In the arena, Ren looked at Kakashi, who was ready for battle. After the previous clash, Ren had already made a calculation: since our Ninjutsu abilities are pretty much evenly matched.
Then, let's have a close-quarters battle, primarily using Taijutsu with Genjutsu as a supplement.
Next, I'll slowly build my advantage starting from Taijutsu.
Ren made up his mind, then he swept his hand to his waist, and a Kunai gleamed with a cold light as he held it.
Because it was a competition today, he didn't carry any weights. From the start, he was prepared to go all out.
Kakashi didn't wait for Ren to attack first. He had already put away his underestimation of Ren, pulling two Shuriken from his Ninja tool pouch and throwing them at Ren, then drawing the short sword from his back and following close behind!
Ren advanced two steps, staring intently at the two Shuriken that came whistling through the air.
"Clang, clang."
Ren, with quick eyes and hands, swiftly deflected the two Shuriken. Before he could even relax, Kakashi had already charged forward, swinging his short sword directly at Ren's abdomen.
Ren suddenly retreated, the tip of the sword grazing Ren's waist. Kakashi's expression remained unchanged. After steadying himself, he held his short sword and pressed forward again, each strike aiming for a vital point. Ren quickly blocked them all with his Kunai.
As Kakashi's continuous onslaught came, Ren also felt a bit strained. Kakashi's Taijutsu and Ninjutsu skills were no worse than Ren's. In such a situation where both sides were evenly matched, even a slight advantage could break the balance. And Kakashi's sword skills were personally taught by White Fang, plus a short sword mixed with a small amount of Chakra metal that could cut through iron like mud. Ren had already given up on gaining any significant advantage in close combat.
"Clang!"
It was another round of engagement. Sparks flew the moment the Kunai and short sword collided. The two stood in place, steadying themselves, and began to grapple with each other.
"You are very strong."
Kakashi, while continuously channelling strength into his arm, looked at Ren opposite him and suddenly uttered.
"Ahahaha, thanks for the compliment. Let's end this boring warm-up."
Ren smiled in response to Kakashi, then pulled a smoke bomb from his other hand's Ninja tool pouch and slammed it hard onto the ground.
Instantly, smoke filled the surroundings, engulfing an area within five meters around the two in thick black mist.
Ren used this opportunity to break free from Kakashi, avoiding an attack. Kakashi did not press his advantage. Both quickly returned to their starting positions, waiting for the black mist to dissipate.
Kakashi looked warily at the black mist. After the previous Taijutsu clash, he had a rough assessment of Ren's strength. Their abilities were similar, so he could only win through strategy.
At this moment, the smoke had mostly dissipated. Kakashi's dead-fish eyes suddenly became sharp. Ren's position opposite him was empty; there was no sign of him.
Where is he?
Kakashi quickly looked around. With no one in sight, Kakashi immediately turned his head towards the sky.
Coming directly at him was a massive exploding fireball!
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Kakashi quickly put down his short sword, rapidly formed hand seals, then slammed his palms onto the ground. A swirling current of water enveloped Kakashi, covering him completely like a bowl, 360 degrees without any blind spots.
"Sizzle, sizzle."
The exploding fireball crashed onto the Water Release, and the two began to rapidly evaporate upon contact. White steam boiled, once again obscuring the centre of the arena, providing a somewhat unpleasant viewing experience for the few people watching from the side.
"So, so strong…" Uchiha Obito stared wide-eyed at the intense Ninjutsu clash in the arena, mumbling unconsciously.
Meanwhile, Kurenai and Rin, the two girls, looked at the arena with worry.
"Ren…"
"Kakashi…"
"You can do it!"
The two girls exchanged glances, then cheered for their respective friends.
The two in the arena paused their movements simultaneously, glancing towards the outside of the arena, then immediately re-engaging in battle.
"Oh my, it's good to be young."
Jiraiya heard the shouts from behind, glanced back, and then shifted his gaze to Obito beside him, who had instantly turned to stone and was in low spirits after hearing Rin's cheer.
"Kid, cheer up. You have to fight for the person you like. I'm rooting for you."
Jiraiya looked at Obito helplessly, comforting him while simultaneously turning his gaze back to the arena.
At this moment, Kakashi, who had just managed to block one of Ren's Ninjutsu, had barely relaxed for a moment when he suddenly found his entire body paralysed, with tiny electric snakes scurrying and moving across the surface of his skin.
This is… Earth Walk!
When?
Kakashi's expression changed. He immediately looked around. When he discovered the small puddles of water that had not completely evaporated and had accumulated on the ground, Kakashi instantly understood. No wonder he hadn't felt Ren's Ninjutsu fluctuations. Earth Walk, as a Lightning Release Ninjutsu, transmits electricity through the hands into the ground or water. Although powerful and with a paralysing effect, due to its limited attack range, it can only be used when the two sides are close.
But Ren utilised the water on the ground, allowing Earth Walk to spread further, successfully catching Kakashi off guard.
At this moment, two Shuriken suddenly shot out from the thin white mist!
Upon seeing them, Kakashi tried hard to suppress the paralysing sensation in his body and formed the hand seals for the Substitution Jutsu. When the Shuriken struck, they hit a common piece of wood instead. The Shuriken, embedded in the wood, were carried forward by inertia for a short distance before falling to the ground.
Meanwhile, Kakashi had already substituted himself onto the lawn ten meters away, with the forest just a step behind him.
Kakashi, who had just raised his guard, suddenly found the scene before him had changed. The surroundings suddenly became eerily silent. As Kakashi was vigilantly surveying his surroundings, he suddenly saw his father, who was supposed to be the referee, walking towards him. Before Kakashi could even ask a question, he witnessed a scene he would never forget.
His father pulled out the short sword from his back and, without any warning, suddenly flashed it across his own neck. Immediately after, Kakashi saw his father clutching his neck, falling into a pool of blood with a look of despair!
"No!"
Kakashi watched his father take his own life before him, feeling as if his heart was being torn apart.
Kakashi, who was stunned by the scene before him, suddenly remembered the unreasonableness of it all. Wasn't he in a match with Ren? How did it seem as if the whole world suddenly only contained him and his father, who had just committed suicide?
Genjutsu!
Kakashi suddenly woke up, quickly pulled a Shuriken from his Ninja tool pouch, and then fiercely stabbed himself in the arm!
With a sharp pain, everything before him suddenly vanished like a mirror image. With a blink of an eye, when Kakashi returned to the real world, he found Ren holding a Kunai already pressed against his neck.
Looking at Kakashi, who was somewhat dazed, Ren grinned, his gaze shifting to White Fang behind him.
White Fang looked at the scene before him, recovering from his surprise. Immediately after, White Fang's voice resounded through the duelling arena.
"The winner has been decided!"