With tensions rising due to the actions of factions across various nations, Konohagakure had also begun to shift into a war-preparation mode. Many Jōnin had already been dispatched to gather intelligence, leaving only the elites of the various clans in the village to rest and recover in anticipation of the coming battles.
The Hatake Dojo stood large and imposing, a testament to the clan's martial prowess. Inside the arena, two figures moved with blinding speed, their blows exchanged dozens of times in mere moments.
Two flashes of lightning collided before one figure was sent flying, skidding across the ground for several meters before coming to a halt.
"Big Brother, you're not very good!" Kawakaze Hatake's voice rang out, dripping with mockery. He laughed loudly, the Eight-Sided Han Sword in his hand gleaming with arcs of lightning. The sword, a finely crafted Chakra weapon, still crackled with residual energy from their clash.
Sakumo rose from the ground, brushing himself off and ignoring his younger brother's taunts. He was used to it. Ever since Kawakaze had turned ten and stopped losing to him, Sakumo's face as the elder brother had taken a significant hit—at least in terms of strength.
Chakra radiated from Sakumo's hand, forming a brilliant white glow around his short blade. In a flash, he closed the distance between them, his weapon aiming directly for Kawakaze's throat.
Kawakaze's expression grew serious as he raised his sword to block. The clash rang out sharply, but Sakumo quickly disengaged, retreating to a safer distance.
The Hatake Clan's philosophy centered on decisive, lethal strikes. Their style, a seamless blend of the Samurai school and the Ninja school, emphasized the weapon as an indispensable partner in combat.
"Thunderclap and Flash: One Flash of Lightning," Kawakaze intoned, shifting his stance.
His left leg bent into a half-squat as the Eight-Sided Han Sword rested at his waist. Thunder Chakra coursed through his feet, crackling with an audible zila zila. With a burst of strength from his right leg, Kawakaze launched forward in a flash, moving so quickly he left no trace behind.
Though Sakumo had seen this move many times before, it never failed to awe him. Combining Lightning Chakra with a Quick Draw Slash was not unusual, but the sheer speed and power his younger brother achieved with it were exceptional. As the old saying went: All martial arts are unbreakable if they are fast.
There was no time to evade. Sakumo could only raise his Chakra-infused short sword in defense, his thoughts momentarily distracted by the weapon's age and durability. How much longer will this ancestral blade last?
With a sharp crack, the short sword shattered. Shock flickered across Sakumo's face as the Eight-Sided Han Sword came to a halt at his neck, the cold edge of the blade unmistakable against his skin.
"Big Brother, don't blame me,"
"Go find Rōtetsu to make a new one. We have plenty of money for that."
The words echoed in the dojo as Kawakaze turned and dashed toward the exit, his speed rivaling a fleeing rabbit. He clearly felt no need to linger after breaking something so significant.
"This is an ancestral blade!" Sakumo shouted, his voice a mix of disbelief and outrage. "Kawakaze, you brat, get back here!"
But it was too late. Kawakaze had vanished without a trace, leaving Sakumo standing in the dojo, fuming as he tossed aside the broken remnants of the sword.
...
Kawakaze wandered aimlessly for a while, kicking at innocent little stones as he walked, until he found himself at the Hatake Weapon Workshop.
When he entered, the staff immediately bowed and greeted him with, "Young Master."
He nodded in acknowledgment, his expression calm—he had long grown accustomed to this treatment. Life had shaped him this way. His father had perished on a mission, his mother died giving birth to him, and he was left with only his older brother, who was consumed by a relentless focus on missions. Thankfully, their family business had been substantial enough to prevent them from succumbing to poverty. Without it, the two of them might not have survived.
To improve the clan's economic situation—and for his own future—Kawakaze had used his modern knowledge to enhance the forging furnace. This innovation allowed the blacksmiths to melt higher-quality materials, revolutionizing their craft. Singlehandedly, Kawakaze built Konoha's largest weapons workshop, transforming the Hatake Clan into one of the wealthiest clans in the village.
Now, with war looming, business was thriving.
As Kawakaze approached the forge, heat waves struck him, making him frown slightly. A burly man in his forties, shirtless and covered in soot, greeted him with a broad smile.
"Young Master, what brings you here today?"
The man was Rōtetsu, an ironworker recruited from the Land of Iron at considerable expense due to his exceptional skill. He had stayed on willingly, drawn by the superior forging facilities and the generous salary the Hatake Clan offered.
"I broke the White Light Chakra Sabre," Kawakaze said flatly. "Make my brother a new one as soon as possible."
Rōtetsu's jaw dropped in shock. He knew how much the young master valued the ancestral short sword—so much so that even he had never been allowed to glimpse it.
"Don't stand there daydreaming," Kawakaze said, his tone sharp. "It'll be made from the best materials and must be no worse than my sword. Otherwise, it'll break again, and that'll be a problem."
It wasn't concern for his brother that drove Kawakaze—it was the thought of how inferior weapons could disrupt their sparring sessions.
Rōtetsu snapped back to reality, his professionalism taking over. "Don't worry about my craftsmanship. I'll make it my top priority. After all, crafting a sword that can rival your Eight-Sided Han Sword isn't easy, but I'll manage."
"That's fine. Just make sure it's done properly," Kawakaze replied coolly. "You can go now." He waved dismissively and began wandering through the workshop, observing the bustling activity before leaving leisurely.
Outside, his mood lightened. He glanced at the customers milling about—they weren't customers at all, in his eyes, but walking piles of silver. Profits were up, and the business was flourishing.
Kawakaze decided against returning home, knowing his older brother would still be fuming. Instead, he opted to visit Tsunade. Striding toward the Senju Clan's mansion, he reflected on their situation. The Senju had blended seamlessly with the common folk, but Tsunade still lived in Konoha, rooted in her family home.
He recalled her younger brother, Senju Nawaki—a tragic figure destined to die on the battlefield in the upcoming Second World War. Kawakaze resolved to protect his future brother-in-law's life.
When he reached the mansion, he paused to take in the imposing entrance. It was his first time visiting, and he couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur—a testament to the clan that had once reigned as Konoha's strongest.
He rang the doorbell and stood waiting patiently. After a moment, the door opened, revealing an elderly woman.
"What is the purpose of your visit to the Senju Clan?" she asked. Her tone, though polite, carried no hint of deference. Clearly, she was only a servant, but her bearing suggested otherwise.
Kawakaze, unfazed, simply stood his ground.
"I am Kawakaze Hatake, here to see Tsunade. Please inform her."
Kawakaze maintained his characteristic polite and gentle smile.
"It's you, Lord Kawakaze. Please, come in. Tsunade-dono told me to expect you."
That was surprising. Kawakaze had not anticipated that Tsunade would inform her family about his visit.
The elderly woman led him, not to the house, but to the training hall. Inside, Tsunade was teaching her younger brother Taijutsu.
Tsunade's face lit up with joy when she saw Kawakaze approach. With a swift hand movement, she blocked Nawaki's attack.
"You go practice on your own. Someone's here to see me."
She lowered Nawaki's leg and walked over to Kawakaze.
"I didn't expect you to visit me today."
"I was planning to come by the Hatake residence to see you when I had the time."
Tsunade, no longer clad in her usual monotonous combat uniform, wore her gambling attire instead. The casual outfit suited her perfectly, accentuating her figure and exuding a confident charm.
Kawakaze found himself briefly mesmerized, his thoughts derailed into an abstract, fleeting tangent of neurons, electrons, and...
"Ah, I also came here to avoid trouble. As you can see, I didn't even have time to change."
Kawakaze's appearance sharply contrasted Tsunade's relaxed demeanor—his Eight-Sided Han Sword was strapped to his back, and he was still wearing a combat uniform.
"Why?" Tsunade asked, intrigued by his need to seek refuge.
With a wry smile, Kawakaze explained that his elder brother was furious because he had broken their ancestral treasure sword.
Tsunade couldn't help but burst into laughter. The thought of Sakumo Hatake's legendary weapon being broken by his own younger brother was too amusing.
"Not only did I come here to hide for a while, but I was also wondering if you had some free time to share a drink with me."
Kawakaze's gaze was intent, his eyes fixed on Tsunade.
"Later," she replied with a small smile. "Let's have lunch and maybe a drink at noon."
Tsunade wasn't quite reckless enough to start drinking in the morning, but she invited Kawakaze to join her for lunch instead.
"Then I'll gladly take you up on that."
"I'm free for now. How about I give Nawaki some guidance in the meantime?"
Kawakaze had already sized up Nawaki's strength. At only 11 or 12 years old, the boy barely scraped the level of a Genin. For someone of his lineage, it was a clear waste of potential.
This is the grandson of the First Hokage? Kawakaze thought, unimpressed.
It was obvious to him that Tsunade, deeply indulgent of her younger brother, hadn't been strict with his training. She clearly didn't abide by the old saying: "The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle."
"It would be Nawaki's honor," Tsunade replied.
She didn't hesitate to accept the offer. Kawakaze's strength, proven by his ability to break Sakumo Hatake's sword, was no mere rumor. Besides, she was well aware of her own shortcomings as an instructor, and having someone of Kawakaze's caliber guide Nawaki was a good opportunity.