Chapter 37

On the outskirts of Konoha, near Tatsuya's farmhouse hut,

Two rapid afterimages, one black and one white, clashed incessantly alongside the babbling stream. Their movements were too swift for the naked eye to follow, each new position becoming the last in an instant.

"Wow, they're so powerful, incredibly strong! That's the renowned Black Knife and White Fang of Konoha!" Obito's fists clenched, excitement painting his cheeks with a vivid flush.

"Why are the proud Uchiha clan members constantly hanging around our territory? Why don't you stick to your own family?" Fifty-fifty turned his listless eyes toward Runto, his tone tinged with irritation.

"I'll go wherever I please; this isn't exclusively your clan's domain. I'm here on my own freedom," Obito retorted, his conviction unwavering.

In truth, his visit wasn't driven by a deep desire but rather a challenge to Kakashi.

"Hmph, if you had spent as much time practicing the basics as you did watching father and uncle spar by the stream, you might have some usefulness. Otherwise, you'll just end up as a burden, slowing everyone down," Kakashi quipped disdainfully.

"What did you say!?" Obito's temper flared, his hands clenching Kakashi's collar as he mounted a retaliatory response.

The two of them began tussling.

"Enough, you two, stop fighting!" Rin interceded, trying to quell the altercation.

She hadn't intended to come on her own, but her best friend Kurenai had coaxed her into joining.

"Stream·Chidori!"

Abruptly, the white figure that had been knocked airborne seemed to hover briefly before descending.

Sakumo's one-handed seals flowed seamlessly fast.

Lightning surged across his right arm, though the inherently unstable Lightning Style Chakra exhibited hints of erratic behavior, spreading from his palm to his entire limb.

Tatsuya's advice had encouraged the concentration of all Lightning Style Chakra effects on his right hand, but without access to the original Kakashi's precise hand seals, his suggestions had limitations.

Originally, Sakumo had excelled in utilizing Lightning Style to stimulate his body, achieving skyrocketing speeds. The addition of Chidori further enhanced his abilities.

"Puff—whoosh!"

Sakumo's right arm erupted with thunder, propelling him forward once more.

Even the air resonated with a resounding boom.

Zap, zap, zap ——!!!!

A chorus of thousands of birds echoed, akin to a symphony of avian melodies in perfect unison. Hence the name.

"This level of speed strains the body too intensely!" Gritting his teeth, Sakumo mused.

The use of Lightning Style Chakra to invigorate the body, facilitating rapid acceleration, caused his vision to blur. The eyes couldn't keep pace with the enhanced swiftness of movement.

On the ground, Tatsuya's gaze remained fixed on the swiftly descending Sakumo, who resembled a lightning bolt come to life.

Undoubtedly swifter than the final rendition of Kakashi's Technique in the future.

"Wait—"

One onlooker, red-eyed Loli, let out an involuntary exclamation. However, the spectacle was too much to process. She barely uttered the first syllable of "wait" when the second was snatched away.

A blur later, Sakumo materialized in front of Tatsuya, his rapid descent culminating in a stunning display.

As the two sides hurtled towards a collision, Tatsuya's eyes abruptly narrowed. A deep, weathered voice resonated in Tatsuya's mind, carrying the weight of years gone by.

"Haaaaa..."

"Huh!?"

Tatsuya's expression swiftly shifted. The two brothers shot past one another.

Among the spectators, when the count reached around fifty, Runtu and the others could distinctly make out Tatsuya and Sakumo once more.

Sakumo had appeared behind Tatsuya.

At this moment, a faint line appeared on the corner of Tatsuya's right cheek, and a trickle of blood followed suit.

"Did Dad win!?" Kakashi, switching from defense to offense, enthused while riding on Obito.

Puff!

Yet, his words barely left his mouth when a piercing cry of "Crow's mouth" reverberated. Sakumo had a significant wound on his right arm. Blood spurted from the gash in his shinobi attire.

"Dad!!" Kakashi shouted, dashing forward.

"It's just a superficial wound, nothing to fuss over." Sakumo waved dismissively, his chuckle echoing.

However, more attention was devoted to the back of his hand, torn due to the Lightning Style Chakra's influence, than the stab on his arm.

"Our skills need further refinement," Sakumo remarked with a touch of emotion.

"But the attack could be evaded with your perceptual abilities, right, Tatsuya?" Sakumo turned, inquiring about Tatsuya, who had now seated himself cross-legged.

Rin, aspiring to become a medical ninja akin to Tsunade, produced her medical kit and began to tend to Sakumo's wound.

Obito, at her side, displayed a hint of sourness.

"Slightly foresight," Tatsuya altered the topic, his thoughts directed inwardly.

"The voice just now... it can't be..."

[Host: Tatsuya]

[Swordsmanship: (Naruto World Ver.) Mihawk's Swordsmanship (One Piece World), Evolution Level: 75%]

[Fire Style Ninjutsu (Naruto World): Blood Succession Limit; Inferno Style (Naruto World) Evolution Level: 82.5%]

[Body Flicker Technique (Naruto World) Shunpo (Bleach World) Evolution: 30%]

As Tatsuya accessed the system for a check, Tsunade chimed in with an oddly balanced tone, "Oh, Master Black Knife seems to be enjoying himself."

The sheer intensity of her remark compelled Rin to retreat a couple of steps, her expression a mixture of shock and apprehension.

Look of trepidation, even for a young girl.

...

...

"Get out!"

Sarutobi patriarch's residence

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, once again found himself ousted from his bedroom by his wife, Biwako.

Though Hiruzen retained a degree of composure concerning Shinnosuke's death, his wife was far from serene.

Upon learning of the incident, she had been consumed by the near-obsessive determination to locate Tatsuya.

The words Tatsuya had spoken before departing Konoha were etched in her mind. She was nearly 100% convinced that her son had met his demise at Tatsuya's hands.

Eventually, Hiruzen managed to rein in her fervor.

But the cost was steep. He was relegated to the solitary confines of the study! Excessive, perhaps, but even fifty-year-olds have their needs, after all.

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