Chapter 17 - The Old Fox and the Little Fox
Chapter 17 - The Old Fox and the Little Fox
Konoha Village – Forest Behind the Mountain
The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy, its golden light casting dappled patterns across the forest floor. A cool breeze swept through the trees, rustling the leaves with a gentle murmur, the scent of fresh earth and morning dew lingering in the air.
Amidst the serenity, the sharp sound of repeated impacts echoed through the woods.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each strike was forceful, rhythmic, relentless.
Standing before a boulder twice the height of an average person was Hatake Kazane, his wooden sword swinging with unwavering precision. Every impact sent vibrations through the rock, leaving behind deep fissures that spread like cracks on glass.
It was an unnatural sight. A simple wooden sword should have shattered against solid stone long ago. But kazane blade held firm, its edge cutting deeper with every strike.
The secret lay in his mastery of reinforcement Haki, the power to reinforce objects with an invisible armor of will. The moment his Haki infused into the wooden sword, it became as unyielding as steel, amplifying his strength to monstrous levels.
Even so, there were limits. No matter how much his willpower fortified the weapon, after hundreds—perhaps even thousands—of strikes, wear and tear inevitably took its toll. Kazane had already gone through more wooden swords than he could count during this training.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied his stance and tightened his grip. This next strike would be the last.
"Haa!"
With a fierce exhale, he poured every ounce of strength into his final blow.
The instant the wooden sword connected, a sharp crack split the air. The blade shattered in his hands. At the same moment, the massive boulder, already weakened by countless strikes, crumbled apart, collapsing into a heap of jagged stone fragments.
Kazane lowered his arms, his breath slightly unsteady as he observed the scattered debris before him.
He had long since lost track of how many boulders he had destroyed. His mastery of Haki had undeniably improved, but he still felt like he was stuck at a frustrating plateau.
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
"I'm getting stronger, but when will I finally be able to cut through metal?"
The thought gnawed at him.
Despite always wearing the signature green headband of Roronoa Zoro—the legendary swordsman whose path he sought to emulate—he had yet to master the most fundamental step toward becoming a true swordmaster.
Santoryu's ultimate technique, Dragon Twister, was still beyond his reach.
Zoro's training notes mentioned the importance of listening to the breath of all things. The idea was simple in theory, but in practice, it was maddeningly vague. Even with his current level of Haki, he had yet to grasp the essence of Zan-Tetsu Kenjutsu—the art of cutting steel.
Without that skill, the gap between him and the true masters of the blade felt insurmountable.
No matter how strong he became, as long as he was stuck on this threshold, he would never reach the level of those who could unleash flying slashes or carve through iron with a single stroke.
He let out a slow breath, steadying his thoughts.
"System, open my status panel."
A translucent screen appeared before his eyes, displaying a familiar set of information.
---
Hatake Kazane
Gender: Male
Occupation: Swordsman
Rank: Jōnin
Sword Techniques:
No-Sword Style True Blade – Barehanded Catching of a White Blade
One-Sword Style Iai – Lion's Song
One-Sword Style – Thirty-Six Pound Phoenix (Locked)
Two-Sword Style Iai – Rashomon
Two-Sword Style – Eagle Wave
Two-Sword Style – Climbing Tower
Two-Sword Style – Yin Climbing Tower
Three-Sword Style – Demon Cutter
Three-Sword Style – Bull Needle
Three-Sword Style – Tornado Slash
Three-Sword Style – Tiger Hunt
Three-Sword Style Ultimate Art – Three Thousand Worlds
Haki:
Busoshoku Haki (Armament) – Coating (Coating → Blackening → Ryou)
Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation) – Enhanced Five Senses (Enhanced Five Senses → Biological Aura Perception → Future Sight)
Taijutsu:
Eight Gates Technique – Fourth Gate
Equipment:
Wado Ichimonji
Yukizame
Zoro's Green Headband
Zoro's Training Manual
---
He glanced over his progress.
On paper, he had already achieved an impressive level of strength. Even among the elite shinobi of Konoha, his name carried weight. His Haki was formidable. His swordplay was unparalleled among his peers. He had reached the Fourth Gate of the Eight Gates technique, pushing his physical abilities to the brink of human limits.
And yet, he wasn't satisfied.
Before he could resume training, however, a flicker of movement caught his eye.
A masked figure materialized a short distance away, blending seamlessly with the shadows of the trees.
"Hatake Kazane, the Hokage has summoned you," the figure announced.
The voice was calm, detached—undoubtedly a member of Konoha's ANBU.
Kazane raised an eyebrow at the unexpected summons.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, rarely called upon individuals personally unless it was something significant.
What puzzled him even more was the timing.
Given his performance during the Real Combat Ranking Exam, he had expected Hiruzen to summon him much sooner. Instead, weeks had passed without a word. Was it possible that the Hokage had simply… forgotten about him?
No, that didn't seem likely.
"Understood," Kazane replied, nodding.
Without further delay, he followed the ANBU operative, moving swiftly through the forest.
As they departed, the masked ninja cast a lingering glance at the shattered boulder and the remains of numerous broken swords scattered across the ground.
For a moment, he stood frozen. Then, almost unconsciously, he drew a sharp breath.
This kid… is terrifying.
His gaze flickered toward Kazane once more.
Talent alone wasn't frightening. Konoha had produced countless geniuses over the years.
But talent combined with relentless, unforgiving discipline?
That was something far more dangerous.
If Kazane survived long enough to reach his full potential…
The shinobi world wouldn't know what hit it.
---
Hokage's Office – Hokage Tower
Atop Konoha's central tower, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, the room dimly lit by the afternoon sun filtering through the paper windows. Wisps of smoke curled from the pipe in his hand as he stared at a set of documents, lost in thought.
The office was quiet, save for the faint scratching of a brush against paper.
Then, a soft knock on the door.
"Hokage-sama, Hatake Kazane has arrived."
"Let him in."
The moment Kazane stepped inside, Hiruzen's expression shifted slightly. His sharp, weathered eyes studied the young shinobi, taking in his features with a quiet sense of nostalgia.
For a brief moment, he saw another figure standing in Kazane's place—one from decades past.
Sakumo.
The resemblance was striking.
The way the boy carried himself, the unwavering intensity in his gaze… it was as if the White Fang himself had returned to life in a younger form.
Hiruzen exhaled slowly, setting his pipe down.
"Seeing you… it's like looking at Sakumo in his younger days," he said at last. "You're truly his spitting image. I remember—he was just about your age when he first made his mark in the Academy's combat assessments."
He let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head.
"Time flies. It feels like just yesterday that I held you in my arms when you were barely a month old."
Kazane listened with a polite expression, though inwardly, he couldn't help but smirk.
Oh? So now you want to act like a caring elder?
Still, he played along without missing a beat.
"My father always spoke highly of you, Hokage-sama," he said, his voice even. "He often told Kakashi and me about your achievements, urging us to learn from your example."
He paused for a moment before adding, "I still remember the words you spoke before the exam—the Will of Fire."
He let the phrase hang in the air before continuing, his voice sincere.
"It truly set my life's direction."
"My father dedicated himself to that belief," he said. "Rest assured, Hokage-sama—Kakashi and I will inherit the Will of Fire and carry it forward."
Hiruzen's gaze softened, a deep sense of satisfaction settling over him.
A young shinobi who didn't even need persuasion to be a staunch loyalist?
Sakumo truly raised his sons well.
Rising from his seat, Hiruzen patted Kazane's shoulder warmly.
"Kazane, your talent is exceptional, and your dedication is even more admirable. You are already an outstanding shinobi."
He met the boy's gaze firmly.
"I hope you will continue to train diligently and uphold the legacy of the Hatake Clan. In time, you will become a legend across the shinobi world. If you ever need anything, do not hesitate to ask me."
"Konoha… is your home."