14:, Bokutō

A week later ever since Yami taught Fugaku the TCB.

Even though the original Yami is busy looking after Shisui, nonetheless, he still trained his body.

After the Shadow Clone dispelled, their memories and experience transfered from the original body, however, the Clones does not build muscle but they will give the original Yami a muscle memory.

Thankfully, Yami is not the only one suffering from Shisui's infant wrath but  also Kaburamaru.

But nonetheless, after Yami had talked to his friend that 'Shisui is still a baby', or 'Shisui is my younger brother', Kaburamaru had grown fond of Shisui.

*******

Clone Yami at the Hatake Compound.

Sakumo and the Clone Yami had finished sparing as they took a brake.

"Hey Sakumo! Why did you train me?"

The clone Yami said in full sentences, it was also a suprise to the original Yami that he was able to comfortable speak with Sakumo in fill sentences.

Anyways, what the clone Yami had said suprised Sakumo as he'd never expected that question.

"Well, you remind me of someone I knew. And you have the potential to become a very strong and great Shinobi."

Sakumo replied to his question as he gulped down a chug of water.

'I should not ask who this 'someone' is, I have a feeling that the boss is not going to like it knowing who is that 'someone'.'

"Sakumo, since the first Hokage, Senju Hashirama is one of the co-founder of the village. And the only Shinobi who bear the Wood Style, did he make some trees around the village?"

"How did you know about Lord First?"

"I read some books."

Yami lied, it wasn't the book that thought him about what he had just said, rather it was because he knew about the story.

"Well, to your question yes. There are still some of Lord First trees."

"Sakumo, I have a request."

"What is it."

"Can you make me a bokutō made out of the First Hokage trees."

Sakjmo was surprised to Yami's request, but he could not guarantee him that he is able to give him a bokutō made out from the First Hokage's trees.

After all the Third Hokage had forbid anyone to cut off the tree made by his late Sensei.

"Sure, but I have to ask for Lord Third's permission."

"Wait here Yami-kun."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Hokage's Office:

"Hokage-sama!"

Said Sakumo in respect,

Hiruzen glance at the door. He was delighted to see Sakumo finally in his usual self even if he did failed the mission that The impact of the mission's failure caused Sakumo to be vilified by the Land of Fire, the villagers of Konoha, and even those he had saved.

Hiruzen, however, didn't blame him Hiruzen believed that what Sakumo did was the right thing but in the wrong time.

War was about to break out, Hiruzen needed Shinobi's who cared for their comrades, he was glad that Sakumo returned to his usual self.

"Hokage-sama, I would like to make a request."

"And would is this request of yours be?"

"I would like to have a branch made out of Lord First Wood Style."

Hiruzen's face was solemn, does Sakumo even know what he'd request.

In the past, Sakumo would never make request but if its for a mission he would  ask so.

"Why?"

"My apprentice that I personally picked, request for it."

What?! Apprentice?!

Sakumo has an apprentice?!

Many Shinobi's begged, ask and would even die if it meant to become Sakumo's apprentice!

Who wouldn't be, he is the Konoha's White Fang and the current Anbu Commander, after all!

But for Sakumo to personally picked an apprentice. Now, Hiruzen is really curious on who could this apprentice of Sakumo be.

"May I ask who your apprentice is?"

"I apologize," Sakumo shook his head as he continued speaking, "That child doesn't really like being in the center of attention."

Hiruzen nodded in disappointment, he really wants to know who this child could be that made Sakumo ask for such request.

But nonetheless, he did not urge Sakumo any further.

"As for your request, I'll permit it."

"Hokage-sama are you sure?"

Hiruzen nodded, "Since it's your apprentice, I'll give him that branch as a gift."

"Thank you very much! Hokage-sama!"

Hiruzen stood up as he signaled Sakumo to follow him.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Somewhere in the Konoha forest:

After Hiruzen lead Sakumo to the tree, Sakumo was left alone as Hiruzen still have many paperworks to do.

Sakumo raised his his tanto cutting one of the branch that connects the tree.

Sakumo didn't used any of his Clan techniques as he knew that the tree would be destroyed, and the Hokage would be in rage.

Sakumo sat down on the ground as he recalled his apprentice details about carving the sword.

The handle has to be twenty-six centimeter and the rest seventy-six centimeter.

And the sword's shape has to be modeled into waves resembling a twisting snake.

Sakumo found it odd that Yami request that his bokutō that resembled a snake.

So Sakumo asked of he like or love snakes. But Yami's replies confused him even more.

What do you mean like or love, I despises snake's excluded Kaburamaru.

Sakumo didn't pry any longer as he didn't want to force his apprentice.

Sakumo stood up as he used Body Flicker arriving at the his Compound as he witness his apprentice training with his bokutō in a very unique way.

The way he swings, hit and attack everything how he used his bokutō resembles a snake but a lot sloppy.

Anyone who would see him, would just say that he is still a beginner and doesn't even know what he is doing.

But Sakumo isn't just anyone, he is a kenjutsu master so he very much recognized the kata that Yami used.

Sakumo felt that Yami had already know the basics, but his body won't listen.

Once again Yami reminded Sakumo of a 'certain assassin'.

"Yami-kun!" Sakumo called out stopping Yami from his training as he rush towards him, or rather at the bokutō that Sakumo was holding.

"Sakumo. Lord Third allowed you to take a branch from the First Hokage trees?"

"Shouldn't you be calling me Sensei, since I've been teaching you."

What Sakumo had said made Yami raised his right eyebrow, 'It is fair enough to call him Sensei.'

"To your question. Yes."

Sakumo confirmed as he handed him the bokutō.

Yami's kenjutsu style utilizes slithering motions to bending his sword and attacks in impossible ways, allowing him to weave through narrow openings with ease.

Of course, he is able to move and slither an ordinary katana and bokutō, but, if his katana is like the same in his previous reincarnation, then it is a whole 'nother level slithering, twisting and great reflex and also his flexibility.

But since his body isn't in his previous life current power, he still needs to train.

"Sakumo-Sensei, spar with me."

"Right now?"

Yami nodded.

After Sakumo and Yami did the seal of confrontation. Yami slithered towards him in a greater speed, in Sakumo's perspective Yami right now look like a snake, however, Sakumo called the Konoha's White Fang for nothing.

Sakumo didn't attack first as he wanted to see what Yami's first attack.

Yami's both hand gripped at the bokutō as he was about to deliver an upper diagonal slash, he could see all of Sakumo's  movements how his joints, arms, hands, and legs moved.

Sakumo's bokutō was about to clash with Yami's bokutō, when suddenly his attack pattern changed.

Yami's bokutō slithered under Sakumo's bokutō as his bokutō never clashed with Yami but the air, Yami's bokutō's counter almost reach Sakumo's stomach.

Well, the keyword was 'almost', if Sakumo jumped back to dodge Yami's bokutō, if he wasn't a powerful and experience Shinobi then he is afraid that Yami's blow would have attack his stomach.

The reason Sakumo jump back instead of attacking Yami, was because he knew that the Yami in front of him is a clone, making a shadow clone take almost a half of the user's chakra and he definitely doesn't want the original yami making an another clone to come and get his bokutō.

"That's enough sparring for today." Sakumo ordered his apprentice, Yami nodded he doesn't have any reason defying Sakumo, since he was planning to go back and give the original Yami the bokutō.

"Yami, I won't be able to train you tomorrow."

Yami nod in understanding, Sakumo is the Konoha's Anbu Commander so he would be extremely busy doing missions.

"Hn."