New Reward

"You learned it just like that?"

Kakashi stared at the wall in disbelief, then turned to look at Kitagawa Gen.

For a moment, even he felt dazed.

Although he had indeed slowed down his hand seals, a technique was not something one could learn merely by watching the seals.

Ninjutsu was an intricate art. Any technique required constant practice and refinement to be used properly.

But...

This kid had learned it after seeing it once?

Not only had he learned it, he had even made something like this?

And his hand seals had been so fast that Kakashi had only lowered his head to read for a moment before the kid was done?

What kind of joke was this?!

"Mm, I'd encountered this technique before, so..."

Kitagawa Gen was very modest. In truth, he had barely remembered any of the hand seals, but he could sense the chakra changes of this technique!

The Otsutsuki bloodline had brought his affinity for and control over chakra to an unbelievable level.

Hand seals had originally been devised by the ancestors of the Uchiha so that ordinary people could use chakra more effectively.

Once someone reached Hashirama Senju's level of strength, they could basically just clap their hands together and use whatever technique they wanted!

Naturally, Kitagawa Gen could not compare himself to someone like that, but that did not mean he could not do it; the power was simply lacking.

As for those statues?

Since Kakashi's Earth Release Barrier did not have any dog heads on it, why could he not carve the Hokage faces onto it?

Wouldn't that make him look like he loved the village?

No one understood love for Konoha better than him!

"Is that so..."

Kakashi nodded reluctantly. Guy did not seem to have mentioned this.

"It seems your condition is even better than I imagined. More outstanding, too."

"Thank you for the praise."

Kitagawa Gen smiled honestly.

"Teacher Guy said something similar. He had originally planned to teach me personally, but unfortunately, his application was not approved this year..."

"..."

Kakashi's dead-fish eyes rolled again. So he was just a substitute?

Still, he felt that it would have been a waste if this kid had ended up with Guy!

Granted, Guy was excellent and could guarantee the kid's growth, but he was still better suited to teaching taijutsu.

"So having him with me is best?"

For some reason, that thought surfaced in Kakashi's mind.

Especially since this kid agreed with what Obito had said back then, which made Kakashi view him even more favorably.

Thinking that, Kakashi's expression grew a little more serious.

"In that case, let's see your true level."

"Huh? But yesterday—"

Kitagawa Gen froze, but before he could finish speaking, Kakashi had already moved!

In an instant, Kakashi appeared behind him, his hand formed into a blade as he chopped toward his neck.

Even as he attacked, Kakashi still had the leisure to explain.

"Yesterday was a test for your team, but your team has already disbanded. With two members gone, the situation is naturally different. That was why I was hesitant. So let me see your limits."

Whoosh—

The hand strike came down, but Kitagawa Gen had already vanished!

"This kid's Body Flicker Technique really is fast."

Even though he had already experienced it, Kakashi could not help sighing.

With that Body Flicker Technique, escaping when danger came should not be much of a problem.

"Tch."

Kitagawa Gen crouched atop the Earth Release Barrier, staring at Kakashi's position. Several kunai appeared in his hands, and in the next instant, he threw them at Kakashi!

"Your aim is average."

Kakashi easily leaped aside to dodge the kunai, but he soon noticed that Kitagawa Gen had thrown four more.

This time, Kitagawa Gen's aim was exceptionally precise, all of them targeting Kakashi's vital points. Kakashi immediately raised an eyebrow.

Not only that, he saw that Kitagawa Gen had already completed his hand seals.

In the next instant, the kid spat out six medium-sized fireballs that sped toward him alongside the kunai!

"This is..."

The four kunai and six fireballs seemed to have completely surrounded him, but he quickly found an escape route.

The problem was that the opening lay right where those earlier kunai had been, and he noticed nearly invisible steel wires attached to them!

"Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, and used like this..."

Wasn't this standard Uchiha Shurikenjutsu?

"Where did he learn it?"

Kakashi was puzzled, but he knew he needed to take things more seriously now.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Rather than dodge, Kakashi instantly formed hand seals and spat a massive blazing fireball forward.

The fireball not only swallowed Kitagawa Gen's Phoenix Sage Fire, but also changed the kunai's flight paths as it rushed toward Kitagawa Gen!

"As expected of a jonin. Then... Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Kitagawa Gen did not dodge either. He symbolically formed a few hand seals before pressing his palms together.

Boom—

A fireball not much smaller than Kakashi's burst forth from him. The two blazing fireballs collided, creating a piercing roar.

The scorching flames continuously heated the air, and much of the Training Ground's grass was set ablaze in an instant.

Kitagawa Gen quickly repositioned. He would not stand there and take hits, while he continued scanning his surroundings for Kakashi's location.

Whoosh—

Almost instantly, Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Kitagawa Gen, the kunai in his hand thrusting toward his neck!

"The fight isn't over yet. You can't let your guard down."

Kitagawa Gen did not answer. He swung his kunai backward to meet Kakashi's.

Clang—

Metal rang out as the two kunai collided.

Kitagawa Gen pulled out another kunai with his left hand and slashed fiercely, only for Kakashi to evade with a sidestep.

But he did not mind. He continued pressing close and fighting Kakashi at close range.

Although both his body and chakra had been greatly enhanced, he severely lacked combat experience.

The Otsutsuki bloodline was no joke. Otherwise, how could people like Urashiki and Momoshiki, despite having terrifyingly low combat intelligence, still destroy a planet?

But because their combat intelligence was so low, one had been forced to use Karma after getting taken out by an invisible Rasengan, while the other had been directly poisoned to death by Jiraiya.

Kitagawa Gen would not be that foolish, especially since he had realized something.

"It seems I can make some techniques legitimate by training with Kakashi?"

Not just those ninjutsu; even the Kakashi's Sword Techniques he had received yesterday seemed possible.

Although Kakashi was using kunai, his attack methods were nearly identical to the sword techniques in Kitagawa Gen's mind.

In that case...

Kitagawa Gen's gaze changed as he rushed toward Kakashi even faster.

Clang, clang, clang—

The sounds of metal clashing rang out continuously as their figures darted across the Training Ground.

Kakashi was clearly holding back, while Kitagawa Gen fought earnestly. For a moment, the two seemed to be locked in a stalemate.

Yet Kakashi's expression gradually became strange...

"This kid... is learning from me?"

He could clearly sense that Kitagawa Gen seemed to be studying his movements.

At first, he had been somewhat "unpracticed," and even the transitions between his moves had been a little sluggish.

But as the fight continued, the kid became increasingly proficient. His movements grew smoother and smoother, and even his changes of attack began to look effortless.

For one brief instant, Kakashi even felt as though he was fighting himself!

Wasn't this learning ability a little too outrageous?

"No wonder he knows Uchiha Shurikenjutsu..."

Finally, seeing Kitagawa Gen become more and more like himself, Kakashi could no longer continue fighting. He called a halt.

"All right, we'll stop here."

"Yes."

Kitagawa Gen immediately stopped and put some distance between them.

"I basically understand your situation now. Honestly, it's even better than I imagined."

Kakashi looked at Kitagawa Gen strangely for a long while before finally speaking in a low voice.

"What you lack now is combat experience. I know what to do. Prepare yourself; we may be leaving the village tomorrow."

"Really?"

Hearing that, Kitagawa Gen immediately perked up.

And at that moment, his system flashed again.

Side Quest completed: Who is the Real Copy Ninja

Reward obtained: Kakashi's Lightning Release

"Of course it's true."

Kakashi waved his hand, looking somewhat troubled at the burning Training Ground beside them.

"All right, go back first. Get up early tomorrow."

"Yes!"

Kitagawa Gen immediately nodded. It was just right; he wanted to go back and look at the reward.

After giving a slight bow, he turned and ran off, leaving Kakashi alone to stare at the blazing fire before him, as well as—

The Earth Release Barrier that was gradually being swallowed by the flames, though the faces of the four Hokage could still be vaguely seen.

At that moment, he too fell into deep thought.