A few seconds later, she reached out and picked up the file.
The first page contained Fang Xu's basic information.
The second page traced his family lineage.
The third page held observation records from the past week.
The more Tsunade read, the deeper her frown grew.
"Lightning Activation Nintaijutsu?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
"No teacher taught him, and he had no access to the Hidden Cloud's secret techniques. He worked it out himself."
Tsunade flipped to the later pages.
"He sparred with Kakashi and fought him to a draw?"
This time, a hint of interest finally entered her voice.
Of course she had heard of Kakashi Hatake.
Hatake Sakumo's son, a renowned genius in Konoha.
Fighting Kakashi to a draw at six years old was already beyond what an ordinary child should have been capable of.
Not to mention that Fang Xu had only recently begun showing such explosive progress.
Tsunade stared at the file for a long while, then suddenly sneered.
"So now you're getting anxious?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing.
Tsunade closed the file and pressed her palm heavily against the desk.
"He only just became Sakumo's student, and you already want me involved too."
"A Senju descendant, Lightning Nintaijutsu, a talent for Kendo."
"Old man, you've certainly got it all worked out."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"Tsunade, Konoha needs talented children to grow into their own."
"Don't use Konoha to pressure me."
Tsunade cut him off outright.
"I can go meet him."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze shifted.
Tsunade held up one finger.
"But I won't take him as a student right away."
"If he really has what it takes and passes my test, I'll give him something worthwhile."
"I won't shortchange a descendant of the Senju."
At that, her voice abruptly sank.
"But remember this."
"Fang Xu is only six."
"If you dare drag a six-year-old child into your little power struggles, don't blame me for turning on you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at her.
"I won't harm him."
Tsunade snorted, rose, and left.
The office door opened, then closed again.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, tapping the file lightly with his fingers.
Things had not gone entirely as he had expected.
Tsunade refused to take a student.
But she was willing to meet Fang Xu, and that was enough.
As long as that Senju bloodline provided a link, Fang Xu would eventually form a connection with Tsunade.
And Tsunade was his student.
Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his pipe again, his expression slowly easing.
There was no hurry.
Sooner or later, this child would join my faction.
When the dismissal bell rang, the students in the Ninja Academy came alive all at once.
Fang Xu closed his textbook and put his notes into his schoolbag.
Looking at his neatly organized notes, Kurenai Yuhi could not help saying, "You've really changed a lot lately."
Fang Xu looked up.
"Have I?"
"Yes."
Kurenai Yuhi nodded earnestly.
"You used to pay attention in class, but you were never this focused."
"Now you hardly ever get distracted in class, you fill in your notes afterward, and you're training so much harder than before."
She paused, her voice lowering a little.
"And it's only been a little over a week, but the speed you learn things is already frightening."
Fang Xu smiled.
"Maybe I suddenly figured things out."
Kurenai Yuhi looked at him without pressing further.
She could sense that Fang Xu really did have many more secrets now.
But that was not a bad thing.
At least the Fang Xu of today worked harder than before and was more dependable.
Rin Nohara turned around from the row ahead and asked with a smile, "Fang Xu, are you going to train again today?"
"Yeah."
Fang Xu slung on his schoolbag and looked toward the window.
"Kakashi, let's go."
Kakashi stood and secured the Short Sword on his back.
"Don't dawdle."
Everyone around them froze.
Obito had just woken up and was rubbing his eyes, but those words snapped him wide awake.
"What?"
"You two are leaving together?"
Asuma frowned too.
"When did you two get so close?"
Rin Nohara was a little surprised as well.
Before yesterday, Fang Xu and Kakashi had been ordinary classmates at most.
But now, no matter how she looked at it, the way they spoke to each other was nothing like ordinary classmates.
Kurenai Yuhi also looked at Fang Xu.
"Where are you going?"
Fang Xu did not hide it.
"To the Hatake Residence, to learn swordsmanship from Master Sakumo."
"Master Sakumo?"
Obito's voice shot up.
"You became Kakashi's dad's student?"
Kakashi glanced at him.
"Is that so strange?"
Obito opened his mouth.
Strange? It was far too strange.
He had been arguing with Kakashi for so many years, yet he had never gone to the Hatake Family to learn swordsmanship.
Fang Xu had only emerged a few days ago, so how had he already become Hatake Sakumo's student?
Asuma's gaze grew complicated as he looked at Fang Xu.
He had only apologized yesterday and had been planning to win back his pride fair and square in the next assessment.
Yet Fang Xu had turned around and become the White Fang of the Leaf's student.
The pressure had suddenly mounted.
Kurenai Yuhi, on the other hand, was happy for Fang Xu.
"Then do your best."
"Don't worry."
Fang Xu waved to her.
"See you tomorrow."
Kakashi had already reached the door. He turned back and urged, "If you don't hurry, Father will have to wait for you."
Fang Xu followed him.
The two left the classroom side by side.
Watching their retreating figures, Obito's mouth twitched.
"Damn it, when did that guy Kakashi start hanging around with Fang Xu?"
Rin Nohara said softly, "Maybe it's because they both work so hard."
Obito immediately straightened his back.
"Rin, I work hard too!"
Kurenai Yuhi looked toward the doorway, but her mind was still on the changes Fang Xu had undergone over the past few days.
Just a little over a week.
Lightning Release, Taijutsu, swordsmanship, his ability to learn-all of them were surging upward as though floodgates had opened.
Fang Xu really was different from before.
The Hatake Residence was not luxurious, but it was very clean.
The courtyard had a dedicated training ground with firmly packed, level earth, and wooden posts and weapon racks stood along its edges.
After entering, Fang Xu first bowed to Hatake Sakumo.
"Master."
Hatake Sakumo nodded with a smile.
"You're here."
Kakashi greeted him too. "Father."
Hatake Sakumo led them to the back courtyard, casually took two bamboo swords from the rack, and tossed one to each of them.
Fang Xu caught his bamboo sword.
Kakashi caught his firmly as well.
Hatake Sakumo looked at Fang Xu.
"You taught yourself from those notes and managed to grasp a little of the basics. That's very good."
"But the greatest danger in Kendo is a flawed foundation."
"Get it wrong once, and you'll spend ten times as long correcting it later."
Fang Xu immediately stood straight.
"Please guide me, Master."
Hatake Sakumo then looked at Kakashi.
"The same goes for you."
Kakashi froze.
"I have to practice the basics too?"
"Of course."
Hatake Sakumo's tone was gentle, but left no room for negotiation.
"The basics aren't something only beginners practice."
"The further you want to go, the more you have to keep refining them."
"I won't be teaching you killing moves today."
"Grip, stance, footwork, generating force, breathing, distance."
"We'll start with the simplest things."
Kakashi did not argue again.
Fang Xu was even less inclined to argue.
He knew all too well what he lacked.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit gave him a very high ceiling, and Lightning Mode gave him powerful bursts of strength.
But when it came to pure Kendo, he was a novice.