The Tall Tree Catches the Wind

He spoke modestly, but he knew perfectly well that he needed this explanation.

Thunder Breathing could not simply appear out of nowhere, nor could the Demon Slayer Corps' swordsmanship experience be openly displayed.

So it needed a reasonable origin.

The Senju family's swordsmanship insights, the Lightning Body-Tempering Technique given by the Third Hokage, Hatake Sakumo's Kendo guidance, and his own so-called talent for insight.

Put together, these things could conveniently cloak Thunder Breathing and its accompanying swordsmanship in the guise of the Shinobi World.

Most importantly, Hatake Sakumo had personally watched him "experiment bit by bit."

If anyone asked in the future, even the White Fang of the Leaf could vouch for him.

This set of Lightning-Attribute Ninja Swordsmanship had been developed by Fang Xu himself, drawing on the experience of those who came before him.

Hatake Sakumo smiled and shook his head.

"No need to be so modest."

"Drawing on the experience of others and truly integrating it into something of your own are two different things."

"Many ninja spend their entire lives studying scrolls and can only follow them mechanically."

"To fuse lightning, the body, breathing, and swordsmanship to this extent is already remarkable."

Fang Xu nodded seriously.

"Still, this swordsmanship is very rough."

"The lightning coating is not stable enough, and both its burst power and endurance need adjustment."

"Some movements look smooth, but they might not work in actual combat."

Hatake Sakumo was even more satisfied after hearing that.

Being able to create a prototype and still see its flaws—that was the rarest thing of all.

He patted Fang Xu on the shoulder.

"If you have any questions about Lightning-Attribute Ninja Swordsmanship in the future, ask me directly."

"I have a little experience in that area."

Fang Xu immediately replied.

"Teacher, you are being far too modest."

"The White Fang of the Leaf's Lightning-Attribute Ninja Swordsmanship has swept across the Shinobi World."

"Ninja from enemy villages probably cannot sleep soundly at night after hearing your name."

Hatake Sakumo did not know whether to laugh or cry at the flattery.

Kakashi stood nearby. At first, when he heard Fang Xu praising Hatake Sakumo, he had tried to remain calm.

But as he listened, his one visible eye gradually lit up.

Fang Xu was right. His father had always been strong.

The name White Fang of the Leaf had not been praised into existence by others. His father had carved it out one slash at a time.

Kakashi raised his chin, his voice carrying a rare hint of pride.

"Fang Xu got it right this time."

Hatake Sakumo glanced at him.

Kakashi continued, "Father is one of the strongest ninja to begin with."

Fang Xu immediately nodded.

"That is what I think too."

"There truly are not many strong people in the Shinobi World who can surpass Teacher."

He spoke with complete sincerity, not as though he were merely flattering him.

"In swordsmanship, Teacher stands at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World."

"In actual combat, Teacher earned his reputation through bloodshed on the battlefield. Ninja from enemy villages grow wary the moment they hear the four words White Fang of the Leaf."

"In terms of seniority and prestige, there are not many people in the village who can compare to Teacher."

Kakashi felt even better hearing that. He liked those words.

When people used to praise him as a genius, he had never felt much about it.

But when others praised his father, he was happier than if he himself had been praised.

So Kakashi directly added one more sentence.

"Father is even stronger than the Hokage."

Smack!

The moment the words left his mouth, Hatake Sakumo's hand landed on Kakashi's forehead.

It was not a hard knock, but it rang out crisply.

Kakashi covered his forehead, completely stunned for a moment.

"Father?"

The smile on Hatake Sakumo's face vanished.

He looked at Kakashi, his tone far more serious than before.

"You are not allowed to say that again."

Kakashi frowned.

"I was only telling the truth."

"Even the truth cannot be said carelessly."

Hatake Sakumo lowered his voice.

"Especially words comparing me to the Hokage."

"If you say it at home, at most I will knock you on the head."

"If someone with ulterior motives hears it, it will not be something that can be brushed aside as the innocent words of a child."

Kakashi still wanted to speak, but Hatake Sakumo's gaze silenced him.

Hatake Sakumo then looked at Fang Xu.

This time, he looked at him for longer.

"Fang Xu, you too."

"You are very smart. You should understand that some things cannot be said carelessly."

"The title White Fang of the Leaf was given to me by the village, and it was also given to me by my enemies."

"But it must never be compared with the Hokage."

Fang Xu did not argue. He nodded.

"Teacher is right."

Hatake Sakumo had just been about to let the matter pass when Fang Xu continued, "Precisely because Teacher is right, I am even more worried."

Hatake Sakumo's brow twitched slightly.

Kakashi lowered the hand covering his forehead and looked at Fang Xu as well.

Fang Xu was no longer smiling. He looked at Hatake Sakumo, his voice steady.

"The tall tree catches the wind."

Kakashi froze.

"What does that mean?"

Fang Xu explained, "When a tree grows too tall, the wind will be the first to strike it."

"People are the same."

"If a ninja is merely strong, everyone will admire him."

"But if he is so strong and so prestigious that many people compare him to the Hokage, or even think he is more suited to stand at the forefront of the village than the Hokage, then it is no longer simple glory."

"It is a hidden danger."

The courtyard fell silent.

Kakashi was thoroughly confused.

Wasn't his father being strong a good thing?

Wasn't it also a good thing that the village's ninja respected his father?

Why did it become trouble when Fang Xu put it that way?

He could not understand it at all, but Hatake Sakumo understood, and he understood clearly.

Fang Xu's words were no longer the ordinary admiration of a child for a strong person.

He was talking about power.

About prestige, about the position of Hokage.

Hatake Sakumo looked at Fang Xu, his expression becoming more serious.

"Go on."

Fang Xu understood in his heart that this was the opportunity he had been waiting for.

He had taken Hatake Sakumo as his teacher not merely to learn swordsmanship.

More importantly, he did not want this teacher of his to walk that suffocating, miserable path to death again.

Someone like Danzo would never let the White Fang of the Leaf go.

Nor would the Third Hokage remain free of misgivings forever.

If he did not warn him now, it might be too late to change things later.

Fang Xu said, "Teacher, since you knocked Kakashi on the forehead, that means you actually understand your own situation."

"Then I would like to ask one thing."

"Since you understand, why do you not make changes?"

Kakashi grew even more bewildered.

"Change what?"

No one answered him.

Hatake Sakumo looked at Fang Xu.

"What do you think I should change?"

Fang Xu did not beat around the bush.

"Change your current state of fighting for nothing and guarding against nothing."

"Teacher is the village's hero. You also have prestige in the Anbu, and there is no need to mention your battlefield achievements."

"People in the village are already supporting you to become the Fourth Hokage in the future."

"That kind of talk may seem glorious, but it may not be a good thing for you."

Hatake Sakumo did not speak immediately.

But Kakashi could not hold back.

"Why is it not a good thing?"

"If Father is truly strong and people support him becoming Hokage, isn't that perfectly normal?"

Fang Xu glanced at him.

"Kakashi, becoming Hokage is not simply about who is strongest."

Kakashi frowned.

"Then who can become Hokage?"

Fang Xu said, "Someone who can put most people at ease."

Kakashi understood even less.

"What is there about Father that would make people uneasy?"