Kakashi, hiding outside, was not detected by Hatake Kusuo.
At that moment, even Kusuo himself was somewhat shocked by the power he had just unleashed.
"Hiss..."
"Sun Breathing is as insane as they say!"
"Even though it's only the first form, its power should be comparable to a B-rank ninjutsu, right?"
Having never witnessed or practiced ninjutsu before, his understanding of its ranking system was still vague.
Immediately after, a wave of exhaustion washed over his entire body.
"So tired!"
Kusuo let out a long breath. That single slash had consumed a great deal of his energy. Total Concentration Breathing was incredible, but without having mastered "Total Concentration: Constant," he couldn't maintain that state of mobilizing his body's full potential at all times.
[Ding! The Host has used a Sun Breathing technique. Template Role-Play Percentage increased by 1.01%!]
[Current Role-Play Percentage: 11.01%.]
So, I can increase the percentage through daily training?
Kusuo's eyes lit up at this news. This was excellent.
"Alright then, let's keep training!"
"The Mark, the Transparent World, and all the forms of Sun Breathing... I'm practically drooling over them!"
He stabbed the sword into the ground to support his body as he stood up.
Kusuo had already discovered that his slashing speed had improved by leaps and bounds. Before obtaining the template, it was a remarkable feat for him to maintain a pace of one slash every two seconds.
Now, any casual slash he made was several times faster than before.
And the power was far greater as well.
But this was to be expected. That man, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, was a powerhouse capable of unleashing 1,500 slashes in a single second, instantly obliterating the demon king, Muzan Kibutsuji. Even with only one percent of his talent, unleashing fifteen slashes per second wouldn't be an issue!
Of course, it couldn't be calculated with simple mathematics, but based on feeling alone, Kusuo conservatively estimated that he could currently execute at least three slashes per second, maybe more.
He walked over to the wooden dummy that had already been chopped into several pieces, carefully set it upright, and then used some wooden splints to fasten it together. Several other dummies nearby were still smoldering from the fiery property of Sun Breathing's first form.
"Sun Breathing—First Form: Dance!"
He executed the technique once more.
This time, however, he didn't use Total Concentration Breathing. That state was a massive drain on his stamina and focus, so it was best to avoid it during regular practice.
BANG!
The circular slash instantly engulfed the dummy before him. Already fragile from being pieced back together, it was immediately pulverized into countless fragments!
But it didn't stop there. With the Yoriichi template, Kusuo's slashing speed was now as fast as lightning. The blade cut through the air, letting out a sharp roar as it broke the sound barrier.
"So strong!"
Hiding nearby, Kakashi's brow furrowed. He had initially approached with simple curiosity, wanting to see what his cousin was up to, but now he felt as if he had stumbled upon something extraordinary.
"That slashing speed... it's unbelievable!"
"It's nothing a five-year-old child should be capable of."
To see Kusuo's movements clearly, Kakashi had even removed his mask and activated his Sharingan. Only then was he barely able to perceive Kusuo's actions.
And because of this, the shock in his heart grew even greater.
A five-year-old child could unleash slashes so fast they required a Sharingan to be seen. If word of this got out, it would surely stun countless powerful figures.
"Who's there?"
Kakashi's gasp was quiet, but it didn't escape the keen senses of Hatake Kusuo. The alert boy called out again, but still received no answer.
Pretending he had misheard, Kusuo turned back to the training post as if to resume his practice.
The next moment—
"Sun Breathing—First Form: Dance!"
SWISH!
He unleashed the sword form. A sudden slash.
It carried an astonishing amount of sword pressure and roared like a fiery dragon. A massive wave of flames, radiating scorching heat, shot forward in an instant, startling Kakashi and forcing him to leap away.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted.
Earth and stone flew everywhere, kicking up a cloud of dust. A crater several meters deep had appeared at their feet.
At the same time, a broken blade, snapped in two, was stuck in the ground. It was the weapon Kakashi had drawn in his haste to defend himself. It had been instantly cleaved in half, offering no resistance whatsoever.
It was only because Kusuo had recognized Kakashi's face at the last moment and angled his blade downwards that this was the result. Looking at the massive crater, it wasn't hard to imagine what would happen if the attack had landed on a human body.
Not even dust would remain.
Kakashi stared gravely at Hatake Kusuo in front of him, his heart pounding with a shock that was beyond words.
Flawless swordsmanship!
Its potential even surpasses the ancestral sword style of the Hatake clan!
Although he had no idea where his cousin had learned this technique, he was certain of one thing: not even his own father, the White Fang of the Leaf, hailed by the world as one of its legendary "Eight Colors," could have used such a powerful sword technique at this age.
And Kusuo was still young, only five years old. Once he grew up and possessed enough chakra, what kind of devastation would this technique cause at full power?
It wouldn't be a crater at his feet, but an abyss carved by a single human slash!
At this thought, Kakashi's gaze upon his cousin, Hatake Kusuo, turned fervent.
It was the thrill of discovering a perfect, uncut gem.
And he was a child of the Hatake clan.
If he were guided properly, once he grew up, he would absolutely become a man no less powerful than his own father, the legendary "White Fang of Konoha"!