The Power of the Sharingan

"Kakashi, let's spar. I've learned a bit of swordsmanship lately."

After taking only a few steps outside, Kiyoshi turned to Kakashi and said.

Running into Orochimaru and Tsunade had been purely accidental.

He had not forgotten why he had come today—to see whether he could trigger a trait.

Konoha White Fang had become famous throughout the Shinobi World with a single short blade, and Minato Namikaze had personally said that even the Three Sannin admired him.

That alone said something about Hatake Sakumo's strength.

The swordsmanship he used was likely nothing ordinary either.

As for whether Hatake Sakumo's swordsmanship was self-created or a secret sword style passed down through generations of the Hatake family, no one knew.

"Okay."

Kakashi hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.

His mind was a complete mess right now.

Sparring with swords would be a good way to throw all those distracting thoughts aside.

He stopped walking and headed elsewhere, saying he needed to get his short blade.

"I have one."

Kiyoshi drew the kodachi from his back.

"Not wooden ones?"

"No."

Kiyoshi shook his head.

Wooden practice weapons felt completely different from iron ones.

Once he got used to one, he would have to spend time adapting to the other. It was better to use a kodachi from the start.

Kakashi was a genius. He would not actually hurt him.

And with the Sharingan, Kiyoshi was not someone easily injured either. Besides, he would not hurt Kakashi.

"Fine."

Seeing that Kiyoshi insisted, Kakashi climbed through another window and came back out with a short blade.

Kiyoshi glanced at it casually. The blade was entirely white, smooth yet carrying a faint metallic texture. He had no idea what metal it was made from.

This definitely was not a weapon he could afford.

Even the kodachi in his hand was secondhand, and it was a very small blade at that.

It was not that Kiyoshi did not want to buy a larger one, but every extra inch came with an extra inch of price.

Kiyoshi's finances did not support such extravagance.

"Let's begin."

Kakashi and Kiyoshi arrived at a relatively open area of the courtyard.

"Okay."

Kiyoshi nodded.

The moment the words fell—

Kakashi had already drawn his blade and rushed forward.

The blade sliced through the air, carrying a sharp whistle of wind.

Kiyoshi's gaze sharpened as he swiftly raised his hand and swung his blade to block.

The strike was fast, but the training and traits he had gained lately had improved his physical condition considerably. He could at least handle it.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sounds of short blades colliding echoed through the courtyard. Faint flashes occasionally burst forth between the clashing edges, only to vanish amid the next swing.

Kiyoshi frowned deeply. Kakashi's swordsmanship truly was impressive.

Compared to Kiyoshi's immature swordsmanship, Kakashi pressed forward step by step, his movements precise and swift, without a single unnecessary opening.

Even if I don't trigger a trait, it'll still be good to identify and make up for my weaknesses.

Kiyoshi thought to himself.

His Physical Energy was better than Kakashi's. Even if his movements wasted more time and strength, the Yagura Clan's talent and the bonuses from his traits allowed him to contend with Kakashi for a while through sheer endurance.

It was also a perfect chance to find out where his shortcomings lay.

Inside the house.

"That guy, he actually left without saying hello..."

Shizune secretly watched Kiyoshi leave.

Last time, she had stared at Kiyoshi out of curiosity for too long and ended up being noticed by him.

That experience had left a deep impression of Kiyoshi on Shizune.

"He's looking more and more like one."

Shizune murmured softly.

In just this short time, Shizune could already tell that Kiyoshi had grown quite a bit taller.

With a kodachi on his back, he happened to cover the Uchiha Clan's Flame War Fan crest.

He was getting closer and closer to the dark-skinned Kumogakure shinobi she had imagined.

The only differences were that Kiyoshi's skin was not quite as dark, and his lips were not as thick.

"What are you spacing out over?"

Tsunade's words snapped Shizune back to her senses.

"My apologies, Lady Tsunade."

"You should go out too. The rest is for just us."

Tsunade's expression gradually turned serious.

She looked at Shizune.

The fewer people who knew about this, the safer it was. If shinobi learned too much unnecessary information, it could instead harm them.

"Yes... Lady Tsunade."

Shizune hurriedly packed the Sealing Scrolls into her bag, then lowered her head and left.

"Heh heh, how young."

Orochimaru opened his mouth, his jaw stretching at an exaggerated angle as he spat out a scroll covered in slime from his throat.

"Orochimaru, don't be disgusting like an actual snake!"

Tsunade spoke with clear disgust.

"Alright, Sakumo. Let's discuss business."

Outside the courtyard, Shizune hurried out.

She had been planning to wander around nearby when a crisp series of clashing blades suddenly caught her attention.

"What are Kiyoshi and Kakashi doing?"

She looked up. Through the wooden fence around the courtyard, she could see Kiyoshi and Kakashi in the distance.

"Kakashi's father is the legendary White Fang, Konoha's own White Fang. Kiyoshi is actually competing with Kakashi in swordsmanship?"

Shizune was surprised.

She and Kiyoshi were in the same class as well.

But Shizune usually kept a low profile.

Ever since her uncle Dan Katō died, Lady Tsunade had kept her by her side.

As far as she remembered, Kiyoshi had never sparred with Kakashi. The only time he had fought someone was when he defeated that dead-last Obito.

Shizune grew interested and walked toward the two of them.

A few minutes later.

A thin sheen of sweat had formed on Kiyoshi's forehead.

His endurance was indeed good.

If they had been using wooden swords, he would not even have felt tired yet.

But the kodachi in his hand was a real blade forged from iron, and it was not light.

"Kakashi, your swordsmanship is good. Then I'll have to get serious too."

Kiyoshi closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his left eye had turned scarlet, red as if it were dripping blood.

A single tomoe slowly revolved within it.

Kakashi's movements instantly became much slower in Kiyoshi's eyes.

It was like a nimble Flying Bird plunging into a viscous liquid. Every flap of its wings met resistance, slowing its movements.

The instant the Sharingan opened, Kakashi's movements paused slightly as he thought:

The Sharingan.

There were several Uchiha in the other classes too, but only Kiyoshi had awakened his eyes.

Only a small number of Uchiha Clan shinobi could awaken the Sharingan.

This was Kakashi's first time facing an Uchiha with the Sharingan.

He tightened his grip around the hilt, wanting to win with speed.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The blades in their hands collided without pause.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, his expression gradually turning grave.

After several exchanges, Kiyoshi gradually shifted from passive defense to active offense.

The exchanges that followed became completely different.

Every strike Kakashi made seemed to be precisely anticipated by Kiyoshi. The rhythm that had just been effortless for him was gradually thrown into disarray.

Clang!

Kiyoshi seized Kakashi's brief opening and countered with a slash. His blade scraped across Kakashi's short blade, producing a sharp metallic hum.

Kakashi took a step back. His grip tightened slightly around his weapon, and his expression was no longer relaxed.

"So that's how it is. The Sharingan can not only see through an enemy's movements, it can even elevate the user's reactions to another level..."

"That's right. This is the power of the Sharingan."

Kiyoshi nodded.

Once the Sharingan was awakened, the user's perception would be enhanced.