In Konoha, inside an inconspicuous dessert shop.
Sasuke sat alone in a corner booth, his face expressionless as he used a bamboo skewer to take small bites of the tri-colored dango on his plate.
The overly sweet taste spreading in his mouth made him instinctively frown, but he didn't stop eating.
This morning, he had taken the initiative to meet Hiruzen.
As expected, Hiruzen had glossed over everything that happened that night.
From the looks of it, everything that happened yesterday was arranged by him.
Those two Anbu who showed up later were probably just for show.
And Sasuke's attempt to reclaim the Uchiha Clan's assets was only partially successful.
"Sasuke, you are still young. The Uchiha clan's assets are substantial. To prevent them from being coveted by those with ill intentions, the village will temporarily manage the remaining assets for you and return them in full once you come of age."
When Hiruzen said this, he showed a warm and kindly smile.
But Sasuke found it somewhat ridiculous.
'If I hadn't demonstrated sufficient talent, I might not have even gotten this portion of the assets so easily.'
Sasuke put the last piece of dango into his mouth.
Just then, a green whirlwind, accompanied by a spirited roar, swept past the shop's entrance.
"Oooh! Burn, youth! I lost again in this showdown! As expected of my rival, Kakashi!"
"As punishment, double the training! First, twenty laps around Konoha walking on your hands! If I can't do that, then do eight thousand push-ups..."
The green figure quickly disappeared down the street, leaving only a series of passionate shouts echoing behind.
The other customers in the shop seemed accustomed to this and could only smile wryly.
Sasuke's gaze withdrew from the direction where the figure had vanished, but images of his training at the underground training ground of Urahara Shop surfaced in his mind.
"…Your Zanjutsu and Hakuda are both like untrained brawling."
Urahara's words from that time echoed in his ears once more.
Sasuke set down the bamboo skewer, a slight frown forming on his brow.
After those days of training, his understanding of Hakuda had indeed improved significantly.
However, his training in Zanjutsu had been forced to stop before it could even begin due to the disturbance caused by the Hollows.
'What a pity.'
'Although the power of Takemikazuchi is strong, my current application of the sword itself still remains at the level of simple, brutal instinctual fighting techniques.'
'And since Urahara Kisuke is capable of instructing me...'
'Then...'
'There should logically be true masters of swordsmanship in this world.'
Thinking this, Sasuke didn't hesitate any longer.
He left money on the table, stood up, and walked straight out of the dessert shop.
He needed someone to provide information, and the choice of that person was obvious.
…
"Whose Kenjutsu is the best?"
In Training Ground 3, Kakashi leaned against a tree trunk, looking at the serious-faced Sasuke before him, his eyes filled with surprise.
"That's right."
Sasuke's reply was straightforward, "I need to find the strongest Kenjutsu master for instruction."
Kakashi scratched his head, looking Sasuke up and down.
He recalled Sasuke's previous swordsmanship, 'Full of killing intent, though not systematic, they were very practiced.'
'Coupled with the two extraordinary-looking swords at his waist...'
'This kid really does need to go further down this path.'
"A Kenjutsu master within the village..." Kakashi mused, quickly running through potential candidates in his mind.
'Anbu's Yugao?'
'Her Kenjutsu is decent, standard Konoha style, but her techniques lean too much towards assassination… too subtle and soft, not suitable for Sasuke.'
'Tokubetsu Jonin Hayate?'
'His Crescent Moon Dance is quite flashy, but his health is too poor… he's probably not even as strong as Sasuke is now.'
As for asking them to instruct Sasuke?
Kakashi could almost picture Sasuke's little face full of defiance.
'This kid has exceptionally high standards, ordinary Jonin wouldn't even catch his eye.'
Name after name flashed through Kakashi's mind, only to be dismissed one by one.
Finally, his thoughts settled on a lonely figure against the backdrop of dusk, holding a short sword.
In his hand was a sword that made all enemies tremble in fear… White Fang.
That sword was once Konoha's pride.
'Konoha's White Fang', a title that once shone even brighter than the 'Yellow Flash'.
Kakashi's eye grew complex with memory, mingled with pride and pain.
"I know someone." He began slowly, his voice lower than usual, "His swordsmanship was once hailed as the strongest in Konoha. Even the Sannin would show him respect upon meeting him."
A flicker of interest appeared in Sasuke's eyes, "Who is he?"
"Hatake Sakumo." Kakashi said the name with unusual calm, "Konoha's White Fang. My father."
Sasuke's brows raised slightly.
'Kakashi's father? I had never heard of him.'
"However, he's no longer here." Kakashi's tone remained flat, as if discussing something unrelated to himself, but his gaze when he looked at Sasuke was unprecedentedly serious.
"The man is gone, but his swordsmanship remains."
"Our Hatake Clan has passed down a Kenjutsu through generations."
"It has no name, only pursuing the purest draw and strike, integrating everything into these most fundamental movements, striving for a one-hit kill."
Sasuke listened quietly without interrupting. This philosophy seemed to align with what Urahara had said about fundamentals.
"I can teach you this Kenjutsu." Kakashi looked at Sasuke, a hint of expectation in his eyes, "With your talent, perhaps you could make it..."
Before he could finish, Sasuke directly cut him off.
"You?" Sasuke's gaze swept over Kakashi, not hiding his skepticism, "Your Kenjutsu doesn't seem particularly impressive."
Sasuke's tone was cold, "I've never seen you use a sword. Someone who has abandoned their own clan's inheritance has no right to instruct me."
The air seemed to freeze in that instant.
Hearing Sasuke's words, the ease on Kakashi's face instantly vanished, leaving him standing there in a daze.
'Yeah...'
'How long has it been since I held that sword again?'
Since his father's death, since the White Fang sword, that symbol of glory and shame. had shattered, he had buried it, along with his past.
He had even nearly forgotten how to wield the Kenjutsu his father left behind.
Sasuke looked at the man who had suddenly fallen silent, no trace of sympathy in his eyes.
Someone who couldn't even face themselves had no qualification to be his teacher in swords.
"Sorry." Kakashi finally squeezed out the word after a long pause, his voice hoarse.
'Sasuke was right, I was indeed not qualified.'
He slowly raised his head, his usually half-droopy eye now filled with unresolvable guilt and pain.
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