"It's nothing. Just imagine you're hearing things — I was complimenting you!"
As she spoke, Sakura's hands flew into motion. She quickly unsheathed Starlit Night and used the Shifting Body Technique to appear in front of Kakashi's Earth Wall. A surge of chakra flowed across the blade as it pierced straight through Kakashi's Earth Release barrier as though it weren't even there.
"How is this even possible?" If Kakashi hadn't moved fast enough, he'd have been gutted. That was exactly what confused him—it was clear his Earth Wall showed no sign of damage, so how had her blade passed through?
"I simply applied an Earth Nature Transformation to Starlit Night!"
Sakura smiled as she explained. "Just like how ninja use Earth Release to travel underground, I coated Starlit Night with Earth-natured chakra and then underwent another earth-based nature transformation, allowing it to pass through soil just like a human body. Naturally, Kakashi-sensei's Earth Flow Wall couldn't stop it."
Chapter 103 - Water and Earth Combined Makes Wood
"But the only downside is that this method can't last very long!"
Sakura said somewhat regretfully. After all, Starlit Night was just a sword. Although its construction allowed chakra to stick to it, maintaining an Earth Nature Transformation across the entire blade surface couldn't be sustained for long—it could only be used at critical moments for a surprising effect.
"Even if it only lasts an instant, it's still incredible!" Kakashi remarked. "I never expected you had already mastered Chakra Nature Transformation for the Earth element—and applied it onto a weapon too!"
"I guess it was just a coincidence," Sakura admitted. "And my Earth Nature Transformation isn't complete yet."
Sakura swiftly formed hand seals with her left hand. "Compared to Earth Release attacks, I much prefer Water Release—after all, as long as I've got enough chakra, the destructive power increases accordingly. And me? I'm definitely not short on chakra! [Water Release: Water Fang Technique]"
A high-pressure jet of water burst from Sakura's mouth, slicing through the Earth Wall. Even the wooden stakes behind the wall were cut cleanly in half.
Kakashi flattened himself like a summoned toad just as the powerful stream skimmed past his scalp, sending a cold sweat down his back.
[Lightning Release: Chidori Nagashi]
The moment the water jet vanished, Sasuke appeared beside Kakashi wielding a tanto. Lightning crackled along the blade as he swung toward Kakashi's arm.
The second the blade made contact, Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He tried to pull back—but it was already too late.
The Kakashi on the ground exploded suddenly, turning into a surge of lightning that surged up the tanto and into Sasuke's body. The Lightning Release chakra froze him instantly.
"Tsk, tsk—ambushing from behind? That's not exactly honorable behavior, Kakashi-sensei."
The instant Kakashi's Lightning Release Shadow Clone exploded, Sakura didn't hesitate. Without thinking, she instinctively threw a kunai backward over her shoulder.
"Kakashi-sensei, being a ninja is not supposed to be an honest profession. Ambushing from behind is the most common tactic after all!"
Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle as he burst from the trees behind Sakura. In ninja battles, few fought head-on like that muscle-bound Fourth Raikage from the Cloud Village who focused solely on taijutsu. Usually, both sides would cautiously probe each other's defenses before delivering a sudden, decisive blow. Ambushes were practically routine.
"Besides, since you've already noticed my attack from behind, throwing just one kunai won't stop me!"
Kakashi dodged the kunai thrown by Sakura with a slight tilt of his body. Instantly, lightning chakra gathered around his right hand, and he continued charging toward her.
"A kunai can't stop Kakashi-sensei, but Naruto just might."
Sakura spoke calmly. The kunai Kakashi had dodged exploded into smoke, revealing Naruto inside. Without hesitation, he hurled a shuriken at Kakashi.
[Transforming yourself into a kunai? Clever technique.]
Just as Kakashi thought this, the shuriken Naruto had thrown also burst into smoke, and Naruto himself appeared in front of Kakashi, holding a glowing Rasengan. Without mercy, he thrust it straight toward Kakashi.
[I see.] Kakashi observed. [First, he transformed his shadow clone into a kunai for Sakura to hold, while he himself became a shuriken held by that same clone. Combining transformation jutsu with shadow clones—very clever.] Kakashi glanced back as the original Naruto vanished in a puff of smoke. [But—]
At the moment when Naruto's Rasengan was about to make contact, Kakashi's body suddenly exploded. His Lightning Release chakra enveloped Naruto, disrupting his own chakra and causing the Rasengan in Naruto's hands to dissipate.
[Two consecutive uses of the Lightning Release Shadow Clone, and both Naruto and Sasuke fell for it. Kakashi-sensei really is a sly old fox—he hasn't even revealed himself yet.]
Seeing both boys completely paralyzed by Kakashi's Lightning Release chakra, Sakura couldn't help but let out a sigh. Kakashi's greatest strength wasn't his various jutsus—it was his experience and intellect. Compared to Kakashi, they were still inexperienced kids. Just two simple Lightning Release Shadow Clones had already tricked both Naruto and Sasuke. If this were a real life-or-death battle, Kakashi could easily finish off both Naruto and Sasuke while they were still stunned by the Lightning Release chakra.
[Give credit where credit is due,] Kakashi said as he silently appeared behind Sakura, pressing a kunai against her neck. [After all, I'm older than you and have fought in more battles. You've only just graduated from the academy—you're still too naive in perception and combat experience. Once you've experienced more battles, you won't be so careless like today.]
[Is that so, Kakashi-sensei?] Sakura remained unfazed by the kunai pressed against her throat. Instead, she smirked slightly. [Sometimes you shouldn't speak too soon—after all, until the final moment, no one can truly say who will win or lose!]
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