stabilize his position as Hokage in the early days. And now, changing things would require drastic measures. He truly could not make that decision.
Tsunade did not waste words with him. She directly took out an internship certificate for Hiruzen to sign. Of course, she could not let Taiichi simply go help at Konoha Hospital without any official arrangement. Would that not disgrace her, Tsunade? At the very least, she had to get him an official position. Thus, this internship certificate came into being—the kind that paid a salary.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the document and glanced over it, surprised. "Are you taking on an apprentice?"
It was no wonder Hiruzen Sarutobi thought that way. They were neither related nor acquainted, so who would go out of their way to do something like this for someone else, even bringing the matter all the way to the Hokage?
"I have no such plans. What can I teach him in my current condition?" Tsunade said helplessly, thinking of her Hemophobia.
"He's a promising talent. I tested him. 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 further."
Hearing that, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened, and he did not dwell on it further.
"Since you've tested him, I won't say anything more. Taichi Matsushita is indeed a good kid. I've been keeping an eye on him for a long time. Have him go find Biwako at the hospital later."
Although Tsunade said she was not taking on an apprentice, judging by how much she had done for this Taichi Matsushita, their relationship was surely not shallow. After all, Tsunade had also helped introduce that special medicine before.
As long as Tsunade could do something, get to know people in the village, and form bonds instead of spending every day in gambling dens or drinking herself senseless, he was happy. In the end, this was also a teacher's attempt to make amends to his student.
Tsunade took the signed internship certificate without saying anything more, turned, and left the Hokage's Office.
After stepping outside, she looked at the certificate in her hand. I'm not eating your meals for nothing. Now that I got this for you, let's see how you thank me. With that thought, she tucked the certificate into her clothes.
Konoha woods.
After school, the three gathered once again to train.
Guy was practicing straight punches against a large tree nearby. The tree shuddered with every punch he threw, and he loudly counted each one. He had already reached 583.
"I'm throwing 2,000 punches today! If I don't finish them, 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. The light reflected off the blade swept past Taiichi's tense fingertips. He gripped the hilt in an awkward posture, sweat dripping from his chin onto the guard. The sword in his hands was a practice blade Kakashi had brought from home.
"Lock the web between your thumb and forefinger against the guard. Press your thumb here." Kakashi suddenly tapped Taiichi's whitening knuckles with the handle of his kunai. "Grip too tightly, and you'll lose flexibility. Grip too loosely, and the enemy will knock it from your hand." Taiichi adjusted his hold as if shocked by electricity and discovered that the diamond pattern on the hilt perfectly matched the curve of his fingers. In the distance came the steady thuds of Guy striking a wooden post, weaving together with the sound of blades cutting through the air into a distinctive rhythm.
"Now try a diagonal slash." Kakashi stepped back three paces. The moment Taiichi swung his sword, the silver-haired boy suddenly flung three shuriken. When the blade collided with the projectiles, Taiichi felt his palm go numb—but the grip he had just adjusted 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 grip. This is the foundation of the foundation." The hand lines drawn in the soil gradually extended into the figure of a person holding a sword. "Remember, the sword is an extension of your body. When you grip it, your center of gravity should flow as naturally as breathing."
As Kakashi instructed him, notifications continued to appear on the panel.
[You have practiced Hatake Style Kenjutsu. Related comprehension has increased!] [Your Hatake Style Kenjutsu skill has improved. Experience +1.] [Congratulations, your Hatake Style Kenjutsu skill has increased to Lv1 (0/100).] [You have focused on practicing Hatake Style Kenjutsu. Genin class experience +1.]
As the skill leveled up, a wave of understanding regarding Hatake Style Kenjutsu merged into Taiichi's entire body.
Taiichi stared at the red marks the hilt had pressed into his palm, then suddenly flipped his wrist and spun the blade in a flourish. Surprise flashed in Kakashi's eyes. This move, which should have only been attempted after three weeks of practice, had been comprehended by Taiichi through his understanding of balance. The evening breeze swept fallen maple leaves across the ground, and the afterimages of two long blades gradually overlapped amid the swirling red leaves.
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