The Beginning of Hatake Sakumo
Kakashi dropped to his knees and vomited violently, emptying his stomach until there was nothing left.
Rolling away from the mess, he collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
Chi Yu had just asked him to focus on the sensation coursing through his body.
"I felt it," Kakashi said between breaths. "It was like drinking hot water on a freezing winter day. That warmth filled every part of me. For a moment, I felt... powerful. But it vanished right away—as if it had never been there. I don't know if I imagined it."
Chi Yu, arms crossed and leaning against a nearby tree, nodded in approval. "It wasn't your imagination. That's the sensation of your blood oxygenating—fueling your body. Remember it well. Consciously breathing this way over time will send oxygen to every cell. It'll speed up your healing, stabilize your mind, and energize your spirit."
He paused, watching Kakashi closely. "This is only the beginning. Once you master Total Concentration Breathing, you'll aim for the next level—Total Concentration Breathing: Constant, where you maintain this state at all times, even while sleeping."
Kakashi exhaled deeply. "I'll work hard, Teacher Chi Yu."
After resting a while longer, Kakashi reached for his mask and slipped it on again. That fleeting rush of strength was intoxicating. If he could harness it permanently, he knew he would grow stronger—faster.
Chi Yu nodded silently, then turned. The two resumed their journey through Kusagakure.
---
Seven Months Later — Year Two of the Third Shinobi World War
While resting during a break from training, Kakashi watched Chi Yu scribble another X onto a worn map. Curiosity got the better of him.
"Teacher Chi Yu," Kakashi asked hesitantly, "what exactly are you looking for?"
For months, Chi Yu had been marking locations as they traveled through the Land of Grass. At first, Kakashi assumed it was part of a long-term mission—but something didn't add up.
Chi Yu glanced at him but didn't stop writing. "I'm looking for someone."
Kakashi tilted his head. "So it's not a mission from the village?"
Chi Yu shook his head. "No. This is personal. I'm looking for her."
Kakashi perked up, unable to hide his curiosity. "Is she important to you?"
"Very," Chi Yu replied curtly.
Seeing the glint in Kakashi's eyes, Chi Yu sighed and added, "That's enough questions. Whether I find her or not... is uncertain. For now, we're heading back to the Konoha base."
Chi Yu looked frustrated. In seven months, they had combed nearly all of Kusagakure—except the Iwagakure outposts—but hadn't found a trace of the red-haired woman he sought. Not even someone vaguely resembling her.
Still, their time hadn't been wasted. They'd uncovered several hidden Iwa strongholds, most buried underground.
Thanks to Chi Yu's Observation Haki, even the most well-hidden bases were exposed. He relayed their locations to Sakumo Hatake via summon animals, and Sakumo dispatched squads to eliminate them. The Iwa shinobi were left bewildered—how had Konoha found bases so deeply hidden, almost as if they could see through earth and stone?
Meanwhile, Kakashi's growth had been staggering.
He had not only mastered Total Concentration Breathing but had also learned all six standard forms of Thunder Breathing. His mask now served no purpose other than habit.
Yet, one technique continued to elude him—Seventh Form: Honoikazuchi no Kami.
Despite repeated attempts, Kakashi couldn't perform it properly.
During one particularly frustrating day, he approached Chi Yu.
"Sensei," Kakashi said, "I've mastered the first six forms. Why can't I perform the seventh anymore? I used to manage it, even before mastering Total Concentration Breathing."
Chi Yu looked up. "That's precisely the problem. Back then, it was just an empty shell—raw instinct. Now that you've learned the breathing forms properly, your body and spirit demand more precision."
"The seventh form is unique. It's not just another technique—it's a culmination. Unless you truly understand all six forms, it will reject you. Your failure means you're close but not complete."
Chi Yu stepped forward, voice steady. "Besides, you're skipping a step. Focus on mastering Total Concentration Breathing: Constant. Right now, when you fight using the technique, your vision keeps pace with your movements. Without it, you can't track your own speed. Constant breathing will stabilize your dynamic vision. Once you do that, I can teach you a more advanced technique—Thunderclap and Flash: Godspeed."
Kakashi nodded solemnly. "Understood. I'll train immediately."
From his pouch, he pulled out a small rubber ball and punctured it with a thin needle.
Chi Yu's training method was simple but brutal—inflate the ball with constant breath pressure. It was a daily, grueling task designed to forge consistency.
As they traveled back toward base, Kakashi practiced nonstop.
---
Two Days Later — Konoha Forward Base, Land of Grass
When they arrived at the base, they found Hatake Sakumo deep in a meeting with several senior Jōnin.
Chi Yu, now a respected Jōnin himself and known as Orochimaru's personal disciple, had earned the right to attend.
Kakashi, however, remained outside. He wasn't yet high-ranking enough to participate in strategic briefings.
Inside, Sakumo welcomed Chi Yu with a nod before returning to the issue at hand.
Chi Yu narrowed his eyes. The timing of their return was fortuitous—perhaps too much so.
Konoha Intelligence had intercepted critical information: key operatives from Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure had convened in secret. Each had left with a scroll, presumed to contain coordinated strategies for the coming escalation.
Konoha had failed to intercept the Kumogakure and Kirigakure scrolls—both had vanished en route.
That left only the Iwagakure operative's scroll, now traveling through the Land of Grass.
The mission to intercept it fell to Sakumo Hatake himself, who was personally selecting an elite squad for the operation.
Chi Yu listened silently, eyes gleaming. War was on the horizon—and things were about to change.
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