You're Already Dead

Might Guy carried Genma on his shoulder and leaped outside the training ground, watching the two figures inside with a solemn expression.

Even now, he still could not believe Kakashi had become like this.

"Can Genitsu... win? Kakashi's practically crazy. He's been extremely ruthless," Genma asked quietly, one relatively unharmed eye open.

"He can win. Genitsu is strong, incredibly strong! So strong that even I don't know how much power he has hidden inside him."

Might Guy clenched his fists.

If there was anyone in this world he could trust besides his father, it was Genitsu.

If Genitsu truly used that jutsu, then even Kakashi would surely die!

But Genitsu... would he really kill Kakashi? Would he really do something like that because Kakashi had changed?

"You seem to possess some kind of invisible poison that can continuously weaken your opponent, eventually securing your advantage..."

Kakashi slashed out with his blade, a cold, sharp glint surging in his eyes.

Then all he had to do was end this quickly—finish the battle before that mysterious poison could interfere with him.

It was a simple tactic, but an extremely practical one.

Whoosh!

In a flash, the blade lunged straight for Genitsu's face with incomparable speed. Its undisguised sharpness made it clear that Kakashi was prepared to kill.

Genitsu did not even blink. With an expressionless face, he leaned his head slightly back, grabbed sideways with one hand, and drove his knee fiercely into Kakashi's chest.

Bang!

The two figures collided head-on and immediately began exchanging taijutsu. Every movement was flawless, far beyond what children their age should have been capable of. Their astonishing speed made it impossible to follow.

His strength is actually this terrifying...

Shock appeared in Kakashi's eyes. Every spot that had collided with Genitsu ached faintly. Even with Chakra covering his body, it could not fully conceal the damage.

Smack!

"Don't lose focus. Someone could die." Genitsu rammed Kakashi with his shoulder. When Kakashi's blade came down, he did not resist at all and charged straight into it.

Squelch!

The White Fang Short Blade pierced Genitsu's shoulder, but Genitsu seized the moment to throw a punch that struck the shocked Kakashi squarely in the face, sending him flying.

"I told you. If you fight me, you need to be prepared to die."

Genitsu stood where he was as though nothing had happened. Even with blood pouring from his shoulder, his expression did not change. "You hesitated just now, Kakashi."

"You deliberately let me cut you just to hit me once?!" Kakashi coughed, realizing that one of his ribs had broken. Yet compared with that, Genitsu's actions shocked him far more.

"Don't worry about such details. You and I are different, Kakashi."

Genitsu directly grasped the White Fang Short Blade and slowly pulled it out. Every tiny movement drew out a fresh spray of blood.

Under Kakashi's astonished gaze—

Genitsu covered the wound with one hand as his powerful regenerative ability activated. Countless cells in his body began multiplying and gathering frantically, repairing the injury.

A few seconds later, the wound began to scab over.

More than ten seconds later, the wound left by the short blade had already stopped bleeding.

That brutal regenerative ability stunned everyone present.

"So this is one of your Kekkei Genkai abilities as well... That vitality rivals medical ninjutsu. Then there's no need for me to hold back either. I'll return your words to you—be careful not to get killed by me."

Suppressing the shock in his heart, Kakashi used a jutsu that was still only in its infancy. Bolts of lightning gathered in his palm.

"This is too reckless! How can Kakashi use such an incomplete jutsu against a fellow villager?!"

Inside the Hokage Building, Minato watched the scene displayed in the crystal ball. His expression changed slightly as he immediately moved to stop the duel.

"Wait a little longer, Minato. Genitsu will not lose so easily." The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe.

"But, Third Hokage-sama, this isn't a matter of winning or losing. Kakashi's psychological issues have already reached a dangerous threshold. If this continues, something irreversible may happen!"

Minato frowned.

The Third Hokage said nothing and merely watched in silence.

White Fang's child... who would have thought that you, driven to suicide after being slandered and unable to bear the humiliation, would leave behind such an outstanding descendant? Yet this genius had also reached a dangerous point.

"Bonds are never formed out of thin air. They must be tempered through blood and fire... Minato, you must understand that."

The Third Hokage spoke meaningfully.

This was a method that any qualified Kage had to master.

"Look, Genitsu has begun his counterattack. His Kekkei Genkai is so astonishing and powerful—it truly fills one with anticipation."

The Third Hokage watched Genitsu move with an approving expression.

On the training ground, the two figures charged at each other with a thunderous rush.

Amid piercing roars, azure lightning flashed, reflecting the two young ninjas as they clashed fiercely.

Crackle!

Kakashi thrust his hand at Genitsu. If this attack landed, it would be enough to take Genitsu's life.

But in that instant—

"You've already lost, Kakashi."

Nuclear Release: Vibration Wave!!

Boom!

Kakashi, charging like an arrow, was sent flying on the spot by the terrifying shockwave. Even the ground across the training field began to crack and collapse.

Poof!

Kakashi turned into a cloud of smoke.

"A Shadow Clone Technique? Then the real body should be..."

Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!

Two hands suddenly shot out from the ground, trying to drag Genitsu beneath the earth.

But at that moment, as though he had anticipated it long ago, Genitsu raised a foot and stomped down viciously.

Smack!

His foot punched through the soil and stomped onto Kakashi's head. The terrifying force instantly left Kakashi dazed.

"Such petty tricks are useless against me. None of your actions can escape my senses."

Genitsu spoke calmly, then crouched down, reached into the earth, seized Kakashi by the throat, and dragged Konoha's genius out.

As though he were dragging out a dog.

"...!"

Kakashi was covered in mud. Deep shock and fury filled his eyes as lightning immediately gathered in his hand, ready for him to strike with Chidori.

But in the next moment, the Chakra within his body abruptly cut off. His internal organs, along with every bone in his body, seemed to erupt with some terrifying disease, radiating an abnormal heat.

That violent bodily change made Kakashi scream as blood sprayed from his mouth.

Genitsu gripped Kakashi's throat tightly with one hand while forming a hand seal with the other. He spoke calmly:

"Kakashi, haven't you realized it? Before you used Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu, you had already... died."