The Best Time Is Now!

"Didn't you say I only had to defeat Kakashi Hatake?"

"If that's the case..."

"Then let's begin!"

Shinichi Hyuga spoke those words calmly, drawing everyone's attention. Mitokado Homura and the others, who had already looked away, now turned their gazes back to Shinichi Hyuga.

Looking at the "innocent-faced" Shinichi Hyuga, Mitokado Homura could not help but chuckle.

"Child, your name is Shinichi Hyuga, correct?"

"Do you know who Kakashi Hatake is? He is the Fourth Hokage's disciple, a Genius Ninja who became a Konoha Jonin at the age of twelve."

"He is fourteen now, nine years older than you. Isn't it far too early for you to challenge him?"

"We know you are interested in the Flying Thunder God Technique. We made this request because we do not want you to aim too high."

"Train and build up your foundation for a few years first. It will not be too late to consider the Flying Thunder God Technique afterward."

"The Hokage's promise to the Hyuga Clan has always remained valid. There is no need to rush."

Although Mitokado Homura inwardly regarded Shinichi Hyuga as a brat who did not know his own limits, he still did his best to control his tone out of respect for the Hyuga Main Family. He carefully chose his words, trying to make them sound as agreeable as possible.

He assumed that the young Shinichi Hyuga did not know Kakashi Hatake.

What Mitokado Homura did not know was that Shinichi had already recognized him from Kakashi's attire, hair color, and build.

Through the Byakugan's penetrating vision, Kakashi's young and handsome face overlapped with the person in Shinichi's memories.

"Genius Ninja... Kakashi Hatake."

"I know."

Shinichi Hyuga did not look at Mitokado Homura. Instead, he looked at Kakashi and nodded lightly.

What Mitokado Homura did not know was that Shinichi Hyuga had already thought his words through very carefully!

The moment he learned that borrowing the Scroll of Seals came with another requirement, Shinichi Hyuga had begun considering how to handle it.

Turn around and go home just like that?!

How could that be possible?

They had already come all this way. Leaving now would be far too humiliating.

More importantly, Shinichi Hyuga did not believe the requirement was completely impossible to fulfill.

On the contrary... if he waited several more years, as Minato and Mitokado Homura had suggested, before challenging Kakashi—waited until Kakashi had mastered the Sharingan? Waited until he had copied a thousand ninjutsu?

Then there truly would be no hope.

Though there was a considerable age gap between Shinichi and Kakashi, Shinichi, who possessed the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai, might not necessarily lose to the Kakashi of today.

This was where the strength of the Gentle Fist lay. This special form of Nintaijutsu largely erased differences in physical power. Even Kakashi, if struck by Shinichi's Gentle Fist, would have his Chakra sealed.

If defeating Kakashi was necessary to borrow the Scroll of Seals, then right now was the best possible time!

Ever since he was young, the person Shinichi Hyuga had sparred with most often was Hyuga Hiashi.

To be fair, with his current abilities, he still had no way to defeat Hyuga Hiashi. Even when he gave it everything he had, all he could do was make his loss look slightly less pathetic.

But then again...

If Shinichi Hyuga could not defeat Hyuga Hiashi, did that mean fourteen-year-old Kakashi could?!

Who was stronger between him and Kakashi remained to be seen!

The reason Shinichi Hyuga was called a "genius" by his clansmen was precisely because his strength could not be measured simply by his age!

Hearing Shinichi Hyuga's words, Hiashi, who had been preparing to leave, stopped in his tracks.

Looking at his calm-faced son beside him, Hiashi silently turned back around and suddenly smiled.

"Fourth Hokage, my son wishes to give it a try. In that case..."

"Could you arrange it for us?"

Shinichi Hyuga's words quickly cooled the hot blood rushing to Hiashi's head. Seeing that his son wanted to try, Hyuga Hiashi immediately voiced his support without hesitation.

He had just been intimidated by Kakashi Hatake's reputation as a Jonin at twelve. But after thinking it over carefully, his son was not without a chance.

The title of Jonin was indeed intimidating. At first glance, it sounded incredibly impressive.

But Kakashi Hatake had become a Jonin during the Third Shinobi War. Because of the war, nearly every ninja in Konoha, regardless of age, had been thrown into the meat grinder of battle in those years. The threshold for becoming a Jonin had also been greatly lowered in that era.

His son possessed extraordinary talent and was the most gifted user of the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai in centuries. Moreover, during their past sparring sessions, even he could feel pressure from Shinichi.

Though he always won because of the difference in stamina, that was because he too used the Gentle Fist and possessed some ability to withstand strikes to the chakra points. His stamina was also far greater than that of his young son. But if Shinichi's opponent were someone else...

Hyuga Hiashi's sudden change in attitude caught Minato, Hizashi, and the others off guard.

Only then did Danzo and the others finally give Shinichi Hyuga a proper look.

Although Minato felt that the father and son were acting out of spite, after a moment's thought, he nodded.

"A simple match will do. There is no need to go elsewhere. We can hold it in the open space in front of the Hokage Building."

Minato had complete confidence in Kakashi's strength. In his view, defeating a five-year-old child should take no more than an instant.

Since that was the case, there was no need to head to a training ground. They could settle it quickly.

He also planned to give Hiashi a few days to calm down after Kakashi won, then visit him personally to explain and apologize, thereby easing their relationship.

"The open space in front of the building..."

Hiashi looked out the window, then nodded.

... Kakashi sighed inwardly. He glanced at Shinichi Hyuga standing beside Hiashi, and a trace of apology flashed through his eyes.

"What's going on? The Hokage and the advisers are all here?"

"What happened?"

As the two Hokage, the advisers, Hiashi, Shinichi, and the others arrived one after another at the open space before the Hokage Building, passing ninjas quickly sensed that something was happening and began gathering around.

In the open space, Kakashi had already removed his mask. Dressed in an Anbu uniform, he stood facing Shinichi Hyuga, who wore a loose kimono. Only one meter separated them.

"Form the seal."

The Fourth Hokage served as the referee. Ignoring the growing crowd of ninjas gathered to watch the spectacle, he called out loudly.

As his voice fell, Kakashi and Shinichi Hyuga both formed the Seal of Confrontation.

"Begin!"

The moment Minato Namikaze gave the order, Kakashi sprang forward almost simultaneously.

Kakashi had no intention of holding back. His thoughts were much the same as Minato's—he did not want to waste time on the child before him and intended to end the fight quickly.

Yet as Kakashi charged toward him, Shinichi Hyuga calmly raised his arms into a stance. Veins bulged at the corners of his eyes.

"The Byakugan?"

"This little boy awakened it at such a young age?"

"How is that possible?"

Hizashi, Minato, Danzo, and the others watching from the side were all stunned when they saw Shinichi Hyuga like this.

Even Kakashi's pupils constricted at the sight. But he had already rushed in front of Shinichi and had no time to change moves. He directly threw a punch at Shinichi's face.

"Who exactly... do you think you're looking down on?"

Kakashi's movements were completely laid bare before Shinichi. Watching him strike, Shinichi Hyuga instead felt a little disappointed.

So... a genius Jonin was only this much after all?!