Chapter 28: Becoming an Apprentice! (Please Support with Monthly Votes)

Xuan-Yi Shuxia ultimately did not manage to obtain the Yin Seal from Tsunade.

The timing was simply wrong. No matter how thick-skinned he was, it was to no avail. However, after their conversation, Xuan-Yi no longer felt so anxious. Tsunade was right, after all; the more impatient one is, the easier it is to make mistakes. With his Overdraft Panel in hand, if he could just cultivate carefully for a few years, the situation would be vastly different.

The next day, after breakfast, Xuan-Yi went to the home of Sakumo Hatake. He knew he shouldn't be too anxious, but the grind had to continue, and his training could not stop for a single day. Kenjutsu was one of his primary focuses for the future. His talent for swordsmanship was slightly inferior to his Water Release, but it was far superior to his Yang Release. As for sealing techniques, they were so comprehensive that he couldn't quite gauge his own aptitude. However, having successfully mastered the Evil Sealing Method and the Fire Sealing Method, and with his current progress on the Four-Symbol Seal, it was safe to assume he wasn't doing too poorly.

Regardless, he used his talent level only to prioritize his studies. As long as he could learn something, he felt he should make time for it. In a place like the ninja world, having more skills was never a burden.

Upon arriving at Sakumo's house, Xuan-Yi found that Kakashi was not home. Sakumo did not rush to instruct him, choosing instead to sit down in the tea room. Xuan-Yi promptly began to brew and pour the tea, acting as if he were in his own home. Sakumo watched with a smile, not stopping him. Once Xuan-Yi finished his tasks, Sakumo smiled and said, "You performed exceptionally well on this mission. The Third Hokage issued an order yesterday: you may choose one ninjutsu from the village's Scroll of Seals. Aside from forbidden techniques that cannot be practiced, you may choose any you wish."

Xuan-Yi had not expected such a massive surprise right off the bat; it was completely beyond his expectations. A ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals, and he could choose any of them. His heart skipped a beat. The Flying Thunder God Technique, the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, the Reaper Death Seal... The Leaf Village had a deep foundation, and the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, deserved much of the credit. While the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, it was Tobirama who was the master of forbidden techniques. Any forbidden technique in the Leaf whose origin was unknown could safely be attributed to Tobirama. Even if he hadn't developed it, he had certainly perfected it.

The Flying Thunder God and the Reanimation Jutsu—while Minato Namikaze and Orochimaru played with them more adeptly, Tobirama was the copyright holder. Minato and Orochimaru could only be considered those who carried them forward. Then there were the Shadow Clone and Multiple Shadow Clone techniques. Even the Darkness Jutsu that Xuan-Yi had mastered was said to have been developed by Tobirama. He felt that was very characteristic of Tobirama; after all, the technique was clearly designed to counter the Uchiha.

The Technique of Spiritualization was also, in his opinion, a product of Tobirama. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, even when pinned to the ground by Madara Uchiha, Tobirama had still been able to use a soul-binding secret technique to delay Sasuke Uchiha's death when the latter was struck down. Without that, Sasuke would never have lasted until Kabuto Yakushi could save him. In short, the Scroll of Seals was filled with countless treasures—so many that it was dizzying.

As countless thoughts raced through his mind, Xuan-Yi asked, "Teacher, am I the only one who can choose a ninjutsu?"

Sakumo replied, "Lang-Yi can as well, but he is restricted to B-rank ninjutsu."

For the Uchiha clan, B-rank ninjutsu were largely dispensable. Xuan-Yi nodded, already contemplating what kind of technique he should pick.

Sakumo added, "Xuan-Yi, you should think carefully about what type of ninjutsu you need before making your choice. It isn't necessarily about picking the highest-level forbidden technique; the one that suits you best is the right one."

"Yes, Teacher!" Xuan-Yi replied.

Once that matter was settled, Sakumo spoke again: "Xuan-Yi, your talent for swordsmanship is not bad. Would you be willing to become my disciple?"

Xuan-Yi was overjoyed at these words. He stood up immediately and bowed deeply. "Teacher!"

Although he had already called him "teacher," this was entirely different. Before, Sakumo was merely his team leader, and his instruction in kenjutsu was just a sign of appreciation. But becoming a formal disciple carried a completely different weight. To Xuan-Yi, this was an even greater joy than picking a technique from the Scroll of Seals. The scroll only offered one technique, but becoming Sakumo's disciple meant inheriting the systematic skills of Sakumo's entire career. How much he could learn would depend entirely on his own talent and effort.

After the simple ceremony, Xuan-Yi's training began. However, because their relationship had changed, Sakumo’s requirements became much stricter. After the morning training, watching the panting Xuan-Yi, Sakumo said with a stern expression, "Xuan-Yi, if you want to establish yourself in the ninja world through swordsmanship, you must understand how to integrate nature transformation into it. Your Water Release is quite good, but it isn't suitable. Or rather, you haven't yet found a proper way to integrate it, and even I cannot guide you on that."

Sakumo had mastered all five nature transformations: Lightning, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Water. However, he could no longer offer guidance on Water Release. In his own swordsmanship, he utilized Lightning and Wind nature transformations, which was the source of his title, the "White Fang of the Leaf."

"Although you don't need to consider which nature transformation to use right now, one day you will have to take this step, or you will find it hard to stand on your own with swordsmanship alone," Sakumo said.

Currently, not just Xuan-Yi, but even his own son, Kakashi, was not yet at the stage of involving nature transformation. They hadn't even mastered the basics of kenjutsu, so there was no rush. But the path had to be set. For instance, Kakashi was already practicing Lightning Release on his own, with Earth Release as a secondary study.

Listening to Sakumo, Xuan-Yi nodded repeatedly. The power of swordsmanship with and without chakra nature transformation was vastly different. The White Fang’s short blade was indestructible in Sakumo’s hands, yet in Kakashi’s hands, it had been broken. That was the difference. He couldn't help but think that Sakumo's death had been such a heavy blow to Kakashi that he had eventually abandoned the path of the sword entirely. And yet, even so, the foundation laid in his youth still allowed Kakashi to wield the Executioner's Blade with a skill that rivaled the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Of course, Chidori and Lightning Blade were also formidable. But had Sakumo lived, and had Kakashi been able to continue receiving his father's guidance, what kind of heights would he have reached?

Xuan-Yi was full of anticipation. And he was even more expectant of himself—his future self!

However, the future is built upon the present. If he had to combine swordsmanship with nature transformation, which one should he choose? Xuan-Yi pondered secretly. But he quickly realized it didn't require deep deliberation. Lightning and Wind were the most suitable. He already had a grasp of Wind nature transformation, however preliminary it might be.

"If talent is lacking, make up for it with time!" Xuan-Yi gritted his teeth. Just because he wasn't born with Wind and Lightning affinities didn't mean he couldn't cultivate those nature transformations; it would just be significantly more difficult. But with the Overdraft Panel, what was there to fear?

Besides his own training, there were other ways to master them quickly—such as becoming a Jinchuriki. But that was not something to consider for now.

"Wind Release is sharp and fits swordsmanship perfectly," Xuan-Yi decided. "As for Lightning Release, that's a matter for another day..."