"Take a break."
Kakashi said, dropping his ninja blade and then sitting on the ground.
He was a bit out of strength, after all, he was only six years old and had reached his limit in both stamina and chakra.
"Your swordsmanship is improving quickly; I was almost using my full strength just now."
Kakashi wasn't lying about that. He wouldn't bother flattering an employer just for a bit of mission reward; he had just used Lightning Release for speed, Wind Escape for sharpness, and didn't hold back at all.
But Uchiha Yoichi blocked all of it and even wrapped thick threads of Thunderlight around his ninja blade.
While Wind Escape has an advantage over Lightning Release, Uchiha Yoichi's strength was immense, and if Kakashi tried to use Wind Escape to shatter the Lightning Release on the opponent's blade, Uchiha Yoichi would counter with sheer strength.
Although Uchiha Yoichi's swordsmanship didn't have complex techniques, his speed was fast, and his strength was compelling. Coupled with the high-speed of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Kakashi felt if he were to counterattack, he certainly wouldn't hold up and would have to use ninjutsu to retaliate.
"Alright, let's take a break and eat something to replenish our strength, then we'll continue."
Uchiha Yoichi wrote on a piece of paper and then brought over a food box filled with nutritious food.
Fresh foods, freshly grilled meats, various fruits, and some medicine soups that didn't taste too bad.
Uchiha Yoichi didn't care about money. In a world with extraordinary power, earning money was too easy. All those money-hoarding nobles were just helping him stockpile.
Kakashi wasn't polite either, as he had been eating the food Uchiha Yoichi bought these days, but he was curious. Although ninjas weren't short of money, was such lavish spending not problematic...
Just as Kakashi was about to enjoy the food, a piece of paper was suddenly handed to him: "Your father was excellent at earning money too, your family just chose to be frugal."
This guy.....
Kakashi thought helplessly; he seriously doubted Uchiha Yoichi was from the Yamanaka Clan, otherwise, how would the guy know what he was thinking? It was terrifying.
After eating and resting, Kakashi suddenly spoke: "Do you know the rumors in the village?"
"You're talking about the rumors of me using my teammates and even deliberately abandoning them, right? I'm aware."
Kakashi was stunned for a moment and then continued: "Did someone tell you?
Never mind, it was a former classmate from the Ninja Academy who told me. Even they know about it, which means quite a few in the village are aware. What originally was a rumor among a few has spread too fast...."
Uchiha Yoichi naturally heard it from Kakashi's thoughts. During this time, apart from home and training grounds, he rarely went anywhere else, and the rumor spreading was something he had just found out.
"Let them talk. Those ignorant fools can only believe such rumors."
Kakashi was startled and curiously asked: "You don't care?"
"Why should I care about them? If they dare say it to my face, I'll kill them, and they'll learn what happens to people with no strength and a loose tongue."
"What if the people spreading rumors are stronger than you?"
"Then I'll remember, and when I become stronger than them, I'll kill them then!"
Kakashi fell silent at his response; he didn't think Uchiha Yoichi was joking, considering his intense training, becoming stronger was only a matter of time.
Even just from the progress in swordsmanship, Kakashi felt some pressure.
A week ago, this person hadn't even mastered the basics of swordsmanship, and now he was close to overpowering him.
'I should train seriously too and find some time to consult my dad, learn more advanced swordsmanship.'
"Continue training....."
Before Kakashi could finish his sentence, both he and Uchiha Yoichi turned their heads to look in the other direction.
Soon, three ninjas appeared from the woods, each wearing animal-shaped masks, dressed in Anbu attire, and the leader wore a black cloak.
The three of them swiftly approached Uchiha Yoichi and Kakashi. The Anbu in the black cloak spoke: "Uchiha Yoichi, we are ninjas from the Root, and we have something to say to you!"
Kakashi heard this and understood that they wanted him to leave. However, seeing a nod from Uchiha Yoichi, he stood up and walked aside.
After Kakashi left, Aburame Ryuma continued: "Uchiha Yoichi, rumors about you are spreading more and more in the village, even the Root has received the news. But these are nothing to Lord Danzo; as long as you hand over the Lightning Release Chakra Mode Nin-Taijutsu and join the Root....."
"Shut up."
Uchiha Yoichi removed his metal mask and sighed. When he opened his eyes again, they reflected the Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
"The Root truly is despicable and shameless, spreading rumors about me and then pretending to be the good guy by advising me, wanting me to hand over Lightning Release Chakra Mode to smooth out the rumors...
Oh, and also wanting to recruit me into the Root, to study the Sharingan? Tell me what else you want.... making me carry out difficult tasks, completing them endlessly, and if I fail, retrieving my corpse.... truly the Root!"
Aburame Ryuma's expression changed upon hearing this, though he wore a mask, it made no difference in front of Uchiha Yoichi.
"Uchiha Yoichi, don't maliciously speculate about the Root and Lord Danzo, we are the guardians in the darkness....."
Zzzzzz!
Like a sudden explosive cry.
Uchiha Yoichi's body suddenly sparked with lightning, and then in a flash, he charged at the three from the Root.
"Uchiha Yoichi, how dare you...."
Aburame Ryuma felt a chill inside, not expecting Uchiha Yoichi to dare attack them, and such frightening speed!
The ten-meter distance was closed in a blink!
"Insect Sphere!"
Aburame Ryuma quickly sealed, instantly releasing black cloud-like insects from his body, which surged towards Uchiha Yoichi like a tide at his command.
Encased by the swarm, the outcome would be certain death from having one's chakra devoured completely.
However, the thunderous roar grew intensely as a blinding lightning pierced through the Insect Sphere, and then Uchiha Yoichi, before the other two Root ninjas could use ninjutsu, delivered a devastating punch to Aburame Ryuma's face.
Crack!
Bam!
The mask shattered, and Aburame Ryuma was sent flying several meters by Uchiha Yoichi's punch.
At this moment, the two other Root ninjas reacted, shouting 'seeking death,' one drawing his blade to slash, while the other leapt back preparing to use ninjutsu.
But Uchiha Yoichi wouldn't give them the chance. The lightning on his body crackled again, his speed like thunder and lightning.
Moreover, the lightning surrounding him could defend against general attacks; he once more repelled the two with punches and knife-hand strikes.
Uchiha Yoichi coldly said: "Get lost, just seeing you Root scum disgusts me. I wouldn't give Lightning Release Chakra Mode to you even if it was for dogs, I will inform Elder Kenji of this matter."
"Uchiha Yoichi....."
"If you want to fight, go ahead, but I will risk my life to kill you!"
Uchiha Yoichi drew his ninja blade, the crackling thunder on his body showed no signs of fading, instead growing even more intense.
At this moment, Hatake Kakashi also arrived. Although he hadn't heard what both sides had spoken earlier, Uchiha Yoichi suddenly taking action had startled Kakashi.
"You've attacked the Root. I will report this to Lord Danzo; even if you're part of the Uchiha clan, you won't get away with this!"
Aburame Ryuma touched the wound on his face, then glanced at Kakashi. The white hair and the distinctive short blade; he had recognized him as the son of Konoha's White Fang.
Besides, they weren't far from Konoha Village, any noise from ninjutsu would attract the Anbu.
——————————————————
After the three from the Root left, Uchiha Yoichi finally sat down with his whole body aching. Continuously using a large amount of Lightning Release Chakra exceeding his capacity was a significant burden.
He felt as though even his muscles were damaged!
However, hearing the shameless intentions of the Root indeed made Uchiha Yoichi furiously impulsive.
Kakashi asked: "Are you alright? What do you plan to do next?"
"I've pushed past my physical limits, resting for two days should suffice. Let's call it a day, I need to meet the elders of the clan next."
Picking up the metal mask from the ground, Uchiha Yoichi said one last thing to Kakashi before putting it back on: "Kakashi, the mastermind behind spreading rumors about me are the Root ninjas. Remember what they did today, you might encounter something similar to what I did....."