"Hanekawa!"
Kurenai trotted in front of him, fist raised, her ruby eyes gleaming with determination. "You have to help me get revenge!"
Hanekawa couldn't help but smile. "Don't worry. I'll beat him until he begs for mercy."
"That's the spirit!"
Kurenai's mouth curved into a satisfied grin, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
Kakashi Hatake stood nearby in complete silence, processing the fact that they were openly discussing his defeat before the match even started.
Well, that's not awkward at all, Hanekawa thought.
"Kakashi, let me heal that wound," Hanekawa said, noticing the blood seeping through his sleeve—courtesy of Kurenai's water needles from the previous round.
Kakashi extended his arm without protest. The third round had eliminated everyone except three candidates: himself, Hanekawa, and Guy. All three were formidable, and Kakashi wasn't arrogant enough to fight injured.
Hanekawa's hands glowed with soft green chakra. Kakashi felt the wound knit together at remarkable speed, and his mind immediately jumped to a troubling conclusion: If he can fight and heal simultaneously, wouldn't he be essentially invincible?
"Are the fourth-round rules the same?" Asuma asked, breaking the moment.
"Probably," Shisui said thoughtfully. "Someone will likely get a bye."
"Doesn't that give them an unfair advantage?" Shizune frowned. "The first match will be brutal. Both fighters could be exhausted."
"You're forgetting something," Hanekawa said with a slight smile. "My teacher is here. Serious injuries aren't really a problem."
Asuma's eyes widened. Right. Tsunade.
"How's the arm?" Hanekawa asked Kakashi.
"Good as new." Kakashi rotated his shoulder experimentally. "No issues."
"For Hanekawa, it's nothing," Kurenai added, slipping into her usual role as his personal cheerleader.
Guy grinned widely. "I hope Hanekawa gets the bye. That way I can fight Kakashi first!"
Kakashi's expression darkened. The last thing he wanted was to watch Guy and his father embrace while crying about the "flames of youth" or whatever nonsense would inevitably follow.
"We'll find out soon enough," Hanekawa said, genuinely indifferent. Two matches in a row? Perfect. More data for the system.
Inoichi approached the group. "Break time's over. The fourth round begins now. The candidate not selected gets the bye."
The large screen behind him flickered to life, scrolling through names before stopping.
"Round 4: Hanekawa versus Hatake Kakashi!"
Guy's face fell. Kakashi's expression hardened into something resembling grim determination.
They'd fought countless times in the academy. Hanekawa had won every single time. But that was two years ago. Things had changed. Maybe.
Probably not, Kakashi thought grimly.
"Come on, Kakashi!" Asuma clapped his shoulder.
"Don't embarrass Team Three," Obito added earnestly, though his eyes kept drifting toward Hanekawa with obvious concern.
Rin stayed silent, her lips pressed into a thin line. She wanted Hanekawa to win, but saying so felt like a betrayal.
"Help me beat him up," Kurenai called out cheerfully.
Hanekawa nodded and walked toward the arena, Kakashi following a moment later.
In the stands, Tsunade shook her head. "That kid's unlucky. Two matches back-to-back? His chakra reserves will be tested."
"He had good luck with gambling though," Kushina observed sympathetically.
Tsunade froze. Did I... did I steal his luck?
"Who do you think wins?" Kushina asked Minato.
"Difficult to say," Minato replied carefully. As Kakashi's teacher, he couldn't openly favor Hanekawa, and honestly, he thought it was fifty-fifty.
"Hanekawa," Sakumo said with surprising confidence.
"Why?" Kushina looked shocked. "He's your son's opponent!"
"Intuition," Sakumo replied simply.
Inoichi raised his hand. "Begin!"
Hanekawa immediately formed seals. Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
A massive water dragon erupted from the arena's water channel, surging toward Kakashi with terrifying speed.
Body Flicker Technique!
Kakashi vanished. His blade appeared an instant later, aimed directly at Hanekawa's heart.
Hanekawa blocked effortlessly, his own blade meeting Kakashi's with a sharp ring of steel.
Chidori Blade!
Lightning erupted from Kakashi's weapon, the sound like a thousand birds screaming in unison. The electricity spread in a violent arc, forcing Hanekawa to retreat.
Crescent Moon Dance!
Three Hanekawas rushed forward simultaneously, their blades creating an intricate web of steel and thunder. The sound of collisions echoed across the arena.
Chidori Flow!
Kakashi's lightning spread outward in all directions. Hanekawa's shadow clones couldn't withstand the electrical assault and dispersed in clouds of smoke.
Hanekawa frowned slightly, processing the memories that flooded back, then clapped his hands.
Genjutsu: Fox's Mind Trick!
Kakashi's focus wavered for just a moment—enough. His eyes widened as he broke the illusion, but Hanekawa was already moving.
The Thunder-Fire Sword flashed toward him. Kakashi barely raised his short sword in time, but the force of the impact sent him flying backward.
Water Style: Water Bullet!
Hanekawa's hands rose, and dozens of water projectiles shot forward like bullets.
Still airborne, Kakashi formed seals. Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!
A barrier of earth erupted in front of him, complete with carved dog heads. He landed safely behind it, but the wall shook violently under the barrage.
Boom!
A massive fireball followed, obliterating the wall.
Kakashi raised his sword, lightning crackling along its length. The Chidori Blade cut the fireball cleanly in half, the two halves dissipating harmlessly on either side.
He looked up, breathing hard, and felt his body suddenly stiffen.
An illusion?
Hanekawa was already there, his Thunder-Fire Sword becoming a blur of motion. The blade multiplied into countless shadows, each one seeking an opening.
Kakashi broke the genjutsu and condensed brilliant lightning around his body. The Chidori's cry filled the arena—that distinctive sound of a thousand birds.
A flash of cold steel cut through the lightning. Hanekawa's blade found Kakashi's left arm, piercing deep.
But the Chidori's electricity spread outward violently, forcing Hanekawa to retreat, clutching his burned hand.
Kakashi ignored the pain and pressed forward, his short sword moving with the precision and elegance of the White Fang's legendary technique.
Hanekawa matched him, but he was clearly at a disadvantage. His swordsmanship was good, but Kakashi's was refined by a master.
Time to adjust, Hanekawa thought.
He used Body Flicker to create distance, deliberately allowing himself to fall back. Let's see if I can upgrade my sword skills.
Kakashi pursued, but suddenly found himself bound to a tree by vines.
Genjutsu: Release!
The illusion shattered, replaced by a wall of rushing water.
Water Style: Water Rush Wave!
The water rose like a tsunami, crashing toward Kakashi with overwhelming force.
Body Flicker!
Kakashi jumped, his feet finding purchase on the water's surface as he sprinted across it.
Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!
Another dragon erupted from the water below, forcing Kakashi into the air.
He had no choice. Chidori Flow erupted from his body, the lightning making him faster than ever. He dodged the dragon and closed the distance in a heartbeat, his dagger raised high.
It struck true—or so he thought.
Hanekawa's body exploded into smoke.
A shadow clone!
Kakashi's instincts screamed a warning. The water beneath him rippled.
He tried to jump away, but he was too slow.
Rasengan!
Hanekawa erupted from the water, the spinning blue sphere of chakra slamming into Kakashi's abdomen. His clothes tore instantly, and Hanekawa—showing mercy—withdrew the technique before it could do serious damage.
A sharp kick sent Kakashi flying.
He hit the ground hard, the wind knocked from his lungs. His vision swam. He looked down at the wound on his stomach and understood immediately: Hanekawa had held back.
There was no point continuing.
"I surrender," Kakashi said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion.
A notification appeared in Hanekawa's mind:
[D-Rank Talent Entry: Thunder Sword - Effect Upgraded]
[Lightning Style Talent and Sword Skill Talent increased by 100% from original level]
Hanekawa raised an eyebrow. Not bad. Not bad at all.
He extended a hand to help Kakashi up. After a moment's hesitation, Kakashi took it.