The sheath of the sword was pitch black, carved with a coiling dragon motif that gave it an air of elegance and intimidation.
Yuki Seisui slowly unsheathed the weapon, revealing a straight blade that gleamed coldly at the edge. Though the blade itself was short, no longer than an average person's forearm, Seisui didn't find that unusual. He knew what it was capable of.
According to Uncle Hayata, once chakra was infused into the blade, the originally short length would instantly extend.
"So cool," Seisui remarked with genuine admiration, glancing at Uncle Hayata. "Your craftsmanship is amazing, old man."
"If you didn't always deny being a master smith, I'd swear you already were one."
"Hahaha, you're too kind," Hayata chuckled, scratching his head in embarrassment. "I'm still a long way from being a master smith!"
"I followed your specs exactly. Try it out, see if it suits you."
Seisui nodded. Though only six years old, constant training and a well-fed upbringing made him a bit taller and sturdier than other kids his age.
Once the blade extended, it reached up to his chest while standing upright before him. Thankfully, the hilt was long enough for him to wield it as a two-handed sword.
As Seisui channeled chakra into it, the blade shimmered with a bluish glow, especially around the cutting edge, where a cold light flickered ominously.
He glanced around, trying to find something suitable to test the blade on. But in a blacksmith's shop, there wasn't much other than iron blocks and tools.
Noticing Seisui's intent, Uncle Hayata brought out an iron rod as thick as a calf and planted it firmly in an open space.
"Try this. I prepared it just for you two," he said, glancing toward Minato.
That spiky-haired blond had barely used it, just managed to punch a hole into his forge.
Seeing Hayata's look, Minato scratched his head sheepishly.
But Seisui ignored their silent exchange. Holding the blade in both hands, its blue glow intensifying, he swung it down at the iron pillar.
It felt like slicing through paper, no resistance whatsoever as the blade passed cleanly through.
Hissss.
Seisui inhaled sharply. He hadn't expected the blade to be this powerful.
With this sword, his combat power had at least doubled, if not tripled.
"I didn't do anything fancy to this blade," Hayata explained. "Just tweaked the materials and forging process a bit. Now it channels chakra more smoothly and can extend its length."
"As for how powerful it becomes from here on, that's entirely up to you."
He paused, then quickly added, perhaps worried Seisui would find it lacking, "Of course, you can unleash slash waves with it. And the potential for developing new abilities with this weapon is basically limitless."
That part he said a bit uncertainly. After all, any chakra-conductive metal weapon could unleash chakra slashes, nothing too special there.
But Seisui didn't mind. As long as it worked, he was satisfied. Even without built-in abilities, the sword could conduct two chakra natures and change length, that alone qualified it as a divine weapon.
Besides, who said abilities couldn't be added later? Wind for cutting, water for impact, there were endless possibilities.
He glanced at the iron pillar, now cleanly sliced in half. Then, sliding the blade back into its sheath, he lowered his stance, preparing for a draw strike.
"Iaijutsu: Water Severing Strike!"
The instant he uttered the name, the sword flashed from its sheath, and two-thirds of Seisui's chakra vanished in a blink.
The blade was now wrapped in a faint, barely visible mist of water. Just before striking the iron pillar again, the mist parted to reveal a thin layer of wind chakra along the blade's edge, like a hidden fang.
As the sword made contact, water surged from the edge and spread across the pillar's surface, locking it in place.
Then that water pulled, wrapping around the pillar like a rope, drawing it toward the sword edge.
One force pushed while the other pulled.
What had felt like cutting tofu earlier now felt like slicing through air, utterly frictionless. There was no resistance, no feedback. It was as if he hadn't hit anything at all.
With a soft click, the blade returned to its sheath. Seisui wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead and muttered, "Creating water flow on land is exhausting."
Water-style jutsu on solid ground consumed far more chakra than in natural water, and the effect was often weaker too.
He glanced at the still-stunned Minato and Hayata. A small grin crept onto his lips.
This technique? He got the idea from a game back in his previous life.
Water Flow Beheading!
Encase the target's body part in water, then drag it toward the blade.
A move that made enemies essentially offer themselves up.
To top it off, the blade was covered with wind chakra to amplify cutting power.
The technique was flashy... but expensive in terms of chakra.
Seisui shook his head slightly. Too flashy for long battles.
"Seisui, that move was amazing!" Minato cheered from the side, his eyes sparkling like stars. Clearly, he was impressed.
"But... 'Water Flow Beheading' sounds kinda weird."
He then straightened up, put on a serious face, and declared, "Why not call it 'Super Flying Swallow Stealth Gale Phase Flow Slash - Style One!'"
I know your naming sense is weird, but could you not be this weird?
"No, 'Water Flow Beheading' is better!" Seisui shot down Minato's suggestion without hesitation, and, effective immediately, revoked his naming rights forever.
"But that name sounds so cool..."
Hugging his sword, Seisui ignored Minato's whining and turned to Hayata.
"Uncle, we'll be heading off now. We'll drop by again when we need more."
"Sure, come by anytime, Seisui," Hayata replied with a smile. Then he gave Minato a little gesture.
"You too, Minato."
"Got it!" Minato grinned brightly. "We definitely will!"
As they walked down the street, Minato kept staring at his kunai like it was some priceless artifact.
Well, for him, it was a treasure. His very first ninja tool.
"You know you can admire it at home, right?" Seisui said flatly, hugging his sword with a sigh.
"This is our first ninja tool!" Minato said with a weird expression, glancing over. "Aren't you excited?"
"Of course I am!" Seisui responded confidently, quickening his pace.
"But no matter how excited you are, save it for home. Otherwise, people on the street will think we're idiots."
He gestured for Minato to look around.
No one was staring at them... but still, the point stood.
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Note: Minato: tactical genius, Hokage material… absolute disaster at naming things.