"How is it?"
"The toxin isn't strong, but it's deadly over time. It's also been modified. Using the Mystical Palm Technique along with the antidote I prepared should be enough to guide the poisoned blood out. He should be out of danger."
Tsunade sat in the corridor, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
But.
Even so, she held on until the end, even participating in the preparation of the antidote without letting anyone notice anything too unusual.
However.
Medical ninjas like Sarutobi Biwako must have noticed something was off, but they didn't say anything.
If she didn't overcome this, it would always be a weakness.
Kyohiko remained silent.
"Don't worry."
Tsunade said in a low voice, "I'll overcome it. I'm… Tsunade!"
She took a deep breath.
Then, Tsunade added, "By the way, your first aid was crucial. Otherwise, he might still have died."
"What about the other senior?"
"Hizashi? He's fine. He's probably undergoing an investigation right now. I don't know the specifics."
As Tsunade spoke, a hint of worry flashed in her eyes.
Hizashi's four-man squad had only returned with two members. The other two had been killed.
But.
At this point, the sudden attack by Sunagakure on Konoha…
What were they trying to do?
Was war about to break out again?
Tsunade frowned deeply.
In past wars, she had always been in charge of the battles against Sunagakure. But in the current situation, she might not be able to take the battlefield—
Although she had been working on overcoming her fear through constant psychological desensitization, she still wasn't in a state suitable for combat.
She was well aware of this.
Then, Tsunade snapped out of her thoughts, realizing she couldn't appear too weak in front of Kyohiko…
"I'm off. If there's any news I can share, I'll let you know."
Tsunade stood up and left with a wave.
Kyohiko nodded, not saying much.
He got up to leave, but in his heart, he was fairly certain that the attacker was most likely Sasori of the Red Sand.
Unless Sunagakure had gone mad, there was no reason for them to provoke Konoha like this.
So.
Sasori's target must have been Hizashi, right?
The Byakugan was indeed worth in-depth research. Even with the Caged Bird Seal, Hizashi would still be an incredibly tempting target for Sasori.
The Third Kazekage wasn't dead yet, but Sasori's targeting of kekkei genkai users suggested that the Third Kazekage's days might be numbered.
Kyohiko stood at the hospital entrance, feeling the storm brewing.
---
"Kyohiko, I heard you performed emergency treatment on two patients today. How did it go?"
"One was quite serious, but he should pull through."
Kyohiko replied.
Kurenai sighed in relief, then said with a hint of envy, "I'm so jealous of you. You pick things up so quickly, unlike me. I've been studying for so long, but I still don't understand much."
"It's different. I can only handle emergency treatments. I'm clueless when it comes to further treatment plans."
Kyohiko shook his head.
The Mystical Palm Technique had its limits.
When it came to poison or internal bleeding, he could only provide basic treatment and couldn't offer much more help.
After some analysis, Kurenai's mood improved a little.
At least there were some things that talent couldn't overcome!
Of course.
Kurenai was well aware that with Kyohiko's talent and abilities, if he truly wanted to delve into medical ninjutsu, achieving great success would only be a matter of time.
"I need to talk to Tsunade-sama about something. Also, about Kakashi… do you want to check on him tomorrow? I'm still worried he's training as crazily as before."
"Sure."
---
The next day, at Kakashi's house.
The sound of clashing blades filled the air as the two figures separated.
Kakashi was breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead.
Kyohiko's swordsmanship had improved too quickly. Before, he was just at a beginner's level, but now he was incredibly skilled. Combined with his speed, which was hard to keep up with, Kakashi would have to use his Lightning Release chakra to stimulate his body's activity to keep up.
But.
That uncontrollable speed, if not used properly, could become a weakness.
Fortunately, this was just a swordsmanship spar, so Kakashi could still hold his own.
"Again?"
Kakashi wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Kyohiko nodded. "Again!"
Then, the two clashed once more.
Just as Kyohiko was about to lose, he drew a kunai from his waist, blocked with his left hand, and swiftly slashed with his right hand in an arc toward Kakashi.
Clang!
Kakashi pulled back to block, but in the next moment, the kunai came again.
The two weapons clashed repeatedly.
Kakashi was overwhelmed. The sword strikes came faster and faster, and in the blink of an eye, they had exchanged over a dozen blows.
But constant defense would eventually fail.
After a while, Kakashi's sword was knocked aside by Kyohiko's kunai and sword working together, and a diagonal slash aimed at his body forced him to retreat.
"Two swords?"
Kakashi panted, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
In a real fight, he would have lost by now, possibly even lost his life.
So strong!
Dual wielding…
Wait, no!
The way he drew the kunai was incredibly fast, like a swordsmanship draw technique.
Kakashi held his sword and removed his mask.
"I'm done."
He sat down, his expression cold and blank, as if he had lost something.
Kyohiko sheathed his sword.
"Do you doubt that you're not suited for swordsmanship?"
"I don't. You can't even beat me with a single sword. How could I not be suited for it?"
Kakashi stubbornly retorted.
Clearly, he was a bit shaken.
Kyohiko's swordsmanship had improved too quickly.
The last time they parted, Kyohiko was far from being his match, but now he could skillfully use dual wielding and draw techniques.
Kakashi was indeed starting to doubt whether he was truly suited for swordsmanship.
But he was the son of the White Fang!
Kakashi looked at the White Light Chakra Saber in his hand, silent for a long time.
He didn't hate Sakumo as much anymore, or rather, deep down, he had always admired his father.
That's why…
The hatred had been so intense.
If he were from the Uchiha clan, the moment his father committed suicide, he would have at least awakened a two-tomoe Sharingan.
But he wasn't.
"I don't know much about Sakumo-sama, but his swordsmanship was definitely more suited to him. It might not be the best for you."
Kyohiko's intention wasn't to further discourage Kakashi.
Kakashi looked up.
"You mean…"
"You should forge your own path, not try to become another White Fang. You can't become another White Fang, and neither can I."
Kyohiko sat down.
Kakashi fell silent, then nodded.
Yes, he couldn't become the White Fang.
But…
His own path.
Kakashi pondered.
What was his path?
Kyohiko smiled and reminded him, "Earlier, you said you had an idea. How's that coming along? Have you made any progress?"
"Some progress."
Kakashi nodded.
Then, he drew the White Light Chakra Saber and picked up a stone.
Chakra Infusion, Stone Thrown
Kyohiko infused chakra into the stone and tossed it into the air.
Whoosh!
The blade came down, cleanly slicing the stone into two halves. The cut was incredibly smooth.
A sharp cut!
It was similar in sharpness to Killer B's Lightning Release: Lariat, though not quite at that level. Even so, this technique gave the blade a sharpness comparable to Wind Release.
Kakashi had done it.
A flicker of surprise crossed Kyohiko's eyes.
This was an extremely difficult nature transformation, yet Kakashi had quickly grasped the concept and achieved results in such a short time…
A genius!
He looked at Kakashi and couldn't help but smile. "See, your greatest talent might not lie in swordsmanship."
"Ninjutsu?"
Kakashi looked at his blade.
Indeed.
He had trained with the sword since childhood, but over the past year, his progress in swordsmanship had almost stagnated. On the other hand, in ninjutsu, he could still quickly master techniques like this nature transformation.
Could it be…
That my talent doesn't lie in swordsmanship?
"Swordsmanship, ninjutsu—they're all just tools to defeat the enemy. Don't get too hung up on them."
Kyohiko reminded him, then gathered chakra in his hand.
Soon, a Rasengan formed.
"Dual blades can kill, but can't a sword in one hand and a Rasengan in the other do the same?"
"This…"
Kakashi was stunned.
Had he been overcomplicating things?
"Moreover, you're good at learning ninjutsu and nature transformations. Why not integrate those into your swordsmanship or Rasengan? That's another path. There's no need to obsess over improving pure swordsmanship skills."
Kyohiko spoke earnestly. "That's the way of the samurai in the Land of Iron, not us ninja."
Kakashi's mind was struck by a thunderbolt.
He felt—
Perhaps Kyohiko was right!
The path his father had taken didn't suit him. Simple, efficient killing techniques—he couldn't reach his father's level in that.
What suits you best is what's best!
With this thought, countless ideas flooded his mind, inspiration pouring in.
Integrating nature transformations into swordsmanship, and his blade was a chakra weapon, which could maximize the effectiveness of such techniques…
Kakashi's thoughts expanded.
Then, he realized that focusing solely on Lightning Release was a waste.
Perhaps…
He should learn more elemental natures and nature transformations.
That way, whether it was the Rasengan or swordsmanship, he could combine them with nature transformations to unleash even greater power.
Of course.
That was for the future.
In the short term—
Ninjutsu was also a powerful means of defeating enemies.
Kakashi felt as if he had glimpsed a new world.
He was excited, overjoyed, and then asked, "Why are you telling me all this? Your sword swings today carried more killing intent than usual. Is that related?"
"Because war might be approaching. I want to become stronger to protect more people, but my own growth has limits. So, I want everyone else to become stronger too."
"You're already very strong."
Kakashi said.
Among his peers, Kyohiko was undoubtedly the strongest.
In fact, in Kakashi's eyes, Kyohiko already possessed the qualities of a jonin. He was just too young to be promoted.
"During this Chunin Exam, many people joined the exchange squads, and they even came up with a name."
"What name?"
Kakashi was curious.
Kyohiko smiled. "Dust. When dust gathers, it becomes soil. We will all be the foundation for Konoha's growth."
"Dust…"
Kakashi repeated the word, feeling a stir in his heart.
He had only been thinking about improving himself.
But.
Kyohiko had already moved ahead—
He wanted to elevate everyone's strength, not just his own!
"I understand."
Kakashi looked at Kyohiko. "If it won't disrupt your group, can I join?"
He knew he wasn't a very social person, so his tone and words were cautious.
Kyohiko tilted his head. "Dust started from our casual conversation that day. I just wanted to ask if you'd be willing. After all, expanding the group happened without consulting you."
"Of course!"
Kakashi nodded firmly.
Kyohiko patted his sleeve. "Then it's settled."
"What do you discuss within Dust? Ninjutsu, knowledge?"
"We don't share specific ninjutsu. We voluntarily exchange techniques, knowledge, and directions for growth. But both parties must contribute knowledge and techniques, and private dissemination isn't allowed."
Kyohiko explained.
Voluntary, no coercion—that was the principle of Dust.
But.
No freeloading!
"That's good."
Kakashi thought for a moment and nodded in approval.
With more people, rules were necessary. Otherwise, chaos would arise.
Kyohiko had thought it through thoroughly.
Then, he bowed deeply.
"Kyohiko, thank you!"
"What's this for?"
"Whether it's about my father, or ninjutsu and swordsmanship, you've helped me greatly. Thank you!"
Kakashi bowed again, his expression serious.
But.
Kyohiko stopped him.
Having this sentiment was enough!
As for Kakashi's sincerity, he had already felt it deeply.
---
[Your character and intellect have deeply impressed a young prodigy, who faithfully trusts you and is willing to follow in your footsteps, dedicating himself to you!]
[Reward: White Fang Swordsmanship level increased]
Mastery!
White Fang Swordsmanship has improved once again.
Unable to delve deeper into his insights, Kyohiko spent some time discussing ninjutsu and nature transformation with Kakashi before making an excuse to leave, setting a date for another meeting.
Next Sunday, he would gather interested members for a discussion.
Kakashi needed time to learn and reflect.
Therefore, for the time being, he wouldn't be training obsessively but would focus more on ninjutsu.
Kyōhiko went out for a run, absorbing new memories as he moved.
Mastery…
This was Kakashi's current level.
However, upon closer reflection, he realized that his path was entirely different from Kakashi's.
Kakashi's path seemed to focus on assassination, ambush, and the fundamentals of swordsmanship, but after Kyohiko's "White Fang Swordsmanship" reached mastery, it further advanced in the direction of dual-wielding combat.
Dual-wielding.
The integration of ninjutsu and swordsmanship, with a significant portion dedicated to techniques like "single-handed seals."
"Is it because I need dual-wielding combat that it's progressing in this direction?"
Kyohiko pondered.
He had indeed been training his dual-wielding abilities.
Previously, it was to speed up hand seals and perform single-handed seals, allowing the other hand to multitask. But he hadn't expected that reaching mastery in "White Fang Swordsmanship" would grant him numerous techniques in this area.
Comparing his situation to Kakashi's, he vaguely sensed—
The system seemed to tailor its enhancements based on his individual circumstances, providing abilities that were more suited to him.
It really seemed that way!
The path to mastery was still unclear to Kakashi, leaving no example to follow. But based on the system's enhancements, his approach was undoubtedly correct.
A faint smile appeared on Kyohiko's face as he drew his blade and formed a single-handed seal.
This was the single-handed seal for the Clone Technique.
"So this is single-handed sealing…"
Kyohiko cross-referenced the techniques in his mind with the notes he had read from Tobirama, instantly understanding the essence of single-handed seals.
The purpose of hand seals was to assist in the formation and release of ninjutsu.
Single-handed seals, or reducing the number of seals, essentially meant that the user no longer needed this auxiliary support once their skill reached a certain level.
Of course, not all techniques could be performed with single-handed seals or with fewer seals.
For example, the Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
Even the Second Hokage could only reduce it to four seals, and single-handed sealing was impossible.
After the Clone Technique…
Shadow Clone, success!
Water Wave, success!
Water Wall, failure.
Kyohiko kept trying but couldn't master the single-handed Water Wall.
"Too many seals, can't do it single-handed. I'll need to simplify it first!"
…
On the same day, Sarutobi Hiruzen had to disguise himself to visit the ninja academy.
He had heard about the tree hollow.
Because—
The tree hollow had become an incredibly popular spot among the students.
They could vent their emotions and share their secrets there without fear of being exposed.
At first, only a few went.
But within a day, the "tree hollow" became more popular than the restroom.
"Tsunade's doing?"
"Yes."
Mitokado Homura nodded helplessly.
He had thought Tsunade's goal might be to train medical ninjas early, but he hadn't expected her to also target psychological well-being through this initiative.
The tree hollow.
A strange, completely unfamiliar concept, yet it was wildly popular among the children.
This left Homura deeply unsettled.
Hiruzen fell silent.
This was something he didn't understand either!
But…
"Do the children seem different after going in and out?"
"They do seem… lighter?"
Homura pondered for a long time before replying, "More relaxed?"
More relaxed?
Hiruzen was surprised, then glanced into the distance.
The child who had just entered had changed their appearance, but it couldn't fool him.
It was Asuma!
This child…
Did he have worries too?
Hiruzen silently smoked his pipe.
"Hiruzen, what should we do? Should we shut it down?"
Homura asked in a low voice.
After some thought, Hiruzen said, "Close it for now. I'll talk to Tsunade and decide whether to keep it."
"Understood!"
Homura breathed a sigh of relief and left.
Hiruzen also departed.
He had many other matters to attend to.
However, at noon, instead of Tsunade, he was met by an unexpected visitor.
Bang!
"Why did you do that?"
Asuma burst in, his young voice filled with anger.
Hiruzen was stunned.
This child…
Then, he frowned and scolded, "Asuma, what are you doing?"
"Why did you close the tree hollow?"
"You wouldn't understand."
Hiruzen coldly replied.
"I don't understand? What do you understand?! That place, that place means… you don't understand anything! I hate the Sarutobi name!"
Asuma ranted incoherently before slamming the door and storming off.
Hiruzen's hand rested on the table, his expression dark and troubled, yet also puzzled.
Before this, Asuma had never spoken to him like this!
Why?
Ever since Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kyohiko had interacted, many things had started slipping out of his control, becoming increasingly incomprehensible.
Could it be…
That he was truly falling behind?
No!
"I'm doing this for the village!"
Hiruzen unconsciously picked up his pipe, not lighting it, just puffing on it to distract his chaotic thoughts.
Soon, Homura sent word—
Asuma had applied for early graduation.
Hiruzen stared at the application in silence.
Hate.
His own child had spoken such words…
He sighed deeply, set aside his work, and headed to the Konoha Hospital.
He needed to talk to Tsunade!