Chapter 21 Bows and Shuriken
After reporting to the Hokage, Uchiha Touhuan's days were unusually peaceful.
The recruitment of civilian ninjas for the Security Department went smoothly. After news spread of Uchiha Touhuan's angry rebuke of the two advisors at the department entrance, the civilian ninjas' impressions of the Uchiha clan changed. Upon hearing that the current Uchiha clan was led by Uchiha Touhuan, the one who implemented the "smiling law enforcement" policy, they all put aside their concerns and came to apply.
Several recent graduates from the Ninja Academy, who hadn't been assigned a supervising teacher, even came directly to the department wanting a position within the Security Department.
In less than a week, the Security Department had completed Uchiha Touhuan's task of doubling the recruitment target.
Meanwhile, after Uchiha Touhuan implemented the "smiling enforcement" policy throughout the entire police force,
he himself, under the clan's arrangement, moved into a luxurious mansion deep within the clan's territory. Upon moving into his new home, Touhuan immediately set up an archery range in the courtyard.
With some free time, Touhuan's daily routine consisted of drinking tea, making a trip to the police force to write down evidence of Danzo's crimes for the Shimura clan members in the interrogation room to leave their fingerprints, and then returning home to drink tea and practice archery.
One afternoon, after returning from the police force as usual, Touhuan changed out of his ninja vest, put on a haori, and began practicing archery in the courtyard.
Holding his breath, Touhuan hit the bullseye twice in succession.
At this moment, Uchiha Keiko, the butler assigned to Touhuan by the clan, entered the courtyard: "Clan head, Hatake Kakashi has come to visit."
"Please let him in," Touhuan said without turning his head.
"Yes."
Shortly after Uchiha Keiko left, Kakashi followed her into the courtyard. After leading Kakashi to the back, she tactfully withdrew and closed the gate leading to the backyard.
"The Hokage's orders are that the operation to capture the rogue ninja Orochimaru will officially commence the day after tomorrow," Kakashi announced.
Uchiha Touhuan remained silent, focusing intently on the target before him. Holding his breath, he drew his bow and arrow, striking the bullseye once more.
Seeing this, Kakashi said nothing more, instead finding a pillar in the courtyard to lean against and pulling out his beloved "Icha Icha Paradise" from his pocket.
For a moment, the only sound in the courtyard was the whistling of arrows cutting through the air.
After emptying a quiver of arrows, Uchiha Touhuan paused, saying, "Regarding White Fang-senpai, I'm sorry, this is all I can do for now."
"About that," Kakashi said, putting down his book and speaking seriously, "Thank you, that's enough."
In the past few days, a large-scale study of the Will of Fire had suddenly begun in the village. During this activity, his father, Hatake Sakumo, was repeatedly mentioned as a hero embodying the Will of Fire. Some of the village children only then learned that the village had such a heroic ninja in the past.
"Want to try?" Uchiha Touhuan smiled, handing his longbow to Kakashi.
"Bow and arrow? I'm not good at that," Kakashi refused. "Besides, for a ninja, shuriken are more befitting."
"Shuriken?" Uchiha Touhuan asked, his right hand flashing across his ninja tool pouch at his waist. Four black afterimages shot out instantly, colliding in mid-air before striking the target fifty paces away at incredible angles.
"The Uchiha clan's shuriken throwing technique is truly exquisite," Kakashi praised.
"Nothing special, just practice makes perfect," Uchiha Touhuan wiped his hands and picked up his longbow again. "Kakashi, actually, whether it's a bow or a shuriken, they were both created as weapons for killing."
Uchiha Touhuan fired another arrow, hitting the bullseye. "However, I still prefer bows and arrows a little more."
Kakashi looked puzzled. Shouldn't bows and arrows be something that only outdated samurai practice? If it's really about convenience and speed, shuriken are the best choice for ninjas. "Shuriken are convenient, but after use, less than one-tenth can be recovered. Even those made from the finest iron are only slightly easier to handle. But bows are different. As long as the bow isn't damaged, arrows can always be replenished."
"Moreover, the direction of the arrow is always determined by the bow."
A whooshing sound rang out, and another arrow hit the bullseye. This time, Uchiha Touhuan used chakra to shatter the shuriken that had been embedded in the bullseye.
Hearing Uchiha Touhuan's words, Kakashi seemed thoughtful.
"Well, Kakashi, want to try it?" Uchiha Touhuan turned to Kakashi and asked.
"Then… I'll try it." Kakashi pondered for a moment before nodding.
"Keiko-nee, bring Captain Kakashi a new bow." Uchiha Touhuan called out towards the courtyard gate.
A short while later, Uchiha Keiko, the female steward assigned to Uchiha Touhuan by the clan, entered the courtyard carrying a longbow and presented it with both hands.
Kakashi took the longbow and examined it carefully, but it still felt somewhat unfamiliar.
Although the Hatake clan had transitioned from a samurai family, from his father's generation onward, aside from swordsmanship as their primary means of combat, they were essentially pure ninjas. He had never touched a bow and arrow before.
Kakashi nocked an arrow, awkwardly drew the bowstring, and aimed at the target fifty paces away.
"Stand upright, connect the arrow with your spirit and energy; let your intention precede the arrow's flight," Uchiha Touhuan's voice rang in Kakashi's ears. Following Uchiha Touhuan's instructions, Kakashi clumsily adjusted his posture, aiming at the bullseye fifty paces away.
Kakashi maintained this posture, but didn't release the arrow for a long time.
"Kakashi, calm down," Uchiha Touhuan noticed Kakashi's problem and calmly reminded him.
Kakashi took a deep breath, calming his slightly agitated heart, and then released the arrow.
As the arrow pierced the air, Kakashi stared intently at its trajectory.
It was his first time shooting, and immediately after the arrow was released, Kakashi realized it had missed, a hint of regret appearing on his face.
But just then, the sound of a bowstring whistling through the air reached his ears.
Kakashi turned to see Uchiha Touhuan beside him, the bowstring still vibrating slightly in his hand.
Looking up again, he saw another arrow, launched later, had struck Kakashi's arrow mid-air. Even more incredibly, after the collision, the two arrows flew straight towards the target.
With two muffled thuds, the two arrows hit the bullseye, one after the other.
Kakashi looked at Uchiha Touhuan in surprise, only to see a meaningful smile on his face.
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