That afternoon, at Konoha Training Ground No. 16.
Hatake Kakashi and Hyuga Bin stood facing each other, while Hyuga Masayuki, Uchiha Obito, and Nohara Rin watched from the side.
Before the fight began, Hyuga Masayuki said eight words to Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin:
"Watch carefully. Learn carefully!"
Hatake Kakashi was undoubtedly a genius. As the son of Konoha's White Fang, his performance on the battlefield over the past few years had surpassed that of a great many Jonin.
As for Hyuga Bin, despite being their team leader, Hyuga Masayuki had never seen him go all out. His strength might not have been inferior to Hatake Kakashi's.
Therefore, Hyuga Masayuki believed this battle would be exciting and well worth Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin learning from.
As the match was about to begin, Hatake Kakashi's eyes burned with fighting spirit.
Hyuga Bin, meanwhile, seemed somewhat lazy. He was only fighting Hatake Kakashi to keep him company.
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river.
After three years, Hatake Kakashi believed that, tempered by the Third Shinobi World War, he was no longer what he once was. How could a golden scale remain trapped in a pond?
This time, he firmly believed he could defeat Hyuga Bin.
After forming the Seal of Opposition, Hyuga Bin and Hatake Kakashi put some distance between themselves.
Half an hour later.
Hatake Kakashi, having exhausted too much Chakra, was caught in an opening by Hyuga Bin and beaten into a pig's head with the Eight Trigrams—Five Hundred and Twenty Palms.
After finishing that set of "Military Fist," Hyuga Bin also "collapsed" to the ground in exhaustion, "panting heavily" as though he could not go on, giving Hatake Kakashi plenty of face.
"Bin, I lost this time. I couldn't block that move of yours." Enduring the pain in his body, Hatake Kakashi admitted defeat to Hyuga Bin.
He had just used all his strength, and he could tell that Hyuga Bin had done the same. After defeating him, Hyuga Bin's Chakra was nearly depleted, and he could barely remain standing.
Yet he was not happy about it.
Because it meant that over the past three years, the gap between him and Hyuga Bin had widened again.
Three years ago, he had only been 3 cm away from reaching Hyuga Bin's peak.
Three years later, Hyuga Bin had beaten him by a whole move.
Seeing Hatake Kakashi in such a miserable state, Nohara Rin hurried over to treat him.
Hyuga Masayuki looked at Hyuga Bin in confusion. "Hm? Doesn't our Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist only have sixty-four palms at most? How did you strike more than five hundred times?"
"I created the Five Hundred and Twenty Palms myself, based on the Sixty-Four Palms and my hopes for my future girlfriend," Hyuga Bin casually made up.
However, those words dealt an even greater blow to Hatake Kakashi.
"I never thought Bin could already create his own ninjutsu..."
With his face swollen, Hatake Kakashi looked at Hyuga Bin, both annoyed and impressed.
Because that meant he had not only lost to Hyuga Bin in battle, but also in creating ninjutsu.
His Lightning Blade had been around for a year, yet he still had not fully mastered it. He did not even dare use it now, because one mistake would electrocute his whole body and leave him in agony.
"Hopes for your future girlfriend?" Hyuga Masayuki understood even less what Hyuga Bin meant.
"520, in my mind, means 'I love you.'"
"It means every palm strike takes the shape of loving you."
Hyuga Masayuki: "..."
This world had no such homophonic joke, so Hyuga Masayuki was completely baffled.
"Let's keep working hard together, Kakashi." After saying that, Hyuga Bin "struggled" to his feet and patted Hatake Kakashi's shoulder as Nohara Rin treated him.
Rather than crushing Hatake Kakashi completely and making him lose all confidence, he preferred to let Hatake Kakashi feel that he still had a chance. That way, he would have the motivation to keep moving forward.
"Only an opponent like Bin is worth my constant effort to surpass!"
After hearing Hyuga Bin's words, Hatake Kakashi's fighting spirit flared up again.
Moreover, he suddenly understood a little of Might Guy's youth!
But the simple-minded him did not know that Hyuga Bin was... a cheat!
After Hatake Kakashi's swelling had been treated, the four of them left the training ground, only for an Anbu wearing a dog mask to appear.
"Hatake Kakashi, Hyuga Bin, Lord Hokage summons you."
"Understood."
Hyuga Bin and Hatake Kakashi nodded.
Then Hyuga Bin turned to Hyuga Masayuki and the other two to make arrangements.
"Masayuki-sensei, Obito, Rin, dinner's on me tonight. We'll have barbecue and shochu."
After saying that, before Hyuga Masayuki could say that minors were not allowed to drink, he dragged Hatake Kakashi toward the Hokage Building.
They walked all the way to the door of the Hokage's office.
Hyuga Bin raised his hand and knocked on the door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in." Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's aged smoker's voice came from inside.
Hyuga Bin and Hatake Kakashi entered the Hokage's office, closed the door behind them, and bowed to Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Third Hokage."
"Lord Hokage, is there a mission?" Hatake Kakashi still loved Konoha and was willing to burn himself for it, so the first thing he asked about was a mission.
"No. I summoned you today for two appointments. I originally intended to announce this at the Jonin meeting, but considering that we are at war, we will keep it brief."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe and said to Hatake Kakashi on his right, "Kakashi, on behalf of Konoha, I officially appoint you as a Jonin."
After he spoke, the temporary secretary behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, Saimei Shunkoka, approached Hatake Kakashi carrying a standard Jonin vest and an appointment letter, formally granting him the title of Jonin.
"Third Hokage, I believe Bin should be promoted to Jonin even more than I should." Upon hearing about his promotion, Hatake Kakashi's first thought was Hyuga Bin, because he had just lost to him.
If someone weaker than Hyuga Bin like himself was exceptionally promoted to Jonin while Hyuga Bin remained a Chunin, then his own promotion to Jonin would seem especially laughable.
"Kakashi, don't be in such a hurry." Seeing the young Hatake Kakashi worrying about his friend, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and looked to Hyuga Bin on his left. "Bin, on behalf of Konoha, I promote you to Special Jonin."
Even as he admired him, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes revealed a hint of regret.
Hyuga Bin was a branch-family ninja of the Hyuga Clan with the Caged Bird. Sarutobi Hiruzen could not control him.
After speaking, another long-serving secretary behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uehara Yui, likewise walked toward Hyuga Bin carrying a standard Jonin vest and an appointment letter.
When there was work, the secretaries handled it; when there was none... Sarutobi Hiruzen clearly knew the way.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage." Hyuga Bin cooperatively revealed a surprised expression.
Naturally, he could only accept Sarutobi Hiruzen's promotion.
Refusing under these circumstances would be going against the Will of Fire. If he did that, the road ahead would become narrow.
Before you continue