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Kaito realized it was impossible to find new paper material for his puppets in Ōeyama.
No one here used chakra, so materials compatible with chakra couldn't possibly exist.
Naturally, Kaito turned his attention to Sasuke.
"This material will work." Kaito nodded in satisfaction. "Though it's only a bit of paper when taken apart, it should be enough for a short while."
He was squatting on the ground, surrounded by several sealing scrolls torn apart.
Beside him were piles of clothes and ninja tools that originally belonged to Sasuke.
Sasuke, watching his uncle casually take and dismantle his belongings, had lost all respect for him.
Initially, Kaito had made a great impression on him.
He was approachable yet mysterious and powerful.
Sasuke even aspired to become like him when he grew up.
But now...
I don't want to grow up to be such an unreliable adult!
Sensing Sasuke's disdainful gaze, Kaito still tried to placate the boy.
While he smoothed and folded the paper taken from the scrolls, he said, "Don't be like that, Sasuke. I'll give you something better in return."
"Hmph. You'd better." Sasuke picked up his clothes, "I'll go sort these out."
It seemed a trip to Konoha was necessary.
Kaito planned internally.
Not just to collect materials, but since he wanted to sign contracts with ninjas, the next improvement in his technique required studying chakra sealing techniques.
The legacy of the Uzumaki clan should have been brought to Konoha by the Fourth Hokage's wife.
Moreover, with the Uchiha clan destroyed, he couldn't believe their Sharingan would be left in their corpses to return to dust.
They needed to be reclaimed.
"It seems a trip is in order soon." Kaito mused aloud, "Should I invite Senju Predecessor and Chiri Predecessor to join me?"
After folding the paper, he took out scissors and started cutting.
"It sounds like a good idea, so let's decide on that."
He stood up, brushed off the paper scraps, and tucked a stack of newly made paper puppets into his sleeve.
"Sasuke!" he called out loudly, "It's time to go."
"I'm coming." Sasuke, dressed in a brand new samurai outfit and holding a katana, stepped out.
"Not bad." Kaito looked over Sasuke's new look and nodded approvingly, "Then let's set off."
"Why ask someone else? Can't you teach me?" Sasuke followed Kaito out of the house, casually complaining.
Humph, he said he would teach me personally, but he either leaves me to learn by myself or pushes me onto someone else.
"Hahaha, because I'm not very good at swordsmanship." Kaito laughed awkwardly, "I can use a sword, but that's about it."
He turned and patted Sasuke on the shoulder, "So I asked the strongest swordsmanship demon in Ōeyama to teach you. That guy is proficient in dozens of ancient swordsmanship styles, definitely better than I could teach."
"Who?" Sasuke asked, intrigued.
"His name is Onikiri; he was originally a famous sword," Kaito explained. "His previous master was a renowned warrior who fought against Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. After his master's sacrifice, he was brought to Ōeyama and, over many years, a tsukumogami (artifact spirit) was born from the sword."
"Although he was born a tsukumogami after the war, he still retains the memories of being a sword. So, he is very proficient in swordsmanship."
As they talked, they arrived at a dojo on the edge of Ōeyama.
"This is the place."
Kaito knocked on the dojo's large door and called out, "Mr. Onikiri!"
After a while, the door opened to reveal the face of Karasu Tengu Fūta, whom Sasuke had seen upon entering Ōeyama.
"You've arrived, please come in." Fūta fully opened the door, welcoming them in. "Lord Onikiri is waiting for you."
"Given my recommendation, Lord Onikiri will teach you well," he said, observing Sasuke with a somewhat arrogant tone. "You're lucky; not everyone gets the chance to learn swordsmanship from Lord Onikiri."
"Hmph." Sasuke retorted, unwilling to show weakness, "My qualifications aren't for you to judge. Since you don't decide here, spare me the talk."
"You arrogant child!" Fūta drew his katana, pointing it at Sasuke, "Since you're so confident, let me test your strength on Lord Onikiri's behalf."
"Bring it on."
Though Sasuke had never learned swordsmanship and didn't bring his ninja tools, he didn't hesitate to draw his sword, ready to fight Fūta.
"Really, kids are such a hassle," Kaito, covering his forehead, commented. "Aren't you going to stop them, Onikiri?" He turned to the tall man who had appeared beside them at some point.
Dressed in black with flowing long hair and surrounded by a cold, sharp metallic aura, Onikiri brushed his disheveled hair back, stating gravely, "Choosing the sword means adopting an unyielding spirit."
"Then I'll leave it to you," Kaito shrugged. "Since I've promised you, I'll rigorously train him. There's much you're relied upon to do, and this is how I can assist. Everything is for our ultimate victory."
Kaito mused, then turned his attention to the two young fighters in the arena with interest.
Fūta, having learned swordsmanship from Onikiri for a long time, was undoubtedly dominating the fight.
Sasuke, though armed with a katana, was merely wielding it like a physical weapon.
If not for his Sharingan's extraordinary insight and his adept use of substitution and body flicker techniques, he would have likely been defeated already.
Knowing he couldn't continue like this, as someone utterly inexperienced in swordsmanship, Sasuke prepared to use other ninja techniques after gaining some distance.
Just as he sheathed his sword and started forming seals, a large hand suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist.
"That's enough. Since you're here to learn swordsmanship, using methods other than sword techniques is pointless."
Onikiri had, unknowingly, moved next to Sasuke.
"Hmph," Fūta, seeing this, also sheathed his sword but still looked arrogantly at Sasuke, "You haven't learned swordsmanship at all; this fight was meaningless."
"I'll test your qualifications again after you've learned swordsmanship."
"Then I'll be waiting," Sasuke responded with equal pride.
"Alright, Sasuke," Kaito stepped forward to introduce Sasuke, "This is Onikiri, whom I've told you about. You can call him Master Onikiri."
"Master Onikiri," Sasuke obediently greeted.
"Hm," Onikiri nodded, "I will demand the strictest standards from you. If you can't meet them, better to give up early."
"I'll definitely meet them," Sasuke said with a confident smile.