"Sensei, why aren't they setting up more traps?"
Mami asked, puzzled.
"Neji, what do you think?"
kid turned toward Neji.
Today's whole setup had been arranged largely for Neji's benefit, so kid wanted to hear his opinion.
"They can't hide it," Neji said coolly. "A jōnin's insight far surpasses ours."
Lee nodded lightly at the side, looking as if to say, Same here.
kid chuckled. "That's right. Analyzing the enemy and yourself, then forming the most suitable plan — that's a quality every ninja should have. But Neji, you've only pointed out one side. There's another reason: they can't afford to waste stamina."
"Stamina?"
Neji frowned slightly. He hadn't thought about that, but still — was it really that serious?
"They didn't eat breakfast," kid explained. "By now their energy reserves are less than half of normal. So they have to prioritize. Those traps they set up? Mostly for covering retreat — every one of them has a very specific purpose."
"…"
Neji activated his Byakugan to take a closer look.
Indeed.
The rows of sharpened wooden spikes were all placed along potential escape routes. Compared to that, before their test with kid, they'd never thought that deeply about positioning or purpose.
In terms of tactical thinking, he had already lost one round.
Kankurō…
He silently fixed his eyes on the field below.
At that moment, Kakashi was already wandering about casually through the trees, looking utterly unbothered, as if he didn't care about any ambush at all.
"Oh? Quite patient, aren't you? But remember—if you can't get a bell within the time limit, you lose all the same. So really, the ones who should be anxious aren't me."
Kakashi's tone was lazy and almost teasing.
Tenten's heart pounded, but since Chiba hadn't made a move, she forced herself to stay put.
Chiba remained perfectly calm.
Kakashi wasn't relaxed at all — that much was clear. The moment they attacked, he'd instantly counter, leaving them with no opening.
So… they had to wait.
Icha Icha Paradise.
Loves his books, huh?
Chiba smirked slightly. Fine. Once you get absorbed in the juicy parts, your focus will slip — even if just a little. That's all we'll need.
Both sides waited patiently.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. He'd already located one of them, but the other two were still hidden.
The one he'd found… was probably Tenten.
The Tsukikage girl was likely good at hiding her presence.
And Chiba—he couldn't be measured as a normal genin. If not for his resignation, Kakashi would've recruited him into the ANBU long ago.
In fact, aside from chakra reserves, Yagyu Chiba had already reached the level of a jōnin in several areas.
Frankly speaking, "Special Jōnin" would be a fair rank for him now.
So the real threats were Chiba and Tsukikage Kaza.
Tenten was bait.
Kakashi silently kept reading while observing and predicting where Chiba and Tsukikage Kaza might be hiding.
The three of them wouldn't be too far apart.
So—
as long as he caught one, the other two would surely act in response.
Kakashi closed his book.
Any further and he'd reach the good part, but this wasn't the time.
His opponents weren't ordinary genin.
Then—
the instant he shut the book—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of kunai shot out from the shadows, crisscrossing the air. The steel wires attached to them quickly formed a tightening web around Kakashi.
Reckless!
Kakashi was genuinely surprised.
That girl, Tenten… she wasn't as simple as she looked.
But still—if it's just kunai, that's easy to handle.
He swiftly dodged, but soon realized something was off.
Chakra threads?
The kunai were being manually controlled!
Dozens of blades moved as if alive, colliding and switching angles midair to trap his position.
Kakashi's eyes sharpened, hands flashing through seals.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A violent gust howled through the forest, sweeping up dust, leaves, and kunai alike. A storm of debris filled the air, completely obscuring his figure.
"Switch positions!" Chiba immediately sensed danger and focused his chakra.
Boom!
A figure burst from underground, rushing straight toward them.
So fast!
By the time Chiba reacted, the enemy was already right in front of him.
So this is a jōnin?
Kakashi's eyes were cold, a kunai flashing in his hand.
"Taijutsu Form — Shadow of the Dancing Leaf!"
In an instant, he appeared behind Chiba—
But—
Poof!
A shadow clone vanished in smoke.
"So fast!"
Neji was astonished.
Not only Kakashi, but Chiba's speed too—the strange chakra sphere had activated instantly, obliterating the clone in a single counter.
If it had been him instead… even with his mastery of Rotation, he wouldn't have been able to defend st that sudden technique.
He's strong!
"Kankurō's Rasengan—its speed rivals the Fourth Hokage's," kid said, his tone turning grave.
"That's the Fourth Hokage's technique?" Mami asked, eyes wide.
"No," Lee immediately corrected. "The result's similar, but that jutsu is Chiba's own creation."
His own creation?
Neji was even more shaken.
Kankurō…
"Look ahead—this is the key part!" kid leapt up into a nearby tree to get a better view.
At that moment, Kakashi's true body burst out of the ground, charging straight toward Tenten.
Tenten was midair, leaping from one tree to another—completely unable to dodge.
Suddenly, strands of wire shot out, attaching to her limbs, pulling her just enough to twist away from the attack like a puppet being controlled.
But then—Tenten froze in place, eyes blank.
"Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!" Kakashi announced deliberately.
"Still not coming out? You've got a kekkei genkai, don't you? You should be nearby. Maybe if you keep waiting, you'll get a better shot… but even if she dies, you're really fine with that?"
Kakashi appeared beside Tenten in a flash, slashing away most of the chakra threads with his kunai.
Tsukikage Kaza couldn't wait any longer—just as Kakashi had said, she had to act or Tenten would die.
When his kunai thrust toward Tenten—
A blade, silent as moonlight, swung at his neck.
What—?
Transparency jutsu?
Every hair on Kakashi's body stood on end. But then he realized—it wasn't full transparency. She could merely erase her presence completely.
She must've been hiding among the trees with a transformation technique.
He abandoned Tenten, pivoting and kicking backward, striking Tsukikage Kaza's arm hard enough to deflect her blade.
At that exact moment—Chiba arrived.
And—
Clink! Clink! Clink!
Huh?
Not good!
Kakashi heard the bells and knew instantly—the genjutsu had been dispelled!
He slashed down with a hand chop, knocking Tenten's hand aside, and in a flash reclaimed the bells before vanishing with a substitution jutsu.
Hidden in the shadows, Kakashi wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead.
These three… couldn't be underestimated.
Looks like holding back won't cut it this time!
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