Amamiya Rei returned to the forest and walked up to stand before Kakashi.
When he lowered his gaze, he saw that the bento box was already completely empty. As though inspecting the results of an important test, he gave a small, satisfied nod, and in the depths of his eyes surfaced a trace of warmth and relief.
Very good, very good.
Even when he was not present, his little "piglet" still ate obediently and in earnest.
And yet, perhaps he had underestimated Kakashi's appetite. Thinking about it carefully, it made sense. Kakashi was a shinobi, and more than that, one still in the prime of his growth. His capacity for food was indeed comparable to that of an ox.
It seemed that the next time he prepared a bento for Kakashi, he would have to increase the portion yet again.
Kakashi: "..."
An ominous premonition crept up within him.
Shisui: "..."
Why was it that, when Rei's eyes fell upon the empty bento box, he inexplicably felt the same nervousness as if his homework were being checked?
Yet when Rei's gaze softened in satisfaction, both Kakashi and Shisui, without betraying their unease, exhaled a quiet breath of relief.
It appeared she had not noticed anything amiss.
"Only when you've eaten your fill will you have the strength to guide me properly!"
Rei's radiant smile lit up as she spoke the words that made Kakashi's vision suddenly darken:
"From now on, I'll prepare even more bentos for Kakashi-senpai every single day!"
Kakashi: "..."
He could feel Shisui's stare drilling into the back of his head, sharp and merciless as a blade's edge.
"Ahem."
"I always eat breakfast. There's no need to prepare one especially for me."
Kakashi forced out his refusal stiffly.
Rei instantly widened her eyes. "How could that be! I'll still prepare them for Kakashi-senpai! It's decided!"
Her eyes narrowed in a smile, the expression brimming with a determination that left no room for denial.
Kakashi: "..."
How peculiar.
He had the inexplicable feeling that if he continued to refuse, the consequences would be severe.
"All right then, let us begin!"
Rei swiftly shifted Kakashi's attention and struck first, launching an attack without hesitation.
Her fist cut through the air with a whistling wind, aimed directly at Kakashi's chest.
Yet even when caught in a sudden assault, Kakashi betrayed no trace of panic.
His hand rose smoothly to his chest, palm intercepting Rei's blow.
As the strength from Rei's fist surged into his palm, a fleeting flash of shock darted across Kakashi's eyes.
Was it only his imagination?
Why did it feel as though Rei's strength had grown even greater?
In the next instant—
The air cracked with a sharp, explosive sound.
Rei spun, her leg sweeping toward Kakashi's head like a bone whip, swift and merciless.
Kakashi raised his arm to block the strike.
He was certain now.
Amamiya Rei's power had indeed grown.
The impact of that single kick left a faint numbness spreading through Kakashi's arm.
In such a short span of training, Rei's progress had reached a level that left even Kakashi unsettled.
Seriousness welled within him. He too wanted to test, with his own hands, the extent of Rei's growth.
Once he stopped holding back, the fight between Kakashi and Rei was no longer simply a taijutsu spar or a ninjutsu exchange, but a real battle in which both were seamlessly fused together.
Kakashi's goal in doing this was not only to gauge Rei's current strength but also to hone her ability to integrate ninjutsu and taijutsu into a unified combat style and sharpen her battle instincts.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!"
Rei put what she had learned to use.
Flames clung to her whirling shuriken, their edges blazing.
The fiery blades scattered like blossoms of phoenix sage flowers, falling upon Kakashi in a storm of crimson petals.
Everywhere Kakashi looked, his vision filled with a flood of fiery shuriken, as though drowning in burning flower petals.
Seizing the instant Kakashi's sight was disrupted, Rei surged her chakra forth.
Countless vines burst from the earth, weaving upward in a snare, their sharpened tips stabbing toward Kakashi.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Kakashi's hands formed seals so quickly that even afterimages could not be captured.
In the blink of an eye, a massive water dragon roared forth, crashing into the shuriken wrapped in fire and knocking them all down.
Zzzt—zzzt—zzzt—!
The sharp crackle of electricity seared the air.
From Kakashi's hand burst a light too brilliant to look upon.
The piercing edge of Chidori tore through vine after vine with ease.
Yet from every direction, the sound of the air splitting apart followed—countless wooden spikes, surging in relentless waves, bore down upon him.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Pressing his hand to the grass beneath him, Kakashi called forth a wall of earth.
...
An hour later, the sparring had finally come to an end.
Shisui stepped forward and held out a handkerchief to Rei, whose brow glistened with sweat.
Rei glanced at him, then extended his hand to take it.
A faint smile curled at Shisui's lips, and his dark eyes glimmered with light as they rested on Rei.
Kakashi, after a glance at Shisui, fixed his gaze upon Rei once more, and began to summarize the results.
"To be able to apply newly learned ninjutsu in actual combat—that's commendable. And you also recognized how Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson could obscure an opponent's vision. That shows your understanding of jutsu is sound. Your ability to combine different techniques and adapt quickly in the midst of battle is also quite impressive..."
After pointing out the strengths, he began to address the weaknesses.
"Of course, your flaws are just as clear. Your integration of taijutsu and ninjutsu is lacking. You have a psychological dependence on ninjutsu, and you tend to avoid close-quarters combat..."
Kakashi paused, his gaze sharp as white steel, piercing into Rei's dark pupils.
"Are you... afraid of being hurt?"
"..."
Rei fell silent.
Indeed, a part of him was afraid.
Though he knew his body's healing speed was remarkable, he still feared pain.
And when he had first come into this world, stabbed countless times through the heart by Black Zetsu, it left him with no small degree of psychological trauma.
So much so that in battle, he instinctively sought to keep a safe distance from his opponent.
When sparring with Kakashi, he knew there would be no true blades piercing his flesh, and so he could push forward without fear.
But in real combat, the situation was different.
Even Kakashi, at times, might not be able to control himself.
His silence was answer enough. Kakashi did not press further. Instead, he cast the issue aside and continued:
"Your offensive methods are too limited. You must learn to use weapons."
The truth was simple: Rei knew few jutsu, and on top of that, and he was also hesitant to engage in genuine weapon-to-weapon clashes.
Hearing Kakashi's conclusion, Rei did not deny it. His eyes fell, quiet and thoughtful.
He possessed more than enough techniques—yet he had no reasonable excuse to reveal them.
Whether it was the Nine-Linked Chain Whip or Thunder Breathing, they were honed to perfection. But Rei could not wield them openly without explanation.
If he wanted to use those abilities openly, he would first need to plant the right hint in Kakashi and Shisui's minds.
Rei lifted his head, his expression earnest as he looked at Kakashi. With the air of a student receiving guidance, he nodded firmly and promised: "I understand! I'll definitely work hard to study ninjutsu, to make up for my shortcomings!"
His voice rang with a firm clarity.
Birds startled and scattered from the forest trees.
There was already a touch of heat-blooded passion burning in his reply.
Rei's ruby-like pupils fixed upon Kakashi, ablaze with twin flames.
And again, Kakashi became aware of Shisui's gaze resting upon him.
"..."
Kakashi gave a slight cough, then nodded. "Good."
After a pause, under Rei's expectant stare, he reluctantly added a phrase he hadn't spoken in who knew how many years: "Do your best."
As soon as the words left his lips, Kakashi's figure vanished into the forest at lightning speed, disappearing from sight.
And so, in the clearing, only Shisui and Rei remained.
***