Chiba vs. Kakashi

Konoha, Training Ground 3.

Minato Squad had already arrived early and was waiting there.

"Obito is late again." Kakashi shrugged. At the moment, only he, Rin, and their teacher Minato Namikaze were in the training ground enclosed by circular walls. Their opponents had yet to arrive.

"Kakashi..." Minato Namikaze said.

"Hmm?" Kakashi looked at Minato Namikaze.

"When the time comes, watch your strength. Don't hurt Chiba," Minato Namikaze said. Clearly, he did not believe Chiba could defeat Kakashi.

"Yes, yes... In the end, he's the disciple of our teacher's beloved girlfriend. I get it." Kakashi shrugged. He did not think he would lose to Chiba either. Though he was interested in Chiba, he did not believe someone who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy could defeat him.

Minato Namikaze could only smile wryly at Kakashi's words.

"Sorry, sorry, I'm late. I got lost just now..." Uchiha Obito, goggles strapped to his head, hurried over.

"I can't even be bothered to talk about you anymore." Kakashi let out a long sigh.

Rin Nohara watched Kakashi and Obito with a quiet smile. Then she raised her gaze past the approaching Obito and looked at the four people slowly entering through the training ground gates.

"They're here!" Rin Nohara said.

At that moment, Uchiha Obito walked up beside Kakashi and said, "You're sure you won't lose, right?"

"Yes, yes..." Kakashi glanced at him and replied perfunctorily.

However, Uchiha Obito did not flare up at his dismissive response this time. Instead, he asked somewhat seriously, "Kakashi, I'll definitely become a Chunin this time."

Kakashi looked at Obito without speaking. Only after a long while did he say, "Yeah..."

By then, Chiba and the others had approached and stopped before them. Kushina Uzumaki looked around and asked, "Where's the Third?"

Minato Namikaze smiled. "The Third Lord is handling an urgent matter and probably won't be able to come. Hokoma will oversee this match instead."

"Hokoma?" Kushina Uzumaki looked at Hokoma, the ninja assistant standing at the center of the training ground, then nodded. "Fine. As long as you don't go back on your word."

Minato Namikaze could only smile helplessly at Kushina Uzumaki's words.

Then the two teams walked to the center of the training ground, leaving Chiba and Kakashi facing each other.

Kakashi looked at Chiba, while Minato Namikaze's recent whisper still echoed in his ears.

Control your strength. Don't make him lose too badly! There were also the trusting looks in Obito and Rin's eyes.

He sighed inwardly. Why did I have to spar with this guy... and have Obito and Rin's Chunin Exams eligibility depend on it?

Meanwhile, Kushina Uzumaki's words, "You have to win," echoed in Chiba's ears.

Kakashi, huh?

Chiba felt the expectant gazes of Hirohiko and Yukina behind him and took a light breath.

Fine. For the barbecue, I'll give it everything I've got! Faced with a super genius like Kakashi, Chiba did not have much confidence either. Kakashi was already a Chunin, and since he had become a Jonin at twelve, he must at least have the strength of an Elite Chunin by now...

Chiba began calculating inwardly.

At that moment, Hokoma, acting as referee, looked at Kakashi and then at Chiba before announcing, "Then, let the Ninja Sparring begin!"

As Kakashi formed the Seal of Confrontation, he considered his opponent.

This Taki Chiba should be the type of ninja who specializes in taijutsu. The same type as Guy? His taijutsu should be about on par with Guy's, so... I should open the distance first.

"Begin!" Hokoma announced.

Before his words had even faded, Chiba and Kakashi both leaped back, opening up the distance between them.

What? He chose to widen the distance? That... isn't conducive to taijutsu!

Kakashi came to a stop, a trace of surprise appearing in his eyes.

Chiba stared at Kakashi and calculated inwardly. Just as expected, he must have judged me to be a taijutsu ninja. Normally, I'd close in and attack fiercely... so he chose to widen the distance and use ninjutsu to create an advantage.

Then I'll give him a scare and create an advantage for myself! Having made up his mind, Chiba immediately activated Gate of Life Mode. Since this was a spar, he had not brought his weights. Right from the start, Chiba used his full strength.

After all, his opponent was Kakashi!

From a distance, Hyuga Yukina had already activated her Byakugan. Watching Chiba, she thought, So this is the Gate of Life Mode Chiba mentioned? His Chakra has directly risen to another level, and part of it is even strengthening his muscle tissue... Chiba really is amazing! Beside her, Hirohiko saw Yukina activate her Byakugan and instinctively activated his Sharingan as well. When he saw the Chakra flowing through Chiba's body, a flash of shock crossed his poker face. Th-this amount of Chakra! It's actually more than mine! The last time Chiba and I fought, his Chakra was only at Genin level. This is already Chunin-level Chakra! Could he have cultivated so much Chakra in just one month? Hirohiko narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling somewhat unwilling. Is he going to pull ahead of me again? Meanwhile, in the field, Kakashi formed hand seals, and Chiba saw them.

Those seals...

Chiba frowned, his own hands beginning to form seals as well.

Earth Release: Earth Spear!

Kakashi pressed both hands down, and an Earth Cone burst from the ground, shooting straight at Chiba.

It really is Earth Spear!

Chiba had finished forming his seals as well.

Water Release: Water Wall!

Water surged up from the ground around Chiba with a roar, spinning into a cylindrical wall that instantly enclosed him.

The Earth Cone crashed into the water curtain and immediately crumbled into wet soil, scattering across the ground. With a splash, Chiba's Water Wall also collapsed into a small puddle.

Ninjutsu! He can use Water Release too?

Kakashi watched the water curtain fall, surprise reflected in his eyes.

It was not just Kakashi. Even Elite Jonin like Minato Namikaze and Hokoma showed astonishment on their faces.

Water Wall was a B-rank ninjutsu. Moreover, creating such a volume of water in a place without water—whether in terms of Chakra reserves or Water Nature Transformation, this Chiba had thoroughly shocked them. Not only was his taijutsu outstanding, but his ninjutsu was as well!

This... was practically a second Kakashi!

The two exchanged looks, both utterly stunned.

When did he... learn Water Release?

Shock was reflected in Kushina Uzumaki's eyes, and Hirohiko and Yukina wore the same expressions, harboring the same thoughts.

At that moment, the water curtain completely splashed down.

But Chiba was nowhere to be seen within it.

Where is he?! Kakashi looked around in every direction.

Above? He looked up. The sky overhead was clear and blue, with only white clouds drifting leisurely past. There was no sign of Chiba.

He was not in front, behind, to either side, or above. Then there was only one possibility...

Kakashi abruptly lowered his head. The instant he did, a pair of hands burst from the ground beneath his feet and tightly grabbed his ankles.

In an instant, Kakashi felt a heavy weight beneath his feet. Then everything around him seemed to grow much taller for no reason, while his body and limbs were tightly pinned down, leaving him unable to struggle.

This is... Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!

"So amazing..." Obito said blankly as he looked at Kakashi, whose head was the only part of him exposed above the ground.

Behind Kakashi's head, Chiba held a Kunai and brought it beneath Kakashi's throat with a backhanded motion.

"Kakashi lost?" Obito said in disbelief, his eyes wide as he stared into the field.

"Believe in Kakashi. He won't lose," Rin Nohara said.

As if to confirm Rin Nohara's words, just as Chiba positioned his Kunai and prepared to say, "You lost," a Kunai was pressed against his neck from behind.

"You lost," Kakashi's voice sounded from behind Chiba.

Bang!

After those words, Kakashi's head immediately exploded into a cloud of white smoke. A piece of wood lay half-buried in the earth.

Chiba narrowed his eyes slightly.

The Substitution Technique? As expected, it wouldn't be that easy!