Sasuke unleashed a barrage of attacks, his strength and speed on full display.
His transitions between moves were clean, efficient—textbook taijutsu for a Genin.
But...
To Kakashi, it was nothing impressive.
He calmly blocked every strike while casually retreating, not even bothering to close his book. One hand held the orange cover open, the other effortlessly deflecting Sasuke's blows.
With minimal effort, Kakashi caught both of Sasuke's wrists in one hand.
Sasuke gritted his teeth and jumped, twisting mid-air as he kicked with both legs while pulling his arms back to break free.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, he slid his book away into his pouch.
In the next instant, Sasuke twisted mid-spin and launched a kick toward Kakashi's head.
Kakashi caught his legs—but Sasuke had already reached for the bell at Kakashi's waist.
"Tch... this kid—" Kakashi muttered.
He immediately countered, gripping Sasuke's legs and flinging him away with force.
Even so... he nearly grabbed it.
"Whoa! He almost got the bell!" Naruto exclaimed, stunned.
He glanced back at Shigure, who stood motionless, calm as ever.
"Aren't you worried, Shigure?"
Shigure smiled lightly. "Worried about what?"
"That Sasuke might actually get the bell!"
Shigure shook his head with a serene look. "Shouldn't Kakashi be the one worried among us?"
What kind of answer is that...?
Another clash rang out as the fight resumed. This time, Kakashi used both hands, quickly overwhelming Sasuke.
Backed into a corner, Sasuke's expression twisted with frustration. "Damn it… let's try this again!"
He leapt back and began forming hand seals at high speed.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "He can already use ninjutsu? Is this... a Fire Style?"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
BOOM!
A massive stream of fire surged from Sasuke's mouth, engulfing the area.
For a moment, Kakashi disappeared in the flames.
"Did he... did you just kill our teacher?!" Naruto shouted.
Sasuke remained quiet. Like a jōnin would go down that easily.
And sure enough—
"Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!"
Bam!
The ground beneath Sasuke exploded. Kakashi's hand reached up, dragging Sasuke underground until only his head was left sticking out.
Sasuke squirmed but couldn't break free.
Kakashi dusted off his hands and smirked. "Not bad. You came close."
Then he turned toward Naruto and Shigure, who still hadn't made a move.
"What's this? Just going to sit back and watch your teammate get taken out?"
Teamwork, huh?
That's easier said than done, especially for three strangers who had just met.
But Shigure calmly stepped forward, his right hand resting on the hilt of the pitch-black sword strapped to his waist.
Naruto spoke up. "Shigure, let's go after him together and grab the bells!"
Shigure shook his head. "No. Just follow my lead."
Naruto frowned but didn't argue.
Kakashi noticed it.
He gave Naruto instructions beforehand? This kid can strategize... not bad.
Still, something was off.
They didn't seem the least bit concerned about Sasuke being captured.
Kakashi frowned.That's not the kind of bond a team needs.
Clang!
Shigure drew his sword.
A deep-blue shimmer glinted along the blade's surface, the jet-black metal catching the light in a mesmerizing pattern.
Kakashi raised his brows. "That's a beautiful sword... certainly not standard issue."
Shigure glanced at the blade, then nodded. "It's a good sword."
Even Naruto and Sasuke—neither of whom knew much about blades—could feel its power.
"What's its name?" Kakashi asked.
"Zangetsu."
Kakashi repeated it softly. "Zangetsu… a fine name."
He smiled under his mask. "I read in your file that you developed your own kenjutsu style."
Shigure nodded. "Yeah. I did."
"That's impressive for your age," Kakashi said. "But you know, swordsmanship isn't the dominant combat style among shinobi. Ninjutsu is."
Was that a warning or advice?
Shigure smirked.
"Oh? The famed White Fang of Konoha passed down his sword style, and you, Kakashi, don't believe swordsmanship is powerful?"
That caught Kakashi off guard.
"You've heard of me?" he asked.
Shigure nodded. "I've always been curious about the Hatake sword style—and about you, Kakashi of the Sharingan, the Copy Ninja."
So that's it, Kakashi thought. He's a real sword enthusiast. If he knows the Hatake style, it makes sense he knows about me too.
Kakashi reached into his pouch and pulled out a kunai.
"I haven't used the Hatake style in a long time… but this kunai should be enough to test you."
"Let's see how far your swordsmanship has come."
At that very moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched from afar through his crystal ball.
Seeing Kakashi prepare to clash swords with Shigure—using only a kunai—he sighed.
"Kakashi... even if he's just a kid, don't underestimate him."
Shigure locked eyes with Kakashi. He acknowledged the man's strength—but being challenged by a kunai?
The famous 50-50 reputation of Hatake Kakashi isn't unearned... but this?
This is underestimating me.
A faint smile crept across Shigure's lips.
Then—
Boom!
A sharp roar erupted beneath him as the ground cracked and his figure blasted forward, like a rocket igniting mid-launch.
Kakashi's eyes widened. That speed—!
This isn't Genin level!
Dust burst into the air behind Shigure, obscuring Naruto's vision. The ground where he had stood was slightly sunken from the force of his acceleration.
Shigure shot past the buried Sasuke, the wind howling in his wake.
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Whoa… so fast… even faster than me!"
And then—
Sasuke could only stare as Shigure launched toward Kakashi like a black arrow.
Zangetsu gleamed as Shigure swung it through the air, trailing a streak of deep blue light.
The blade swept forward in a clean semicircular arc aimed directly at Kakashi.
Clang!
Sparks erupted in all directions as steel clashed against steel.
Shigure gripped the black-bladed ninja sword with his right hand, his left palm bracing the back of the blade about a third of the way down—a stance designed for precision and power.
Kakashi, now wielding a kunai in each hand, crossed them in a defensive X-block, catching the strike.
At some point, Kakashi had stopped holding back and begun using both hands seriously.
Shigure's sharp gaze met Kakashi's eyes, locking in the brief moment of pressure.
Kakashi, behind his mask, showed clear surprise.
"You're using kunai to match blades with me, Kakashi-sensei…" Shigure said calmly, "You'd better take this seriously."
Tsssk!
In one smooth twist, Shigure flipped the sword, redirecting the angle of his blade upward. The edge flashed toward Kakashi's jaw in a rising thrust, his grip switching fluidly between his hands mid-motion.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
Too close.
He immediately kicked off the ground and leapt back to evade—but Shigure was faster.
Switching hands again with seamless control, he reclaimed the blade with his right hand and launched forward in pursuit, Zangetsu slicing toward Kakashi in a blur.
...
TN:
🔟 Support me on P-com/LordMerlin
...
Hey guys! A limited-time discount is currently live — get +10 chapters for just $3.50! 📖 Please consider supporting this novel!
⌚ Limited-time 30% discount!
Get 10 advance chapters for $3.50, 20 for $7, and more — but hurry, this offer ends soon!