CHAPTER 69

In the backyard of the Hatake residence, Sakumo Hatake held a wooden practice sword, stepping into the clearing with a calm expression.

"Come at me," he said lightly.

Uchiha Tunan shook his head expressionlessly. Slowly, he drew his chakra-infused short blade from its sheath, his grip steady.

"Senior, you should prepare yourself first," he said solemnly. "This is an honor duel between warriors. Today, either you die—" he paused, eyes unwavering, "—or I survive."

Sakumo stood still for a moment, slightly taken aback by Tunan's words. But soon, the corners of his lips curled into a faint smile. He bowed slightly toward the young Uchiha.

"Alright. Thank you, Tunan."

With that, he gently broke the wooden sword in half and tossed it aside. Turning away, he walked toward his room.

Inside, he didn't immediately grab a weapon. Instead, he crumpled up the suicide note on his desk and threw it into the wastebasket. He picked up a fresh scroll and rewrote his will.

Tying a white cloth around his forehead, Sakumo finally retrieved his prized blade—"White Fang", the legendary chakra-infused tanto that had struck fear into the hearts of enemies. He returned to the backyard, now standing opposite Uchiha Tunan.

Slowly, Sakumo unsheathed White Fang, the blade gleaming under the morning light.

"This sword is called White Fang," he said leisurely. "Does yours have a name?"

Tunan ran his fingers along the edge of his chakra blade.

"I call it Gentleman."

Sakumo raised an eyebrow. "Gentleman?"

Tunan's voice was steady.

"The benevolent are not troubled, the wise are not confused, and the brave are not afraid.

"This is my samurai spirit—my philosophy of life.

"And so, I named it Gentleman."

Sakumo's expression softened for the first time in days.

"Good name," he murmured.

Tunan closed his eyes for a brief moment, then snapped them open.

"White Fang-senpai, shall we begin?"

Sakumo nodded solemnly. "Come."

---

The Duel Begins

The moment the words left his lips, Tunan vanished.

Sakumo's sharp eyes caught the flicker of movement—three figures of Uchiha Tunan surrounded him, each attacking from a different angle.

"A three-pronged attack?"

Tunan's signature technique—the Instantaneous Clone Jutsu—created speed-based mirages, making it seem as though he was in multiple places at once.

"Impressive," Sakumo thought.

"But not enough."

The sound of metal clashing echoed through the air.

"Ding! Ding! Ding!"

Without moving his feet, Sakumo deflected each attack with ease, his blade a blur of silver light. The strikes came from different directions, but his instincts and unparalleled swordsmanship rendered them harmless.

As the battle continued, Sakumo's admiration for Tunan grew.

"He's holding back in his usual spars with Kakashi. But I didn't expect his true strength to be this refined."

Tunan's growth rate was astonishing.

"At this pace, Kakashi will never be able to catch up to him."

Just then, Sakumo spotted a tiny flaw in Tunan's movements.

"There!"

With lightning-fast precision, he knocked one Tunan away, spun around to block the second, and then sent a powerful kick to the third.

"Boom!"

The real Tunan hit the ground, rolling twice before stabilizing himself.

But instead of retreating, he lunged forward again, eyes blazing.

Sakumo frowned.

"Wait... those weren't Shadow Clones?"

He expected them to disperse upon impact, but all three were real bodies.

"He's using an advanced technique to solidify afterimages?"

A rare technique indeed.

For the first time, Sakumo hesitated.

"Which one is real?"

Not wanting to harm him, Sakumo shifted to purely defensive movements. He dodged, parried, and occasionally countered with harmless pushes and kicks instead of lethal strikes.

But Tunan had no such reservations.

Today, he had to force Sakumo to recognize his strength.

Because once he did...

Tunan could kill him in a single stroke.

---

The Hidden Plan

If Sakumo acknowledged him, he would allow himself to die.

But if he didn't...

Tunan had a backup plan.

He had already packed his ninja pouch with medical pills and hemostatic bandages.

If Sakumo refused to surrender to despair, Tunan would severely injure him, then "enlighten" him in his weakened state.

Either way—Konoha's White Fang would fall tonight.

And when he did, Tunan would control the narrative.

The village would remember this moment not as Sakumo's failure but as Tunan's rise.

And he would make sure that Hatake Kakashi, too, was bound to him forever.

---

The Fight Intensifies

Time passed.

Sakumo's flawless defenses began frustrating Tunan.

But just as he was about to escalate his attacks, he sensed something.

"The Konoha Military Police Force is approaching?"

So were the ANBU under Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Tch. I don't have much time."

From the start, Sakumo had never used ninjutsu or even enhanced his body with chakra. He was fighting purely with swordsmanship and raw skill.

"Is this the strength of Konoha's White Fang?"

Tunan clenched his jaw.

It was time.

He dispelled his afterimages, now facing Sakumo alone.

"White Fang-senpai... be on your guard."

Sakumo's fingers tightened around his blade.

He could tell—Tunan was about to unleash something powerful.

Tunan leapt into the air, raising his chakra blade high.

A powerful gust of wind gathered around the blade, extending its reach dramatically.

"Sanhe Gale Slash!"

With unstoppable force, Tunan's sword descended upon Konoha's White Fang.