For the next few days, Kyoichi kept up a rigorous training regimen.
Jōnin?
It's just a title.
In chaotic times, survival depends on strength, not hollow positions.
Kyoichi understood this well.
Of course...
He spent time sparring with Might Duy and Might Guy, learning a fair bit—techniques like the Leaf Strong Whirlwind and Hidden Lotus.
But these were merely additions, not what Kyoichi truly needed.
He needed to expand his resources.
Saving effort alone wasn't enough. How many years would it take to reach his goals? Waiting passively for opportunities was no solution either.
As he jogged, he mulled over his next steps.
He needed to take the initiative!
After some thought, he decided to start with a certain problem child.
Like... Hatake Kakashi.
And as luck would have it, there he was.
"Ugh..."
By the riverbank, Kakashi sat and threw the White Fang short blade into the water.
When he noticed Kyoichi approaching, Kakashi shot him a brief glance, then quickly got up, retrieved the blade, and gripped it tightly. His gaze returned to the river.
Moments later...
With a gust of wind, Kyoichi appeared behind him using the Body Flicker Technique.
Kakashi had seen this move before, but he was puzzled as to why Kyoichi would use it now.
Turning to stare at Kyoichi, Kakashi remained silent.
"What are you looking at?"
"Huh?" Kakashi blinked in confusion, utterly baffled by Kyoichi's question.
"I see you're lost, so I thought I'd beat some sense into you."
Kyoichi's tone was utterly serious.
But then...
He sat down beside Kakashi and added, "Still thinking about your sword technique? If you ask me, I need a blade, and you seem to want to throw yours away. It's a win-win."
"I won't give up the blade!" Kakashi declared resolutely.
"Didn't look like it just now. That throw was pretty dramatic."
With a swift motion, Kyoichi snatched the White Fang short blade from Kakashi's hand. Spinning the blade expertly, he channeled chakra into it, forming a concentrated, shimmering blue edge.
Then...
The water chakra sharpened further, darkening to a deep blue hue.
With one slash—swish!
The air hummed, and the ground split open, leaving a deep gash.
"What a blade!" Kyoichi exclaimed, genuinely impressed.
The White Fang short blade was indeed exceptional. While it was best suited for Lightning Release chakra, it worked reasonably well with water chakra too. Using high-pressure techniques learned from the Water Severing Wave, Kyoichi unleashed a powerful strike.
"Ugh..." Kakashi was speechless.
That's my blade... Why does he seem better at using it than me?
"Here."
Kyoichi tossed the blade back to him.
The moment Kakashi caught it, he lunged at Kyoichi with impressive speed.
But—
When the strike landed, Kyoichi had already swapped places with a piece of wood.
Though Kakashi hadn't gone all out—deliberately using the back of the blade to avoid harming Kyoichi—he was shocked by how quickly Kyoichi evaded at such close range.
"Your speed is good, but your attacks are too predictable," Kyoichi remarked with a grin.
Kakashi was skilled but still raw. Compared to the seasoned shinobi he'd become in the future, there was a noticeable gap.
"Hmph. I won't give up the blade. One day, I'll defeat you!"
With that, Kakashi sheathed his sword and left, a new determination in his stride.
As Kyoichi had pointed out, if he wasn't willing to abandon the blade, he needed to find a way to master it.
Right now, he was a jack of all trades but a master of none. It was time to choose a path.
Watching him leave, Kyoichi smirked. He had only stopped by to tease the problem child a bit.
And sure enough, problem children were hard to deal with.
Shisui and Asuma were easy to guide, but Kakashi was stubborn and resistant to change.
[Teaching on "Choosing a Path" completed.]
[Evaluation: Excellent!]
[Reward: Iaido.]
"Hm?"
A reward?
Kyoichi's eyes lit up.
So, despite Kakashi's stubbornness, he had actually taken the lesson to heart. The kid was just playing tough.
Thankfully, the system didn't lie.
Seeing the reward, Kyoichi's mood improved even more.
Iaido...
The signature sword technique of Mifune, the samurai leader. Essentially, it was a powerful draw-and-slash technique.
This was one of the best rewards he'd received recently.
The best part?
Unlike Mifune, who relied solely on physical skill and discipline, Kyoichi had no qualms about using chakra to enhance the technique.
"Too bad I don't have a good sword. When are the Seven Ninja Swordsmen going to invade Konoha? Oh, right, the Sword of the Thunder God should still be with the Third Hokage. Maybe I can borrow it for a while."
After pondering for a moment, Kyoichi decided to give it a shot.
At worst, he could trade it for the Seven Heavens Breathing Method.
Having made up his mind, Kyoichi headed straight for the Hokage's office.
When he arrived, Hiruzen Sarutobi was reviewing early graduation candidates' files from the Academy.
"Shisui, Asuma... Who else should I pair with them?"
Rin Nohara?
Probably not the best fit.
Rin excelled in theoretical knowledge and chakra control, making her an ideal candidate for medical ninjutsu training. Pairing her with Shisui and Asuma might not work well.
Just then, Hiruzen sensed Kyoichi's presence.
"Ah, Kyoichi!"
"Lord Hokage!"
"Come in, come in. I was just about to summon you. Since you've been promoted to Jōnin, are you willing to take on a team?"
"Of course," Kyoichi replied after bowing and taking a seat.
"Shisui and Asuma both want to be in your squad. Their grades are excellent. If you have no objections, we'll finalize that. As for the third member, who do you think would be best?"
Hiruzen showed him two candidates: Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi.
"Kurenai," Kyoichi answered without hesitation. "Rin is better suited to becoming a medical ninja. While I have some knowledge of medical ninjutsu, I'm not proficient enough, and she might not sync well with Shisui and Asuma."
He also suspected that Hiruzen didn't want to separate Rin from Obito. The latter's attachment to her played a significant role in shaping his character.
"Same thought I had," Hiruzen said, nodding as he wrote Kurenai's name.
With that settled, he turned back to Kyoichi.
"But I doubt you came here just to discuss your team, did you?"
"No, Lord Hokage. I've been practicing swordsmanship recently and feel I've made some progress. However, I lack a suitable chakra blade. I heard that the Second Hokage left behind a personal weapon…"
Kyoichi trailed off, feeling a bit shameless for openly asking for resources.
"You're talking about the Sword of the Thunder God? It's true that my teacher left it behind, but it might not suit you."
"That's fine. I'd just like to borrow it for now. When I find a more suitable blade, I'll return it to the village. If necessary, I'm willing to trade one of my self-developed secret techniques in exchange."
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