[Read advance Chapters on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/SlytherinManor]
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At a certain training ground—
A flash of white cut through the air as the famed short blade of the White Fang was drawn in an instant, slicing toward Kanzou with lightning speed.
"Good speed…" Kanzou muttered, drawing Ryūjin Jakka just in time to intercept the strike.
Ding!
Metal rang as the blades clashed. Sakumo's eyes narrowed, fixed on Kanzou's katana. "That blade…"
"It's called Ryūjin Jakka," Kanzou replied casually, not bothering to hide it. Anyway, knowing the name of the blade wouldn't really do anything.
"Ryūjin Jakka?" Sakumo repeated the name, unfamiliar to him.
He couldn't judge it fully by sight alone, but Kanzou's sword radiated an unsettling danger, as if even a shallow cut could reduce flesh to ash. The sensation was so oppressive that his grip faltered for a brief moment.
Sakumo even wondered whether the blade was some ancient weapon preserved within the Uchiha clan.
Whatever the truth was, Sakumo forced himself to calm down and tightened his grip once more.
"Hm… your White Fang isn't bad either," Kanzou remarked, tilting his blade slightly.
Sakumo's White Fang was no ordinary weapon. Though it couldn't compare to Ryūjin Jakka, it was still a specially crafted short sword forged from chakra-conducting metal, designed to channel chakra with exceptional efficiency. A rare and powerful ninja tool, it was not something just anyone could wield.
Perfectly attuned to Sakumo's chakra, the blade radiated a brilliant white glow with every swing. Each slash was sharp, swift, and lethal.
Despite being on the defensive, Kanzou remained remarkably composed. His kenjutsu might not surpass Sakumo's, but it was certainly not inferior, and he possessed one decisive advantage: the Sharingan.
Even with only the three-tomoe Sharingan active, he could clearly trace the trajectory of every one of Sakumo's strikes.
Within moments, the two had already exchanged dozens of blows. As the battle wore on, Kanzou adapted rapidly to the Hatake Style, growing more precise in responding to Sakumo's attacks and feints.
As a natural genius, his rate of learning was extraordinary, and Sharingan's ability to copy things helped as well.
Through each clash, he began to grasp the defining trait of Hatake Style kenjutsu. The angles at which Sakumo slashed, the way he tilted his blade at different moments. All of that was closely watched by Kanzou.
Even the way Sakumo had Wind Style chakra wrapped along the blade.
Indeed, Sakumo's White Fang employed the cutting properties of Wind Style chakra to dramatically enhance its sharpness and lethality. Its slicing power was terrifyingly high.
Against such attacks, any ordinary blade would have been chipped or shattered within moments… but Ryūjin Jakka was no ordinary weapon.
Sakumo grew increasingly alarmed. He had heard of Uchiha Kanzou's talent and had even witnessed it firsthand on the battlefields of the Land of Rain. Those encounters had convinced him that Kanzou would one day surpass him, but he had never expected that day to come so soon.
Sakumo could feel it clearly: Kanzou might already be stronger than him, judging by how effortlessly he was holding his ground. There were still no traces of sweat on his forehead, and even his breathing was very calm.
And Sakumo wasn't holding back. Enraged and going all out, he had used his full strength; his attacks were even mixed with bloodlust and intent to kill. Yet, Kanzou was keeping up with ease.
'How old is he?' Sakumo thought in disbelief. 'And he's already this strong?!'
'Not too difficult, I suppose,' Kanzou smiled inwardly.
With such blistering speed and precision, Sakumo's swordsmanship could likely cut through even ninjutsu under the right conditions.
That said, Sakumo rarely relied on direct, head-on combat. His short blade was never meant for prolonged frontal exchanges. It excelled in stealth and surprise, swift, lethal strikes delivered from the shadows, where no one could react in time.
Clang!
Ryūjin Jakka slammed violently against the short blade, sparks bursting into the air.
Sakumo was forced back, flipping mid-air gracefully before landing lightly on his feet, poised like a watchful civet cat.
Yet the hand gripping his blade trembled faintly.
Across from him, Kanzou held Ryūjin Jakka one-handed, his arm also quivering from the force of the clash.
"You've got some strength," Kanzou remarked calmly.
"You've got even more," Sakumo replied, watching him as though he were some kind of monster.
Kanzou accepted the compliment without hesitation, then even praised himself. "Of course I'm strong. Isn't that only natural? After all, it's me, Uchiha Kanzou!"
Sakumo's eye twitched at the shameless self-aggrandizement.
Then Kanzou suddenly brought up something Sakumo hadn't expected at all: "Sakumo-san… how about quitting the ANBU and joining my Police Force?"
Sakumo froze. "Huh?" He hadn't expected something like that at all. "What are you trying to say?"
Kanzou shrugged. "Simple. Your talent is being wasted in the ANBU. A man of your strength would be far more valued under me. Forget Sarutobi Hiruzen; he is a weak guy and pathetic… He is afraid of anyone who is better than him and cannot be controlled by him… If you stay under him, it'll only result in a miserable death… Why not work for me instead?" He smiled faintly. "We could train our kenjutsu like this, and I'd even offer you better benefits than the ANBU ever could."
Sakumo hadn't expected Kanzou to suddenly try recruiting him into the Police Force. He had heard rumors that the Uchihas had begun recruiting non-Uchiha shinobi into the Police Force, but to receive such an offer personally from the Uchiha Patriarch still caught him off guard.
"What? Don't you believe me?" Kanzou acted offended and said, "I am being serious here..." and after a pause, he added, his tone deliberate and tempting, "I could even support you to become the next Hokage..."
"The Hokage?!" Sakumo's eyes widened as he sucked a breath.
If Kanzou's previous offer was shocking, this was completely baffling.
For a moment, Sakumo stared strangely at Kanzou. "You are going to support me to become the Hokage?"
"Sure, why not? Sakumo-san has contributed to the village and deserves a chance. With your merits and the support of the Uchiha Clan, you'd definitely be able to become the next Hokage. Who knows, maybe you'd make a good Hokage... better than even Sarutobi Hiruzen..." nodded Kanzou, trying to tempt Sakumo.
Sakumo was silent for a while, and then questioned him, "...If you can support me as the Hokage, why don't you become the Hokage yourself?"
"...The village won't accept an Uchiha as the Hokage..." he answered with a shrug. While that was indeed sort of true, that wasn't the reason why Kanzou didn't want to become the Hokage.
In fact, Kanzou personally doesn't have any interest in becoming the Hokage...
Of course, if Sakumo has interest, and he is willing to swear loyalty to Kanzou, Kanzou wouldn't mind killing Hiruzen immediately and declaring Sakumo the next Hokage.
As for the opposition from other clans? When Kanzou and Mikoto open the Susanoo in front of all the Clans, would they still have the courage to oppose?
Wouldn't staying alive and submitting be a better choice?
The matter is very easy for him. But it depends on Sakumo's choice.
As for what Sakumo's choice was. "Humph..." a snort. Sakumo snorted, not taking Kanzou seriously.
He didn't bother responding.
In his eyes, the Police Force was doing nothing but stirring trouble within the village. More importantly, serving anyone other than the Hokage had never even crossed his mind. As for becoming Hokage himself... while that is indeed tempting... a Hatake as the Hokage of Konoha, something that he hadn't even dared imagine, he still understands the position of the Uchiha Clan.
Sakumo, who doesn't understand the true depths of power that Kanzou holds, believes that the Uchiha Clan can't support him becoming Hokage.
There's also the matter of his recent failure. After that, even remaining the ANBU commander is difficult, let alone becoming the Hokage.
Instead of answering, he raised his blade. "Let's go again."
"Not even an answer? How cold," Kanzou said, sounding a little disappointed. He did indeed want to recruit Sakumo into the Police Force. And he could have also made Sakumo the Hokage in the blink of an eye. But it seemed Sakumo was too hard-headed in his thoughts, ideology, and loyalty. Well, that's to be expected from a man as honorable and rigid as Sakumo.
And since people in Konoha are brainwashed to be loyal to the Hokage from when they are 3 or 6 years old, it's really difficult to change their mentality. It's like casting pearls before swine... it would remain ineffective.
"A pity..." he sighed. Unlike Might Duy, Hatake Sakumo couldn't be recruited. And Kanzou also didn't possess something like Kotoamatsukami, which could have helped him here...
"It's really a pity..." he sighed again. It would seem that Sakumo's death was imminent and nothing would change that.
"Could you stop giving me that look?" Sakumo was annoyed. The boy was looking at him as if at a dead man. And it wasn't the kind of look where Kanzou personally wanted to kill him... There was no bloodlust or desire to take away life in Kanzou's eyes; it was more like... he was looking at a man who was already dead.
This annoyed Sakumo. He was alive and definitely not someone who needed pity from Uchiha Kanzou of all people.
"Fufu..." Kanzou only chuckled in response, shaking away his disappointment.
Even if he was disappointed, it wasn't too much.
Although Sakumo refused to join the Police Force, it didn't really matter to him all that much. It would have been one thing if Sakumo stayed alive and remained loyal to Hiruzen. But that wouldn't happen... since neither of them would have this piece, it doesn't really matter.
'Since that's the case...' he thought, concentrating on the nearby presence, watching them while hiding herself, and his lips curved. 'Good, Uroko is indeed nearby... I won't have to call her specifically.'
That made things easier.
With that in mind, he refocused his attention on the fight in front of him.
At that time, chakra flared around Sakumo's legs, flooding his muscles and amplifying his speed. In a flash, he lunged forward, trying to trace a complex, hard-to-follow trajectory as his blade shot straight toward Kanzou's throat.
But Kanzou, with tomoe in his Sharingan spinning, scoffed. "Under my eyes, nothing is hidden."
He twisted his body sharply, channeling power from his waist into his arm, and swung Ryūjin Jakka behind him, striking precisely at the point Sakumo was about to exploit.
Clang!
Metal rang as Sakumo was forced backward. "Your physical strength is really too much..." Sakumo couldn't help but say.
"I am just getting started, you know," Kanzou smiled and pressed the advantage immediately, slashing down from above and driving in with a powerful kick.
Only Sakumo's lightning-fast reflexes saved him.
Clang!
Steel clashed again, and Sakumo's body shuddered under the terrifying strength behind the blow. Had he been even a second slower to block, the strike would have wounded him badly.
Drawing in a sharp breath, he rolled to the side, creating distance before retreating farther back. He finally steadied himself in a half-kneeling stance, blade held tight and eyes locked on Kanzou.
'This kid… he's far too strong for his age…' Sakumo thought, once again forced to acknowledge Kanzou's overwhelming physical power. 'Even Orochimaru wasn't—!'
His thoughts were interrupted by Kanzou's chuckle, "What's wrong, Sakumo-san?" His eyes gleamed with something terrifying, an oppressive pressure that weighed heavily on Sakumo's mind. "You aren't tired already, are you?"
Sakumo could only sigh, a complaint rising to his lips, but he never got the chance. Kanzou was already upon him.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel rang out once more as their blades clashed repeatedly in the courtyard. The sharp sounds carried far, drawing the attention of nearby neighbours and passersby, who slowed to watch what was unfolding inside the compound.
Unconcerned with any of it, Kanzou continued pressing his attack on Sakumo.
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A few minutes later, Kanzou finally eased back and slid Ryūjin Jakka into its sheath.
"The Hatake clan's Kenjutsu really lives up to its name. It was a pleasure crossing blades with you, Hatake Sakumo. But sadly," Kanzou added with a pointed tone, "even if I wanted to keep this up… I doubt there'll be any opportunity in the future."
By sparring with an expert like Sakumo, Kanzou's kenjutsu knowledge had made some progress.
It was a shame that Hatake Sakumo was a hard-headed man and too devoted to that so-called strongest Hokage and would die a shameful death by committing Seppuku.
But that didn't matter. It wasn't his loss... so he didn't care.
Shaking his head, Kanzou sheathed his katana and turned to leave. "Well... I guess I'll see you around, or maybe not... depends on the choice you make..."
Watching Kanzou leave, Sakumo glanced down at his own White Fang. The blade seemed to have been chipped along the edge… it made his eyes twitch.
Kanzou had managed to damage the famed White Fang.
Clearly it was the work of Kanzou's so-called Ryujin Jakka… further making Sakumo realize that the simple-looking katana that Kanzou was holding was far from being a simple Katana.
But Sakumo wasn't as concerned about that. What concerned him more was the level of skill that Uchiha Kanzou displayed. Not just in a myriad of Kenjutsu Styles that he blended seamlessly into his own style of Kenjutsu, but also the Hatake Style.
"Did he copy my kenjutsu?" Sakumo muttered with a heavy heart.
There was no need to question that possibility; Kanzou had most definitely copied his Clan's Kenjutsu.
"Tsk..." This made him click his tongue. This is why not many Clans or families like the Uchihas. What they take years, generations, and countless sacrifices to discover and develop, the Uchihas can copy with ease, stealing the techniques for themselves.
This really makes the Uchihas hateful. Even if it's Sakumo... an honorable man, he couldn't help but feel unhappy to know that his Hatake Style Kenjutsu was no longer exclusive to the Hatake Clan. One Uchiha Kanzou has copied it... and he'd probably spread it among his people.
"Hatake Style Kenjutsu... that was probably his purpose from the start..." he murmured, thinking that maybe he shouldn't have agreed to spar with Kanzou.
But it was already too late. Kanzou had already taken what he wanted, and even left.
However, something made Sakumo frown, "What did he mean by, 'I guess I'll see you around, or maybe not... depends on the choice you make.'?"
Sakumo was doubtful, "Is it related to that offer...?"
"No... It's not..." he shook his head. The reason being that the look Kanzou gave him at that moment; it was one of pity... Indeed, once again it was that look that seemed to be looking at a dead body, and it made Sakumo upset.
"Tch... I don't need your pity, Uchiha Kanzou!" Saying that, he shook his head and left the area, making his way back to the village.
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Leaving Sakumo behind on the training ground, Kanzou did not hurry back toward the village. He appeared on a tree branch overlooking the forest path, folded his arms, watching Sakumo leave.
At that moment, Uroko appeared behind him without a sound. She wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, pressed her breasts against his back, and whispered against his ear. "Master… congratulations on learning the Hatake Style Kenjutsu…"
She had watched the entire duel and saw that by the end Kanzou was using some techniques of the Hatake Style, and even overwhelmed Sakumo while at it.
"Hmm." Kanzou hummed briefly, not caring about that matter anymore.
Uroko tilted her head, brushing her cheeks against his shoulder. "You don't seem too happy or excited…"
"It's because this is not that big of a deal." He shook his head once. The Hatake style had sharpened a few of his angles and techniques, but that was it; it had not raised his overall strength.
Moreover, he had only just copied the form. Integrating it into the kenjutsu he had already forged for himself would still take deliberate training.
"I am afraid only you can say such a thing," Uroko murmured, an adoring smile in her voice. Although this was unintended humbleness, it was even narcissism; she still found this cute about her master. He was really too good to be moved by such stuff and didn't care about them.
Kanzou shrugged and changed the subject. "Unexpectedly, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't come."
He had felt the distant, impersonal spying the instant he and Sakumo left the Hatake Compound. With no other spying presences nearby except Uroko, the source had to be something in the distance, and except for the Hyuga's Byakugan, it could only be Hokage's crystal ball Jutsu.
For a few breaths, Kanzou had even wondered whether Hiruzen would seize the chance and try to remove him while he was outside the walls of the village. It was an opportunity worth exploiting. Kanzou was 'alone' meanwhile, Sakumo and Hiruzen would be outside.
Hiruzen could have tried to end his life. Of course, whether he'd have succeeded or not was a different matter. But from Hiruzen's perspective, there should have been temptations.
It turns out that Hiruzen was able to resist the temptations.
And frankly, Hiruzen should feel glad that he resisted. Otherwise, the consequences would really have been too much for that old man.
Kanzou was already thinking of turning that attempt around and, at minimum, leave the Hokage crippled. Of his three legs, Kanzou intended to take away at least two of them.
It's a pity that Hiruzen never showed up.
"It's because it's too close to Konoha," Uroko said. "He probably wasn't certain... and didn't want to take that big of a risk..."
"Humph... a coward monkey is what he is..." Kanzou snorted.
Uroko's lips twitched. "It's really something only you can say…"
Kanzou ignored the remark and let out a quiet sigh, "It's boring..."
Seeing it, Uroko nuzzled her cheek again, then spoke, "By the way, Master… I have some information that'd surely take your boredom away and make you happy."
"Oh? And what'd that be?" lifting an eyebrow.
"Uzumaki Kushina… she has returned to the village," answered Uroko.
"Ohh?" Kanzou's lips curved. "Well, about damn time..."
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On Sakumo's side, as soon as he returned to the village and was making his way back to the Hatake residence, an ANBU appeared by his side. "Sakumo-sama... Hokage-sama wishes to see you..."
Sakumo paused and nodded, "I see..."
Loyal to the Hokage, he didn't refuse and went with the ANBU. As for what Hiruzen wanted to talk about? Sakumo already had a good guess. It had to be related to this interaction with Uchiha Kanzou, right?
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Double Chapter, be sure to drop loads of power Stonessssssssss!
[Read advance Chapters on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/SlytherinManor]