Under the Raikage's guidance, Kakashi progressed rapidly.
For example: How to maintain speed without leaving himself vulnerable to attack.
How to manipulate Lightning Release chakra to achieve form transformations.
As long as the questions didn't involve the core techniques of Ninjutsu, the Third Raikage answered them all.
Though he couldn't fully impart his knowledge, even the scraps of Lightning Release experience he shared proved invaluable to Kakashi.
"How humiliating, A. You've been reduced to teaching children for Konoha," the Third Mizukage sneered, glancing at the Lightning Blade gleaming on the Raikage's back - a sight that stung both his eyes and his pride.
Couldn't he show a little restraint?
"Meow~ That blade is Lord White Fang's inherited Ninja Blade, not one of your Kirigakure Lightning Blades," Raj retorted.
Raj was blatantly lying through his teeth, purely to provoke the Third Mizukage.
As he left the tent, he glanced at the system interface.
The surprise attack on the Kiri Ninja's main camp had yielded roughly 10,000 points.
Yet the entire conversation inside the tent had only extracted about 1,000 points from the Third Mizukage.
As a Shadow, there was undoubtedly more potential to be tapped.
Sure enough, mentioning the Lightning Blade triggered another point increase.
"Hahahaha! I can vouch for it - that blade used to belong to the White Fang!" the Third Raikage roared with laughter.
In truth, he'd never had a proper duel with Sakumo Hatake and had no idea what the White Fang's blade even looked like.
He was simply retaliating against the Third Mizukage's earlier taunts.
Kumogakure didn't tolerate such insolence.
"It's a fine blade, but the White Fang met a gruesome end. This might be an ominous weapon. White Fang's son, you'd better be careful," the Third Mizukage said with a pointed look.
"Rest assured, if I'm ever about to be captured, I'll use it to take my own life," Kakashi replied, then walked aside to continue practicing his techniques.
"..."
"This kid's just making things up. He wasn't talking about you, Mizukage. Don't overthink it, meow."
The Third Mizukage took a deep breath.
Suppressing his irritation, he calmly gathered intelligence.
After observing for a few seconds, he felt a sharp pain in his chest.
No matter how he looked at it, Kakashi seemed perfectly suited to wield that blade.
If it weren't for the inscription "Fang," he would have suspected it belonged to the Kirigakure.
This kind of situation was the most infuriating.
It was clearly their own weapon, yet someone else wielded it better than they ever could.
His mind drifted back to the Water Prison Technique and Water Shark Bullet Technique they had traded away, and a vague sense of unease settled in his heart.
A vision flashed through his mind: A Hokage of Konoha, proficient in all Water Release techniques and the seven Ninja Blades.
Damn it.
The Third Mizukage's lips twitched.
Forcing his gaze away from Kakashi's blade, he continued his conversation with the Raikage.
"Raikage, shouldn't you tell me more about this situation?"
"What's there to explain? I tripped and injured my hand. Hearing that Tsunade's medical skills were divine, I traveled all the way from the Land of Lightning to seek treatment. Do I need to report that to you, Mizukage? As for you... what are you doing here?"
The Third Raikage sized up the Mizukage before bursting into laughter.
'At least I came here willingly. Look at this guy. Sealing Techniques, Pressure Point Technique - they used every trick in the book. For a ninja, it's practically the same as being tied up and dragged here.'
Yugito, standing nearby, cast a sympathetic glance at the Mizukage.
'Even though I was brought here the same way, he's the Third Mizukage, while I'm just a Jinchuriki. The difference in status and humiliation is worlds apart.'
Raj watched this scene with mixed emotions.
'How do you make unhappy people happy? One way is to let them discover that someone else is even more miserable than they are - especially if that person happens to be their rival. For example, right now. Sacrifice one person to create joy.'
"I came to observe and learn from Konoha's advanced philosophies," the Third Mizukage said, his eyes narrowed.
His expression remained unreadable, but his points betrayed him: over eight hundred.
Not a huge number, but extracting that many from this guy was no easy feat.
"Did you learn anything from your observation? Or would you like me to teach you how to truly wield the Lightning Blade?" the Third Raikage chuckled.
"Oh?"
The Third Mizukage's curiosity was piqued.
He had designed the Lightning Blade, and Lightning Release ninjutsu was the Black Hoe Clan's ancestral art.
Yet he had personally conceived and developed all other blade techniques and applications.
The Third Raikage's words implied he knew nothing about the Lightning Blade or Lightning Release.
Yugito and Kakashi also turned to watch, especially Kakashi.
Though the Lightning Blade had once belonged to Kirigakure, it would soon be his.
The Third Raikage's "techniques" held great significance for him.
"Give it to me," the Third Raikage said, extending his hand.
Kakashi handed him the blade.
He took the sword, glanced around, and pointed it at Raj.
"Meow?"
Raj raised a paw, pointing at himself.
Seriously, we fought this morning. Are you back for more?
"To avoid accidental injury, send out a Shadow Clone to demonstrate," the Third Raikage said with a light cough.
Engaging the real body would be difficult in a short time.
After all, Raj's burst speed was extraordinary, while the Shadow Clone seemed to lack this ability, making it relatively easier to handle.
Raj shot him a cold glance.
Hmph.
It created a Shadow Clone, which stood three steps away from the Third Raikage.
The Raikage instantly moved, charging toward Raj.
The blade flashed before its eyes.
In that instant, lightning erupted.
The condensed lightning carried immense power, yet...
The Shadow Clone simply sidestepped the initial strike with ease.
The Third Raikage reacted swiftly, hurling his right-hand blade.
A lightning arc connected the two blades, moving with the thrown blade.
Of course, the Third Raikage himself was also moving.
"Amazing!" Kakashi exclaimed, finally understanding.
The Third Raikage had integrated Kumogakure's Nintaijutsu into his swordsmanship.
As long as his speed could match the blade's, this style was incredibly potent.
However... If the enemy was faster, it would be quite embarrassing.
Take now, for example.
Raj's Shadow Clone leaped into the air, flicked its tail to knock the airborne blade to the ground, and then stood atop it, staring at the Third Raikage with utter boredom.
"Raikage, is this your vaunted swordsmanship?" the Third Mizukage asked with a smile.