"It's not really something worth spreading around. After all, now that I've awakened the Sharingan, defeating Kakashi is only natural." Hearing Nohara Rin's praise, Obito was even more proud, almost floating with delight.
"The power of the Sharingan, huh? Obito, once I can regularly open the Second Gate, I would also like to experience the power of the Sharingan." Might Guy said enthusiastically.
"Uh…" Obito's initially buoyant mood steadied again. If his opponent was Might Guy, he didn't feel it would be an easy win.
While Kakashi's burst speed was fast, it only lasted for an instant, whereas Might Guy, with the Eight Gates and the Breath of Rock, maintained high speed and strength throughout.
"Haha, we'll see. I also need to get more familiar with the powers of the Sharingan." Obito neither agreed nor refused outright.
Refusing in front of Nohara Rin would make him seem afraid of Might Guy, but agreeing immediately could really lead to embarrassment.
"The Second Gate…" Shisui on the side felt an increasing sense of urgency as he listened, feeling like Kakashi and his team had undergone a small transformation after just one mission.
After resting until 1:30 in the afternoon, they resumed their training. Obito and Shisui practiced Full Concentration Breathing, Might Guy focused on rehabilitation training, while Kakashi was still striving to get started.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, I've developed a technique combining the Breath of Thunder with my family's swordsmanship, but it has quite a few flaws. Could you take a look?" During training, Kakashi sought Mokgetsu's advice.
This time, one reason he lost to Obito was the significant flaw in Thunder Flash; if the opponent saw through the attack trajectory, it was hardly effective, and the speed that didn't match his reactions made it difficult to respond to the enemy's counterattack.
"Show it to me once." Mokgetsu nodded and said.
"Thank you." Kakashi thanked him, then drew out the White Fang Short Blade and adjusted his breathing rhythm to prepare for the move.
"Thunder Flash!"
Swish!
Lightning erupted under Kakashi's feet, and a thunderous crack echoed as Kakashi shot out, parallel to the ground like a bolt of lightning.
Bang!
The tree that Kakashi had targeted immediately collapsed with a crash.
"Aren't you finding it hard to keep up with the speed?" Mokgetsu thought for a bit and asked.
Mokgetsu felt that Kakashi might have some talent in this area since he had already given Kakashi the Purple Lighting, which didn't require the Sharingan, yet Kakashi had created a skill he couldn't react to in return.
"Yes, and I feel this move's trajectory is too linear. If it's seen through, it's ineffective." Kakashi nodded and said.
"The attack trajectory doesn't matter; that can be fixed when you have a stronger burst. If a single flash won't work, then flash three times or six times. The reaction problem is more critical." Mokgetsu pointed out the key issue.
"There are two fundamental solutions: one is mastering the technique of using Lightning Attribute Chakra Nature Changes to enhance your nerves, thus improving your reactions. The second is mastering the Ultimate Intent Transparent World of the Breathing Techniques."
"Once you reach the Constant State Realm of the Breath of Thunder, you can start learning to enhance your nerves."
"Constant State…" Kakashi was not unfamiliar with this term, as Obito and Shisui were training in this aspect.
"Then how can one master the Transparent World?" Kakashi thought for a moment and asked.
As he knew, Obito and the others had been training in breathing techniques for half a year. They were just beginning with the Constant State training, and it was unclear when they might finish. This meant it could take Kakashi a year to reach the Constant State Realm himself.
Kakashi didn't dare imagine how arrogant Obito might become in that year.
"I can't say for certain; it depends on your personal understanding. Some people might practice breathing techniques their entire life and never master it; some might be born with it." Mokgetsu said.
He only explained nerve enhancement and not the Transparent World because achieving the Transparent World was difficult.
This required mastering the abilities of breathing techniques to a perfect level insight, and the difficulty of increasing proficiency among skills varies.
For instance, the difficulty of Nature Transformation and Ninjutsu isn't on the same level, nor are high-level Ninjutsu and low-level Ninjutsu.
By the time the Breath of Thunder is cultivated to a perfect level, Kakashi's problem will have long been solved; he could even perform ten flashes without issue.
Of course, Mokgetsu, being familiar with breathing techniques, also knew that one might comprehend the Transparent World even before reaching a perfect level of breathing techniques, but Mokgetsu felt that might be even harder than achieving a perfect level.
It's not about personality compatibility but having a tremendous talent for breathing techniques.
"Is it really that hard, possibly never mastering it?" Mokgetsu's answer surprised Kakashi a bit.
"Otherwise, why would it be called the Ultimate Intent of Breathing Techniques?" Mokgetsu chuckled, preparing to demonstrate the effects of the Transparent World to Kakashi.
"Attack me."
Kakashi didn't hesitate and swung at Mokgetsu.
"You plan to cut my left arm." Mokgetsu spoke as soon as Kakashi swung, perfectly evading Kakashi's strike.
"Your target is my thigh."
"You're going to stab my heart."
Next, Mokgetsu seemed to predict the future accurately, stating Kakashi's intended attacks, and though Mokgetsu's speed wasn't fast, Kakashi could not even touch his clothes.
The expression on Kakashi's face grew more surprised; Mokgetsu's displayed ability was simply exaggerated.
It wasn't by relying on physical prowess and a lot of chakra, but by extreme reflexes, that Mokgetsu easily avoided all of Kakashi's attacks.
"This is just one of the abilities of the Transparent World. The Transparent World also allows you to see through an enemy's weaknesses and bring out one hundred percent of your own strength." Mokgetsu explained.
Just listening to Mokgetsu's description, Kakashi could feel the power of this ability, and couldn't help but yearn for it.
If he could master such a powerful ability, Obito's Sharingan wouldn't seem like much.
"If one day you have a transparent sensation in your mind, able to see and control every muscle and blood vessel in your body, that's when you've entered the Transparent World state." Mokgetsu briefly described the feeling of entering the Transparent World.
Kakashi wore a serious expression, committing Mokgetsu's words to memory.
"Though a short-term cure isn't possible, there are ways to alleviate it to some extent, like special training to enhance reaction abilities." Mokgetsu continued.
Reaction abilities can be enhanced through training, but there's a limit. Expecting training to reach the level of Minato or the Fourth Raikage isn't realistic; it can only moderately improve reactions.
"And during battle, unless the timing is perfect, try not to use it too often. Once or twice per battle is enough." Mokgetsu advised.
Obito was able to handle Kakashi's Thunder Flash partly because of the Sharingan and partly because he had seen it once before, gaining some knowledge.
"Thank you for your guidance; I now know what to do." Kakashi nodded and thanked again.
"Keep at it. So long as you uncover your own potential, someday you'll also master the Transparent World." Mokgetsu encouraged.
Speaking encouragement cost nothing, and Mokgetsu liked to encourage his students. Even though it's challenging, you never know—it might succeed.
To defeat Obito as soon as possible, Kakashi was very motivated in his training, throwing himself wholly into cultivating the Breath of Thunder after solving his questions.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, next academic year, I'd like to accompany you on missions too," Shisui said to Mokgetsu after training ended.
"I feel I also need some experience outside the village." Shisui explained, seeing Obito and others improve significantly in strength after missions, he felt restless staying put.
"If I'm still in charge of interns by then, no problem." Mokgetsu agreed.
Shisui indeed needed real combat experience for growth. If everything went smoothly, by the third semester of the next academic year, his chakra would be above seventy thousand, which offered greater security.