In a remote forest, the dense sound of metal collisions suddenly stopped.
Bang!
Bang!
Two shadow clones immediately dispersed. The next second, Kakashi's face changed, and he sat directly on the ground.
When shadow clones come into contact, they bring back memories. Once too many memories are brought back, it can cause a great stress on the body in an instant.
Fortunately, Kakashi only used two shadow clones, and it was just the action of throwing shurikens, so the stress wasn't too great.
"Come over and eat something; food helps in the recovery of chakra. We'll train two more times this afternoon, and today's training will be over."
Uchiha Yoichi waved to Kakashi and said. Beside him, three large food boxes were already prepared, enough for about six people, containing rice balls, meat, and seafood, all ordered from some deli shops in the village.
He had tentsatively ordered for a month, priced around twelve thousand ryo, with the seafood being the most expensive, while the others were at normal prices.
"Then I'll be intruding."
After hearing this, Kakashi didn't stand on ceremony and sat down, taking the lunch box handed to him by Uchiha Yoichi and began eating; if Yoichi hadn't called him, he would have eaten the dry food he brought himself.
Even though they were in the village and Kakashi could go home for meals, he was on a mission and had to listen to the employer before the mission ended.
The core of a ninja is chakra, and to quickly recover chakra one must start with food; nutrient-rich food aids in chakra recovery. Medicinal materials recover chakra faster than food, though generally, people don't take medicine just to recover chakra.
Even soldier pills made from medicinal materials are used only in emergencies.
"Are you planning to practice swordsmanship?"
After finishing his meal, Kakashi turned around and asked. Although he took off his mask while eating, he ate with his back to Uchiha Yoichi.
"Yes, I plan to practice swordsmanship that compliments the speed of lightning release, which gives a higher survival rate on the battlefield... Also, Kakashi, haven't I said not to casually ask me questions?"
Uchiha Yoichi replied without paying attention, inadvertently speaking his mind. Luckily, during his conversation with Kakashi, he found a bit of a pattern.
As long as he consciously controls it, he can avoid speaking; but if he subconsciously starts speaking, he will definitely say what's on his mind.
"I'm sorry, I'll be careful next time. But if you want to find a sparring partner for swordsmanship, I can switch styles, maybe use a ninja blade..."
With no expression hidden behind the mask, Kakashi apologizes, then continues: "I should be a little better at swordsmanship than you. Compared to only practicing reaction blocking with shuriken throwing, sparring with swordsmanship should be more effective."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yoichi suddenly remembered Kakashi's father is the Konoha White Fang, whose swordsmanship is famous throughout the Ninja World.
Even during the Third Ninja War, Kakashi could scare away a Hidden Rock Jonin just by his resemblance to Hatake Sakumo.
However, it's not graduation season, nor are there any suitable task squads to join, so Kakashi can only take up some D-Class tasks.
Running into Uchiha Yoichi's task was purely a coincidence. Kakashi happened to be on duty when the commission was issued, and since there was no danger within the village, he accepted it.
"Of course I can; if you're okay with it, I can pay you at the rate of a B-Class task, and the duration will remain as previously agreed — just don't speak to me proactively."
"Okay, I have no problem with that, let's do it then. Actually, you could try using swordsmanship to counter various types of ninjutsu, though my chakra is limited, so I can't accompany you for that kind of training."
Kakashi agreed without hesitation. After watching Uchiha Yoichi train for a day, he came to understand the abilities of this Chunin who is 'somewhat famous' in the village.
One-Tomoe Sharingan, but very quick reaction speed, no basic training in swordsmanship, yet can rely on reaction speed to completely block shurikens from all angles.
You can see the capability through training; sparring with someone like this could indeed benefit his sword skills.
There must be many formidable ninjas in the Uchiha Race, so why doesn't he seek out his clan members, instead releasing a commission to find village ninjas...
"Let's continue training."
After resting for a while, Uchiha Yoichi stood up and said. Kakashi was also rested enough by now, and proceeded to create three shadow clones.
Before long, the dense sound of metal clashing echoed through the forest once more.
Kakashi's shuriken throws were at very tricky angles; although they weren't embedded with chakra and thus not very powerful, they relentlessly aimed for vital spots.
Uchiha Yoichi had to constantly increase his sword-swinging speed — the Sharingan's tomoe in his eyeballs spun so fast it was almost a pinwheel — just to avoid injury amidst the dense barrage of shuriken attacks.
By afternoon, after completing his training, Kakashi was exhausted. He said his goodbyes to Uchiha Yoichi and headed home.
After taking a shower, his meal delivery arrived. Uchiha Yoichi found cooking troublesome, so he ordered lunch and dinner deliveries directly to his doorstep.
But shortly after finishing his meal, someone knocked on his door.
Opening the door, Uchiha Yoichi frowned slightly; it was one of the people he least wanted to see now.
"Mr. Yoichi, don't forget to attend the clan meeting tonight."
"Senior Mabayashi, I've already said I don't want to attend. There's no precedent for Chunin to attend clan meetings, so stop looking for me."
"Yoichi, as long as you're part of the Uchiha Race, you can attend clan meetings. This time the Clan Leader invited you; you should go. Don't make things difficult for me."
[If you don't go, then I'll have to employ some hard measures.]
Upon hearing Uchiha Mabayashi's words and inner thoughts, Uchiha Yoichi couldn't hold back and said, "Senior Mabayashi, why don't I see your and the Clan Leader's tough stance when dealing with outsiders?"
"Even if I go to the clan meeting, your plans won't be realized. From the start, I won't apologize to those who insulted me. Senior Mabayashi, do you think all clan members are like you and the Clan Leader, yielding to outsiders?"
This time, there was no need for him to consciously control; he genuinely wanted to say these words from the start!
"Yoichi, you..."
[He's right; if Uchiha Yoichi explains everything in detail at the clan meeting, and with the Second Elder's instigation, then Fugaku's authority as Clan Leader is bound to be challenged... No, Fugaku's plan is flawed; it needs to be discussed anew.]
Realizing this, Uchiha Mabayashi's expression changed slightly. At this point, he had no desire for Yoichi to attend the clan meeting either, but couldn't bring himself to admit it. He ended by giving Yoichi a deep look and said, "Yoichi, no matter what others have told you, you misunderstand the Clan Leader."
"Misunderstand or not, I know best in my heart, Senior Mabayashi. Right now, I understand you better than you understand yourself."
Having said that, Uchiha Yoichi went into the house and grabbed a storage scroll, then tossed it to Uchiha Mabayashi.
"This is for the costs of forging ninja blades; the excess counts as material fees. If the Ninja Cat Race hasn't been contacted, then return my chakra metal to me and I'll find someone myself. I don't wish to accept the Clan Leader's goodwill; I'm afraid one day I'll die under the guise of the Clan Leader's good intentions."
While the Hyuga Clan Leader could hand over his brother, and the young clan leader of the Uchiha Race could destroy the race for Konoha, in the clan Uchiha Yoichi is just an average member with a little fame. Getting too close to Uchiha Fugaku does bring the real fear of one day hearing
"Yoichi, for Konoha, please make the sacrifice!"
The scroll contained one hundred and fifty thousand ryo, so even hiring a Ninja Tool Forging Master from the Land of Crafts would be more than sufficient.