Shizune's Shock

When his insight was sharp enough, he could perceive Chakra Flow and then try to copy other ninjas' jutsu.

Bang!

The blades collided again, their crisp clash echoing through the courtyard.

Kiyoshi deflected the blade with the motion, then gave it a forceful jolt, driving Kakashi back several steps.

There was no special technique to it—just overwhelming brute force.

Kiyoshi used Cloud-Style: Flying Bird to activate the cells around his wrist.

Thanks to his first green entry, Lightning Release Genin, his affinity for lightning had increased by 20%. This allowed Kiyoshi to gather more Lightning Release Chakra around his wrist before using Cloud-Style: Flying Bird.

Outwardly, it manifested as speed boosting power, making every strike hit harder!

Under the tremendous force, Kakashi's short sword gave a sharp crack and snapped in two. Its tip flew helplessly to the ground.

"It broke."

Kakashi still held the broken blade in a blocking stance, sweat sliding from his temple down his cheek.

Kiyoshi slowly sheathed his sword. As he did, he noticed the blade had curled slightly and silently decided it needed maintenance.

You have comprehended the entry: Friendly Sparring (White).

Entry: Friendly Sparring (White)

Requirement: Defeat Kakashi Hatake with swordsmanship.

Progress: (Completed).

Effect: When using swordsmanship, Chakra consumption is reduced by 10%.

The familiar voice of the Entry System rang out.

Kiyoshi felt somewhat comforted.

At least he had gained a new entry.

The sword had not been damaged for nothing. Spending a little money on maintenance would do.

After all, opportunities to gain entries were rare.

"Do you need me to pay for your sword..."

Kiyoshi asked.

If Kakashi demanded compensation, Kiyoshi could only put it off for now.

Kakashi shook his head, sheathing the broken sword as he said,

"No need. It was a training sword to begin with."

"All right, then."

Kiyoshi could only say that Kakashi was loaded.

After all, Kakashi had a good father.

Having completed so many missions, there was no way he could be short on money.

Kakashi lowered his head and stared at the broken blade fragments on the ground, seemingly lost in thought.

Seeing this, Kiyoshi walked over step by step and lightly patted Kakashi's shoulder.

"Kakashi, do you know why you lost?"

"Because you have the Sharingan. Another factor is that this sword has been used for training too long. It was probably already close to breaking."

"...

Kiyoshi realized that before going dark, Kakashi's personality was somewhat sharp-tongued.

"No. It's because your heart is in turmoil. They say that when Lord Sakumo used swordsmanship, there would be a layer of white light on his blade. But your white light... I didn't see it."

Kakashi's eyes flickered for a moment. He said nothing, remaining silent as though he had buried all his emotions deep inside.

Kiyoshi looked at him and said,

"I'm not trying to poke at your wounds. I just want to say that this isn't your fault. Don't let those rumors influence you."

If he kept wallowing like this, how was I supposed to reliably trigger more entries?

Kiyoshi only hoped Kakashi could become stronger with a more positive mindset.

After all, the entry related to White Fang Swordsmanship had yet to appear.

He only had the Friendly Sparring entry, whose effect reduced Chakra consumption by 10%.

Kiyoshi was very satisfied with this entry.

Swordsmanship was like taijutsu. Some moves required Chakra, while others did not.

However, the more powerful the taijutsu or swordsmanship, the more inseparable it was from Chakra. For example, the Eight Gates Formation allowed its user to break the limits imposed by the "gates" that controlled and suppressed Chakra Flow within the body, generating massive amounts of Chakra to strengthen the body and unleash taijutsu beyond the limits of a normal human body.

With this entry, if one of Kiyoshi's slashes required 10% of his Chakra, others could only swing ten times, while he could slash once more.

And it could be upgraded. He wondered just how much Chakra consumption it would reduce at its peak.

"Keep it up."

Kiyoshi said.

Kakashi still did not speak. He merely pressed his lips together and nodded slightly.

He knew Kiyoshi was right, but the village's attitude toward his father truly left Kakashi confused.

He had even begun to think that perhaps missions really were more important than comrades.

"Let's stop here for today."

Kiyoshi stepped back a few paces and raised the Kodachi sheathed at his waist.

"Next time we train, you'll have to break my sword. That'll make it fair."

Strictly speaking, this battle did not count as Kiyoshi's victory.

Kakashi's sword had merely broken, and he himself had no fighting spirit, so he had simply conceded.

Once Kakashi became obsessed, things would be hard to say.

At that moment, Shizune was still watching the two of them from outside the courtyard.

A few strands of her short black hair rested against her cheeks.

"Kiyoshi is this strong?"

Shizune remembered that when she had first accompanied Lady Tsunade to diagnose Kiyoshi, he had merely been an ordinary person who knew nothing.

He had only been lucky enough to awaken the Sharingan.

How long had it been? He could already fight Kakashi, and it even looked as though he had the upper hand?

"As expected, the Uchiha Clan produces elites."

Shizune sighed.

Of course, she silently excluded a certain perennial dead last.

The next day.

News of Hatake Sakumo had already spread through the Ninja Academy.

"Are you okay, Kakashi?"

Rin Nohara was the first to find Kakashi, wanting to comfort him.

"I'm fine."

Kakashi's dead-fish eyes looked even more lifeless than usual. Clearly, he had already heard plenty of condemnation and insults directed at his father on the way here.

"Are you really okay..."

Rin Nohara looked worried. She wanted to do something for Kakashi, but she did not know what she could do.

"What are you talking about?"

Obito looked confused.

If he had not been frequently training with Kiyoshi, Rin Nohara, and Kakashi recently, collapsing into bed every night and overcoming his habit of dozing off in class during the day, he would still be sprawled across his desk asleep right now.

"You don't know, Obito?"

Rin Nohara looked at Obito in confusion.

How could Obito be so poorly informed?

"I don't."

Obito shook his head innocently. What was he supposed to know?

"You two talk."

Kakashi rose from his desk and walked over to Kiyoshi.

"Kiyoshi, do you have time to spar with swords again today?"

"I do."

Kiyoshi nodded.

"Kakashi, Kiyoshi already promised me."

Kurenai Yuhi, who was sitting in the lower-left corner, immediately turned around and glared, puffing out her cheeks.

She had gained quite a lot during this period.

In order to defeat Kiyoshi, she would even deliberately train for a while at home after returning.

"It'll be quick."

Kiyoshi said.

It did not matter if the two cash machines ran in parallel.

Sword sparring would not take much time anyway. He could just delay Kurenai Yuhi's session for a bit.

"Kakashi..."

Watching Kakashi go speak with Kiyoshi, Rin Nohara pressed her lower lip between her teeth.

"I have to... I have to do something for Kakashi."

Rin Nohara's gaze fell upon Kiyoshi, who sat in front of Kakashi, and she had an idea.

Since Kakashi could seek out Kiyoshi, it meant that he enjoyed getting along with him.

If it was Kiyoshi, he would surely know how to comfort Kakashi.