Chapter Forty-Six: Punching the Brat Kakashi / Chapter Forty-Seven: Promoted to Anbu Squad Leader

Iron Fist Hammers Brat Kakashi

Being tactful and saying whatever suited the person in front of you was not inherently wrong.

But if someone acted that way even toward acquaintances and people close to them, it came across as insincere.

If he had nothing to do with Kakashi, perhaps Akira Sarutobi would not have deliberately brought this up.

But Hatake Sakumo was his private tutor. He had taught him swordsmanship, the Body Flicker Technique... and other skills, holding nothing back.

Some things had to be said.

Because excessive praise would only ruin Kakashi.

Especially now, when the days in which Hatake Sakumo might be set up and killed by the Konoha High Command... were fast approaching.

"A turtle runs slowly, while a rabbit runs quickly. The turtle keeps crawling forward, but the rabbit stops halfway to rest and nap. In the end, the turtle wins..."

Kakashi smugly recited the lesson of the tortoise and the hare.

"Every three-year-old knows that story."

Hatake Sakumo was far too gentle, and Kakashi's early life had gone far too smoothly.

That meant once Kakashi suffered a setback, his psychological problems would become very serious.

In contrast, a child like Might Guy, who had grown up amid hardship, possessed an unyieldingly resilient heart.

Of course, Akira Sarutobi was not glorifying suffering.

It was simply that... jade had to be carved before it could become useful.

"But, Young Master Ryo, not every rabbit takes naps. Plenty of rabbits work even harder than turtles..."

Kakashi planted one hand on his hip, clearly unconvinced.

"Young Master Ryo." Minato Namikaze nodded to Akira Sarutobi, his expression as sunny as ever.

It was obvious that Kakashi's Genin mission experience had gone smoothly.

Otherwise, he could not have advanced to Chunin in less than a year.

He truly was a gifted child.

But... that was only the surface.

"Rabbits can certainly work harder. But some people aren't rabbits..." Akira Sarutobi shook his head.

Kakashi could not help frowning. "What do you mean?"

"I'll be blunt. You may seem to be advancing rapidly right now, covered in glory and looking dazzling, but that does not mean you will continue improving at the same speed in the future..."

Might Guy's early progress had been slow, but he would take off in the middle and later stages, improving at increasingly outrageous rates until his potential reached an almost astonishing level.

Kakashi, on the other hand...

He might seem like a prodigy at first, but once he reached a certain turning point...

"You. At around twelve years old, the weaknesses in your talent will begin to show, and your strength will stop advancing..."

Akira Sarutobi passed his verdict on Kakashi.

"By then, you'll only run slower and slower. No matter how hard you work, it will be the same..."

"Hm? That's baseless." Kakashi waved a hand, making it clear that he did not believe him.

What gave him the right to predict that Kakashi would be unable to keep running at twelve, gradually falling behind everyone else?

"Guess why some people are directly promoted by the Konoha High Command to 'Special Jonin,' while others skip the title of Special Jonin entirely and rise straight to the rank of 'Jonin.'"

Akira Sarutobi's eyes gleamed, his words carrying deeper meaning.

Minato Namikaze blinked, naturally understanding what Akira Sarutobi meant.

Some people's potential could be seen through at a glance.

They could only remain in a certain position for their entire lives, because that was the limit of their abilities.

The Konoha High Command had sharp eyes. No one was foolish. They knew exactly which ninja could become Jonin.

Those ninja who could neither rise nor fall, stuck in the middle, would ultimately become Special Jonin.

So... this was not mysticism or prophecy. It was a scientific method of estimation.

"Hah? With my talent, becoming a Jonin won't be a problem at all..."

Kakashi refused to accept it.

He still wanted to say...

"You'll be able to develop nature transformations all the way to A-Rank and S-Rank in the future too, right?" Akira Sarutobi predicted Kakashi's prediction.

"Uh..."

Kakashi was instantly startled.

How did he know his life plan?

"Hmph... so what? I'll say it plainly: even if you can develop S-Rank nature transformation techniques, your weaknesses are as obvious as the sun in the sky."

Akira Sarutobi did not beat around the bush and directly exposed Kakashi's flaws.

"You have two major problems. First... your life has gone too smoothly. Sakumo spoiled you when you were little, leaving you pampered and weak-minded. You're a useless second-generation brat, a complete waste..."

"Second... your Dynamic Vision is garbage among garbage. Any Jonin can instantly kill you. Even if you hold A-Rank or even S-Rank techniques in your hands, if you cannot see your opponent, or even your own attacks clearly, the result will still be death... Once you reach the Jonin level, you'll understand..."

Perhaps Kakashi's weakness in Dynamic Vision was not obvious among academy students, Genin, Chunin, and Special Jonin.

But once he reached the Jonin level, he only had to look around.

Everyone's Reflex Nerves and Dynamic Vision would be off the charts.

Others could see the attacks Kakashi could not.

In close-range combat, Kakashi would be the first to die.

How was he supposed to fight like that?

"..."

Kakashi's eyes widened, and his breathing began to quicken.

He panted as he looked toward the Jonin instructor beside him, seemingly asking Minato Namikaze for help.

Minato Namikaze scratched his head, his gaze drifting from side to side. In the end, he could only nod. "Kakashi... Young Master Ryo is... right. Probably..."

Kakashi Hatake, as the son of Konoha's White Fang.

His Chakra attributes were even more diverse than Konoha's White Fang's.

Clearly, his talent combined that of both his father and mother.

But... Kakashi's deceased mother had only been a civilian. That mixture of bloodlines... had also held Kakashi back.

It had made his Dynamic Vision his greatest shortcoming.

If Kakashi had the Sharingan or the Byakugan... perhaps he could make up for it...

Minato Namikaze's thoughts brewed for a moment before he shook his head and dismissed the pointless idea.

The Sharingan belonged to the Uchiha Clan. How could Kakashi possibly possess one?

Hearing his Jonin instructor's words, Kakashi was deeply shaken.

He had never imagined that he truly had such a massive flaw in his talent, just as Young Master Ryo had said.

"This isn't real..."

Kakashi instinctively shook his head.

This was what happened when a brat got smacked by the iron fist of society.

"Heh... Why don't you ask Teacher Minato whether he'll teach you the 'Golden Flash Brand~ Body Flicker Technique'? Wouldn't that settle it..."

Ino Yamanaka could not help adding another blow from the side.

The Golden Flash Brand Body Flicker Technique naturally referred to the Flying Thunder God.

After Senju Tobirama died, few people knew about the Flying Thunder God, this spatial ninjutsu.

Rumors had spread among the public, and most ninja believed Minato Namikaze's spatial movement was merely a special variation of ordinary Body Flicker.

"Kakashi..."

Minato Namikaze hurriedly wiped away sweat that did not exist on his forehead.

"With your Dynamic Vision... I'm afraid you can't use the [Flying Thunder God]..."

"Ugh..."

Kakashi let out a mournful cry.

He was humiliated, furious, and heartbroken.

Feeling too ashamed to face anyone, he ran away on the spot.

"Kakashi..." Minato Namikaze waved his hand.

But with grief and rage clouding his mind, how could Kakashi stop? He vanished in a flash.

"Young Master Ryo..."

Minato Namikaze turned back, choosing his words carefully.

Had they... been too harsh?

"No."

A light Minato Namikaze did not understand flickered in Akira Sarutobi's eyes.

"Even more terrifying things are waiting for Kakashi next. If we don't temper him beforehand, that would be what truly harms him."

And Minato Namikaze would soon learn what that thing was.

Promoted to Anbu Captain

Hokage Building.

Before Akira Sarutobi even reached the entrance, he saw a familiar scene again.

"Red-Hot Chili Pepper... beat someone up again..." Akira Sarutobi said flatly.

"You got a problem with that?!"

Kushina, who had beaten someone down beneath her feet, glared angrily at Akira Sarutobi.

Her red hair danced behind her head, making her look exactly like a tyrant of a girl.

She seemed annoyed by the sight of Akira Sarutobi.

The beautiful red-haired girl sneered, "Hmph~, Akira Sarutobi... Don't you just have a good father~?!"

Kushina, who punched elementary students and kicked Jonin, looked immensely imposing.

Minato Namikaze said, "Uh... Kushina..."

"Hehe..."

Akira Sarutobi gave a smile that did not reach his eyes.

"I like it when people say that about me."

"..."

Kushina's breath caught slightly, and she stood there dumbfounded.

I, Kushina, have never seen anyone this shameless in my life, dattebane~!

Akira Sarutobi, Ino Yamanaka, Ruri Hyuga, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina... had all been classmates back then.

However, Akira Sarutobi and Kushina had not interacted much.

Because at the time, Akira Sarutobi had been somewhat content to coast through life, with no interest in the things around him. Only after witnessing certain events did he confirm the path he wanted to take.