"Hatake Kakashi, you're truly exceptional. With this level of Lightning Release, I acknowledge you... in the name of the Raikage."
The Fourth Raikage's gaze bore into Kakashi with searing intensity. Although anger lingered from their battle, there was unmistakable admiration in his eyes.
Such mastery over Lightning Release was rare, even in Kumogakure. That it came from someone so young—a shinobi barely past his twenties—was astonishing.
The Fourth Raikage deeply regretted that someone like Kakashi hadn't been born in Kumogakure.
But of course, the Raikage wouldn't insult a strong shinobi by offering surrender or recruitment. Such overtures would only cheapen the strength that had just been demonstrated.
If Hatake Kakashi ever bowed to pressure, then he wasn't the man the Raikage had just fought.
"You flatter me, Lord Raikage. Your Lightning Release is equally impressive. When it comes to this nature transformation, Konoha has no one to rival Kumogakure."
Green healing chakra shimmered faintly over Kakashi's right hand, stemming the bleeding and dulling the pain.
"Hatake Kakashi, with that hand injured, how will you continue to fight me?"
"Lord Raikage... Your right hand isn't looking too good either."
"Hmph. It's just a minor burn. It doesn't affect my combat ability at all."
As he spoke, a crackling aura of blue lightning once again enveloped the Raikage's frame. The black scorch on his arm began to fade—his regenerative resilience boosted by the Lightning Chakra Mode.
Kakashi's Sharingan eye narrowed. The sheer durability and offensive power granted by the Lightning Chakra Armor had turned their last clash in the Raikage's favor. The collision had left Kakashi's dominant hand temporarily useless.
"Hatake Kakashi—this ends now!"
The Fourth Raikage roared, thunder erupting beneath his feet. The impact crater beneath him deepened as his chakra surged.
Kakashi shifted his grip, holding his tanto in his left hand. His face was calm, but focused. The Sharingan's tomoe spun rapidly in his eye.
Boom!
With a thunderous step, the Raikage launched forward, his left fist charged with destructive lightning.
"You're finished!"
"Not yet!"
Kakashi swung up the tanto to intercept the incoming blow.
Clang!
Steel met flesh—and shattered. The force of the Raikage's punch sent White Fang flying, the blade torn from Kakashi's grasp.
Kakashi's expression tightened—but he was prepared.
The brief interception gave him just enough time to slip away.
The Raikage paused, surprised his punch had missed its mark.
"Hatake Kakashi, you couldn't even take a single punch from me. What else can you do?"
He didn't chase immediately. Instead, he smirked.
Across the battlefield, Kakashi reappeared, breathing heavily, but smiling.
"Lord Raikage... do you still remember my sensei—the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze?"
The Raikage's expression sobered.
"Of course I remember. He was the only shinobi to ever outspeed me in battle."
"Is that so? Well... I suppose after today, there will be one more."
"What?!"
Kakashi didn't answer.
Instead, Chidori erupted in his left hand—the shriek of a thousand birds echoing across the scorched earth.
"Hmph. Still clinging to life?" the Raikage scoffed.
But he hadn't noticed the subtle shift in Kakashi's eye.
His Sharingan tomoe had transformed—taking the shape of a Mangekyō.
"Lord Raikage... don't you recognize the ground beneath your feet?"
The Raikage blinked, glancing down.
This spot—
It was the location where he had smashed Kakashi's Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall earlier.
Before he could react, Kakashi's figure vanished.
No afterimage. No delay. Just—gone.
"Impossible!" the Raikage gasped.
That movement—it wasn't body flicker. It was space-time ninjutsu!
Flying Thunder God Technique!
The same jutsu that had haunted him in the past!
Shing!
Kakashi's voice whispered behind him.
"You're finally where I wanted you."
Back when he raised the earth wall, Kakashi had secretly embedded a tri-pronged kunai—marked with the Flying Thunder God Seal—into the rubble, concealing it beneath mud and debris.
The battle had been steered toward this moment—when the Raikage would unknowingly step into the trap.
Chidori flared again, piercing toward the Raikage's chest.
The Raikage's pupils shrank. He tensed to dodge.
But then—
Kakashi's Mangekyō spun again.
"Genjutsu: Tsukihana!"
Illusion!
For a brief second—just long enough—the Raikage's movements were frozen.
Even though he broke free almost instantly, it was too late.
Chidori struck.
Lightning met Lightning.
The armor of the Raikage's Lightning Chakra Mode cracked under the pressure.
Crack!
And then—pierced.
Though most of the attack had been absorbed, the remaining voltage stabbed into the Raikage's chest.
His muscles seized. The nerves in his body screamed.
And then—darkness.
The Raikage collapsed.
Kakashi staggered, barely standing.
His chakra reserves were depleted.
The Mangekyō's backlash surged in his brain, and the Curse Mark—which had been dormant—flared to life again.
His vision blurred. Pain seized his spine.
Then—blackness.
Both men fell.
As Kakashi lost consciousness, he managed a grim smile.
He had no intention of killing the Raikage. If he had, he would've used Raikiri, not Chidori.
Still, this victory—however narrow—would echo.
"Lord Raikage!"
The assistant of the Raikage rushed forward, having seen the fall from afar. At the same time, from Konoha's side, Hyūga Feiyu darted onto the battlefield.
The two shinobi caught their respective leaders before they hit the ground.
They said nothing. There was no need.
The fight was over.
Kakashi had triumphed.
Both sides withdrew immediately to treat their fallen.
Though both combatants were unconscious, it was clear—the Raikage was worse off.
Had it not been for the Curse Mark striking at that precise moment, Hatake Kakashi might have delivered the killing blow.
But Kakashi never intended to kill. He fought to prove.
And prove himself, he did.
After this day, the entire ninja world would know—
That after Minato Namikaze, there was another force to reckon with in Konoha.
His name—Hatake Kakashi.
The Duel doesn't end here… it only gets more intense.
30+ chapters ahead are already waiting.
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