This earned him the nickname "Kakashi the Jack-of-All-Trades"—skilled at everything, yet a master of none.
Consider a straightforward example: in a mission where Kakashi led Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, he struggled against Zabuza, a formidable Mist swordsman. But Takuya was certain that if Sakumo Hatake faced Zabuza, the battle would end in five strikes or less—Zabuza's head would surely roll.
"I've been experimenting with other types of training," Kakashi finally admitted after a long pause, explaining his tendency to hold back in his training.
"Don't be ridiculous," Takuya replied, his tone blunt. "No one's power surges limitlessly all at once. Look at your father—he's honed his blade skills day in, day out for years, and through that, he's reached heights few can even dream of. Sure, talent matters, but hard work and direction are just as essential."
"Yes, thank you for the guidance, senpai." Kakashi nodded with a serious look, though he was still clearly processing Takuya's words.
Seeing Kakashi's puzzled expression, Takuya continued, "Let me put it this way: take the Hatake clan's swordsmanship and compare it with the Uchiha's style. There's a huge difference between the two."
"The Hatake clan's ancestors were samurai, so they built their style around Iaido—focused on single, lethal strikes. The Uchiha, on the other hand, were always ninja, so their swordsmanship is much more versatile," he explained. "In Iaido, the essence lies in speed and killing power. Got it?"
"I think so," Kakashi replied, his eyes lighting up with understanding. He paused, considering further. "So… holding back when I train—is that wrong?"
"Yes and no," Takuya answered, shaking his head with a slight smile. "You're doing it because of your father's influence, right?"
"Yes," Kakashi replied with perfect honesty.
"Well, kid, some things can't be learned through words alone; they need a lot of real practice to set in. Your father holds back because he's reached a level where he can afford to conserve his energy. But you? You should be focusing on making your strikes faster, stronger, and more lethal."
He drew the Sword of Thunder and held it ready, gesturing for Kakashi to prepare himself.
Is he… going to train with me? Kakashi's face lit up in surprise, hands trembling slightly as he gripped his blade. For him, this was a dream come true; ever since Takuya had turned him down as a student, Kakashi had figured that any guidance from his hero was a near-impossible hope. Takuya's actions spoke for themselves; he didn't bother giving attention to anyone he wasn't close to.
Lost in thought, Kakashi suddenly jolted as his sword slipped from his hand, pain shooting through his wrist.
"Kid, losing focus in battle is the same as handing your life over to the enemy." Takuya's voice was stern, his words punctuated by a smack from the flat of his blade.
"Apologies, senpai!" Kakashi stammered, red-faced as he quickly retrieved his sword, wincing as the pain from his hand throbbed. But he had no time to recover—Takuya already had the Sword of Thunder pointed at him.
"Come on, show me what you've got. Let's see if you're truly worthy of the village's 'genius' title," Takuya said, his stance relaxed as he waited.
Determined, Kakashi shifted into a ready stance, clutching his sword tightly with both hands despite the discomfort. Believe in yourself, Kakashi, he thought, narrowing his eyes as he lunged forward, swinging with all his might.
Clang! Takuya parried the blow easily, flicking his wrist to deliver another sting to Kakashi's hand. "Your speed's decent, but where's the power? Come at me like you mean it."
Pain flared again, but Kakashi gritted his teeth, refusing to let his grip slip as he launched another attack. Again, Takuya deflected the strike effortlessly and delivered a blow to Kakashi's arm this time. "Still not enough. Try again."
Over and over, Kakashi attacked, his focus intensifying with each blow. He soon lost count of how many times he lunged forward, or how many times Takuya's blade struck him. His hands were shaking, and his grip barely held, but he pushed on, unwilling to give up.
Takuya looked at the young boy in admiration, noting the determination in his stance. If only Nawaki had this level of persistence, he wouldn't struggle so much with taijutsu and kenjutsu.
With one final blow, Takuya deflected Kakashi's strike and stepped back. "You've reached your limit. Any more and you'll injure yourself. Head to the hospital—your hands won't even be able to hold chopsticks tomorrow if you don't get them treated."
He slung the Sword of Thunder over his shoulder, a satisfied grin on his face as he walked away, humming a tune.
Exhausted, Kakashi watched him go, struggling to lift his sword. With his hands trembling, he slowly made his way to the hospital.
Back at the Hatake home, Sakumo prepared dinner, casting a concerned glance at his son as he entered, battered and bandaged. "Looks like you trained longer than usual. Come, sit down; let's eat."
"Yes, Father," Kakashi replied, attempting to lift his chopsticks but finding his hands uncooperative.
Sakumo hesitated when he noticed the bandages and the faint smell of medical salve on his son's arms. Setting down his own chopsticks, he returned to the kitchen and brought back a fork and spoon. "A fight?" he asked calmly.
Kakashi shook his head, a bit embarrassed as he accepted the utensils. "Not exactly. I ran into Senpai, and he decided to give me some… pointers."
So Takuya did this, Sakumo thought, a smile tugging at his lips. Though he could have gone a bit easier on him.
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(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 380+ at Patreon com/ Emik01.
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