Clang!
Another clash between the blades echoed crisply through the surroundings.
Falling leaves drifted leisurely, only to be swept up once more by the airflow from the clashing blades, instead of landing on the ground.
So it is true?
Hatake Sakumo looked at Yueshu, who had retreated and was now confronting him.
This was not an illusion.
The feeling Hatake Sakumo had initially, that Yueshu's swordsmanship was catching up to his, was not false.
It was truly terrifying, Hatake Sakumo could particularly feel it.
An eight-year-old kid, who wasn't much just a while ago, at least Hatake Sakumo could firmly suppress him in blade techniques.
But who would have thought that after only a few days apart, this kid had already begun to catch up to the pace of a blade master like him?
This was simply unheard of; mastery in blade arts naturally relied on talent, and some people would never reach the master realm even if they spent their entire lives pursuing it.
But Yueshu had surprised Hatake Sakumo more than once.
To possess such swordsmanship at just over eight years old was already enough to be called a prodigy, and now he had even directly reached the master realm, a level few in the entire Ninja World had attained.
Hatake Sakumo really wanted to say something, and he did indeed blurt it out.
"You kid, are you some kind of monster?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Yueshu was slightly bewildered; he couldn't understand why Hatake Sakumo had suddenly gone crazy.
"Nothing, just a sudden thought, let's continue, continue."
Hatake Sakumo gave a dry laugh, swung his Ninja Blade twice, and his eyes turned cold again.
Although Yueshu was also puzzled, he could only throw himself wholeheartedly into the battle now.
Hatake Sakumo felt the aura emanating from Yueshu; it was a complete master realm, absolutely without any hint of falsehood.
I'm counting on you, partner.
Hatake Sakumo glanced at the Ninja Blade in his hand; it was the Hatake family's heirloom blade, passed down only to each generation's Hatake clan head.
The Hatake family was a family of blade arts, and it reached its peak in Hatake Sakumo's generation; Hatake Sakumo's blade skill alone was enough to make Konoha White Fang stand among the Kage-level shinobi.
As if sensing Hatake Sakumo's gaze, the edge of the Ninja Blade in Hatake Sakumo's hand sharpened even more.
It is said that blades and swords have spirits; perhaps a soul is hidden within every cherished weapon.
With light breaths, in the next second, Yueshu and Hatake Sakumo moved simultaneously.
Their light footsteps made no sound on the ground, as if the scene had been muted, with only the sound of the wind.
Clang!
Blades clashed, and sparks flew.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
In just a moment, the blades in Yueshu's and Hatake Sakumo's hands continuously shifted their attacks.
Slash, chop, thrust, parry.
The most basic blade techniques were used with consummate skill by Yueshu and Hatake Sakumo.
Sparks scraped from the blades, and the speed of Yueshu and Hatake Sakumo's exchanges grew faster and faster.
The metallic sounds layered together, forming a symphony, singing of the romance and passion of blades and swords.
"White Fang!"
Yueshu's eyes widened, and the sword in his hand sliced through the air.
Hatake Sakumo wore a faint smile, his face full of the joy of battle.
"Yueshu kid!"
Hatake Sakumo's blade was instantly pulled back, and Yueshu's sword was directly blocked by him.
"Heh!"
Yueshu smiled, their blades locked in a stalemate.
"How about I show you something good?"
Something good?
Hatake Sakumo was slightly stunned, his eyes on Yueshu, who was in a stalemate with him.
Their mastery of blade arts was almost on par; perhaps Hatake Sakumo had a slight edge, but such a difference wouldn't take effect in a short while.
"Watch closely!"
Yueshu's aura continuously rose, and the surrounding wind whipped furiously.
The wind howled, and Yueshu's sword intent continuously gathered.
"Focus!"
Yueshu shouted, and the rising sword intent continuously gathered towards the Kusanagi Sword in his hand.
The sword intent, like Chakra, continuously poured from Yueshu's body into the Kusanagi Sword, and the sword body of the Kusanagi Sword also began to emit a faint glow.
"Hmph!"
Yueshu let out a loud shout.
Hatake Sakumo felt a dangerous aura.
He saw that Yueshu, who was clearly not his match physically, had actually managed to push him back slightly.
The sword intent from the faintly glowing Kusanagi Sword burst forth, even directly cutting Hatake Sakumo's arm.
A strong force continuously came from his hand, and Hatake Sakumo felt himself steadily retreating.
The most important thing was not this, but that Hatake Sakumo had no way to counter this, only allowing himself to be pushed back.
"It's over!"
Like a streak of light, the Kusanagi Sword directly sent Hatake Sakumo flying for a moment, and Hatake Sakumo's opening instantly became very large.
It was this momentary opportunity that Yueshu seized; the Kusanagi Sword, which had just thrust out, immediately changed direction and slashed towards Hatake Sakumo.
The Kusanagi Sword slowly approached Hatake Sakumo, and victory was within Yueshu's grasp.
Clang!
A very light metallic sound rang out, Hatake Sakumo's white hair fluttered in Yueshu's eyes, and Yueshu's eyes slowly widened.
Hatake Sakumo had lightly blocked the Kusanagi Sword with his Ninja Blade, as if using the force to turn his body, and at the same time, he let go of his Ninja Blade.
Hatake Sakumo's body adjusted in an instant, and the Ninja Blade in his hand seemed to be frozen in the air, completely motionless.
Actually, it wasn't; this all happened in an instant, even gravity didn't act that quickly.
Snap!
At this moment, it was as if the whole world had stopped, with only the world in Yueshu's eyes still moving.
In those bright eyes, a wisp of white hair fluttered.
Hatake Sakumo's hand reached back for the Ninja Blade suspended in mid-air, the Ninja Blade that symbolized Hatake Sakumo.
Move!
Move!
In Yueshu's eyes, that figure was slowly approaching.
Like a slow-motion movie, Hatake Sakumo's eyes still held a sharp, cold glint.
Gritting his teeth, the veins on Yueshu's hands bulged, and he tightly gripped the still-slashing Kusanagi Sword.
The light of the Ninja Blade's slash flashed in his eyes, and Yueshu also turned the Kusanagi Sword in that instant.
Swish!
A gust of wind swept by, blowing a few strands of hair from his forehead.
"I win."
Hatake Sakumo's Ninja Blade had already reached Yueshu's neck, and Yueshu's Kusanagi Sword hadn't had time to thrust, only reaching halfway.
In this match, Yueshu was undoubtedly lacking a bit; it was Hatake Sakumo's victory.
"Damn it!"
Yueshu wasn't someone who cared much about winning; he was just willing to try his best in all aspects, and if it didn't work out, there was nothing he could do.
But in terms of swordsmanship, Yueshu was unwilling to accept defeat.
Yueshu couldn't quite explain it, but he just liked the feeling of holding a blade in his hand, perhaps it was the influence from when wuxia was popular in his childhood.
After all, which man doesn't have a wuxia dream in his heart?
The romance of the sword, Yueshu couldn't claim to fully understand it, but at least he liked the feeling.
"Well, you still need some training."
Hatake Sakumo put down his Ninja Blade, revealing a smile comparable to Minato Namikaze's.
Speaking of which, both of them were gentle people, like little suns, but unfortunately, both had similar fates, both were geniuses, and both died young.
"Next time, I definitely won't lose!"
Yueshu sighed, then said firmly.
"Mm, I'll be waiting for you."
Hatake Sakumo also smiled.