Hairashin would be better than her own technique. Still, she didn't consider it not being an option. Even for people who were used to it, that only made it more important that she use it instead of holding back. Fortunately, she managed to maintain her balance and stance even when she missed, steadying herself again without leaving herself open.

Speaking of holding back though... "I don't intend to, Lord Hokage." It didn't occur to her he might mean she'd use things not her sword though. If it did, obviously she'd protest that he couldn't expect her to use things that were meant to torture and kill opponents (though genjutsu was dangerous, considering the potential for flipping it on her) on her Hokage, or on anyone in sparring.

For the moment though, she just...thought for a few moments and struck the ground with her blade. Perhaps it was cheating some to incorporate jutsu into it...but strictly speaking that counted as kenjutsu, so. When she struck the ground she summoned chakra to shoot dust and dirt into the air. She knew that was worthless alone against chakra, and that was why she used her chakra to do it: hopefully by expelling a 'cloud' of dust held together with her chakra, his vision would be blinded to where she really was by the wall of 'her' in front of him.

...It might work, right?

She operated on the assumption it would, and attacked once more, this time slightly his left flank instead of head on.