These days, Kakashi's progress had also been rapid, growing swiftly in all aspects, almost as if he had broken through a bottleneck. Of course, he couldn't compare to Kyohiko. In fact, the current Kakashi had long given up on comparing himself to Kyohiko. He was very clear that although the gap between him and Kyohiko seemed small, they were already on different levels. All he could do was... constantly get stronger and chase after him.
In a training ground near the Forest of Death. Shiranui Genma, a senbon in his mouth, stopped the blade in his hand. He had also started learning swordsmanship recently. He was learning the short sword, mostly to have more options in close combat, and also to use the sword in conjunction with kunai to protect himself when enemies got close. However, when he occasionally felt tired and wanted to slack off, he would turn his head and always see Kakashi training silently.
Shiranui Genma couldn't help but sigh. "You're already so strong, yet you still work so hard. It really puts us to shame."
"It's nothing. Compared to Kyohiko, this little effort of mine is nothing at all. Although Gai didn't join the Anbu, his daily training is also very diligent," Kakashi said, wielding two swords. Flashes of lightning and bursts of water intertwined, his kenjutsu combinations forming a beautiful picture.
Suddenly, he crossed his twin swords and separated them. Lightning crackled between the blades, forming a visible field of electricity. Then, Kakashi threw one of the blades. The lightning, like a rope, pulled the blade through an arc, creating a beautiful silver-white curve in the air before it returned to his hand.
Shiranui Genma immediately stared at him. He felt a subtle attractive force coming from Kakashi's blade and lightning, causing his senbon to move slightly. "Magnet Release?"
"To be precise, it's not Magnet Release, but a variation of Lightning Release. It's different from the Sand Village's Magnet Release," Kakashi said, a smile in his eyes. He had already figured out the secret behind how Orochimaru and Kyohiko's team had defeated the Third Kazekage. After spending several months, he had finally integrated it into his own swordsmanship.
Swish! The blade flew out. The lightning in between charred the branch of a tree.
"The next step is to further strengthen the shape transformation of the Lightning Release, while also giving it the properties of compression and vibration," Kakashi thought to himself. At this moment, he suddenly stopped the blade in his hand.
"This technique is not bad. It should have been born from one of your earliest ideas, right?"
"Yes." Kakashi nodded. "The effect is average at the moment. It's not very useful yet, still just a line of thought."
"It's quite good, but your sword may not be very suitable. Try this one." Kyohiko tossed the sword in his hand over.
Kakashi caught it. "The Sword of Kusanagi?" As a ninja from a family of swordsmen, Kakashi had never seen the Sword of Kusanagi, but he had heard of its style. They were different from ordinary katanas, usually straight. The one in his hand was a single-edged Sword of Kusanagi.
Kakashi gave it a try. This sword was a chakra weapon and was particularly compatible with Lightning Release chakra. When he channeled his chakra into it, the blade immediately flashed with light. A good sword! A trace of excitement and joy flashed in his eyes. No swordsman could refuse such a weapon. After trying it for a moment, he couldn't put it down, wishing he could embrace it.
But Kakashi quickly regained his senses. "It's too valuable!" He reluctantly handed it back. A Sword of Kusanagi could not be measured by money.
"I'm lending it to you for now. I have my own, and I have more than one weapon on hand," Kyohiko smiled. He had plenty of weapons now. He hadn't used Samehada before mainly because he was worried that the Mist Village would use a summoning jutsu to take it back, but now he didn't have to worry. If he really needed to use it, combining it with a space-locking barrier jutsu, using Samehada wouldn't be a problem. At the very least, it would definitely be useful when dealing with Danzo.
He smiled. "I'm not lending it to you for free. If you take the benefits, you have to put in the effort. Don't run to the back when it's time for you to be useful."
"Mm!" Kakashi nodded emphatically. Then, he paused for a second. "Is something big happening again?"
"Things are about to happen in the Land of Water. Our opportunity is coming soon." Kyohiko didn't say much, but the two of them exchanged a glance and understood the general situation.
"Alright."
---
In Konoha, at the Hokage's Office. Tsunade sat in her seat and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
"Tsunade-sama, what are you sighing about now?"
"Can't I even sigh anymore?" Tsunade glanced at Shizune, let out a silent breath, and said, "Being Hokage really isn't a job for humans. Since becoming Hokage, the number of times I drink has decreased a lot."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Tsunade's conspiracy had succeeded. After helping a few times, Tsunade found that Shizune could provide her with tremendous help in secretarial work. Compared to the work at the hospital… obviously, helping her handle Hokage affairs was more important. So Tsunade, under a clever pretext, had transferred Shizune to the office to help. Of course, she didn't completely stop Shizune from going to the Konoha Hospital, it was just that before, she would spend every day at the hospital for treatment, with leisure time for training. Now, basically, if the hospital wasn't busy, she had to help at the Hokage's office.
"Shizune, ever since you came to the office, our Hokage-sama has had time to sigh. If you came less often, you wouldn't hear this sound."
"Get out!" Tsunade glared at the door. "You do it if you're so good!"
Kyohiko pushed the door open and entered, presenting a report. It was intelligence submitted by Gekko Shusaku.
Tsunade took it. With a glance, she immediately stood up. "Is the intelligence true?"
"It should be." Kyohiko nodded.
Tsunade couldn't hide her joy. For the past few months, the Land of Water and Kirigakure had been showing great restraint, with both sides seemingly not infringing on each other in the slightest. Konoha couldn't make any more moves and had to wait for the situation to change. Until now, she had thought the Land of Water would continue to endure. She hadn't expected them to finally lose their patience!
According to Gekko Shusaku's report, the current Land of Water, while still maintaining peace on the surface, the noble faction was secretly getting restless. From all indications, they wanted to take a step further. This would inevitably ignite the conflict between the two sides.
Tsunade held the intelligence report, pondered for a long time, and said, "Kyohiko, if war breaks out in the Land of Water, your side must be prepared."
"I've already made arrangements. The main concern now is the direction of Kumogakure and Iwagakure." Kyohiko wasn't worried about Sunagakure. The current Rasa had been taught a lesson and was very obedient, with no ability to make a move in the short term. As long as Konoha could suppress Iwagakure and Kumogakure, they wouldn't dare to act. Conversely, if Konoha was severely damaged by Iwagakure and Kumogakure, no matter how weak Sunagakure was, they would have ideas. Therefore, the north was the key!
---
In the outskirts, Obito, as usual, trained until dusk, then practiced his punches in this patch of woods, waiting for the person he wanted to see. Not long after, the old woman came out of the woods, carrying firewood on her back. Seeing Obito practicing punches there, a smile appeared on her face.
"Obito, is something bothering you again today?"
"Granny, I'd come to see you even if nothing was wrong!" Obito chuckled. Then, he took out a portion of sushi from his pocket. "I got first place today. Although it was only in ninjutsu, it's a lot of progress from before, and I even got a clan bonus."
"Good, that's very good." The old woman smiled and reached out to pat his head. "See, you can do it, can't you? Even if others are geniuses, you're not bad either. Don't underestimate yourself." Her tone was gentle. "Obito, your talent is just different from theirs. You have to be confident. When you have confidence, you'll find there's nothing you can't do!"
"Yes, Granny!" Obito chuckled.
The old woman sat down shakily, then ate the sushi with Obito, occasionally asking about his grandmother. Obito had already been to his grandmother's place and brought her a gift as well. Then, he complained that his grandmother had been very nagging recently. The old woman listened, persuading and guiding him. "She's just concerned about you, she doesn't want you to have too much pressure. Sigh, we elders, do we care how strong our children are? As long as the child is well, that's all that matters!"
"Mm, I understand. I'm just a little frustrated," Obito sighed.
The old woman smiled. "It's a pity your Uchiha clan compound is so strictly guarded, I can't get in. Otherwise, I'd like to meet your grandmother."
"Okay! I'll introduce you to her some other day!" Obito was overjoyed.
The two chatted casually. The old woman "didn't understand" anything about ninjas, mostly guiding and enlightening Obito on life principles. As they ate and talked, Obito remembered it was getting late and quickly stood up to walk the old woman back, still waving goodbye at her door. He liked the warm, caring feeling he got when he was with the old woman.
After Obito left, the "old woman" grinned and muttered to herself, "You came over so suddenly. Is it almost time to launch the plan?"
"Not yet." A black shadow twisted. "Wait until Konoha makes a move, then we'll act."
"Tsk, I can't wait anymore! When a kind Uchiha faces such an ordeal, to what level can he awaken his eyes?"
"It certainly won't be weak. Enough to meet the Madara-sama's requirements."
---
In Kirigakure, the Village Hidden by Mist. Genji stared at the report in his hand in astonishment, his hands and feet turning cold. What he held was intelligence sent back by the Anbu. The Kyoto nobles were actually secretly recruiting ninjas from Kirigakure, getting more people to join the Guardian Shinobi. And they planned to reduce their support for Kirigakure.
Although Kirigakure had indeed suffered severe internal attrition in recent years due to the Bloody Mist policy, it couldn't be said that they hadn't made any achievements. Their influence at sea, the commissions, the resources the Land of Water gained from the sea were all increasing. But most of the benefits were basically taken by the Kyoto side. Once the Land of Water nobles and Daimyo cut their financial support, Kirigakure would really be forced to fight. Or, they could also become a part of the Guardian Shinobi, and from then on, there would be no more "Mizukage." How could they accept that?
Genji was frantic. "Elder, Mizukage-sama's side…" In front of him, Hozuki Mangetsu looked hesitant. He was now in charge of the Anbu. Upon receiving this intelligence, he had immediately come to discuss it with Genji, not daring to tell the Mizukage right away. Everyone recognized Yagura's abilities. But his personality… anyone who had worked with him for a while knew what kind of person Yagura was. He was good when he was good, but when he was irritable and angry, he was equally cold and ruthless, as unpredictable as the waters of the sea.
And this matter was very important—a single misstep could lead to civil war in the Land of Water!
Genji paced back and forth. After a few seconds, his expression hardened. "I can't make the decision on this matter. I must discuss it with Mizukage-sama." He hurried towards the Mizukage's office. This matter was too big! If the Kyoto noble faction really wanted to go this far, it was worth fighting them. Otherwise, Kirigakure would sooner or later decline and even perish. He hurried upstairs.
Hozuki Mangetsu hesitated for a moment, but still quickly chased after him, following him all the way to outside the office. When he arrived, he heard only one sentence from inside the office.
"Then we fight!"
---
In the conflict of the Land of Water, it was the Yuki and Kaguya clans who were kept in the dark. After arriving in Kyoto, they settled in the outskirts. However, their new life was not as beautiful as they had imagined. Coming to Kyoto, they received wealth, but they also encountered something they had never encountered before—socializing.
If you asked Kaguya Raizo to kill someone, he would do it without hesitation. But asking him to learn how to please others was really too difficult. If his clan knew how to do these things, they wouldn't have fallen to such a state. So, in Kyoto, it was actually the Yuki clan that handled these affairs—even though the Yuki clan themselves were not very good at it.
At night, in the new territory of the Kaguya clan.
"This life is so boring. I feel it's not even as good as before in Kirigakure. At least in Kirigakure, we could go out and kill people!"
"Yeah!"
"It'll be soon, soon." Kaguya Raizo listened to his clansmen's discussion and sighed inwardly. The future of the clan… he really had no confidence.
Just as he was feeling uneasy, a guard from outside hurried over, shouting before he even arrived. "Clan Head, bad news! Kirigakure, Kirigakure has rebelled!"
"What?" Kirigakure has rebelled? How is that possible! Kaguya Raizo was stunned for a moment, even suspecting he was hearing things, or that the world had turned upside down. Kirigakure… the Village Hidden by Mist, which had always served as the military force of the Land of Water, had actually rebelled!
After a brief moment of shock, he quickly reacted. Something he didn't know must have happened! Raizo looked behind the guard at the Yuki clansman who had chased after him. "What happened?"
"It's, it's… the nobles wanted to cut Kirigakure's expenses, so they submitted an application to Daimyo-sama, and Daimyo-sama didn't immediately reject it." The Yuki clansman replied.
Kaguya Raizo was stunned for a moment. How could such a thing happen? Although he didn't understand governance, Kirigakure was still the country's force. How could they not give them money! Wasn't that just messing around?
He hadn't even sorted out his thoughts when his clansmen were already in an uproar, saying they wanted to attack Kirigakure and kill all the rebels. The Kaguya clan was no good at other things, but fighting was what they loved most!