["Disperse!"]
Kakashi raised his hand, and the moment it dropped, he gave the command.
*Swoosh—*
In an instant.
The three disappeared from their original spots.
But Kakashi remained standing exactly where he was, not moving an inch.
He even took out that little imperial uncle book from his Ninja tool pouch.
There was no cover around him, and he stood there openly and honestly.
This undoubtedly further stimulated Sasuke's nerves.
When you are weak, your anger might even appear somewhat endearing in the eyes of the strong.
"Not bad."
"As Ninja, concealing your presence and Chakra is the most basic requirement. It seems you weren't just wasting time at the Ninja Academy."
Kakashi kept his gaze straight ahead.
'It looks like they took my words to heart. Have they already scouted the terrain?'
Kakashi used his peripheral vision to observe the directions the three had hidden in.
'The three have split up to prevent the others from being exposed if I discover one of them.'
And at this moment.
All three were hiding in the positions they had discussed beforehand.
They then communicated using steel wire.
In reality, the curriculum taught at the Ninja Academy covers a lot. If one studies diligently and masters everything, they can indeed become a qualified Ninja.
For example, right now, the three were using the wartime communication methods taught at the Ninja Academy.
Similar to Morse code.
Or, they could simply read lips.
'Do you all know your tasks?'
'Uh... fine, we'll listen to you.'
'Hmph! Don't hold me back!'
These words immediately made the veins bulge on Sakura's forehead.
'How did this guy become so annoying?'
Sasuke naturally didn't care about her thoughts.
He took a deep breath and began adjusting his state.
Since Kakashi was provoking them repeatedly, he absolutely had to make him pay the price!
*Swoosh—*
The plan began.
Sakura took a deep breath, then pulled several Kunai out of her Ninja tool pouch.
After aiming properly, she immediately threw the Kunai.
Compared to trusting Sasuke, Sakura trusted Naruto more.
But since Naruto didn't show any intention of attacking right now, she didn't say anything more and decided to try to show off her own abilities as much as possible.
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh—*
Kakashi dedicated a portion of his attention to reading, but the majority of his focus remained on the movements of the three.
'Oh?'
'He didn't attack directly?'
'It seems he's giving Sasuke and Sakura a chance to show what they can do.'
'That's fine... I'm also looking forward to personally testing your growth.'
Facing the Kunai that seemed to assault him from all directions.
Kakashi nodded internally.
He glanced at the previous location of Sakura.
'The objective of the attack is too obvious; the possibility of a feint is high.'
'But exposing her position and then quickly retreating, constantly launching attacks from the surroundings to disrupt my perception... Very good.'
'This tactic must have been set up by Sasuke.'
Without any surprise.
These shuriken and Kunai couldn't hurt Kakashi.
He easily dodged all the attacks without even needing to look up.
Sasuke, who was continuously hiding in the shadows, slightly narrowed his eyes upon seeing this.
With Naruto and Sakura creating a diversion, he would seize the opportunity for a single, fatal strike!
Kakashi immediately sensed the strong emotional fluctuation.
Kakashi shook his head. If Sasuke continued like this, he would never surpass that man.
Kakashi's impression of Uchiha Itachi was profoundly deep.
However.
Just as Kakashi jumped up to avoid a Kunai attack launched by Naruto.
A sudden change occurred.
*Rumble—!!!*
Kakashi: "..."
I told you not to hold back, but you really aren't holding back at all, are you?
He glanced in Naruto's direction.
'The timing was grasped very well.'
The smoke and dust raised by the exploding tags dispersed.
Kakashi was still standing in the same spot.
He was still holding that little imperial uncle book in his hands.
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh—*
Just then, three Kunai tied with exploding tags attacked from three different directions.
Kakashi leaped up to evade them.
*Rumble—*
The exploding tags detonated.
Just then, several shuriken were shot towards the direction where Kakashi was about to land.
At the same time.
Sakura rushed out directly.
Naruto followed closely, appearing from another direction.
Sasuke also dashed out quickly, forming hand signs rapidly with both hands.
*Buzz—*
Huh?!
Kakashi was stunned for a moment.
Sasuke's hand sign wasn't this one.
Genjutsu?
When?
Kakashi's senses failed at this moment, and the Chakra inside his body experienced a temporary disruption.
'Naruto? Or Sakura?'
It happened in the blink of an eye.
By the time Kakashi recovered his senses.
Naruto shot out another Kunai tied with an exploding tag.
The target was aimed directly at his face.
However, Kakashi was not that useless.
'Confirmed, this is definitely Sasuke's plan.'
He chuckled internally, finding Sasuke increasingly similar to his younger self.
*Snap—*
Without any warning, Kakashi's posture became rigid in mid-air.
*Buzz—*
Under the sunlight, several steel wires reflected the light.
'Now!'
The hand signs were complete!
Sasuke bit down hard on the steel wire.
'Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!'
*Boom—*
In an instant, the Fire Release, which was originally slow, drastically increased its speed using the steel wire as a medium.
The flames, like a fire dragon, shot straight along the steel wire.
Kakashi, entangled by the steel wire, now had to face not only Sasuke's Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique but also the exploding tag that was about to detonate.
Not far away, Sakura had a serious expression, and her delicate hands were wearing black gloves, put on at some point.
She quickly ran toward Kakashi.
*Rumble—*
*Boom—!!*
The moment the exploding tag detonated.
The Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique, a C-rank Ninjutsu notable for both speed and power, arrived at that very moment.
"We succeeded!"
The corner of Sasuke's mouth curled up slightly.
A Jonin?
Nothing more than this!
*Bang—*
However, just then.
A loud bang came from the center point where the two powerful attacks converged.
"The tactic is good, simple and practical."
"But it seems you think too lightly of a Jonin, don't you?"
Sasuke's pupils suddenly contracted, and he froze on the spot.
At the same time.
Naruto and Sakura had already vanished.
This action... clearly indicated they had anticipated something unexpected happening.
But Sasuke couldn't afford to think too much right now.
The movement behind him made him realize how naive he was.
If this were a battlefield, the enemy wouldn't waste time talking to him.
The time Kakashi spent speaking was enough for his head to hit the ground.
Damn it!!!
However, just as Sasuke felt unwilling to accept defeat, believing Kakashi would only continue dodging.
Kakashi's voice came from behind him again.
Simultaneously, an extremely intense feeling of dread surged in his heart.
Sasuke's subconscious thought was not to counterattack, but to run away.
"One of the Ninja Battle Precepts: Taijutsu."
"Let me teach you... A Ninja should never turn their back on the enemy, nor should they be overly confident and aim for a single fatal blow; that is often the root cause of defeat and death in battle."
Seeing this, Sakura, hiding in the shadows, watched her pupils contract sharply.
'That hand sign...'
Naruto also frowned, feeling that the hand sign seemed wrong somehow.
"Starting with the Tiger Sign? Ending?"
Although he didn't know what Kakashi was going to do, Naruto's intuition told him that Sasuke was about to pay a heavy price.
A dazzling light suddenly flashed in Kakashi's eyes, and the excitement in his expression was hard to conceal.
"Konoha Secret Ninjutsu: Taijutsu Secret Technique—"
"One Thousand Years of Death!"