"Really lost." With Obito's kunai pressed against him and Mu Yue declaring Obito the winner, Kakashi's vision swam for a moment.
Just half a year ago, when Obito had come to him for help practicing movement techniques, Kakashi could have instantly defeated him with a single Body Flicker Technique kick.
Half a year was a long time—one hundred and eighty-one full days when converted. Yet it was also short enough that Kakashi still felt as if he had easily defeated Obito several times just recently.
Kakashi, who had never lost to anyone his own age, had suffered three defeats in just over a month.
He had lost to Might Guy, who had always regarded him as a rival and worked tirelessly; then to Shisui Uchiha, who was even more talented than him; and today, he had lost to Obito Uchiha, who had once lost to him countless times.
Kakashi accepted all three losses wholeheartedly, because none of his opponents had won by luck. They had all defeated him with genuine strength.
But accepting it did not mean he had lost his desire for victory. Deep down, he was extremely unwilling to accept his decline. Might Guy and Obito had initially been so much weaker than him, while Shisui was clearly two years younger.
"Don't get too cocky. You've only beaten me once, while I've beaten you more times than I can count. I'll win it back soon enough." Looking at Obito's smug, unrestrained grin, Kakashi brushed the dust from himself and spoke calmly.
He acknowledged his defeat, but he would not allow himself to keep losing. He knew why he had lost. Over the past two years, he had been too lax, always hung up on missions and ninja rules instead of training properly.
Things were different now. Kakashi only