"Mr. Jingyi, the first class?"
Kakashi turned, eyes narrowing.
The next moment, he saw Jingyi approach with three genin in tow.
Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and…
"Shisui Uchiha?" Kakashi blinked. "But… he's only five?"
Kakashi's jaw tightened. He wasn't impressed.
Sure, Shisui was a prodigy, but so was he. He had graduated from the Academy at five, became a Chūnin at six, and had three years of experience under his belt already. This team? I could handle them alone.
"I wasn't going to interfere," Jingyi said flatly, "but the way you handled the last few missions you didn't look like a team at all. I thought I should remind you what teamwork is."
He stared directly at Kakashi.
Clearly, he wasn't talking to Obito or Rin.
He's targeting me…
Obito was naive, sure. But Kakashi wasn't cruel he just didn't want to be dragged down. His choices on missions were always logical, effective. He prioritized success over sentiment.
But maybe…
Too cold?
Too confident?
He scoffed under his breath, uncomfortable with the scrutiny.
"Let's begin. We'll do a mock battle. I can handle medical ninjutsu if anyone gets hurt," Jingyi said, then walked away to stand beside Minato Namikaze, who would observe.
"Let's go!" Kakashi snapped.
He was the strongest of his class, and even with Asuma and Kurenai against him, he didn't expect a real challenge.
As the two teams squared off, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin threw shuriken to test their opponents' reactions, gauging distance and timing.
Kakashi wasn't reckless.
He analyzed positions, observed movement patterns, and tracked all enemies.
But
Bang!
A smoke bomb filled the air.
From the haze, Team Jingyi split into threeAsuma, Kurenai, and Shisui rushing forward.
Diversion?
Kakashi moved to guard Obito and Rin.
Clang!
A blade struck from behind Shisui's short sword nearly caught him.
It's the real one…
Trying to isolate and behead the leader?
Kakashi dodged, pulling out his father's White Fang dagger.
"Asuma's mine!" he said, going on the offensive.
But before he could strike
"I've got this!" Obito yelled.
He finished hand seals and launched a Great Fireball Technique.
Kakashi cursed under his breath You idiot!
Now his angle of attack was ruined.
And something was wrong.
There are only two enemies! Where's Kurenai?
"Watch out!" Kakashi shouted.
Too late.
Cherry blossom petals floated into view
Genjutsu: Cherry Blossom Illusion.
Obito and Rin froze, caught in the technique.
Kakashi bit his tongue, releasing the genjutsu, and moved to free the others but Shisui and Asuma were already weaving hand signs.
Fire Style: Fireball!
Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!
The combined flames tore toward Obito and Rin.
Kakashi leapt in, slapped his palm to the ground.
Earth Style: Earth Wall!
The flames struck the barrier and dissipated. Obito and Rin snapped back to reality, shaken.
Then
"You're dead."
A voice behind them.
Asuma's shadow clone.
And beside him _Kurenai.
---
"Kakashi lost."
Minato exhaled softly.
Though Kakashi survived, both teammates had been taken out. In a team scenario, that was a complete failure.
"Unless the skill gap is enormous, no solo shinobi can beat a coordinated trio," Minato murmured.
Jingyi nodded. "Exactly. Kakashi's strong, but he's not that strong."
Shisui didn't have Kakashi's stamina, but his speed rivaled it. With Asuma and Kurenai backing him, Kakashi was outmaneuvered, cornered, and pressured constantly.
Kakashi's blade suddenly flashed with lightning.
He slashed toward Shisui.
But
Clang!
Asuma blocked it.
The cost was high his arm bled profusely but he'd used Wind Chakra to dull the Lightning Blade, buying time.
Shisui and Kurenai struck in unison.
One hit the real Kakashi.
The other, his clone.
---
"That's enough!" Minato called.
Kakashi lowered his dagger, tense and bitter.
If Asuma hadn't blocked it, he might've won.
Jingyi scoffed.
"Not satisfied? This isn't a one-on-one duel. Unless you're Minato-senpai or stronger, don't act like strength alone makes you invincible."
Minato gave a small smile. "I have Flying Thunder God. But it's not just about technique it's how you use it. And jingyi is right teamwork matters."
Jingyi continued, "As for you, Kakashi you're strong, but your chakra is thin, your endurance poor, and your tactics don't account for synergy. You can't just brute-force everything."
Kakashi said nothing.
He hated losing.
But the truth stung more because it was right.
---
Jingyi turned to Rin.
"You're a medic-nin. But your taijutsu is lacking. You can't always count on others to protect you. Tsunade, one of the Sannin, is a medic-nin but no one underestimates her."
He paused, then added, "Consider learning the Chakra Scalpel. Not just for surgery it can sever tendons, muscles, arteries. Used correctly, it's devastating."
Rin's eyes widened. "You mean I could use it offensively?"
"Exactly."
She looked thoughtful.
Why not? Who said medics couldn't strike?
---
"What about me, Sensei?" Obito blurted.
"You?" Jingyi raised an eyebrow. "Train. Get experience. And maybe stop rushing into everything with your brain off."
Obito wilted.