"I knew it wouldn't end so easily."
Uchiha Mirai slipped his hands into his pockets and walked slowly to the center of the venue.
Kakashi Hatake had long since graduated and had no reason to take this exam. Sarutobi Hiruzen had arranged this match knowing Mirai would likely claim first place—and he wanted Kakashi there to suppress the Uchiha's momentum, sending a clear signal to the clan: the Hokage lineage's power surpasses the Uchiha's, both now and in the future.
Only…
Feeling the surge of power coursing through his body, a faint smile curved Mirai's lips. Hiruzen might be disappointed.
When Mirai reached the center, Kakashi Hatake appeared. The moment he stepped onto the field, the crowd erupted.
The young prodigy of the Hatake family—known as "Konoha's most talented ninja"—was a sensation.
"This is going to be good. I bet the Uchiha will lose miserably."
"Nonsense. Mirai has talent, but he's no match for Kakashi!"
"Kakashi graduated long ago—having him in this exam now is like bullying an honest kid."
"Humph! I can't wait to see Uchiha Mirai crushed."
"Kakashi, show him the gap between geniuses!"
The consensus was clear: no matter how strong the Uchiha clan might be in the future, they could never surpass Hatake Kakashi.
"Fugaku, I've arranged a battle between Kakashi and Mirai. You won't be upset, will you?" Hiruzen asked, glancing at Uchiha Fugaku.
"Of course not," Fugaku said respectfully, though a sneer lingered in his mind. That arrogant brat from last night… Let him taste what it's like to be crushed.
Compared to the village, the Uchiha clan's power was negligible. After Mirai lost, he would understand that compromise was essential for the clan's survival.
Seeing Fugaku's obedient posture, Hiruzen nodded. Perhaps it was time for Uchiha Tajima to step down.
At the center of the venue, Kakashi Hatake's eyes, cold as still water, betrayed no emotion.
Mirai's previous battles had been impressive, but now he faced Kakashi at a disadvantage. Physical strength and energy had been consumed—even if only slightly—but Kakashi had no intention of waiting for him to peak.
Since the death of Hatake Sakumo, Kakashi had understood a hard truth: in a mission, everything else was insignificant.
For Uchiha Mirai, however, excitement shone in his eyes. Kakashi's power would allow him to test the results of his hard work over the past month.
"Get ready. The battle begins!" Oiwa Junshan announced, suppressing his disappointment that trash talk would have to wait.
Kakashi drew the short sword from his back and vanished into shadow, rushing at Mirai.
Mirai responded in kind, drawing his long sword from his waist.
"Is this… Hatake swordsmanship?" he murmured, feeling pressure with every strike. Kakashi's attacks were precise and lethal; one misstep could mean defeat.
"Let me tell you, Uchiha Mirai is no match for Kakashi," murmured the crowd. "He's being completely suppressed. It won't be long before he loses."
"See? Kakashi is the true genius. Mirai is far behind!"
The jeers fueled Mirai's chuckle. The Uchiha clan has a terrible reputation… and everyone wants to see me lose. Ridiculous.
Chakra surged. Mirai's eyes turned scarlet, his Sharingan activating.
"The Uchiha Kekkei Genkai?" For the first time, Kakashi's calm gaze flickered. The Sharingan was deadly, capable of trapping him in illusion if he wasn't careful.
"We must act quickly." Kakashi's experience told him that time was dangerous; the longer the Sharingan remained active, the worse his situation.
His attacks became faster and more relentless—but Mirai anticipated every move. With the Sharingan and Uchiha-style swordsmanship stolen from Fugaku, Kakashi's strikes were nullified.
The battle reached a tense standstill. Kakashi, a ruthless assassin, attacked without hesitation, while Mirai danced elegantly through the storm of blades, dodging perfectly.
"Huff…" Kakashi panted, chest heaving. The intensity of the fight drained his stamina. If this continued, Mirai wouldn't even need to strike; Kakashi would exhaust himself first.
Realizing this, Kakashi stepped back.
Mirai formed hand seals: "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball, several meters wide, surged toward Kakashi. He slammed his hands on the ground: "Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
A wall of earth erupted, shielding him.
Boom! The fireball collided with the wall, shaking the ground. The barrier was damaged, but it held—just barely.
When the flames cleared, Kakashi stood, a long sword pressed against his own neck.
-End Chapter-
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