Kakashi had never heard of the Stable Rock Style, but the name "Hoshigaki" immediately made him think of Hoshigaki Kisame.
"What is your relationship with Hoshigaki Kisame?"
"I'm Kisame's good-for-nothing cousin. From now on, I will be your opponent."
Ryukame held the Broad Sword horizontally in front of his chest.
Kakashi didn't look down on Ryukame just because he modestly called himself "good-for-nothing." Ryukame's earlier performance already made Kakashi realize that he was definitely not an ordinary ninja.
"But this sword shouldn't be a Zanpakuto."
"Nor is it a Great Grade Sword."
"Stable Rock Style... Could it be a swordsmanship style like the Hatake Style?"
"It blocked all of my slashes just now..."
"I'd like to see how your Stable Rock Style compares to my Hatake Style, in terms of strength!"
Kakashi became interested.
Because of the death of his father, Konoha's White Fang, Kakashi fell into a long period of depression. Even though he later came out of it, he didn't completely overcome it.
Kakashi rejected the ninja path of Konoha's White Fang, keeping only a Tanto, which broke during an attack by Hidden Rock Ninja.
Kakashi then became a Ninjutsu ninja and he happened to have a natural talent in this area. He didn't learn the Rasengan, but instead developed a Ninjutsu like Chidori on his own.
Among his peers, Kakashi's strength far surpassed the others. Later on, he transplanted the Sharingan, and Kakashi became an even more specialized Ninjutsu ninja.
It wasn't until he lost the Sharingan that Kakashi realized a crucial point—what doesn't belong to you will never truly be yours.
Kakashi faced the darkness of his past and returned to the path of Konoha's White Fang, becoming a swordsman ninja.
Soon, Kakashi combined his Lightning Release with his swordsmanship, developing a style suited to him. He also obtained the Sword of the Thunder God.
Kakashi's strength became even greater than during the time he had the Sharingan. It was then that Kakashi realized that perhaps the swordsmanship style was the best fit for him.
However, in the entire ninja world, there aren't many swordsmanship ninjas. Outside of the Land of Iron, where the samurai and swordsmanship are upheld, most regions focus on Ninjutsu and other techniques.
In Konoha, aside from the Hatake Style, there's only the Gekko Clan.
But to Kakashi, the swordsmanship of the Gekko Clan wasn't strong enough.
Kakashi was eager to engage with true masters of swordsmanship. He hoped to gain inspiration from powerful opponents and improve his own swordsmanship by competing with the strong.
Currently, Ryukame seemed to meet these criteria.
Kakashi attacked.
"Hatake Style Kenjutsu, Second Form, Kenrai, Swirling Wind!"
In an instant, he closed the distance and immediately followed up with a dense, impenetrable barrage of attacks.
Kakashi watched Ryukame closely.
"How will you block this?"
Ryukame's response was to remain still.
He didn't move an inch, holding the Broad Sword in front of him. Yet he perfectly anticipated all of Kakashi's strikes, adjusting the position of the Broad Sword to block every one of Kakashi's slashes.
At that moment, Kakashi felt that Ryukame's Broad Sword was not just any Ninjato.
Zabuza and the others looked over.
"Ryukame-san?"
Among the three, Zabuza and Mangetsu did not know Ryukame. Only Kohachi had previously had brief contact with him.
"When did Ryukame-san become so formidable?"
"That sword is neither a Zanpakuto nor a Great Grade Sword."
"Yet it managed to block all of Kakashi's attacks."
"Amazing defensive capability!"
Zabuza seemed to recall something.
"Just now, Ryukame-san mentioned something, Stable Rock Style."
"Stable Rock Style... Could it be a swordsmanship style?"
Kakashi's attacks were both fierce and fast, landing continuously on the Broad Sword in Ryukame's hands. The sound of metal clashing rang out rhythmically, almost like music.
Suddenly, Kakashi sensed a hint of danger.
He instinctively took a half-step back.
At that moment, Ryukame's body emanated a very distinct aura.
"Raging Tide!"
Ryukame swung his Broad Sword, forming a semi-circle in front of him.
This Broad Sword wasn't made of Chakra metal and couldn't transmit Chakra.
Yet, the sheer force and speed of the Broad Sword made Kakashi feel a strong threat; he seemed to hear the air being sliced through.
In the ninja world, Chakra is predominant, but that doesn't mean that a strike without Chakra isn't powerful.
Just like in the original story, Guy's Morning Peacock, with its fast punches, could produce real flames capable of evaporating a lake created by Hoshigaki Kisame.
"So this is the Stable Rock Style swordsmanship."
Kakashi's expression was serious, but his eyes showed a hint of surprise.
"Charging up!"
"While blocking my attacks, he's charging up."
"Once he finds an opportunity, he'll strike."
"It's much stronger than a normal strike."
"And it's likely to occur when the opponent reveals a weakness."
"Such impressive swordsmanship!"
"It looks very simple and unadorned."
"But its actual effectiveness is excellent."
Kakashi marveled inwardly.
Suddenly, Kakashi felt a chill in his chest. Looking down, he saw that his shirt had been cut open.
A gap had appeared, and there was a red line on his skin.
"When did this happen?"
Kakashi's pupils contracted.
"I clearly avoided the blade."
Kakashi quickly recalled the scene.
"Could it be the air displaced by the swing?"
"Was the force of that strike so strong?"
Kakashi felt a surge of fear.
"Does this mean that if I had retreated just a bit less, I would be severely injured now?"
But immediately after, Kakashi felt a surge of excitement.
He felt his whole body was in a state of exhilaration.
This was a sensation he had never experienced before in Ninjutsu battles.
"Swordsmanship is truly the best fit for me."
"Yet, I had rejected it before."
"Because I was immersed in my father's death."
"But this is the path my father chose for me."
"I was born to follow the swordsmanship path."
"In that case, Uchiha clan, I must thank you."
"Thank you for taking Obito's Sharingan."
"If it weren't for you, I might never have had the courage to reclaim the Hatake Style Kenjutsu."
Kakashi looked at Ryukame.
"Come again!"
Zabuza looked in Kakashi's direction, feeling very conflicted.
Initially, when he chose Kakashi as his opponent, Zabuza wanted to defeat him. But he was defeated.
This time, Zabuza wanted to become a hero by defeating Kakashi and saving Kohachi and Mangetsu.
Yet, with just one strike, he was defeated.
"Hatake Kakashi..."
Zabuza sighed inwardly.
"I have to admit, Kisame has already surpassed the younger generation, and Kakashi has also surpassed it."
Zabuza clenched his fists.
"And what about me? What is the path that suits me?"
"If I only rely on the Ninjato, I will never become a true strong warrior."
The battle between Ryukame and Kakashi was intense.
Moreover, it was different from the fighting styles of other ninjas.
Both were now fighting purely with swordsmanship.
The clash of blades.
The ringing of metal.
This was far more thrilling than clashes of Ninjutsu.
"I seem to see the shadow of Konoha's White Fang in Kakashi."
"No wonder he's the son of White Fang."
"Hatake Style Kenjutsu is terrifying. Not at all inferior to Ninjutsu."
Konoha ninjas looked at Ryukame with amazement.
"Every counterattack is so precisely timed, putting Kakashi in danger."
Guy observed the scene and frowned.
"I don't know if it's just my perception, but watching that ninja fight, I feel like I'm seeing a type of creature."
"What kind of creature?"
"A turtle."
"Guy, now that you mention it, it does seem like that. Ryukame's defense is like a turtle's shell, as solid as Stable Rock. Only when he finds an opportunity will he stick his head out and strike."
"Both of them are very strong."
"Power, speed, skill, timing... all are perfect."
"This battle is as beautiful as a painting."
"The swordsmanship battle is truly a pleasure to watch."
Battles among the younger generation of ninjas can influence the momentum, but the true determinant of victory in a war is still the battle of top ninjas.
"Lightning Wave!"
Raiga raised his hand, aiming the tip of his spear directly at Danzo's location.
A massive amount of Chakra surged into the Lightning Blade.
At the same time, the Demon Core of the lightning beast within the Lightning Blade was vibrating wildly.
The two energies converged.
Lightning erupted.
In an instant, everything around seemed to turn white under the lightning's effect.
An astonishing aura emanated from Raiga.
The air around him vibrated.
Even the clouds high in the sky seemed to be affected.
"Boom!"
It was as if, out of a clear sky, a bolt of lightning suddenly exploded.
A lightning column appeared.
Straight, long, and wide...
It struck Danzo.
The powerful lightning impact caused Danzo's skin to carbonize instantly.
Root ninjas rushed forward one after another to defend Danzo.
However, despite their efforts, Danzo was still severely injured and unable to continue fighting.
But Raiga, after this attack, would not be able to use such a powerful attack again in a short time.
The energy of the lightning beast's Demon Core needed time to recover, and Raiga's Chakra also needed time to regenerate.
However, Raiga was satisfied with himself.
As a member of the Shinigami Squad, defeating a Konoha Elder, and a special Elder at that, made him feel that he had done enough for the Hidden Mist Village in this battle.
After a single strike, he withdrew to a relatively safer position.
He continued to fight, but only assisting other ninjas with their attacks.
At this moment, Raiga had his own personal motives in fighting for the village.
Compared to Raiga, Fuguki's situation was simply tragic.
No matter how much Jiraiya's talent in his youth was considered inferior compared to Orochimaru's,
No matter how rich Danzo's experience was,
Jiraiya's combat strength was now the strongest among the three.
Not to mention that Orochimaru can't summon Manda
...
A giant toad, Gamabunta, wearing a cloak, holding a Tanto, and smoking a large pipe, appeared, with Jiraiya standing on its head watching Fuguki on the opposite side.
Fuguki gripped the hilt of the Water Dragon Possession, breathing heavily.
On this vast ocean, the ability of Water Dragon Possession was greatly enhanced.
Fuguki no longer needed to consume Chakra to create water.
Instead, he only needed Chakra to control the water.
With the boost from Water Dragon Possession, Fuguki's Water Release was much stronger than it would be in the Land of Fire.
However, Jiraiya was too powerful.
With a solid foundation, strong Ninjutsu skills, and a perfectly synchronized Summon Beast,
Fuguki looked at Jiraiya, his figure already swaying.
"This is a Sannin..."
"Jiraiya's strength is likely even greater than Orochimaru's."
"Back then, Orochimaru was defeated by Yagura-sama, myself, and Kisame."
"But now, I am alone."
Fuguki glanced at the Water Dragon Possession in his hand.
"Water Dragon Possession, I'm sorry. I've held you back."
"If it weren't for you, and if it were Samehada, I wouldn't have lasted this long."
Jiraiya's gaze followed Fuguki's, falling upon the Water Dragon Possession.
"Zanpakuto is truly a terrifying Ninjato... Bunta, what do you think?"
Bunta nodded.
"Indeed terrifying. What Fuguki Suikazan is using might not even be considered Water Release anymore. Without needing hand seals, it's effortlessly used, and here it has received a significant boost."
"The creator of the Zanpakuto is truly a frightening existence."
Bunta suddenly felt dissatisfied with the Tanto he had used for many years.
"Jiraiya, I want a Ninjato that can use Fire Release, also function as a pipe, is extremely sharp, sufficiently durable, looks beautiful, and has elaborate decorations."
Jiraiya: "..."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"In this battle, I've put in a lot of effort. Jiraiya, you should give me a little reward, don't you think?"
"I don't know that Blacksmith."
Jiraiya quickly changed the subject.
"Bunta, stop chatting. Let's end this battle; our time is running out."
"Okay."
Fuguki noticed the change in Jiraiya and Bunta's momentum and his expression became serious.
"Do these two intend to completely take me out?"
"But what can I do?"
"I wonder how Raiga and Kisame are doing."
"Has the village's support not arrived yet?"
Fuguki glanced back.
"But even if the village sends help, ordinary ninjas won't be able to provide much assistance."
"Unless Mizukage-sama comes personally."
At that moment, Jiraiya suddenly formed hand seals.
"Fire Release, Big Flame Bullet Jutsu!"
At the same time, Bunta, wielding a Tanto, struck towards Fuguki.
For Bunta, it's a Tanto.
To Fuguki, it was a massive blade.
If struck, it would either mean death or severe injury.
One person and one toad, their attacks came from two different directions, forming a pincer attack.
If Fuguki were at his prime, he could dodge and defend, but after a long battle, he had already been heavily exhausted and was in a much worse condition.
"I can't dodge!"
Fuguki's face turned grim.
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
"Witness the pinnacle of swordsmanship"
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