After Lightning Release, Kakashi continued to experiment with the four Chakra natures of Wind, Water, Fire, and Earth.
However, it was regrettable that Kakashi currently only mastered the nature and form changes of two Chakra natures: Lightning Release and Earth Release.
And the Earth Release Chakra nature was not suitable for attacking with White Fang.
Although Wind, Water, and Fire Chakra could also be channeled through White Fang like Lightning Release, due to Kakashi's own limitations, their power was far inferior to Lightning Release.
Looking at White Fang in his hand, Kakashi decided to focus on researching the nature and form changes of Wind Release for the next period.
Wind Release was already extremely suitable for use with ninja tools, and in the original story, when Naruto was training the Rasenshuriken, he also analyzed the characteristics of Wind Release Chakra with Asuma's help.
Cutting.
If he had the guidance of a renowned master, Kakashi could complete the nature and form changes of Wind Release at the fastest speed.
And the Wind Release masters in the Hidden Leaf Village... Danzo Shimura?
That's out of the question.
Kakashi thought of the man obsessed with the Hokage position and immediately abandoned this option.
"I'm leaving, Guy."
Kakashi waved to Might Guy, who was undergoing intense training not far away.
"Oh!"
"You go, Kakashi!"
"I still have five hundred to go for a thousand push-ups!"
"After that, I have a thousand sit-ups!"
Might Guy responded loudly to Kakashi.
"...Then good luck."
Kakashi was already used to this, put away White Fang, and left the training ground alone.
"Wuwuwu!"
"Bearing the expectations of my best friend, I will never disappoint Kakashi!"
"Burn! My youth!"
"Rage! My fighting spirit!"
Might Guy's emotional fluctuation +1.
Chakra +1%.
Listening to Might Guy's passionate roar from the training ground behind him, Kakashi scratched his head speechlessly.
Compared to Might Guy, was he being a bit lazy?
However, sensing that he still had half a card of Chakra left in his body, Kakashi gave up the idea of continuing to train with Might Guy.
Anyone would seem decadent and lazy compared to Might Guy.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on Kakashi's face through the mottled shadows of the roadside trees. He looked up and saw a figure land in front of him.
"Kakashi, the Hokage has a message."
The newcomer, wearing an Anbu mask, looked at Kakashi and spoke calmly.
"Ah, I understand."
Kakashi responded and then changed direction, walking towards the Hokage Building.
What else could it be?
With a light thought in his heart, Kakashi quickened his pace slightly.
He arrived at the Hokage office unimpeded. Looking at the half-closed office door, Kakashi was about to knock when Hiruzen Sarutobi's somewhat tired voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Kakashi pushed the door open.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was sitting in the Hokage's position as always, but his face looked somewhat tired compared to how Kakashi remembered him.
"You're here. Sit down."
Looking at the young man in front of him, on whom he had placed high hopes, Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed to the sofa beside him.
"Hokage-sama, is there something you need me for?"
Kakashi looked at the coffee table in front of him; someone had just been there, and not long ago.
Water stains from tea still remained on the coffee table.
"Jiraiya will return to Konoha tonight. At that time, Kakashi, you and Jiraiya will go out on a mission."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed upon hearing this.
Jiraiya, and himself... Jiraiya was Konoha's top combat power besides Hiruzen Sarutobi. What kind of mission required Jiraiya, one of the Sannin?
"Do you remember Uchiha Mumei that Uchiha Fugaku asked you to inquire about for him earlier?"
[Translator note: "Uchiha Mumei" means "Nameless Uchiha."]
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke faintly, which made Kakashi's heart skip a beat.
It couldn't be... "That's right. When Jiraiya returns to Konoha, he will lead a ninja team consisting of four people: Aburame Shiro, Hyuga Hizashi, and you, to investigate whether Uchiha Mumei has broken the seal."
Seeing Kakashi's slightly changed expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already guessed Kakashi's thoughts.
Uchiha Mumei... "If the seal is intact, there's naturally no need to do anything extra."
"If the seal has been broken, then it means that the mysterious masked man is very likely a disguise of Uchiha Mumei."
Listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Kakashi secretly thought it was troublesome.
But thinking that Jiraiya would be accompanying him, even if Kakashi was unwilling to carry out this mission, he still thought of going along with the flow.
He was Minato Namikaze's disciple, and Minato Namikaze was Jiraiya's disciple, and Jiraiya was Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple.
He just happened to be thinking of researching the nature and form changes of Wind Release Chakra, and Jiraiya happened to be an excellent candidate.
If Kakashi wanted to complete the nature and form changes of all five Chakra natures, then Hiruzen Sarutobi in front of him would actually be the best mentor.
The other party, like Kakashi, possessed all five Chakra natures and was extremely proficient in all five releases, even integrating them to bypass the problem of the five Chakra natures counteracting each other, creating the Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique.
[Translator note: The "Five-Element Great Bullet" technique mentioned here appears to be a fan-made or altered reference; in canon, Hiruzen is known for mastering all five natures, but the integrated technique described resembles Onoki's Dust Release.]
"What?"
"Are there any other questions?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his somewhat tired brows and eyes, asking Kakashi.
"Well, I was thinking..."
Kakashi looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in front of him and quickly told him his thoughts.
"You actually want to complete the nature and form changes of all five Chakra natures?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the young man in front of him with some surprise.
"That's right. I have successfully channeled Chidori through White Fang, thereby circumventing the weakness that originally required the Sharingan to use Chidori unimpeded."
Kakashi looked at the old man in front of him and spoke seriously.
"Is that so..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Kakashi in front of him with some admiration.
With Minato Namikaze's sacrifice, Tsunade preparing to leave, and Uchiha Mumei very likely breaking the seal, he finally heard some good news that made him somewhat relieved.
One could only say that Kakashi was indeed Kakashi.
He truly was a genius who was promoted to Jonin at the age of twelve.
"How about this, tonight I'll have Jiraiya bring you the training materials for the Five Releases."
Hiruzen Sarutobi effortlessly resolved the trouble Kakashi had just encountered.
This was the benefit of having connections and backing.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
Kakashi spoke gratefully.
"There's no need for such formality between us. If Minato were still here, he would surely do the same."
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, stood up, and looked out at Konoha through the window.
More than half a month had passed since the Nine-Tails Attack. Konoha was almost completely rebuilt now, and the past pain seemed to have vanished with the passage of time.
But this was only an appearance. In that one night alone, Konoha not only lost the Fourth Hokage but also lost a large number of elites who had survived the battlefield.
The apparent peace of Konoha at this moment was merely an illusion. How difficult it was to forget the pain etched into its very bones.
————
Supporting me on Pa-treon to gain early access to advanced chapters and enjoy expedited updates. Your support is greatly appreciated.
pat-reon .c-om/Dragonhair
(Just remove the hyphen - and space, to access Pa-treon normally.)