Kakashi heaved. Retched. He emptied his stomach onto the grass until there was nothing left. Gasping, he rolled away from the mess and lay flat on his back, staring at the sky.
Qianyu had just asked him if he'd felt it clearly."I felt it," Kakashi managed, his voice hoarse. "Like… drinking hot water in winter. A surge of warmth flooded my whole body. For a moment, I felt full of power. But then it vanished. Like it was never there. Maybe it was just my imagination."
Qianyu leaned against a tree, arms crossed. "Not imagination. That's the feeling of oxygenating your blood to strengthen your body. Remember it. Conscious, prolonged breathing spreads oxygen to every cell. It enhances healing. Stabilizes the spirit. Sharpens the mind. This is just the start. Master Total Concentration Breathing first. Then comes Total Concentration Breathing: Constant—maintaining it at all times."
Kakashi let out a long breath. "I'll work hard, Qianyu-sensei."After resting, Kakashi pulled his mask back on. The memory of that brief, full-body power was addictive. If he could hold onto that feeling… he would become stronger.
Qianyu led Kakashi deeper into the Land of Grass.…Seven months later.It was the second year now.
During a break in training, Kakashi watched curiously as Qianyu marked another 'X' on a worn map. "Qianyu-sensei… what are you looking for?"
He'd held his tongue for months. A ninja didn't ask about missions. But after all this time, it was clear this wasn't a mission.Qianyu folded the map away. "A person."
"Not a mission target, right?"Kakashi had learned his teacher's moods. Deadly serious in combat. Surprisingly relaxed otherwise."No. Not a mission. I just want to find her."
Kakashi's visible eye glinted with sudden curiosity. "Someone important to you?""Very."Seeing the blatant gossip in Kakashi's look, Qianyu's mouth twitched. "Enough questions. Finding her is the problem. Let's head back to the Leaf outpost."
Qianyu was frustrated. Seven months. They'd scoured almost the entire Land of Grass, avoiding only the main Rock ninja encampment. Not a single redhead. Not even a woman with similar hair.Instead, they'd uncovered a dozen hidden Rock ninja bases using Qianyu's Observation Haki. Underground bunkers were useless against that perception. Every time, Qianyu would send a summon to report to Sakumo, who'd dispatch teams to wipe the bases out. The Rock ninja were baffled—how were the Leaf ninja finding them all?
As for Kakashi, he lived up to his genius name. He'd mastered Total Concentration Breathing. The mask he wore was now just a normal one. Using Thunder Breathing with the proper breathing technique, he'd truly mastered its first six Sword Forms. His power grew steadily with each high-intensity fight.
But the Seventh Form: Honoikazuchi no Kami… it always failed.
After another failed attempt, a dejected Kakashi walked over. "Sensei, I mastered the first six. Why can't I complete the seventh? I could do it before I learned proper breathing."
Qianyu explained, "The Seventh Form is an ultimate technique that combines the essence of the other six. What you performed before was an empty shell. You know the difference in power between Thunder Breathing with the breathing technique and without it. It's night and day. If you can't perform the seventh now, it means you haven't truly internalized and fused the first six. When you do, the Seventh Form will come naturally.Stop obsessing over it. Your priority now is Total Concentration Breathing: Constant. When you use the breathing technique, your eyes keep up with your speed. Without it, you're blind. Master Constant, and your dynamic vision becomes permanent. Then I can teach you something faster: Thunderclap and Flash: God Speed. But that requires Constant as a foundation."
"Understood. I'll focus on Constant Breathing now."Kakashi pulled out a small rubber ball and poked a tiny hole in it. It was Qianyu's training method: blow it up. Then keep blowing them up, harder and longer, until his body learned to breathe that way forever.
They trained on the move, heading back toward the Leaf outpost.Two days later, they arrived.
Hatake Sakumo was in a meeting with several jonin. Qianyu was allowed in. He was a jonin, Orochimaru's student, and had an impressive record in the Land of Hot Water. Kakashi waited outside; he wasn't ready for this level.
After a brief greeting, Sakumo resumed the meeting. Listening, a sharp light flashed in Qianyu's eyes.Perfect timing. It's starting.
The intelligence from Konoha was clear: important personnel from Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure had held a secret meeting. Each group received a scroll and was rushing back to their respective villages.Konoha's brass believed the scrolls contained the next phase of the three great villages' combined war strategy.The Leaf failed to intercept the Cloud's scroll in the Land of Hot Water. They'd failed to intercept the Mist's scroll as well.So the task fell to Sakumo. His orders: intercept the Rock's scroll in the Land of Grass. He was selecting the team now. And he would lead this mission personally.
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