Shiranui Genitsu... won?!
He actually defeated Hatake Kakashi!!
Inside the Hokage Building, several higher-ups stared in astonishment.
Minato, who had been preparing to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to rush over and stop Kakashi, was stunned as well.
For a time, the entire office fell silent.
"I thought Genitsu wouldn't lose to Kakashi, but I never expected him to have grown this far..." Minato revealed a bitter smile, but his gaze toward the crystal ball was full of appreciation and admiration.
I miscalculated. Kakashi, whom I had observed for so long before taking him as my disciple, actually lost to Genitsu just like that? And in such a decisive manner, with no chance of turning things around...
Genitsu truly is an extraordinary child. Kakashi, you've met your match.
"Minato, it looks like you won't need to step in. The strongest clash of the new generation has already ended." The Hokage took a puff from his pipe and smiled.
He was too outstanding. A descendant of the Shiranui Clan, with an impeccable background—his parents had been heroes of Konoha. He was hardworking, had awakened an entirely new Kekkei Genkai, and, most importantly, possessed flawless character. Now, even the speed at which he converted talent into strength was astonishing.
A child like this could absolutely be regarded as a model for the new generation.
"Then I'll go separate them now..." Minato was about to move, but the Third Hokage stopped him.
"No, Minato. Watch a little longer."
"What? But Genitsu is... capable of killing Kakashi at any moment, especially after being inexplicably provoked and humiliated first. If something happens..."
The Third merely watched the crystal ball in silence, a trace of hesitation arising in his heart. After all, the life of a super genius like Kakashi was exceedingly precious. He fixed his eyes on Genitsu's face within the crystal ball.
What will you do, Genitsu? With the power to decide life and death in your hands, while your emotions are unstable, what will you do?
This was the final observation. If he could pass this test...
"Genitsu... actually defeated Kakashi?"
Outside the training ground.
Genma stood there in a daze. Though his face was bruised and swollen, his one eye that he struggled to keep open stared at the scene before him in disbelief.
He had not even figured out how Kakashi had lost. That super top student who had graduated at five and created a Konoha legend... had actually lost to a member of his own clan? And he had never seen the technique Genitsu used before...
Genma watched Genitsu hold Kakashi high in the air, his mind drifting. Before he realized it, this guy had already grown to this point, crushing a monstrous genius like Kakashi head-on.
"I told you long ago—Genitsu-san is the strongest one in our class! He absolutely won't lose!" Might Guy clenched his fists fiercely.
He was the only one who held absolute faith in Genitsu. Their years of interaction had filled his mind with complete trust and complete obedience toward Genitsu.
At this moment, the shock Genitsu brought to Genma and the others was unprecedented. Kakashi, who seemed like a myth, had been utterly defeated in a duel by the former dead last.
In the training ground, Genitsu gripped Kakashi by the throat and held him up, his expression calm.
For a moment, Genitsu truly considered giving Kakashi a painful lesson he would regret for the rest of his life.
"How... how did you do it..." Kakashi forced out the words.
The Chidori he had gathered by exhausting his last bit of Chakra had shattered the instant terrifying changes erupted within his body.
At this moment, Kakashi was more vulnerable than he had ever been before. The insecurity in his heart had been magnified to the extreme.
Meeting Genitsu's icy gaze and feeling the signs within his body that seemed ready to burn him alive, Kakashi felt a long-forgotten... helplessness and despair.
How long had it been since he had felt this way?
"Ever since you lost your father, you've been venting all your resentment and anger on others. That's going too far. No one owes you anything."
Genitsu formed a hand seal with one hand and spoke indifferently.
After losing his father, Kakashi had remained in a dangerous state for a long time, hovering at the edge of darkness.
"Heh, how boring. Why bring up that useless man? He was nothing more than a laughable failure. He could have completed the mission, yet he chose to give up in the end. He was just trash..."
Slap!
Genitsu slapped him.
It was a vicious slap, producing a sharp crack.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
"After all that buildup, that's all you wanted to say?"
"What do you know? A ninja only needs to complete the mission. He was obviously so powerful, yet he abandoned me and chose suicide. What is there worth—"
With an expressionless face, Genitsu punched Kakashi again and again, swelling his face beyond recognition as blood splattered.
"Although I never met Lord Sakumo, I know he was a great ninja. But your attitude... what's even more frightening is that you hate your father, yet unconsciously transferred that hatred onto others."
"Genma never harmed you. His strength simply didn't match his ambitions, and he forced himself to do things that seemed mature but were actually childish. Yet you repaid him with cold-bloodedness and cruelty, simply because that idiot deceived you..."
"Kakashi, you're even more laughable this way, your reason buried beneath hatred."
Bang!
Genitsu drove his fist hard into the ground beside Kakashi's head. After a loud boom, a fist mark appeared in the earth.
Kakashi looked lost. His unrecognizable face was full of numbness, and his eyes stared blankly at the sky.
White clouds drifted beneath the blue sky.
At that moment, the arrogance in his heart was torn apart by Genitsu in this manner. His talent and strength were nowhere near as great as he had imagined.
"Hatred will always be the theme of this chaotic world. Just thinking about it gives me a headache... Eliminating hatred, eliminating war—that is what I intend to do, in my own way."
Genitsu spoke indifferently.
With his hands in his pockets, he slowly walked out of the training ground.
At that moment, Genitsu's back was reflected in Kakashi's hollow eyes.
A wondrous seed had already been planted, quietly awaiting the moment it would take root and sprout.
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