Talking to Kakashi

Kamiya Keiyun could feel himself getting faster and faster. After channeling Chakra into his legs, he could leap dozens of meters at a time, spring seven or eight meters into the air, and cover a hundred meters in just 6.4 seconds.

He had also discovered that when Chakra adhered to the soles of his feet, it exerted a kind of force on the ground and walls.

That force was somewhat like the nuclear force: at greater distances, it became attractive; at closer distances, it became repulsive.

Kamiya Keiyun still did not understand the exact mechanism behind this attraction and repulsion, so he could only use it by feel.

Using the repulsive force could boost his speed for an instant, producing an effect similar to teleportation. In one instant, he could shift more than ten meters away!

However, this method consumed a great deal of Chakra, and Kamiya Keiyun could only use it twice.

He did not know that Konoha had a technique like this called the Body Flicker Technique. Instead, he had given this footwork a name of his own: Walking Step.

Walking Step, also known as Stepping on the Dipper, was a Daoist footwork used to invoke deities, gather qi, and suppress evil.

Kamiya Keiyun thought that if this repulsive force could become even stronger and affect the air, then perhaps he could tread on the Seven Stars and ascend straight into Yunxiao. At that point, the name Walking Step would truly fit.

But the molecular density of earth and walls was high, while the molecular density of air was low. To achieve that, his Chakra control would have to reach the level where he could precisely grasp the molecules in the air.

As for the attractive force, Kamiya Keiyun had not thought of any practical combat use for it. It could only be used for climbing walls and trees. He had tried to develop moves like controlling cranes and capturing dragons, but failed. Perhaps his Chakra reserves were too small, limiting the distance he could affect.

Besides the Bright Virtue Method, Basic Leg Techniques 1.0, and Listen to Sound, Perceive Reason, Kamiya Keiyun began pondering how he could kill a Jonin.

He had never fought a Jonin before. If he simply assumed things and went to assassinate one, only to misjudge their combat strength, that would be a disaster!

But there were no Jonin in his family, and he did not know any Jonin either. He could hardly ask the Third Hokage for a spar!

In class, the teacher was still lecturing. The students below were still distracted, while Kakashi still wore a cold expression and continued reading.

As Kamiya Keiyun watched him, he suddenly remembered that Hatake Sakumo was a Jonin—and he happened to have some connection to his desk mate.

If he used Kakashi's connection to ask Hatake Sakumo for a spar and get a feel for a Jonin's combat strength, would that work?

"Kakashi, Kakashi?" Kamiya Keiyun called softly.

"What is it?" Kakashi asked irritably.

He did not think much of his desk mate, mainly because Kamiya Keiyun lacked self-awareness.

There were plenty of people in class who slept or zoned out every day, but who were they? Clan children!

That pineapple-headed kid might sleep in class, but he came from the Nara Clan. His clan had all sorts of inheritances; he only attended the Ninja Academy because village rules required it.

What clan did you, Kamiya Keiyun, come from that you thought you could sleep too?

Still, they were classmates, and as someone from the Hatake Clan, he possessed the proper manners.

"Um, I wanted to ask—Hatake Sakumo, is he from your clan? You know, Konoha's White Fang!" Kamiya Keiyun asked.

Kakashi's face darkened. "What do you mean? Are you here to provoke me too?"

"Huh? No!" Kamiya Keiyun was baffled. "No, I know the village's public opinion of him isn't good, but I personally have no issue with Lord Hatake Sakumo. I don't think what he did was wrong either. So, Kakashi, don't misunderstand me. I just wanted to ask—"

"You think he was right?" Kakashi's voice abruptly rose.

"Hm?" Umino Iruka stopped lecturing. Seeing that it was Kakashi again, he involuntarily raised a hand to his forehead.

This had become common over the past few days. News about Hatake Sakumo had begun spreading through the school, and quite a few children openly discussed their opinions on the matter.

Kakashi's feelings were complicated. On one hand, he wanted to support his father. On the other, he felt that village rules ought to be obeyed.

The result was that he would beat up anyone who supported his father—and beat up anyone who slandered his father even more.

As a result, Kakashi had originally just been a much-hyped genius, but now his combat strength had won recognition from many people.

After all, they had all been beaten into submission!

"Um, Kakashi, it's class time. You really shouldn't argue. Everyone is still listening to the lesson!" Umino Iruka said.

"It's fine. Missing one lesson doesn't matter. Kamiya Keiyun, are you challenging Kakashi? I support you!" Uchiha Obito shouted. He was not familiar with Kamiya Keiyun at all, but he supported anyone who opposed Kakashi.

Kamiya Keiyun was speechless. He said quietly, "We'll talk after class!"

"Hmph!" Kakashi turned away and continued reading.

"What a shame." Obito shook his head and sat down as well. Why had they not started fighting?

After class, Kakashi was the first one out. Just as Kamiya Keiyun tried to follow him, Inuzuka Hana grabbed him.

"What are you doing? Are you crazy? Is Kakashi someone you can challenge?" Inuzuka Hana shouted.

"What challenge? I'm just going to talk to him," Kamiya Keiyun said.

"Really?" Inuzuka Hana thought for a moment, then suddenly pulled a little puppy from her desk.

"Holy crap, how can you bring a dog to school?" Kamiya Keiyun was startled.

"What dog? This is a Ninja Dog from our Inuzuka Clan. His name is Gumaru!" Inuzuka Hana whispered. "If Kakashi wants to hit you, call Gumaru."

"Can Gumaru help me fight?" Kamiya Keiyun hurriedly asked. So Konoha actually had a Beast Taming System?

He had barely paid attention to it before, but it was not too late. He would have to catch up on lessons in that area later.

"How could he? Gumaru is still little!" Inuzuka Hana rolled her eyes at Kamiya Keiyun. "But you can have Gumaru call us over, so you won't get hit as much!"

"From the sound of it, this Kakashi is pretty fierce?" Kamiya Keiyun asked. Why had she already assumed he would be the one getting beaten?

"Are you kidding? He's Hatake Kakashi!" Inuzuka Hana shoved Gumaru into Kamiya Keiyun's arms.

Kamiya Keiyun lowered his head. In his previous life, he had never been in a position to keep a dog. He only knew German shepherds and mutts, so naturally, he had no idea what breed this dog was.

But the dog's eyes were remarkably lively. Its IQ was clearly not low.

What if I kind of want one?

But Kamiya Keiyun wanted a cat more. His family was poor, after all, and dogs ate far too much. Cats could even go out and find food for themselves.

Besides, although everyone said dogs were loyal, cats were actually much more loyal than dogs. Dogs could easily accept a new owner; adult dogs bought from the market generally had no issues.

But cats were different. People raised them from when they were young, and grown cats generally would not betray their families either. Even if you sold one, as long as it knew the way, it would run back.

And besides, what if Beast Taming creatures could take human form? Wouldn't a catgirl be a little better than a dog girl?

In the small woods behind the school building, thick trees grew everywhere, and there were quite a few half-height Wooden Stakes planted around. They bore marks from being struck, and some had already been dented.

Kamiya Keiyun had never come here before and had not noticed that there was actually a free Training Ground here!

He could come here to train in the future.

Kakashi leaned against the wall at an angle. Seeing the puppy in Kamiya Keiyun's arms, he curled his lip and said nothing—yet it was as though he had said everything.

"Inuzuka Hana forced him on me! Besides, I didn't come here to fight you!" Kamiya Keiyun said irritably. "I'm looking for Hatake Sakumo, not you. What are you acting so smug for? At most, be an introducer. I'll pay you whatever you want!"

Kakashi's expression became even stranger. "You don't know that Hatake Sakumo is my father?"

"Huh?" Kamiya Keiyun froze, and the words in his heart caught in his throat.

Holy crap, Hatake Sakumo is your dad? No wonder you've been as explosive as a firecracker these past few days.

"Uh, well, I really didn't know," Kamiya Keiyun said awkwardly. He did not even know how to continue.

"If you want to insult my father to his face, then save it. There are already plenty of people insulting him. He doesn't need one more!" Kakashi said coldly.

"Hey, when did I say I wanted to insult him? Didn't I just say that I don't think there was anything wrong with what he did?" Kamiya Keiyun said. "Think about it. If it were you and me on a team, and I got captured, then if you didn't abandon the mission, I would be killed. What would you choose?"

"This..." Kakashi fell silent. Wasn't that exactly what he had been struggling over?

He had been reading about the Will of Fire day and night. On one hand, it was for the exams; on the other, he wanted to find an answer in those books.

But although the books spoke so decisively, and countless ninja predecessors had bravely sacrificed themselves for the village and their missions—

When he placed himself in that situation, he realized how difficult the choice truly was!

"Do you think a ninja can abandon a mission for their companions?" Kakashi asked, then immediately realized something was wrong. "But the Will of Fire clearly says—"

"There is no contradiction here!" Kamiya Keiyun interrupted him. "Following the Will of Fire and carrying out a mission are not contradictory things!"

"But what about my father? Abandoning a companion or abandoning a mission—how do you choose? Isn't that a contradiction?" Kakashi asked. "On one side is the village; on the other is a companion. No matter which side you protect, it follows the Will of Fire. No matter which side you abandon, it betrays the Will of Fire!"

"But there is a way to have the best of both worlds!" Kamiya Keiyun said. "The ninja who was captured sacrifices himself."

"Hm?" Kakashi froze.

"He sacrifices himself to fulfill the village's needs, thereby practicing the Will of Fire. Your father does not need to abandon the mission, preserving the village's interests, and he can avenge his companion as well. He is also practicing the Will of Fire!" Kamiya Keiyun said. "Isn't that the best of both worlds?"

"Uh..." Kakashi was stunned. There was actually such a solution?

It sounded perfectly reasonable!

But, but...

"How can we demand that a companion give up their life for a mission?" Kakashi muttered.

"It isn't us demanding it. He chooses to give it up himself!" Kamiya Keiyun shook his head. "If every ninja loved the village more than themselves, if everyone were willing to give their life for the village, then it would not be a demand at all. It would be a fearless spirit of sacrifice!"

"This..." Kakashi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his mind had gone blank.

Right—a fearless spirit of sacrifice. Wasn't that what the Will of Fire advocated? Where the leaves danced, the fire burned on!

So his father was not wrong. His father absolutely had the resolve to sacrifice himself for the village. It was his teammate who had been wrong!

"The Will of Fire is absolutely not about making others sacrifice themselves. It is about sacrificing yourself for the greater good!" Kamiya Keiyun said. "That is why I support your father!"