Technique

A kunai attack? I couldn't let my guard down against Chiba. Our last spar had been years ago, and we had only sparred that one time. We had both improved greatly since then—our taijutsu and ninjutsu might have advanced beyond each other's expectations.

But I still remembered Chiba's fighting style to some extent.

Until he was completely down, I could never assume he had run out of tricks! Everyone who had lost to him probably felt the same way...

He was always one move ahead! In other words, he always calculated one step more than I did! Or rather, in battle, he always calculated one step more than anyone else! With the flashing cold light of the incoming kunai reflected in his eyes, Kakashi slowly passed the hilt of his sword into his left hand.

So here... I absolutely cannot let my guard down. No matter what I do, whether he has the advantage or is at a disadvantage, I cannot...

With that thought, Kakashi took a slight breath. His left hand moved, and the Ninja Sword spun once in his palm before landing in a reverse grip with a snap.

"Clang!"

At that very instant, the moment the rotation stopped, the blade lifted slightly under its unavoidable, diminishing momentum and knocked away the kunai hurtling straight at his eyes.

At that same instant, his vision suddenly darkened. A flash of cold light carved a vertical arc through the air and slashed down viciously!

"Clang!"

The sharp ring of metal against metal carried far into the distance.

His movements had not been disrupted in the slightest! As his hair slowly fluttered upward, Chiba's emerald-glinting eyes reflected Kakashi's calm gaze. Chiba clenched his teeth slightly. The kunai he had brought down with the Body Flicker Technique had been caught by the