Trial Battle

Chapter 23: Trial Battle

Cold sweat slowly trickled down Saito Daisuke's forehead. He first glanced at Suzuki Genji, then at Kagami, his eyes filled with reluctance and hesitation. But finally, his gaze firmed up again.

He made a surprising move. He bowed ninety degrees to Suzuki Genji and Kagami and spoke loudly.

"I'm so sorry! This time, I can't hold back. I'll go all out. If one of you is eliminated by me today, I, I am truly sorry. But, but becoming a ninja is my dream. I want to become a genin, a chunin, a jonin, and the Hokage! This is my dream, and I won't give it up. I am truly, truly sorry."

As he spoke, Saito Daisuke trembled slightly all over, as if he felt immense guilt for potentially ending someone's ninja path with his own hands.

Kagami looked at Saito Daisuke in surprise. Compared to Naruto and Obito, this person seemed to possess a genuine kindness from within. Kagami could tell he was truly remorseful. Looking at the person before him, Kagami couldn't help but ask.

"And what if you were the one eliminated?"

He began to think. In his eyes, there was disappointment and disbelief, but in the end, he answered with a sense of relief.

"That would be fine too."

Kagami was certain that with such kindness, in this cruel ninja world, unless one was an Asura reincarnation like Naruto, it wouldn't be a good thing.

But Kagami smiled slightly. He didn't dislike it.

What the three of them didn't notice was that Kakashi, watching Saito Daisuke, had a flicker of imperceptible admiration in his eyes, but this admiration was quickly masked by the coldness Kakashi displayed.

"Have you decided when to start?"

At this moment, Kagami suddenly raised his hand, signaling he had something to say.

Kakashi nodded, giving his permission.

"Speak."

Kagami looked at Kakashi seriously, and his words were astonishing.

"Teacher Kakashi, before the bell-grabbing test, I want to have a one-on-one match with you!"

Just now, when Kagami saw that Kakashi was his instructor, he hadn't expected it. But it was fine. Kagami wanted to take this opportunity to see how his current strength compared to an elite jonin.

Although Kagami had Shisui to spar with, honestly, most of Kagami's skills were taught by Shisui. Fighting Shisui was just asking for trouble. Kagami wanted to see how long he could last against a normal jonin using his own abilities.

Kakashi felt a bit resistant to Kagami's proposal. He wanted to see teamwork, not individual combat. However, Kakashi didn't directly refuse Kagami and instead asked back.

"Can you give me a reason?"

Kagami knew Kakashi's philosophy perfectly. He grinned.

"Perhaps, with my strength, I might be able to probe some things for my teammates from Teacher Kakashi in advance. Moreover, I also want to see how strong a jonin is."

Kakashi was silent for a long time, thinking deeply. Finally, he nodded.

"Alright, I agree to your request. I'll stand here and not move. You attack."

Kagami first had Suzuki Genji and Saito Daisuke step back, then prepared to make his move. Kagami's current strength was still uncertain even against a chunin, let alone a jonin. Therefore, Kagami didn't plan to hold back; he intended to go all out from the start!

Body Flicker Technique!

Although Kagami hadn't learned Shisui's unique Body Flicker Technique yet, due to his constant practice, his current Body Flicker Technique was already very fast.

Thwack!

Kakashi extended his left hand, blocking the kick aimed at his head.

So fast!

When Kagami moved just now, Kakashi's senses instantly lost track of him. This meant that under normal circumstances, Kakashi couldn't track Kagami's movements!

I might have to use that eye.

However, "unable to track" referred to situations where Kagami wasn't approaching Kakashi. Once Kagami launched an attack on Kakashi, as their bodies got closer, Kakashi could naturally track Kagami's movements.

Failing in his first attempt, Kagami immediately used the momentum to flip backward and retreat far away.

Snake - Monkey - Rooster - Boar - Horse - Tiger.

While flipping backward, Kagami rapidly performed hand seals. By the time Kagami landed, a Great Fireball Jutsu had already formed and was rushing towards Kakashi.

Kakashi calmly watched the fireball.

Although his mastery of the Body Flicker Technique is terrifying, his ninjutsu is just about this level.

Kagami's ninjutsu was, at best, genin level. While reaching this level at Kagami's age was already frightening, compared to Kagami's Body Flicker Technique, his ninjutsu was indeed nothing impressive.

Moreover, Kakashi was a true genius. A jonin at 12 years old, who also developed the A-rank ninjutsu Chidori. The Great Fireball Jutsu was merely a C-rank ninjutsu. In Kakashi's eyes, Kagami's ninjutsu talent wasn't particularly astonishing. If Kakashi had to evaluate it, he'd say Kagami was an ordinary person among geniuses.

Snake - Monkey - Rooster - Boar - Horse - Tiger.

Faster hand seals, a larger fireball.

Kakashi's Great Fireball collided with Kagami's, and Kakashi's fireball quickly engulfed Kagami's before charging towards Kagami.

Then, the Great Fireball directly hit Kagami. Kakashi's eyes widened.

He's not dodging?

Boom!

Kagami gave Kakashi the reason: he wasn't dodging because it was merely a Shadow Clone Jutsu!

Seeing the white mist as the shadow clone disappeared, Kakashi instantly understood everything.

"When? Was it when he used the Body Flicker Technique to disappear? Using a Shadow Clone Jutsu the moment he used Body Flicker, having the clone attack me while he hid to find an opening. In that case, his main body should be..."

Kakashi spun around sharply. The area behind him was always the easiest to overlook. If that was the case, Kagato's main body should be right behind Kakashi.

But the first thing Kakashi saw after turning was not Kagato, but several shuriken wreathed in flames flying towards him.

"Fire Style: Flower Scattering Dance!"

No time to use ninjutsu!

Kakashi sighed inwardly.

Impressive.

He was being pushed to his limit by this kid, something he hadn't expected.

Body Flicker Technique!

Kagato's Body Flicker Technique was, at best, close to Jonin level. Kakashi's, on the other hand, was the real deal – an elite Jonin.

The Flower Scattering Dance missed its targets, and a kunai was pressed against Kagato's neck.

Kagato raised his hands and spoke to Kakashi behind him.

"As expected of Teacher Kakashi, your speed is incredible. I didn't even have time to escape."

Kakashi retrieved his kunai and said dismissively, "It's nothing. Can we start the bell-grabbing test now?"

Saito Daisuke was clearly startled. He looked at the surrendering Kagato with lingering fear, swallowing hard.

"That was amazing."

He was glad he hadn't asked Kagato for a spar.

Although Kagato's fight with Kakashi wasn't long, it had thoroughly shaken Saito Daisuke. He felt that if he had stepped in, he probably wouldn't have lasted a single move against either of them.

Even though Kagato had lost, Saito Daisuke thought it was incredibly impressive to have sparred with a Jonin. From the perspective of a transmigrator, Jonin might not seem like much, but to someone like Saito Daisuke, who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy, Jonin were the absolute top-tier combat power in the ninja world. Saito Daisuke was quite intimidated by Kagato, who could spar with such individuals. When he had first arrived at the training ground, he had actually considered asking Kagato for a spar.

Suzuki Genji, however, watched Kagato with great interest.

"A Uchiha genius, is it?"

Meanwhile, Kagato smiled slightly and said to Kakashi, "I'm ready here. We can start the bell-grabbing test anytime."

Kagato's intention in his recent spar with Kakashi wasn't just to test his own abilities. He also wanted Saito Daisuke and Suzuki Genji to witness his capabilities. It wasn't about showing off; it was to make them willing to follow his lead and cooperate with him during the upcoming bell-grabbing test.

Kagato knew very well that the bell-grabbing test required teamwork to pass. He couldn't expect Saito Daisuke and Suzuki Genji to understand this on their own, so he had to demonstrate his strength, indirectly telling them, "I'm strong, listen to my commands, and cooperate with me."

Kakashi had thought for a moment before agreeing to Kagato's request, precisely because he had understood Kagato's underlying intention.

However, Kakashi still wanted to see if this Uchiha Kagato was simply trying to use the other two, like he himself had done in the past, or if he genuinely intended to work as a team.