When sparring with a genius like Kakashi Hatake, you have to go all out—especially since his teacher is Minato Namikaze.
Kakashi crossed his hands, index and middle fingers aligned.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Two shadow clones instantly appeared, flanking from the left and right.
The real Kakashi gripped the White Light Chakra Sabre tightly, his footsteps light as he charged straight down the middle.
Byakuya angled his ninjatō, the moonlight glinting eerily off his "Shuten-doji " mask. "Too slow."
After witnessing Pakura's speed, Kakashi seemed sluggish by comparison.
Byakuya leaped from the tree branch.
Storm Release: Body Flicker.
A faint blue-white ripple was left where he stood, like a breeze disturbing a lake's surface.
In a flash, he evaded the pincer attack from Kakashi's clones and appeared right beside the real body. He dropped his center of gravity into a solid stance, requiring no further adjustment, and slashed with explosive force. His blade, infused with Storm Release chakra, crackled as if coated in lightning.
Kakashi couldn't even dodge, let alone process the shock.
It was too fast! Far too fast.
He knew it was a Body Flicker technique, but Body Flicker usually relied on a burst of chakra for acceleration. Even at max speed, it shouldn't look like teleportation.
Was this really just Body Flicker?
Or was it a short-range space-time ninjutsu, like Minato-sensei's Flying Thunder God?
Kakashi knew he had zero time to dodge or counter. He could only watch as the ninjatō sliced toward his shoulder with a sharp whistle.
Byakuya didn't hold back. The blade struck Kakashi's body, but there was no spray of blood or torn flesh. This, too, was a Shadow Clone—a trap designed to lure Byakuya into exposing an opening.
At that exact moment, the other two shadow clones arrived at Byakuya's flanks, their short swords thrusting toward his vital points.
"Got you."
Suddenly, two hands burst from the ground beneath Byakuya's feet, clamping tightly around his ankles.
Kakashi let out a breath as his head popped out of the earth. "After losing to you last time, I thought hard about how to beat you. This was the only strategy I could come up with."
Expressionless, Byakuya formed hand signs. Just two were needed.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall."
He opened his mouth and spewed a massive volume of water that instantly swirled around him in a protective 360-degree barrier.
The turbulent water, laced with crackling lightning, not only smashed and pierced through the two shadow clones but also terrified the real Kakashi. He hurriedly let go of Byakuya's ankles and used Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole to retreat underground.
A stream of electrified water had condensed into a spear, aiming straight for where Kakashi's head had been.
Kakashi burst out from behind a large tree, gasping for air.
The masked stranger had gotten stronger.
When did the Hidden Leaf produce such a ninja?
Once he caught his breath, Kakashi peeked out toward the masked man's position.
He was gone. Only the cold moonlight remained.
The forest wind brushed against Kakashi's face.
Suddenly, he felt something light land on his shoulder.
A bug from the tree?
He turned his head to look.
A ninjatō blade was hovering less than four inches from his neck.
"Don't move," Byakuya said, his voice still raspy.
"I lose. How did you know all three were shadow clones?" Kakashi sighed dejectedly. Losing to the same person twice in a row didn't feel good.
Byakuya answered calmly, "Sensory perception."
"That simple?"
"Your use of Shadow Clones is a bit flawed."
Kakashi, the heralded genius, immediately adopted a humble posture. "Please, Senior, tell me where I went wrong."
"How do you understand the Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
Kakashi answered as if it were obvious. "It's a diversionary tactic. The main body hides in the dark while the clones create openings in the enemy's defense!"
"Correct, but also incorrect."
"Huh? What's incorrect about it?! That's exactly how Minato-sensei taught me, Obito, and Rin."
"A ninja as powerful as Lord Minato can certainly afford to use Shadow Clones purely for distraction. The concept he taught you is valid.
"But in my opinion, until you have that level of strength, Shadow Clones shouldn't just be about confusing the enemy. They also have..."
"Have what?" Kakashi asked eagerly.
Byakuya looked him in the eye. At this point in time, Obito Uchiha hadn't yet given Kakashi his Sharingan, and Kakashi hadn't been promoted to Jonin yet.
"The true function of the Shadow Clone Jutsu."
"True... function?" Kakashi was puzzled.
"The Second Hokage invented the Shadow Clone Jutsu for gathering intelligence. The technique isn't just for distraction; it allows you to probe the enemy's ninjutsu, taijutsu, and weaponry capabilities without risking your main body.
"For example, ever since you lost to me last time, you were afraid to face me head-on with your sword skills. Instead, you chose to set a trap with Shadow Clones, hoping I was stupid enough to fall for it.
"But... how did you know the 'me' standing in front of you was my main body and not a Shadow Clone?"
Byakuya sheathed his sword and dispelled his technique. Poof.
Disbelief slowly filled Kakashi's eyes.
Byakuya walked out from behind a nearby tree, slowly approaching Kakashi. "Do you understand now? Your name is Kakashi Hatake, right? To have this kind of strength at your age is impressive. You're strong. You'll become a Jonin sooner or later, and maybe even Hokage one day."
Kakashi felt a mix of emotions. He didn't know what to say. After wracking his brain, he took a step back and bowed respectfully to Byakuya. "Thank you for the lesson, Senior. Uh, I haven't asked for your name yet."
Byakuya pointed to his mask. "Just call me Shuten-doji ."
"You..."
"I don't like standing out, even though fate keeps pushing me into the spotlight."
Kakashi thought about that statement but couldn't quite grasp its meaning. Wasn't the biggest news in the village lately about Minato-sensei fighting the Tailed Beast Jinchūriki from the Cloud Village?
"Yes, I understand, Senior. I hope I can train under you."
"No need. With the way the war is intensifying, you'll be sent to the battlefield soon enough. Oh, right—didn't you leave the village with Lord Minato? Why are you back?"
Kakashi answered honestly, "Sensei was worried about our safety. He thought we lacked the experience to handle full-scale war, so he ordered us to return to the village temporarily. Once he finishes his urgent mission, he'll resume our training and help us gain combat experience."
"Minato Namikaze truly is a good teacher."
To others, Kakashi seemed cold and aloof, but in front of Byakuya, he was surprisingly chatty. "Sensei is great at everything, except he's terrified of his wife... and he always arrives a step too late."
Minato Namikaze, master of the Flying Thunder God, the fastest ninja in history, yet somehow always late when it mattered most.
How ironic.
Byakuya nodded. "It's late. We'll meet again if fate allows."
"Hey, Senior, about your age..."
Kakashi didn't get to finish his question.
Byakuya crossed his hands into a cross shape, index and middle fingers together.
"That's... the seal for the Shadow Clone Jutsu," Kakashi muttered.
Poof.
The Byakuya standing in front of him vanished.
Another Shadow Clone! It still wasn't his main body.
Kakashi shouted in frustration, "Senior, you're way too cautious!! Can you please talk to me with your real body just once?!"
Unfortunately, Byakuya couldn't hear him.
His main body had reached the edge of the forest... only to be blocked by Orochimaru.