Clang.
A sharp metallic hum from a blade rang out.
Buzz.
Immediately after, a streak of silver blade light cut through the air and in an instant struck toward the Third Hokage's back from behind.
"Yagyu Style, Iai Flash."
[T/N:Iai (居合) refers to a Japanese swordsmanship technique where the swordsman draws the blade and strikes in the same motion. It emphasizes extreme speed and delivering a decisive attack the instant the sword leaves the scabbard.]
It was as if a flash of blade light passed through Yagyu's eyes, his rapidly approaching body lowered.
His right hand, already hardened with calluses, gripped the katana at his waist.
"Old man, the victory belongs to me."
Clang.
The blade flashed as Yagyu struck instantly, a sharp aura appearing along the Chakra Blade as it aimed directly for the bell tied to the Third Hokage's waist.
"Not a bad tactic."
Feeling the attack from behind, the Third Hokage showed a smile.
"But if that's all, it's far from enough."
Bang.
The moment his words fell.
The Third Hokage's figure vanished in a burst of white smoke, leaving behind a substitution log.
Crack.
The substitution log was smoothly split in half by Yagyu's slash.
"So fast."
After the attack failed, Yagyu landed on the ground with a serious expression.
"As expected of a veteran powerhouse."
Just as he finished speaking.
Boom.
A massive fireball five to six meters wide burst out from the forest beside them and blasted straight toward Yagyu.
Whoosh.
Seeing the enormous fireball rushing toward him, Yagyu did not attempt to block it head-on.
With a swirl of leaves around him, his figure disappeared from the spot and hid within the forest.
Standing on a tree branch, Yagyu's face remained serious.
"Next comes the hardest part of the fight, the essence of being a shinobi is staying steady."
If a battle could not be ended in a single decisive strike at the beginning, it would inevitably turn into a tough fight.
Especially in a situation where the weak faced the strong.
There was absolutely no way to just charge recklessly like in anime.
Timing.
Patience.
Strength.
Not a single one of these could be missing.
This was not the first time Yagyu's battle with the Third Hokage had fallen into such a situation.
So he did not panic.
…
The sun set in the west, evening approaching.
"Hah, hah, hah."
Lying on top of a wooden training post, Yagyu panted heavily, his clothes completely soaked with sweat and his body utterly exhausted.
Meanwhile the Third Hokage sat on another wooden post calmly smoking his pipe.
"Sosuke."
After taking a few puffs of smoke, the Third Hokage spoke.
"Your strength is already comparable to an ordinary Special Jonin, have you ever considered graduating early?"
After a year of fighting.
From the beginning when Yagyu could barely exchange a few moves, to now forcing him to use many of his real abilities.
The Third Hokage clearly understood just how enormous Yagyu's potential was.
He suddenly felt that leaving his final disciple idle in the academy might not be ideal, perhaps allowing him to graduate early would let him grow stronger faster.
There was also another reason.
In the past year or two, the Third Hokage had begun to feel his strength fading.
But after speaking, before Yagyu could respond.
He shook his head.
"Forget it. There's still too much you need to learn, you shouldn't graduate early, only by building a strong foundation can you become truly powerful."
Hearing the Third Hokage's words.
Yagyu let out a sigh of relief in his heart.
"I think so too, only by becoming stronger can I contribute more in the future, there are still many things I need to learn."
Including combat experience, mission experience, and many other aspects he still needed to improve.
Of course.
The most important reason was that Yagyu did not want to give up the remaining three years of safe growth time.
Was Special Jonin very powerful?
Not at all.
Yagyu believed that only Elite Jonin truly possessed the strength to protect themselves, Special Jonin was far from enough.
Too weak.
"Work hard."
Looking at Yagyu, the Third Hokage smiled with satisfaction.
"The future belongs to you young people."
Seeing the sudden sense of age and exhaustion on the Third Hokage's face, Yagyu opened his mouth but did not know what to say.
Honestly, ever since becoming the Third Hokage's disciple, the old man had treated him very well.
Not only had he provided an invisible layer of protection.
More importantly.
He had given Yagyu far too much.
Because of that, Yagyu's respect toward the Third Hokage was completely sincere.
At that moment he simply did not know how to respond.
So he remained silent.
…
In the evening.
After finishing the sparring session and conversation with the Third Hokage, Yagyu went straight home.
"I'm back."
The moment he returned home, Yagyu saw Ino in the courtyard trimming the flowers she had been growing for several years.
"Ino, where's my mom?"
Hearing Yagyu's voice.
Without turning around, Ino continued trimming the potted flowers.
"Aunt went out, she'll be back soon."
After hearing where his mother had gone, Yagyu did not mind and instead walked over to stand beside Ino, watching her take care of the flowers without the slightest impatience.
Over these three years.
The relationship between Yagyu and Ino had steadily grown.
Anyone with eyes could see where things were heading.
"What are you staring at?"
Noticing Yagyu staring at her, Ino stopped her movements, her face slightly red as she glared at him with a bit of stubborn pride.
"If you keep staring like that, your eyes are going to fall out."
Perhaps he had already passed the mental barrier of seeing her as just a little girl, so over these three years Yagyu had naturally begun to show more of his feelings toward Ino.
The more he showed.
The deeper Ino fell for him.
At such a young age it might sound strange to say something like that.
But in the Naruto world, this was practically a social norm.
Tap.
Yagyu gently tapped the top of Ino's head with his hand.
With a doting expression he said, "Do you want my attention to shift to other girls instead? For example…"
Whoosh.
A sharp glare immediately locked onto him.
Ino said fiercely, "Don't you dare."
Yagyu rubbed the top of Ino's head and did not continue the sentence.
Of course he would not do something like that.
Having Ino, a fiery girl with great potential and a lively personality, was already more than enough.
Of course.
As the future head of the household, Yagyu would never allow that position to belong to Ino.
So naturally.
At the moment Yagyu had Ino completely wrapped around his finger.
And that was just perfect.
"How did your sparring session with the Hokage go today?"
After their playful quarrel ended, Ino looked at Yagyu with the bright affection of youth and asked.
Hearing her question.
Yagyu did not hide anything and simply described the battle that happened earlier.
One person speaking, one person listening.
This had continued for more than three years.
It had already become something completely natural.
Of course.
The quiet side of Ino belonged only to Yagyu.