Uchiha's Taijutsu Supreme

The Hatake Residence~

It was a cozy, modest two-story home. Though it couldn't be called a mansion, it was compact yet complete, offering everything a small family might need.

The Hatake clan had dwindled in numbers, leaving only Sakumo Hatake and his son, Kakashi. Their lineage now rested solely on the shoulders of these two.

Sakumo sat in the living room, gently polishing his White Fang short sword. His gaze softened as he glanced at a framed photograph on the dining table—a daily ritual for him.

In the frame was a woman with a serene and gentle beauty, smiling warmly at Sakumo. Her eyes radiated a calm, loving glow.

This woman was Kakashi's mother, a former kunoichi who had passed away on a mission to Sunagakure when Kakashi was less than two years old. She never returned.

Sakumo let out a deep sigh, a wave of frustration weighing on his chest.

"Keiko, if you were still here, you'd surely help me make sense of all this—help me figure out what I should do…"

The village of Konoha was a theater of intrigue these days. The Third Hokage, Danzo, Fuma—everyone seemed embroiled in a grand chess game. The selection of a new Jinchuriki for the Nine-Tails loomed on the horizon.

It was a dazzling spectacle, overwhelming in its complexity. For someone like Sakumo, it felt like his mental CPU was overheating.

Sakumo had always been a straightforward man among Konoha's shinobi. He'd never been trained in clan politics or the subtleties of high-level maneuvering.

From the moment he graduated from the ninja academy, he joined the ANBU and fought relentlessly, building his reputation through the blood and bones of his enemies. His path to advancement was painstakingly slow yet solid.

Sakumo was a blade, existing to cut down enemies under the Hokage's orders. He was strong, but in the eyes of Konoha's elite, he was merely a tool, not a decision-maker.

At times, he had sensed something was amiss, but the endless stream of missions left him no time to think. Habit and routine dulled his awareness, and he drifted through life in this "orderly" manner.

However, Fuma's unexpected rise disrupted his routine, forcing Sakumo to stay in the village for an extended period—an unusual stretch of inactivity for him.

Without missions, the warrior found himself with nothing to do but hone his swordsmanship and cook meals for Kakashi.

During a previous mission to Kusagakure, the Third Hokage had initially selected Sakumo for the task.

However, Sakumo was then accompanying the Daimyo of the Land of Fire on a diplomatic visit to the Land of Birds. Unable to return in time, the responsibility fell to Fuma.

Fuma's success, bolstered by the powers of the Box of Ultimate Bliss, further solidified his position. His growing strength alarmed the Third Hokage and the elders.

With valuable resources such as the Six Paths tools and Kirigakure's legendary blades falling into the hands of Fuma and the Uchiha, the Hokage faction found themselves left out in the cold.

This forced the Third Hokage to reconsider Sakumo's role.

To prevent key personnel from being unavailable during critical moments, he reduced Sakumo's assignments and stationed him in the village as a crucial security measure—an insurance policy against potential Uchiha uprisings.

For someone like Sakumo, however, downtime was unfamiliar and unwelcomed.

With little else to do, he began to observe his surroundings more keenly, and unsettling thoughts began to surface.

"The Uchiha police force has grown kinder, yet Konoha's crime rate has risen. But somehow, the Uchiha's reputation is improving…"

"The clan that was once scorned now runs the most popular commercial district in the Land of Fire…"

"And the Hokage faction, which supposedly represents Konoha's interests, seems unwilling to invest in the academy's students."

"They're still stuck teaching outdated jutsu, which is why Kakashi wants to graduate early."

The more Sakumo observed, the more questions arose, shaking his worldview. A revolutionary truth danced on the edges of his mind, but he dared not fully embrace it.

Sometimes, in the stillness of the night, he would recall the faces of his comrades who had died in the Land of Wind. Under the Third Hokage's orders, they had charged into Sunagakure's traps, only to perish at the hands of its puppet masters.

Those once vibrant lives were hastily wrapped in straw mats, with most never making it back to Konoha's cemetery.

Sakumo had replayed those battles countless times in his mind, dissecting the strategies and decisions.

"Why did the Third Hokage insist on attacking Suna head-on?"

"Why were the hunter-nin diverted to the borders?"

"Why wasn't someone like Fuma, with his immense power, deployed to the front lines? Couldn't that have ended the war sooner and saved so many lives?"

The faces of his fallen comrades morphed into blood-red question marks, haunting Sakumo.

Even Kato Dan's dying words echoed faintly in his mind: "So this… this is what it means to be Hokage…"

The once steadfast warrior was now on the brink of collapse. At times, he considered marching into the Uchiha district and challenging Fuma to end his torment with a single, decisive blow.

Just as Sakumo was spiraling in his thoughts, the sound of the front door creaking open snapped him back to reality.

Kakashi was home.

"Father, I'm back…"

The young boy trudged in, his expression and singed clothing revealing signs of a rough day. He looked sullen.

Sakumo's face softened into a rare smile. His son was the only thing grounding him in reality these days.

Glancing at Kakashi's battle-worn appearance, he chuckled lightly.

"How was the academy today? Looks like you ran into some trouble."

Kakashi turned his head away, clearly unwilling to discuss it. "Father, I'm hungry…"

Sakumo sighed, ruffling Kakashi's hair despite the boy's protests.

He headed to the kitchen and returned with dishes he had prepared earlier.

"The pride of the Hatake clan: my special pan-seared river fish and your favorite tamago kake gohan!"

Kakashi's expression twitched under his mask. "Not this again… I've eaten river fish for 21 days straight now. I'd like something else for a change…"

But he quietly walked to the table, clasped his hands together, and said softly, "Itadakimasu."

Even at home, Kakashi stubbornly kept his mask on, eating with an unusual mix of precision and speed.

Sakumo watched him with quiet warmth. To him, Kakashi's habits weren't strange at all. Yet, seeing his son's silence, a pang of regret tugged at his heart.

"Keiko passed away too early, and I… I've failed to show him the love he needed."

"I was always too busy with missions to pay attention to his growth. As a father, I've been a failure…"

Sighing, he pulled out a stack of ryo and placed it on the table.

"If there's something you want to eat, go ahead and buy it yourself."

Kakashi's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the money, but he quickly pocketed it, mumbling, "Thank you, Father."

After a pause, he added gloomily, "Father, I lost to Uchiha Obito today."

"He had a strange blade that released a barrage of explosive tags. He nearly blew up the entire academy. I couldn't get close to him."

He proceeded to recount the battle in detail.

Sakumo's eyes narrowed slightly, scratching his head with a wry smile. "That blade must be the 'Blast Sword: Shibuki', one of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist. It's a powerful tool."

"Even I would have to be cautious facing such a weapon."

"What a reckless move, Fuma… entrusting such a valuable sword to a child. That blade could fetch at least 20 million ryo on the black market…"

Shaking his head, Sakumo shifted the conversation back to Kakashi.

"But even without the sword, Obito's taijutsu shouldn't be underestimated. Wielding that blade effectively isn't easy."

Kakashi nodded silently.

In recent days, Obito's progress had been nothing short of astonishing.

As the days went by, Kakashi's growth was nothing short of astonishing. Both his physical strength and mastery of ninjutsu were advancing at a pace that hinted at him surpassing even his father in due time.

After some hesitation, Kakashi spoke up.

"Father, the other day I lost to a girl from the Uchiha clan, named Konan. She has a technique that allows her to transform her body into paper. My swordsmanship couldn't touch her."

His voice wavered slightly before continuing.

"She can even turn the paper she creates into explosive tags. I couldn't think of a way to defeat her…"

Kakashi admitted his defeat with a tone of acceptance, yet his eyes betrayed a longing gaze toward his father. These challenges had weighed heavily on his mind for some time now.

Sakumo chuckled softly and patted Kakashi's head, relishing the rare father-son moment.

"Those two Uchiha prodigies gave me the chance to reconnect with my son. For that, I'm grateful," he thought to himself.

Then, with a sigh, he muttered, "The young generation is truly extraordinary. Two monstrous talents emerging from the Uchiha… fascinating."

After a moment of contemplation, he began to explain.

"Techniques that alter the body typically rely on Yang Release chakra. This Konan girl must have an exceptional affinity for Yang Release to develop such an advanced technique on her own."

"In the village, the Akimichi clan is known for their Yang Release mastery, allowing them to perform body expansion techniques."

"However, Konan's skill goes even further. Her transformation renders her nearly immune to physical attacks."

"As for her ability to turn paper into explosive tags, that must be the result of her unique secret technique reacting with her chakra. She may even be approaching the threshold of a Kekkei Genkai…"

Kakashi nodded, his understanding deepened. His father's insights were unraveling the mysteries that had haunted him since his match with Konan.

Konan's paper ninjutsu had overwhelmed Kakashi during their battle—its immunity to physical attacks, its ability to fly, and its deadly explosive capabilities combined to create a nearly insurmountable challenge.

The sheer complexity of her abilities filled him with an unfamiliar dread.

Kakashi admired his father's wisdom. With just a few words, Sakumo had dismantled the problems that had plagued him for days.

Eagerly, he turned to his father, asking with urgency, "Then… how can I defeat her?"

Sakumo shook his head and replied with certainty, "With your current skills and tools, it's impossible."

Kakashi's hopeful expression faltered. Disappointment flashed across his face, but he quickly suppressed it, unsure of how to respond.

Seeing his son's crestfallen demeanor, Sakumo laughed heartily, ignoring Kakashi's exasperated glare.

"I didn't say it was impossible forever, only that you can't do it now," he said, a playful edge to his tone.

"Remember this, my son: I am Sakumo Hatake, known as Konoha's White Fang, the master of a sword technique that can cut through anything!"

Picking up the White Fang short sword from beside him, Sakumo channeled a small amount of chakra into the blade. A sharp, dazzling aura emanated from it, causing Kakashi's eyes to widen in awe.

"This is…!" Kakashi muttered, captivated by the sheer power radiating from the sword.

"Against enemies who can transform their bodies with chakra, you must counter with chakra-based techniques," Sakumo continued.

"Like me, you possess all five chakra natures. That is your greatest asset—use it wisely."

As Sakumo demonstrated, the chakra enveloping the White Fang sword shifted between fire, lightning, water, earth, and wind, each transition displaying a unique combat style.

Satisfied with Kakashi's astonished expression, Sakumo added calmly, "Though I can't say for sure what chakra nature Konan uses with her technique, we possess all five. We'll always find a way to counter her."

"When your swordsmanship reaches its peak, you won't need to worry about complex strategies. You'll simply aim for your target and unleash your strongest strike. No secret technique can outpace absolute speed."

Standing, Sakumo walked into the yard, his aura shifting as he raised the White Fang sword and slashed at the sky with purpose.

*Whoosh!*

An arc-shaped slash, nearly as tall as a person, shot out from the blade, tearing through the air at a speed that was almost imperceptible.

Kakashi's mouth hung slightly open, utterly captivated by the display of power.

"So this… this is the true Hatake swordsmanship?" he thought in awe.

Returning to sit beside Kakashi, Sakumo placed the White Fang sword in front of him and said, "Since that Obito kid has his Explosive Blade, this White Fang is yours now."

Kakashi's eyes lit up with excitement, though he hesitated, gazing at Sakumo for confirmation.

Sakumo sighed softly, explaining, "The White Fang is just a blade. Its worth comes from the one who wields it. It's not as precious as you might think."

"All I ask is that when you wield this blade, you do so with a clear mind. Strike every blow with purpose. Only then can you cut through anything—including your doubts."

Kakashi nodded solemnly, though he didn't fully grasp the meaning behind cutting through doubts. Eagerly, he picked up the White Fang sword, a small smile creeping across his face.

Despite his maturity, Kakashi couldn't hide his excitement at finally having a high-grade weapon like his peers.

Sakumo watched his son with a gentle expression. For the first time in a long while, Kakashi exuded a childlike joy.

"Keiko, I won't keep this sword by my side anymore," Sakumo thought silently, gazing at the White Fang sword. "May your spirit protect our son from above…"

The White Fang sword wasn't a legendary artifact but rather a modest dowry from Kakashi's mother, Keiko, when she married into the Hatake family.

Its fame was due entirely to Sakumo, who had wielded it throughout his storied career.

Kakashi, though elated with his new weapon, couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss with his father. Sakumo's demeanor carried a subtle sadness that Kakashi couldn't quite place.

Ever perceptive, Kakashi decided to postpone asking his final question for another time.

"Father, what does the Will of Fire truly mean?"

Meanwhile, Obito had been wreaking havoc at the academy, wielding his Explosive Blade, with reckless abandon. Even the teachers struggled to contain him.

During lessons on the Will of Fire, Obito's sharp wit and relentless arguments left many instructors speechless, some even fleeing in frustration.

Kakashi recalled one of Obito's recent tirades:

"The Second Hokage sacrificed himself to protect the next generation, exemplifying the Will of Fire, right?"

"But if the Hokage Guard Platoon failed their mission to protect the Hokage, didn't they fail as ninja? How can they claim to embody the Will of Fire?"

"So, tell me, Sensei—should we prioritize being ninja or following the Will of Fire?"

"Or is the Will of Fire just a meaningless slogan? 'As leaves dance, so too will fire endure'? What does that even mean? Isn't it just the Hokage's will imposed on everyone else?"

Though Fuma's words were filled with sophistry, they cut deep, exposing flaws that the academy instructors couldn't refute. Frustrated, the teachers escalated the issue to the Third Hokage, who chose to delay addressing it.

"Children say all sorts of things," the Third Hokage reasoned. "It's nothing to worry about."

Back at home, Kakashi resolved to challenge Fuma in debate the next day. If he lost, he would turn to his father for answers.

After all, if anyone could unravel the mysteries of the Will of Fire, it was Sakumo Hatake.

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