klisemfg Chapter 507 A rare tranquility
Chapter 507 A rare tranquility
He is like a giant beast lurking in the deep sea, never easily surfacing until he has accumulated enough power.
He wandered aimlessly through the woods on the edge of the village, enjoying the rare tranquility.
Just as he was passing through a bamboo forest, a clear and captivating sound of a sword ringing out entered his ears without warning.
The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed to possess a kind of magic, penetrating his eardrums and buzzing deep within his mind.
He instinctively stopped and looked in the direction from which the sound came.
In an open space not far away, a man stood quietly with his back to him.
The man had striking short silver hair and wore a standard Konoha Jonin vest.
He held a short knife in his hand, the blade reflecting a cold white light in the setting sun.
He didn't do anything complicated; he simply swung his knife, slashed, and thrust.
But even this most basic movement carries a terrifying aura that seems capable of tearing the air apart.
With each swing of his sword, a visible white blade of energy burst forth, carving deep furrows into the ground. The surrounding bamboo was sliced through by invisible blades, the cuts as smooth as mirrors.
That was no longer just swordsmanship; it was the condensation of one's killing intent to the extreme, transforming it into a tangible attack.
Zhang Hai's heart began to pound uncontrollably, and a shiver from the depths of his soul made the hairs on his body stand on end.
A strong, metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, as if he had just drunk a mouthful of fresh blood.
He immediately held his breath, completely hiding his body in the shadows of the bamboo forest, not daring to let out even a breath.
This man was undoubtedly a top-tier expert in Konoha. The pure and extreme killing aura emanating from him was even more terrifying than any assassin he had ever seen in his previous life.
He stared blankly at the silver-haired man's back, and a name exploded in his mind like a thunderclap—Konoha's White Fang!
Just then, the man known as "Konoha's White Fang" seemed to sense something, and his sword-wielding motion abruptly stopped.
He didn't turn around, but spoke slowly in a cold, emotionless tone. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached Zhang Hai's ears.
"You sneaky rat, get out here. Thieves are not welcome on the land of Konoha, so you shouldn't look at my sword, because swords are for protecting the village." The seemingly ordinary short sword seemed to come alive in Hatake Sakumo's hands.
With a slight flick of his wrist, the short sword, which had just been sheathed, was drawn again, tracing silver arcs in the air that were almost imperceptible to the naked eye.
The bamboo that he had previously severed with his sword energy was dismembered again in mid-air before it even hit the ground, turning into countless flying fragments.
Each fragment was remarkably uniform in size, as if measured by the most precise instruments.
In just a split second, Zhang Hai couldn't even count how many times he swung his knife, hundreds of times?
Even thousands of times?
All he saw was a dense, impenetrable silver network of flashing blades.
He could feel a slight vibration coming from the soles of his feet, as if some huge machine was operating deep underground.
Zhang Hai was completely shocked by what he saw. He had never imagined that simple swordsmanship could reach such a superb level.
This transcends the realm of skill; it's more like an art, a dance of death that elevates killing to its ultimate form.
His blood was boiling, and an unprecedented desire burst forth from the depths of his soul.
He wanted to learn; he wanted to master this power!
Just as he was feeling agitated, the man's cold voice rang out again, like the most biting wind in winter.
"How long are you going to hide? Come out." The murderous intent in that voice made Zhang Hai feel a stinging pain on his skin.
He knew he had been exposed, and there was no point in hiding any longer.
He took a deep breath, stepped out of the shadows of the bamboo grove, and stood at the edge of the clearing.
Without the slightest hesitation, his knees buckled, and he knelt heavily before the silver-haired man's back.
"Senior!" His voice trembled slightly with excitement, "Please accept me as your disciple!"
Sakumo Hatake didn't even turn his head. He simply and slowly sheathed the short sword back into its scabbard at his waist with a crisp "click".
He paused for a moment, seemingly tapping the hilt of the knife lightly with his fingers, making a faint sound. This action lasted for about half a second.
"I never take on disciples." His voice remained cold and devoid of emotion. "Especially those brats from the Uchiha clan. Because your eyes are too red, you don't need to learn swordsmanship, since the Sharingan is the strongest genjutsu." With that, he turned and prepared to leave.
How could Zhang Hai give up so easily? He leaped to his feet and chased after them without hesitation.
"Senior!" he shouted, but the other party was extremely fast, and in a few flashes, he left him dozens of meters behind.
Undeterred, Zhang Hai concentrated his chakra in his feet and, at his fastest speed, relentlessly pursued Hatake Sakumo.
The two, one after the other, moved like swift shadows, quickly passing through the village's barrier and leaving Konoha's territory.
Zhang Hai stopped talking; he just gritted his teeth and focused all his energy on his legs.
Sakumo Hatake seemed to be deliberately testing him, maintaining a speed that he could barely keep up with even when he was exerting all his strength.
The wind howled in his ears, the scenery on both sides rushed past, and Zhang Hai's lungs felt like they were on fire, but he had no intention of giving up.
This silent chase lasted for a full hour.
Just as Zhang Hai felt his strength was about to run out, Hatake Sakumo finally stopped.
They arrived at the edge of a cliff so steep it was almost vertical, with a bottomless sea of clouds churning below.
Zhang Hai, supporting himself on his knees, was panting heavily, his clothes soaked with sweat.
A rich, slightly burnt aroma, like that of burning pine needles, filled his mouth.
"You're still a student at the Ninja Academy?" Sakumo Hatake finally turned around, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Yes!" Zhang Hai straightened his back. Although his body was exhausted to the limit, his eyes were still bright and firm. "I will graduate tomorrow! I want to learn your swordsmanship. I want to become stronger!" For the first time, Hatake Sakumo's face showed a hint of interest. His sharp, eagle-like eyes looked Zhang Hai up and down, as if trying to see something from him.