After that brief, almost confrontational exchange of looks that night, the atmosphere at the Hatake Residence settled into an even subtler stalemate. Ling grew quieter. Beyond necessary exchanges, he hardly ever initiated conversation with Kakashi anymore, spending most of his time immersed in training. Kakashi, meanwhile, seemed to have returned entirely to normal, becoming even more laid-back and spending seemingly less time at home.
Yet the invisible thread between them had drawn tighter. Ling could feel the increased scrutiny whenever Kakashi's seemingly casual gaze fell on him. The darkness that had flashed through his eye that night lodged like a thorn in Ling's heart, reminding him of how complicated and dangerous his guardian was.
Training became Ling's only solace and outlet.
Under Tobirama's exacting guidance, he poured all his energy into exploring the fusion of wind and water. Failure remained the prevailing theme, and unruly chakra often left fine cuts on his hands, but his progress was also clear.
He could now wrap a thread of Wind Release chakra around a Water Blade with reasonable consistency as he formed it. The blade was no longer simply pale blue. An extremely faint, rapidly vibrating blue-green glow now lingered steadily along its edge, and its hum had become sharper and more penetrating. Though still far from a perfect fusion, its destructive power was in an entirely different league. On the surface, however, he continued to disguise it as clumsy.
[An initial combination of shape and nature. You've at least reached the threshold.] Tobirama offered a rare acknowledgment that barely qualified as praise. [But it's appallingly crude! Severe energy leakage, unstable vibration frequency-you're still nowhere near "cutting"! Keep practicing! Try reducing the Water Blade's size and increasing its energy density!]
At the same time, Ling began experimenting with another idea Tobirama had proposed—[Wind’s Trajectory]. Rather than using Wind Release for direct attacks, he would use it to aid movement and evasion. He tried attaching minute amounts of Wind Release chakra to the soles of his feet and the sides of his body, sensing the flow of air and attempting to guide it so that he could move more lightly and change direction with greater unpredictability.
This process was just as difficult. Poor control often sent him tumbling into the dirt or crashing into trees. To Kakashi, however, it was merely the usual clumsiness of a child practicing taijutsu.
[Compress the Water Blade's volume and increase its energy density! The Wind Release vibrations must be contained, acting on the internal structure rather than merely decorating the surface!]
[Sense the changes in airflow. Don't resist it—merge with it and guide it! Your [Wind’s Trajectory] is still superficial!]
Tobirama's guidance was always precise and harsh. In front of others, Ling perfectly played the part of a beginner feeling his way forward.
That afternoon, Ling was practicing movement "clumsily" in the courtyard, deliberately pretending to lose his balance several times. Kakashi leaned beneath the veranda, his gaze apparently resting on Icha Icha Paradise, but the corner of his eye and the slight turn of his ear toward the courtyard revealed that part of his attention remained on Ling.
When Ling "nearly" fell yet again and flailed to steady himself, Kakashi closed his book.
"Hey," he drawled.
Ling stopped, looking "puzzled."
Kakashi produced a shuriken and spun it casually between his fingertips.
"That's not how you use Wind Release chakra," he said flatly. "Brute force just wastes it."
With that, he flicked his wrist. The shuriken shot out silently, tracing an exquisite arc as though wrapped in and drawn along by the airflow. It struck the tip of a slender branch in the distance with a delicate touch, barely disturbing the leaves.
"See? Wind is trajectory, extension, control."
Then he opened his book again, as though he had merely been passing the time.
Ling understood perfectly. Kakashi really was watching me, trying to guide and test me! The direction he gave-precise control, following the airflow-was entirely correct, but... far too basic! Tobirama taught me its subtler essence months ago!
Still, this was the perfect opportunity!
An expression combining "sudden realization" with "intense contemplation" immediately appeared on Ling's face. He stared at the shuriken embedded in the slender branch as though lost in deep thought.
After a long while, he began practicing his movements again. This time, he was no longer "clumsy." Instead, he began making a credible imitation of the "following" and "guiding" Kakashi had just demonstrated. His movements remained unpracticed, even a little awkward from the deliberate imitation, but the air stirred by his movements flowed noticeably more smoothly, and several changes of direction looked more natural and sensible.
During one quick sidestep, he even appeared to have a "flash of inspiration," letting his body turn slightly with the airflow to shed most of his momentum. His movement actually acquired a hint of fluidity—extremely immature, like a fledgling's first flight, but fundamentally correct. This was precisely the introductory essence of Tobirama's [Wind’s Trajectory]!
If I was going to act, I had to make it convincing!
Ling stopped, panting, his face glowing with a mixture of exhaustion and "excitement." He looked at Kakashi, his eyes seeming to say, "I think I'm starting to understand!"
Kakashi's fingers paused almost imperceptibly as he turned a page. His exposed right eye narrowed slightly, studying Ling carefully for several seconds.
This brat... was his comprehension really that good? After seeing just one rough demonstration, he grasped the essence of "following the airflow" and even applied it further, taking the next step to dissipate momentum?
He was still hopelessly unpolished, but his speed of understanding and ability to imitate were far beyond an ordinary child's. Even compared with me back then... he hardly fell short.
[Hmph. Nicely acted.] Tobirama snorted in his mind. [That lazy silver-haired fox took the bait. Keep up this genius persona of yours, the one who understands with a single hint. It's the perfect cover for our actual progress.]
From that day on, Kakashi's silent "lessons" became more frequent.
He would "casually" demonstrate more refined shuriken techniques. He would "inadvertently" point out the keys to chakra control. He even discussed certain characteristics of water-nature transformation.
And every time, Ling immediately displayed "astonishing" comprehension. In an extremely short time, he could understand the direction Kakashi indicated-which Tobirama had, of course, already taught him thoroughly-and demonstrate it in his subsequent practice through seemingly tentative exploration that actually produced rapid "progress."
Sometimes he would even "apply what he had learned," asking seemingly childish "questions" that happened to hit exactly the right point, forcing Kakashi to offer a few more words.
For instance, after one lesson on water-nature transformation, Ling asked "curiously," "Mr. Kakashi, water can imitate the shapes of lots of things, so could it... imitate the feel of someone else's chakra? Like a mirror?"
The question visibly caught Kakashi off guard, and his gaze grew a little deeper as he looked at Ling. He did not answer directly, merely drawling, "Not a bad idea. But let's talk about that after you can make a water sphere round."
Though Kakashi had brushed him off, Ling knew the question must have caught his attention.
A strange understanding formed between them: one seemingly offered casual hints, while the other grasped them and made "rapid progress." Kakashi seemed increasingly accustomed to Ling's ability to understand "with a single hint." Occasionally, he even revealed the faintest, almost imperceptible trace of... interest?
He seemed to be polishing a piece of uncut jade he had discovered by chance, approaching it with a researcher's consideration and patience.
Ling, meanwhile, made perfect use of this "guidance," openly and plausibly "unlocking" the advanced techniques Tobirama had taught him, little by little.
His Water Blade grew increasingly compact, its wind edge contained yet dangerous.
[Wind’s Trajectory] gradually became more practiced, his movements silent as a passing breeze.
[Ice-Breath Concealment Technique] had become almost instinctive.
Right beneath Kakashi's nose, he was growing rapidly at a "reasonable" pace.
Then, late one night, while deep in meditation, Ling once again felt that fleeting sensation of being watched-cold, clammy, and sinister. It was more concealed and briefer than before, almost like an illusion.
He jolted awake, his entire body cold.
[Here it comes again.] Tobirama's voice was grave as iron. [That old dog's patience is nearly exhausted. Your "progress" has probably made them even greedier.]
Ling clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
Every performance eventually had to end. Once the halo of "genius" shone brightly enough, admiration would no longer be the only thing it attracted.
The undercurrents beneath the cracks were gathering ever faster.
Before you continue