As soon as Itachi spoke, the four teammates beside him all stiffened.
"It's him?!"
"The Uchiha who killed someone in the Hokage's office?"
"I heard he even clashed with you in the street yesterday."
"Did he come here just to pick a fight with the captain?"
They finally registered the charged atmosphere. The ANBU members fanned out, silently adjusting their positions, fingers drifting toward their tool pouches.
Kakashi, however, remained calm and announced, "From today, Uchiha Eiya is officially a member of our squad."
Everyone blinked and traded looks.
Uchiha Eiya was, without question, the most ruthless person they'd seen.
His strength was obvious, but the problem was…
"Teammate? He's going to be impossible to work with," someone muttered.
The others nodded, eyes flicking between Eiya and Kakashi.
What kind of rookie picks a fight with his superior on day one?
"This'll be a show."
"Come to think of it, it's been a while since Captain Kakashi himself threw down… can't wait."
While they whispered, Itachi's face suddenly changed.
He was staring at Kakashi's left eye.
Kakashi's scarlet Sharingan was turning with three tomoe, the pressure rolling off it making hearts pound.
Tenzo noticed Itachi's reaction and quickly said, "Don't get the wrong idea, Itachi."
"There's nothing wrong with Kakashi-senpai's Sharingan."
Looking at that eye, Tenzo's memories flooded back.
On Danzō's orders, he'd once accepted a mission to steal Kakashi's Sharingan.
Assassination… a fierce fight… then being saved…
After all the twists, the misunderstanding ended, he learned what it truly meant to be a Konoha shinobi, and—by the Hokage's arrangement—joined ANBU under Kakashi.
Fate had a sense of humor.
Tenzo's face tightened and he took a step back.
"When he bares the left eye, it means he's ready to go all out," he warned in a low voice.
Everyone drew in, holding their breath.
Eiya ignored the stir and studied Kakashi with interest.
"Still want to continue?"
"If you lose, it'll be embarrassing."
"Start thinking about how you'll write your violation report," Kakashi said coolly.
The instant he finished—
Swish!
Both of them vanished.
The observers saw only a blur; their retinas didn't even catch an afterimage.
Clang!
Sparks sprayed, metal slammed metal, the crash booming down the corridor.
Two figures collided.
Kunai crossed, edges locked, sparks lighting two hard faces.
The deadlock lasted only a heartbeat.
Zzzzt!
Blue lightning exploded over Eiya, Lightning Release chakra writhing like wild serpents around him.
He wrenched his right hand, force surging through the locked kunai.
Tchangg!
Kakashi's kunai was blasted away, spinning into the ceiling.
Eiya's blade scythed across, the cold arc slicing for Kakashi's throat—
Pop!
Wood chips burst. Kakashi should have been bloodied on the spot, but in that instant he became a broken log.
Substitution Jutsu at the last split second.
"Raikiri!"
The shout came from the far end of the corridor.
Everyone snapped their heads that way. Kakashi had somehow flashed there already, left hand gripping his right wrist as brilliant lightning raged in his palm. The piercing chirp filled the hall.
In this narrow corridor, it was inescapable.
Excitement flickered in Eiya's eyes. He lifted his own right hand.
Lightning coiled to his fingertips like living snakes, burning the air with the reek of ozone.
"Hell Stab: Four-Finger Thrust!"
Two lightning-wreathed figures slammed together again.
A white blast flooded the corridor. Eyelids squeezed shut against the glare; eardrums rang.
Boom!
Kakashi's Raikiri slammed square into Eiya's abdomen.
Eiya's Lightning Release Chakra Mode shuddered violently; his clothes split apart under the shock.
But the instant the Raikiri touched his skin—
It stopped.
"What—?!" Kakashi's pupils shrank.
At the same time, four lightning-wrapped fingers were poised at his throat.
Numbing current froze his body, but what rattled him more—
His full-force blow hadn't even broken the man's defense.
The bystanders were just as stunned, speechless.
In the hushed aftermath, Eiya withdrew his hand. The lightning at his fingertips dissipated, though the scorched smell lingered.
Kakashi lowered his head, the shadow of his protector covering his face.
"…I lost," he said at last, quietly.
Only then did the corridor seem to wake.
"What just happened?"
"It was too fast—I blinked and it was over."
"He beat Captain Kakashi that easily? No way!"
"Who is this guy…?"
Itachi said nothing, expression complicated, as if reliving last night's crushing defeat.
Ding!
[Indulgence successful.]
[As a newcomer, you boldly challenged—and easily defeated—the so-called 'Genius of Konoha' jōnin. Indulgence rating: B.]
[Reward distributing…]
[Congratulations: Leader's Aura.]
[You naturally possess commanding presence. Those around you will be drawn to your words and actions and gather around you of their own accord.]
Eiya arched a brow at the voice in his head, a little surprised.
It was the first reward unrelated to combat power.
Judging by the description, it wasn't bad at all.
He turned to the nearby, still-uncertain squad members and let his gaze pass over each face.
"You're all in Captain Kakashi's unit?"
One member nodded before he knew it.
"Good." Eiya nodded back.
"Don't just stand there—here's a temporary assignment." His tone was light, yet everyone found themselves listening.
"Rumors about the Uchiha are spreading in the village. Find the source. I want results by tonight."
Faces changed; whispers bubbled again.
"Temporary assignment?"
"We just got back—another mission already?"
"It's only intel-gathering. Shouldn't be hard."
"He's not the captain. Isn't this a bit…"
"But he beat the captain. He must have his reasons."
Tenzo held his tongue but glanced at Kakashi.
After a moment of silence, Kakashi gave a slow nod. "Make that my order."
A faint smile touched Eiya's lips as he swept them with his eyes. "Anyone object? Step forward."
Every gaze slid away.
The corridor went eerily quiet.
"Good. Then—move out," Eiya said, satisfied.
He started for the exit.
Itachi hesitated, then was the first to follow.
The other four looked at each other, then at Kakashi—still standing, silent—and, almost in spite of themselves, quickened their steps to go after Eiya.