Through the memories of the original Kakashi, he learned that the renowned Hatake clan swordsmanship, famous throughout the ninja world, consisted of only three techniques—just three moves!
The Hatake clan called them the "Three Blades of Hatake."
In general, swordsmanship techniques encompass eight methods: sweep, slash, pull, shear, swipe, cut, chop, and thrust. However, the Hatake clan's swordsmanship focused solely on cutting, chopping, and thrusting, emphasizing speed, precision, and lethality.
The first technique, derived from cutting, was called "Instant Cut."
There were three forms: Instant Cut: Two-Stage, Instant Cut: Four-Stage, and Instant Cut: Eight-Stage, each more powerful than the last.
The second technique, derived from slashing, was called "Thunder Slash."
It had two forms: Draw Blade: Thunder Slash and Demon: Thunder Slash. The former was a draw-and-slash attack executed instantly, depending on the enemy's posture. The latter was even more vital, so fierce it could frighten even demons.
The third technique, derived from thrusting, was called "Pursuing Fang."
There was only one form: Pursuing Fang, a deadly thrust to the throat or heart. Kakashi's father, the White Fang of the Leaf, became famous using this move.
The Hatake Three Blades were not typical sword techniques; they required significant chakra consumption to execute. The first two techniques were relatively more straightforward but still drained a lot of chakra, while the third technique, though the hardest, consumed the least chakra.
With the Hatake clan's unique constitution, a member could perform the first two techniques up to three times before recovering the chakra. The third technique, once mastered, could be performed dozens of times without exhausting chakra, allowing the White Fang to earn his invincible reputation on the battlefield.
Of course, the Hatake Three Blades could be performed without chakra, but their power would only match that of an ordinary Jonin's attack. For Kakashi, if he couldn't solve the Sharingan's chakra consumption issue, it would be more beneficial to abandon the Hatake Three Blades and focus on mastering the Sharingan.
"In the original story, I still used a sword in the Anbu. I probably gave up on the Hatake sword techniques later because of this issue," Kakashi thought, feeling a bit sad for the original Kakashi, who sacrificed too much to protect Obito's Sharingan. However, the Sharingan's evolution into the Mangekyo strengthened Kakashi, so it was a complicated trade-off.
Arriving at the Konoha market, Kakashi quickly found the ninja tools shop. He purchased a Japanese sword modeled after a Tachi and returned to the Anbu headquarters.
Holding the new sword, Kakashi felt a surge of excitement. He had always wanted a Tachi, and although this was not an actual Tachi, it was close enough. It looked the same, even if the quality was different. The short blade his father left him was currently unsuitable, especially since it had been broken in his battle against the Iwa Jonin.
Only after mastering the thrusting technique, "Pursuing Fang," would the short blade be effective. Since he hadn't yet learned it, using the short blade for the Hatake Three Blades wasn't appropriate. The short blade broke during his fight with the Iwa Jonin.
The short blade was forged explicitly by the White Fang after mastering "Pursuing Fang," designed to maximize its power but not suited for "Thunder Slash" and "Instant Cut."
"Wolf, have you mastered the concealment techniques?" 'Ryuu' asked when Kakashi arrived at the Anbu headquarters.
"Yes, Captain!" Kakashi responded immediately.
"Good. Now hide and make sure I can't find you," 'Ryuu' instructed, turning his back to Kakashi.
"So, testing me, huh?" Kakashi thought, a cold smile forming. He vanished silently.
One minute, two minutes, five minutes passed. Finally, 'Ryuu' spoke.
"Very good. You've passed. Come out," 'Ryuu' said, a hint of surprise in his voice. He hadn't expected Kakashi to remain hidden for over five minutes. Most new members couldn't last that long without revealing their position.
Noticing Kakashi's young age, 'Ryuu' had anticipated he'd only manage about three minutes. Kakashi's performance was impressive and a pleasant surprise, indicating exceptional talent.
Kakashi reappeared before 'Ryuu' after being called.
"Follow me. I'll introduce you to the other two members of our squad. Then we have a mission from the Hokage," 'Ryuu' said with a satisfied smile.
"Our squad is the only one in Anbu with animal code names. When you meet 'Snake' and 'Dog,' be prepared. They might test you too. You've earned my approval, but you'll need theirs as well," 'Ryuu' warned as he led Kakashi out.
"Understood, Captain. What's our mission?" Kakashi asked, curious and confident in his abilities.
"You'll find out in time. Just focus on completing the tasks I give you," 'Ryuu' replied curtly, heading out of the Anbu headquarters.
Realizing he'd asked an inappropriate question, Kakashi cursed inwardly and quickly followed 'Ryuu.' He felt a mix of anticipation and confidence regarding his new teammates, 'Snake' and 'Dog,' and the mission ahead.