Chapter 22: Qianye vs. Kakashi
Danzo continued, "You must have heard of Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja. Jonin Kurenai Yuhi said that your strength has already surpassed hers, your teacher. Today, if you can last one incense stick against Kakashi, then you will pass the Chunin exam."
"At the same time, if you can demonstrate sufficiently powerful strength and gain the recognition of our Konoha higher-ups and the Anbu elites, you can be promoted to Jonin exceptionally."
"I understand, Danzo-sama," Qianye said solemnly.
"Then everyone, take your positions." Danzo still had a gloomy face and waved his hand impatiently.
The Konoha F4 took their seats in the VIP section. Kurenai Yuhi and Itachi Uchiha, dressed in Anbu attire, stood beside Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura, respectively.
The other Anbu continued to lurk in the surrounding trees.
A large open space was cleared in the center of the arena, where Qianye and Kakashi stood twenty paces apart.
An Anbu stood in the middle of the two, acting as a referee.
"Then let's begin," Hiruzen Sarutobi said to the referee.
"Fight!" the referee shouted with a drawn-out voice, then back-flipped out of the combat zone.
Qianye and Kakashi simultaneously formed the tiger seal with their right hands, expressing respect to their opponent.
"Begin." The moment the referee's words fell, Qianye moved, rapidly forming hand seals. Suddenly, his entire figure transformed into cherry blossom petals and vanished from everyone's sight.
Genjutsu: Three Illusory Cherry Blossoms activated!
"A Genjutsu? This child's strength has grown to this extent!" Hiruzen Sarutobi casually formed a hand seal, disrupting his Chakra to dispel the influence of Qianye's Genjutsu on himself.
Everyone else, except Itachi Uchiha, who possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, also followed suit and made corresponding movements.
They were all inwardly startled by Qianye's mastery of Genjutsu.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
A flash of a blade cut through the air, accompanied by the sound of a sharp weapon slicing through the air.
While most of the people in the arena had not fully dispelled the Genjutsu, a pure white blade broke through the air, and Qianye's figure appeared with it. The sharp blade thrust directly towards Kakashi's head.
"So fast... Not just speed, hand seals... and power, all are outstanding."
Kakashi was suddenly startled, the lazy look in his eyes instantly disappeared, and he no longer dared to underestimate him. He immediately drew the katana from his back to block.
"Shatter! Mirror Flower Water Moon," Qianye silently chanted in his heart.
He did not intend to break Kakashi's katana but deliberately restrained his strength. When everyone in the arena focused their attention on the zanpakuto, he released Mirror Flower Water Moon.
Then he continued to swing his blade, competing with Kakashi in taijutsu.
Mirror Flower Water Moon and Kakashi's katana constantly clashed, sparks flying in the air.
"Not only Genjutsu, but even taijutsu and Body Flicker Technique have reached extremely high levels. Even among Jonin, he is considered a top performer. Yuhi, it seems you've taught a good student." From the spectator stand, Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his goatee, commenting and appearing completely at ease, then turned his head to Kurenai Yuhi.
The other two Hokage Advisors also showed more or less admiration in their eyes.
As for Danzo, his eyes were shifting, and no one knew what he was thinking.
As for Itachi Uchiha, he was increasingly surprised.
With his Mangekyo Sharingan, his eyesight had long surpassed everyone else present.
He vaguely perceived that Qianye seemed to be hiding something and was not exerting his full strength.
"Hokage-sama, you flatter me. I merely provided some negligible assistance. Qianye's current strength is primarily due to himself." Kurenai Yuhi knew her own capabilities well, and upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's praise, she quickly offered an explanation.
While the two were speaking, Qianye and Kakashi had already exchanged dozens of blows, constantly using various Ninja tools and Body Flicker Technique, occasionally even performing the Three Body Technique.
In the eyes of ordinary people, only two afterimages could be seen, constantly colliding in the air, creating intense sparks.
Finally, as the incense stick was about to burn out, the two implicitly stopped their taijutsu competition. This was because Qianye's taijutsu, as displayed so far, was evenly matched with Kakashi's, and their control over various timings was also on par, with give and take. Continuing the competition would not yield a significant result.
This would only let the incense burn out, and Qianye would win without a fight.
"Kakashi-senpai, you truly live up to your reputation as the Copy Ninja, how impressive!" Qianye used honorifics and rapidly formed hand seals.
"The feeling is mutual. Be careful, Qianye, the next attack is coming." A look of approval appeared in Kakashi's eyes. He plunged his katana straight into the ground, and while rapidly forming hand seals, he sighed inwardly, thinking, excluding Bloodline Limit, this is a genius no less than Itachi Uchiha.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Kakashi took a deep breath, and a massive fireball erupted from his mouth, like a giant, dazzling sun.
Qianye just stood there after forming the hand seals, allowing the fireball to engulf him.
"Qianye..." Kurenai Yuhi, seeing this, thought Qianye hadn't dodged the attack and cried out excitedly.
"Don't worry, Qianye's strength is even greater than you imagine," Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression remained calm as he explained calmly. Although he had been away from the battlefield for a long time, he still had the necessary discernment.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Hearing this, Kurenai Yuhi realized she had lost her composure and quickly apologized.
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand indifferently and continued to watch Qianye and Kakashi's battle.
As the flames dissipated, a shallow pit, neither too big nor too small, was burned where Qianye had stood. Qianye was curled up, bruised and unconscious, in the deep pit.
"Did it succeed?" Kakashi murmured, approaching the shallow pit to check.
Just as he was about to get close, the Qianye in the shallow pit suddenly dissolved into smoke with a pop. It was a Shadow Clone.
Earth Release: Art of Decapitation in the Heart.
The next instant, with a sudden cry, Kakashi was dragged underground. In less than a second, only his head remained exposed.
"Kakashi-senpai, it seems I've won this time." Qianye's figure slowly rose from underground.
"That's not for sure," Kakashi's voice suddenly echoed behind Qianye. As he finished speaking, his katana was already at Qianye's neck. And the 'Kakashi' who had been dragged underground by the Art of Decapitation in the Heart dissipated into smoke with a pop.
"How did you see through it? Was it the Sharingan?" Qianye didn't turn around, nor did he show any panic, speaking calmly.
"Yes," Kakashi did not deny it. "From your hand seals just now, I saw that you were preparing the Art of Decapitation in the Heart and Shadow Clone."
"Although the Art of Decapitation in the Heart is suitable for surprise attacks, in some respects, it is also the most suitable jutsu for dodging frontal Ninjutsu attacks."
"The fact that you could think of combining the two jutsu and execute them in such a short amount of time, Qianye, I must say you are truly remarkable."
PS: Second update.