Kakashi formed a one-handed seal. His body blurred as he used the Body Flicker Technique.
He appeared before Dosuke, his dagger glowing with chakra. The blade slashed quickly.
Dosuke leaped back, moving with unnatural speed. His steps showed no warning.
"Blade Style: Wind Fang!" Kakashi spun, sending a sharp wave of sword energy at Dosuke.
Dosuke, just landing, dodged sideways, bending like air. He sprang behind Kakashi in a flash.
He pointed his index finger at Kakashi's back. "Water Style: Water Gun Jutsu!" A fast water jet shot out.
The jet pierced a wooden log on the ground with a sharp sound.
Kakashi vanished with Body Flicker and left a Substitution Jutsu log in his place.
"How do you move like that?" Kakashi's face darkened, watching Dosuke shift positions. * It is like he floats, no muscle tension, just bouncing off the ground, * he thought. * If I do not figure it out, my chakra will run dry. *
"Byakugan, activate!" Daisuke Hyuga, leader of the Hyuga Clan, watched closely.
He spoke to the ninjas nearby. "The boy in orange leaves blue footprints when he lands. Those are water traps, formed by chakra before his feet touch. The water bursts, pushing him in new directions with perfect chakra control. That is how he moves so smoothly."
Daisuke shook his head. "Even our Hyuga Clan, with Byakugan, only control chakra inside the body. This external control, on surfaces, is beyond us."
Shoma Hyuga, from a branch family, sighed. "If that boy were Hyuga, he could rival Lord Tennin when grown."
Yuta Nara, a Nara Clan Jonin, stroked his beard. "If he married into our clan, would his children have that chakra control?"
Hiruzen cut in. "Focus on the match."
On the field, Dosuke, in his orange jacket and black pants, faced Kakashi. His expression tightened. * I must end this quickly, * he thought. * My chakra is nearly gone. With more, I would crush him. *
"Lightning Style: Thunder Rush!" Kakashi shouted. Blue lightning sparked, charging at Dosuke.
Four Dosukes leaped in different directions with quick steps.
"Water Style: Water Gun Jutsu!" All four made hand signs, firing water jets.
* Another clone trick, * Kakashi thought. * If I cannot spot the real one, I will break them all. *
"Sword Style: Rapid Fang!" Kakashi slashed, sending waves of sword energy. The fake jets vanished midair, and the clones faded.
Kakashi dodged a real water jet, noticing a blue flash on Dosuke's body. It blocked his sword energy. * Long-range attacks do not work, * he thought. * That blue shield stops them. *
Four new Dosukes rushed Kakashi, kunai in hand. Their blades clashed, sparking.
Kakashi dodged a clone's strike. The real Dosuke yelled, "Water Style: Finger Blade!" A thin water blade formed on his palm, sharp enough to cut nearby or shoot a short distance. This was Dosuke's own jutsu, born from water techniques.
The water blade grazed Kakashi's left arm. His body turned to smoke, a Shadow Clone.
"Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!" Hands burst from the soil, grabbing Dosuke's ankle.
Dosuke darted away with his strange, fluid motion, escaping the hands. Kakashi emerged from the ground, holding only dirt.
Four fake Dosukes appeared nearby, clones again.
Kakashi panted. "Dosuke, let us call it a tie for first. Your chakra is low. Fight me fairly."
All four Dosukes smirked. "No way. I can fight until night."
Daisuke Hyuga watched. "The boy in orange is out of chakra. For ungraduated students, both are geniuses."
Hiruzen nodded. "They are Konoha's new flames."
Dosuke felt his fading chakra. "Kakashi, catch this! I made it for you!"
Kakashi's eyes gleamed. "Fine, Dosuke! I have a new move, still rough. I hope it surprises you!"
The four Dosukes charged, moving unpredictably. Kakashi spun, tracking them. * One chance, * he thought. * His fighting style is clear now. *
Lightning glowed in Kakashi's right hand, crackling loudly. He had only practiced gathering chakra for this move, never used it in battle.
Kakashi recalled the wet dirt from his Earth Style jutsu. * Dosuke's footprints leave water, * he thought. * His clones are perfect but lack chakra. The real one has blue footprints. *
"There!" Kakashi locked onto one Dosuke, lightning screaming in his hand. "Chidori!"
Dosuke, moving fast, formed a water layer on his right hand. His chakra control sharpened it, spinning faster, edges deadly. "Kakashi, here I come!" he shouted.
"Come on, Dosuke!" Kakashi yelled.
A crash echoed. Smoke burst. A man with silver hair, a Konoha headband, and a ninja vest stood between them, ponytail swaying. He grabbed Dosuke's right hand with his left and Kakashi's with his right.
Their jutsu, Dosuke's water blade and Kakashi's Chidori, fizzled against him.
A boom sounded. Dosuke's water jutsu shot past, shattering the ninja school's wall.
"Father!" Kakashi gasped, seeing Sakumo.
Sakumo eyed the broken wall. "You both fought well. At your age, I was not this strong."
He released their hands. Kakashi collapsed, exhausted.
Dosuke's right hand dropped, limp. Kakashi's Chidori had grazed it, drawing blood.
"Dosuke, you are bleeding!" Shizune yelled from the stands.
Obito, in orange goggles, muttered, "I pause and kind of respect their strength. Still not as good as me, Dattebayo!"
Might Guy gripped the railing. "Kakashi, you hurt Dosuke! You are my rival forever!"
Tsunade and Jiraiya appeared in a blur of speed.
Jiraiya checked Dosuke's arm. "Tsunade, he is hurt!"
Dosuke, weak, squeezed out chakra. "Lord Jiraiya, I am fine," he said. He used the Mystical Palm Technique, sealing his wound visibly. His voice faded. He fainted, falling into Jiraiya's arms.
"Tsunade, he passed out!" Jiraiya shouted.
Tsunade checked both. "Dosuke overused chakra. Kakashi is just tired, with minor hand strain from his unfinished jutsu. They need the hospital."
She lifted Dosuke gently and headed to Konoha Hospital. Sakumo followed, carrying Kakashi on his back.