Kakashi's blade flashed in an arc of silver light, cutting through the air—and in an instant, dozens of shinobi fell lifeless to the ground. Those who remained instinctively swallowed hard, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"C-Could this be the ultimate technique of the White Fang Sword Style—the very move that allowed the White Fang of Konoha to dominate entire battlefields?!"
The shinobi who hailed from powerful clans knew the stories well. Their gazes toward Kakashi were now filled with fear and awe.
The legendary White Fang of Konoha, famed across nations, once wore the half-sleeve of a Hokage and was said to possess power that rivaled even the three great prodigies of his era.
Back then, his strength was said to be on par with Hanzō the Salamander himself.
It was because of this power that every major village had issued the same decree—
"If you encounter the White Fang of Konoha, abandon your mission. It will not be counted as failure."
Such was the fear Sakumo Hatake commanded on the battlefield.
Kakashi stood amid the carnage, the surrounding shinobi too terrified to move. His expression remained calm, though a trace of fatigue flickered behind his eye.
Damn it… forcing out that technique drained too much chakra, he thought helplessly.
Though he had inherited his father's style, years of neglect had dulled his mastery. Kakashi's control over the White Fang Sword Technique was still far inferior to Sakumo's perfection.
As he tried to recover what little chakra he could, the battle elsewhere raged on.
On another front, Rock Lee stared at the elderly man who had suddenly appeared before him.
"Old man! You shouldn't be here—it's dangerous! Hurry and get out of here!"
Lee frowned. The stranger wasn't wearing a Konoha forehead protector, and his frail frame made him look like an ordinary villager at best.
"Are you a retired shinobi? Please, leave this place. We're only here for Danzo. There's no reason for you to risk your life!"
Lee couldn't help but feel frustrated. For someone of that age to fight for Konoha… it wasn't worth dying for someone like Danzo.
The old man chuckled lightly. "Heh, don't misunderstand. I'm not here for that snake. I'm here for you."
Lee blinked in surprise. "Old man, if you think Danzo's a villain too, then you should definitely leave!"
The elder didn't answer. Instead, he looked Lee dead in the eyes and asked, "Tell me, boy… why did you choose to become a shinobi?"
"Huh? Why do you ask, old man? And who are you, anyway?"
Lee's thick brows furrowed, his face showing genuine confusion.
"My name is Takuma Genji," the old man said curtly. "Now answer the question."
Lee straightened up, his usual fiery spirit flaring in his eyes.
"Becoming a shinobi is my dream! But Naruto-kun taught me something important—that being a shinobi isn't just about becoming strong. To truly be strong, you must have conviction and faith!"
"I'm not a genius. But someone once told me that genius is ninety-nine percent hard work and one percent inspiration."
"He said I'm a hardworking genius!"
"I may not have ninjutsu or genjutsu, but I'll become strong through effort alone! I'll become someone who can stand beside Naruto-kun. That's my ninja way!"
For a moment, Takuma stood silent, taken aback by Lee's sincerity.
In this world, to be a shinobi was to walk the path of strength. Yet Lee's definition of strength… was something entirely different.
"I admire your conviction," the old man finally said, "but tell me—can one truly become strong without ninjutsu or genjutsu?"
Lee clenched his fists, eyes burning with determination. "I'll prove it! Even without ninjutsu or genjutsu, I can still become strong!"
"Then show me," Takuma said, his tone suddenly sharp. "Let this old man see if your strength is worth that conviction."
"Wait—old man, don't be reckless!" Lee shouted, alarmed.
The man's frail body didn't look capable of combat. But the faint glint in his eyes told a different story.
"Looking down on me, are you? Hmph! You youngsters really are too arrogant!"
With a burst of speed unexpected for his age, Takuma lunged forward. Lee barely managed to bend backward as a heel sliced the air just inches from his nose.
A flurry of precise, fluid strikes followed—each one using leverage and rotation to generate power far beyond what his thin frame suggested.
Lee's eyes widened in excitement. "Old man! I didn't expect your Taijutsu to be so refined!"
The rhythm, the flow, the sheer natural grace—
It was almost reminiscent of Guy-sensei's own style.
Yet there was something else in Takuma's movements. A weight. A hostility Lee couldn't quite understand.
Was it because… I attacked Konoha?
Realization flashed in Lee's mind. The old man's attacks were relentless—controlled, disciplined, and utterly unforgiving.
This was no mere villager.
This was a master testing his resolve.
Lee didn't dare let his guard down. He immediately gathered all his strength, muscles tensing as he met the old man's unrelenting assault head-on.
But as Lee increased his power, Takuma's strikes grew even fiercer, their rhythm sharper and heavier with each exchange.
He's… matching my strength?!
Lee's eyes widened in surprise. The old man's Taijutsu was refined—smooth, powerful, and frighteningly precise. Yet at the same time, Takuma found himself equally impressed.
Though Lee's Taijutsu still carried traces of rawness, the foundation beneath it was solid—systematic, structured, and deeply rooted in understanding. It wasn't the result of mere physical training… but a developed martial discipline.
This was the culmination of the Taijutsu principles Naruto had once summarized in his youth—
A style that sought perfection through effort and self-mastery.
Moreover, Lee's body was unlike anything Takuma had ever seen. His physique was perfectly balanced, full of vitality, radiating a strength that felt almost divine.
"Kid, I didn't expect you to possess such talent in Taijutsu," Takuma said, a genuine smile forming on his wrinkled face. "Your body was born for it!"
Lee grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. He understood the man's astonishment. Takuma wasn't praising his innate talent—he was sensing the transformation that came from Lee's martial cultivation.
Taijutsu, to Lee, was not just a fighting art—it was the process of unlocking the body's limitless potential, refining it to its peak, and evolving toward perfection.
But Lee didn't bother to explain. Words had no place in the midst of combat.
He could feel his meridians nearing full refinement. Soon, he would begin the next step—tempering his internal organs. Once he completed the refinement of the five major and six minor organs, his body would achieve true harmony, and his strength would rise dramatically.
At that stage, his physical energy—his vital force—would circulate on its own, vast and radiant as the sun. It would continuously renew itself, capable of resisting the corrosion of natural energy.
That would be the gateway to a higher realm of power.
Takuma, sensing this incredible potential, smiled faintly. "You're good, kid… but remember—old ginger is still spicier!"
He shifted his stance. "Konoha Dragon God!"
A whirlwind erupted around him, the ground trembling underfoot. A mighty dragon-shaped gust roared into existence, spiraling upward before diving toward Lee with terrifying force.
Lee's eyes widened in awe. A Taijutsu-based technique that manifests a dragon…?!
Without hesitation, Lee focused his energy. His aura condensed, taking the form of a charging bull—unstoppable and fierce.
"Go!"
The two forces collided mid-air with a thunderous explosion. Dust and shockwaves tore through the battlefield as both energies dissipated into nothingness.
When the air cleared, Lee was breathing heavily, sweat streaming down his face. Takuma, though slightly winded, stood with far more composure.
"What technique was that?" Takuma asked, genuine curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "It wasn't Chakra-based… and it wasn't ordinary Taijutsu either."
"This is Martial Arts," Lee replied firmly. "The path of Taijutsu practitioners—developing the body's full potential and walking the road of physical evolution. It was founded by Naruto-kun."
"Martial Arts… the path of Taijutsu?"
Takuma repeated the words softly, then burst into laughter. "Haha! I see… I truly am old. The world belongs to the young now. You have a fine partner to guide you."
He gave Lee a respectful nod. "I admit it—you're strong."
As if releasing a burden long carried, Takuma turned away. The vigor in his body began to fade, replaced by the fragile aura of old age.
Lee stood motionless, silently watching his back. Then, just as the old man was about to disappear from sight, Lee flicked his wrist and tossed something forward—a scroll.
"This contains the method of Martial Arts cultivation!" Lee called out. "If you train in it, you can awaken your potential… maybe even extend your lifespan! There's also a communication device inside—use it if you want to reach me."
He threw a small mobile phone after the scroll, his expression sincere.
"You also want to see how far Taijutsu can go, don't you?"
Then Lee turned and walked away. He didn't know what Takuma might gain from this encounter, but seeing that fading aura…
Lee couldn't bear to watch another Taijutsu master fade into obscurity.
...
TN:
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