[Consumed 100 Valor Points] [Swordsmanship level 1 upgraded to swordsmanship level 2]
The instant the notifications appeared, countless insights into swordsmanship flooded Cangyue's mind.
Gripping, exerting force, moving, blocking, changing techniques.
Attack range, blade angles, shifting his center of gravity, coordinating two swords.
This knowledge did not simply surface in his memories. It rapidly settled into something close to instinct.
In the past, when Cangyue saw a falling leaf, he would only judge which direction to cut it from.
Now, a single glance told him its speed, its trajectory, and the subtle effects of the wind upon it.
Where the blade should enter.
How far his wrist needed to turn.
How much strength to use.
And how to follow through with the second sword.
Everything was crystal clear.
Cangyue slowly opened his eyes and reached for the sword hilts behind him.
Clang!
The Flame and Thunder Swords slid from their sheaths together.
Black flames rose, and lightning danced.
As the flame sword attacked, the thunder sword naturally cut off the escape route.
When the thunder sword thrust forward, the flame sword was already poised for a follow-up slash.
In his hands, the two swords with utterly different attributes did not interfere with each other. Instead, they worked together in seamless harmony.
Swordsmanship level 1 had taught him to wield two swords.
Swordsmanship level 2 made those swords truly part of his body.
Cangyue turned his wrists lightly.
The Flame and Thunder Swords became two crossing streaks of light.
Swish!
A leaf that had just drifted down from a branch silently split into four pieces, its cut edges as smooth as mirrors.
Cangyue sheathed his swords, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"A sword has two edges, but a man has only one heart."
"The way of twin swords lies not in dividing the mind, but in uniting heart and blade."
Once he said it aloud, even Cangyue thought it sounded pretty profound.
He had no idea what it actually meant, but it certainly sounded convincing.
Swordsmanship level 2, achieved.
But he did not let it go to his head.
"The path of the sword is long. Today, I have merely glimpsed its threshold."
He glanced up at the steadily rising sun.
"It's getting late. Time to head to the docks and grab some fries."
As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion broke out nearby.
"The demon fox thinks he can play here?"
"Get lost!"
"You're not welcome here!"
Cangyue frowned slightly and looked toward the voices.
Several children around the same age had gathered beneath a tree, shoving the lone figure in their midst.
Short blond hair.
Six whisker-like marks on his face.
Who else could it be but Naruto?
"What the fuck?"
Cangyue nearly lost his air of lofty mastery.
He had barely finished upgrading his swordsmanship, and already he had stumbled upon bullying?
As expected of Konoha's villagers. They inherited the Will of Bullying from childhood.
Despite knowing Naruto was the "demon fox" they spoke of, they still dared to walk up and shove him.
Being afraid of something while deliberately provoking it showed a certain scientific spirit-a willingness to challenge unknown creatures.
He could respect that, but Cangyue could not let this nasty behavior slide.
Besides, Naruto had only just become his friend yesterday.
"How noisy."
A calm voice came from beside them.
The children stopped and turned together, spotting Cangyue sitting on a bench.
One of them quickly recognized him.
"Oh, it's you. The dead last who does nothing but sleep in class."
"Two losers together!"
They burst out laughing.
Naruto also looked toward Cangyue. A flicker of delight crossed his eyes before he lowered his head again.
He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.
If Cangyue stood up for him, everyone might start hating him too.
He had finally found someone willing to be his friend. He did not want to drag Cangyue down with him.
Cangyue ignored their jeers.
Using the Flame and Thunder Swords on a few little brats would be giving them far too much credit.
He glanced around and casually snapped off a nearby branch.
The instant it touched his hand, Cangyue noticed the difference.
The branch's length, weight, and curvature all registered clearly in his mind.
Swordsmanship level 2 was not limited to actual swords.
As long as what he held was the right length, even a branch could serve as his weapon.
"You think you can scare us with a stick?"
The ringleader raised his chin, putting on a tough front.
"You think you're some kind of master?"
Cangyue gave him a look.
"You little shits. I'll whip your asses raw."
As his words fell, his figure abruptly vanished.
Whoosh!
The leaves trembled softly.
The children's vision blurred for an instant, and Cangyue was already standing before them.
Their laughter cut off.
"You..."
The ringleader instinctively stepped back.
Cangyue flicked his wrist.
Smack!
The branch struck the back of the boy's hand with pinpoint accuracy.
His first scream had barely escaped before the slender branch became a flurry of afterimages.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Wrists, calves, backsides.
Every blow avoided joints and vital spots. None would damage bone or tendon, but each stung with exquisite clarity.
The children could not even see where the branch was coming from. They could only cover their heads and scatter.
They were surprisingly tough, barely letting out another cry after that.
Of course, they might simply have screamed so hard the first time that they temporarily lost their breath.
Within a few short breaths, the children were crying, their faces flushed red, as they supported one another and fled the park.
"Just you wait!"
Only after running some distance did one of them dare turn back and threaten him.
Cangyue raised the branch.
The boy shuddered all over, turned, and ran even faster.
The park fell quiet again.
Naruto stood rooted to the spot, staring at the branch in Cangyue's hand.
It had been so fast.
From Cangyue rising to his feet to the others fleeing with their heads covered, the whole thing had taken only a few breaths.
Naruto had not even seen how many times that branch had swung.
Cangyue casually tossed the branch aside, thoroughly satisfied with swordsmanship level 2.
Every strike had precisely avoided joints and vital spots.
He had inflicted no serious injuries while teaching those little bastards a lesson they would not soon forget.
A sword was an instrument of killing.
But truly brilliant swordsmanship had never been merely about how to kill.
Whipping a few brats until they scattered without bringing down the Konoha Military Police Force was a level of mastery in its own right.
Naruto finally came to his senses and jogged over to Cangyue.
"Cangyue, thank you."
"No trouble."
Cangyue answered lightly.
Naruto lowered his head, his fists clenched tight. Smudges of dirt from the shoving still marked his face.
"But..."
"Why do they hate me so much?"
Naruto's voice was very quiet.
"I haven't even done anything."
Cangyue looked at him and fell silent for a moment.
Of course he knew why.
But he could not tell Naruto about the Nine-Tails and Jinchūriki yet.
Besides, directly explaining the villagers' fear and the tragedy of the Nine-Tails' attack would only make the atmosphere bitter and heavy.
That was not his style.
Cangyue turned, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed at the lingering clouds stained red by the morning light.
He had just upgraded his swordsmanship, and his insights were still fresh.
The perfect chance to put what he had learned straight to use.
"Naruto, have you ever seen a truly fine sword?"
Naruto shook his head blankly.
"No."
"Before a fine sword is forged, it is nothing more than a lump of crude iron."
Cangyue's voice was not loud, yet Naruto instinctively quieted down.
"It must burn in blazing fire, be struck by a heavy hammer, then be plunged into cold water to temper it."
"Over and over, again and again."
"What do you think the hammer strikes?"
Naruto scratched his head.
"The iron."
Cangyue fell silent for a moment.
That answer was not wrong.
It was simply a little too faithful to objective fact.
"What it knocks away is impurity."
Cangyue forcibly steered the conversation back on course.
"Those who trample on you today are the hammers, the fire, and the cold water of your life."
Naruto's gaze wavered slightly.
"You have every right to hate them."
Cangyue started toward the park's exit, his voice drifting back on the morning breeze.
"But remember this."
"A sword never resents the hammer."
"A sword concerns itself only with becoming sharp."
Naruto remained where he stood, watching that figure gradually recede, silent for a long time.
Morning light filtered through the leaves and fell into his blue eyes.
A moment later, he clenched his fists.
"I get it!"
"I'll get stronger-stronger than anyone else!"
"I'll make everyone in the village acknowledge me!"
Naruto's voice rang out across the park.
[Valor Points +50]
They came from Naruto's admiration and excitement.
Cangyue paused briefly, his expression remaining inscrutable, though inwardly he was quite pleased.
He had helped a friend, earned valor points, and kept the peace in Konoha's park along the way.
Three birds with one stone.
With this latest gain, his available valor points were back up to one hundred and eight.
He was still one hundred and ninety-two points short of level three swordsmanship.
Not far off.
Before you continue