Naruto: I have Ten Skill Bars

[Host has performed a skill execution exceeding preset quality thresholds.]

[Would you like to update the skill status?]

The system detected an improvement in the Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu.

Update Konoha-Style Swordsmanship?

Of course—why not?

Once updated, the skill's effects would be enhanced, and each execution could significantly improve speed and reflexes.

"Update!"

Shigure silently gave the command in his heart.

At the same time, he resumed his Konoha-style swordsmanship practice. He already sensed that he would likely be watched again this morning by Gekkō Hayate.

If that's the case... he might as well perfect his swordsmanship to the highest possible level.

Just as the rain was about to fall again—

Gekkō Hayate suddenly called out.

"Shigure! Wait a second. Training alone has its limits."

"Why not spar with me instead?"

Spar?

Shigure glanced over, puzzled. Was Hayate suggesting a match?

Watching him practice was one thing—Shigure's movements were already polished enough to make Hayate, a jōnin, feel a twinge of inadequacy.

But actual combat... that was a different story.

After all, practice was one thing. A real match was another.

"Brother Hayate, you're at least a jōnin. I haven't even graduated the Academy yet. Wouldn't it be unfair to fight me?"

Although Shigure had changed greatly, a trace of his former pride still lingered. Deep down, he believed he could still match Gekkō Hayate in a pure swordfight.

"Don't worry," Hayate said, smiling faintly. "This is just a practice bout. No chakra, no ninjutsu. Just kenjutsu."

Oh?

Now that was interesting.

If it was purely a contest of sword skills—no chakra, no tricks—then Shigure was genuinely intrigued.

His skill bar had given him significant enhancements, but he was still curious to see how he would perform in real combat.

Shigure nodded. "All right, let's give it a try."

"Bring it on!"

"Mm."

The two took their positions, standing ten meters apart.

Both raised their wooden swords and entered the stance of the Konoha-ryū.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage Building...

The Third Hokage had just arrived for the day. Still thinking about the kid Gekkō Hayate had mentioned yesterday—Shigure, was it?—he decided it was finally time to take a look for himself.

This was the so-called young genius Hayate had compared to Konoha's White Fang.

He hadn't had time to look into it yesterday, but now...

Sarutobi Hiruzen extended a hand toward his crystal ball.

The Sandaime had long since mastered the Telescope Technique—so proficient that he could now use it at will, without weaving any hand signs.

As long as it was within Konoha's borders, he could observe any location with ease.

The crystal ball shimmered to life.

At that very moment, Shigure and Hayate had just taken their stances, preparing to engage.

"Oh?"

The old Hokage's eyes narrowed with interest.

"So Hayate is sparring with this boy, huh?"

The Third Hokage smiled softly as he watched through his crystal ball.

But the moment he laid eyes on Shigure, his expression shifted slightly.

"What a handsome kid."

He chuckled.

"The Moonlight Clan really has good genes."

Both Gekkō Hayate and Gekkō Shigure were strikingly handsome, but even so, Shigure seemed to carry greater potential than Hayate.

After taking in the boy's appearance, Hiruzen noticed something far more intriguing—both Hayate and Shigure were using Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu. However, Shigure's stance stood out.

Unlike Hayate, who gripped the wooden sword with both hands in a classic form, Shigure held his blade in a one-handed stance. His left hand was tucked behind him, positioned near his back hip.

That single detail caught the old Hokage's eye.

A fundamental flaw of Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu had always been the vulnerability created by the placement of the non-dominant hand. But Shigure's positioning mitigated that flaw almost instinctively.

"Did this kid really only start learning Konoha-ryū yesterday?"

Even Hayate noticed the change, though he lacked the Sandaime's refined insight. To him, it simply looked like Shigure was being arrogant—holding the sword with one hand, as if mocking him.

Hayate had originally intended to let Shigure make the first move. But now, feeling underestimated, he decided to strike first.

Without chakra or ninjutsu, Hayate dashed forward.

Even without enhancement, a jōnin's speed far outclassed that of a genin. In a heartbeat, he was in front of Shigure. His wooden sword sliced upward in a clean diagonal arc—from the lower left, aimed toward Shigure's neck.

It was the Third Form of Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu.

Yet in that instant, Shigure saw the flaw in Hayate's execution.

He took a half-step back, shifted his weight slightly to the right, and thrust his blade forward—not using Konoha-ryū, but executing a clean, textbook straight stab.

At that moment, the Third Hokage's pipe slipped from his fingers.

Because what happened next was beyond expectation—Hayate's sword style was interrupted mid-form.

He was left with only two choices: retreat or improvise.

He chose the latter.

Switching tactics, Hayate immediately transitioned into the Fifth Form—a defensive block with a twist, turning his blade to slash horizontally at Shigure's waist.

But just then, Shigure raised his left hand and pressed it against the back of his sword.

From a thrust, he shifted into a vertical block. The two wooden swords collided with a crisp clack!.

Ordinarily, Hayate's superior strength would have overpowered a one-handed defense.

But Shigure's technique was sharper. Using one hand to hold the blade and the other to press from behind, he created more torque and stability than Hayate's two-handed swing.

The block held firm.

And in that brief opening—

Shigure's motion flowed seamlessly into the Seventh Form of Konoha-ryū.

His wooden sword struck Hayate's wrist with pinpoint precision.

Crack!

Hayate winced in pain. His grip loosened, and the wooden sword flew from his hand, still spinning through the air.

Shocked, Hayate instinctively leapt backward to create space—but Shigure was already moving.

The Tenth Form.

A burst of acceleration. Their figures crossed in an instant.

By the time Hayate landed, Shigure's wooden sword was already poised at his throat.

Clatter!

Hayate's fallen sword hit the ground a moment later.

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi silently watched the scene play out.

His pipe lay forgotten on the desk.

In a pure swordsmanship bout—no chakra, no tricks—Shigure had bested Gekkō Hayate, a Konoha jōnin, with just three forms of the same style.

And what's more, he did it using Hayate's specialty—Konoha-ryū Kenjutsu.

"This... this boy..."

Was this really a student who hadn't even graduated from the Academy?

Hiruzen stared in stunned silence at the image on his crystal ball.

Shigure's sword pointed diagonally upward, its tip resting lightly at Hayate's throat.

He held the hilt with his left hand, while his right hand supported the back of the blade—ready to lift and strike in one clean motion.

Had it been a real blade instead of wood, Hayate might have lost his life.

The Third Hokage took a deep breath, slowly picked up his pipe, and placed it back in his mouth.

Eyes still fixed on the image of the boy.

"This child... truly a prodigy in swordsmanship."

"With just a bit of proper training, becoming the second White Fang... may not be a dream at all."

…

TN:

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