Look, He Still Has to Thank Me!

"Teacher... How could you do this? I'm not weak either!"

Obito said with a mournful expression.

It was true that he had been taken out instantly, but that was because Kurenai Yuhi had hidden among the clones and launched a sneak attack, working with Asuma's Shadow Clone to kill him. In a head-on fight, he wasn't weak.

"Think carefully about what I said..."

Kyoichi walked over to Asuma.

After forming hand seals, chakra gathered and transformed into a ball of green light.

Rin exclaimed in surprise, "Teacher, you really know Medical Ninjutsu! And it's even the Mystical Palm Technique!"

"Would I lie about that?"

Kyoichi glanced at her.

What a fuss!

Thanks to the system's help, he wasn't very good at other things, but when it came to ninjutsu, he could be considered moderately proficient in every field.

Minato grew even more impressed, while Kakashi bit his lips until they bled.

This guy...

He knew techniques from so many fields, yet he could still train his Taijutsu and ninjutsu to such a level. Just how had he trained?

Am I really that weak?

Kakashi felt somewhat unwilling to accept it.

He had always been hailed as a genius, growing up amid the exclamations of others from a young age. He had never felt that his talent was lacking.

But.

After meeting Kyoichi, Kakashi increasingly felt that he was useless.

His Taijutsu, swordsmanship, and ninjutsu were all decent?

But.

He had nothing outstanding, and he couldn't even break through the defensive net formed by Shisui and the others. He had only barely broken through it by relying on his unfamiliar Ninja Sword Technique.

At that moment, he couldn't help thinking of his father, Hatake Sakumo.

The Hatake Clan had once been samurai, and their swordsmanship had been passed down from that time. In Sakumo's hands, it was combined with chakra, while his Taijutsu developed its own style. From then on, he became famous throughout the shinobi world.

Perhaps Father's swordsmanship really was the right path!

A thought flashed through Kakashi's mind.

Previously, he had fallen into the extreme mindset of completely denying his father. Now, however, he had begun to accept a reality—his father's swordsmanship was indeed formidable, far stronger than what he had figured out on his own.

"Kakashi, I originally had high hopes for all of you, but you've disappointed me too much. While watching the battle just now, I even felt that you weren't fit to be a shinobi and should return to the Ninja Academy to study properly, just like them."

Minato Namikaze said sternly.

Kakashi was unconvinced, but he was unable to refute him.

Because he had lost!

They had failed the mission. Everything else was just an excuse.

Asuma scratched his healed wound and looked up at his teacher, hesitating to speak.

He knew very well.

Kakashi had held back.

If this hadn't been a spar, Kakashi would definitely have had the ability to kill him earlier.

Of course.

Kakashi would have died too.

But Kakashi was a Chunin, while he was only a Genin. There seemed to be nothing worth boasting about in reaching this point. Asuma thought it over and over, feeling that there really was no way to justify himself.

"Jonin Minato, don't be angry. Sending a Chunin straight back to the Academy is a bit too harsh. How about demoting him instead and giving them another chance to take the exam?"

Kyoichi played the good cop from the side.

"Is he fit to be a shinobi? Coordinating the strength of his teammates and arranging tactics—that's what a Chunin is supposed to do. Which of those things did he accomplish? What use is a high mission completion rate? Who would still be willing to be his teammate now?"

Minato Namikaze shouted harshly.

In truth.

These words were not his own idea. During the battle between the two teams, Kyoichi had discussed this with him and hoped it would stimulate something within Kakashi and help him see through his emotional knot.

Minato Namikaze naturally could not refuse. Kyoichi had already been extraordinarily kind to offer his selfless help—after all, Kyoichi had no connection whatsoever with either Kakashi or Sakumo.

He was willing to help entirely for Konoha!

Kakashi was a genius, at least.

If he could understand the painstaking efforts of Kyoichi and the others, as well as those of Hatake Sakumo back then, Konoha might gain another extremely talented Jonin sooner.

Of course.

All of this was Minato's own speculation.

Kyoichi's thoughts were much simpler. Kakashi was stubborn, and it wouldn't be easy to turn him around. This move was merely to heat up the steel bar a little and prepare for the future.

After all...

If Kakashi developed in the direction of swordsmanship, neither Minato nor Jiraiya was a master swordsman. In the end, they would still have to come to him.

It wasn't easy shearing wool. The fat sheep had to be raised from a young age.

As for Kakashi.

He hadn't thought that far. At that moment, his mind was filled only with his failure and Minato's reprimand.

"Sigh, Kakashi used to be on the same team as me. During missions on the battlefield, he was always the first to charge into the front line. For my sake, give him one more chance."

Kyoichi sighed and once again pleaded for Kakashi.

"Really?"

Minato Namikaze was very surprised.

This time, he wasn't pretending. Kanda Kyoichi had actually once been on the same team as Kakashi?

Then why did Kakashi look just as bewildered?

"It was a temporary Chunin team formed for a mission. Senior Minato, give him one more chance."

"Fine. Since Kyoichi has pleaded this earnestly, Kakashi, give up your position as a Chunin. I'll give the three of you one chance. Otherwise, leave with your Chunin position. My team no longer needs you."

Minato Namikaze said solemnly.

Shisui looked at the two teachers, his expression rather strange. This routine...

It was too familiar!

It was exactly the same as when his teacher had tricked him before. Shisui had personally heard Kyoichi and Minato loudly plotting together earlier, so how could he not know what was going on?

Guaranteed to pass. Guaranteed to keep you here.

It was all bait. Anyone who believed it was an idiot.

Was the genius of the Hatake Clan an idiot?

He looked at Kakashi curiously.

At that moment, Kakashi was conflicted. He was extremely indignant. Give up his Chunin title?

Why should I?

He had earned it through battlefield missions!

But.

Kakashi was unwilling to leave just like that.

He wasn't afraid of losing.

But he couldn't accept losing to a team like Shisui's.

After only a moment, he made his decision.

"I'll take it!"

"Very good. I'll give you one chance. Jonin Kyoichi, this is my bottom line. Thank you for this. I'll hold another exam tomorrow..."

"Don't worry. I'll be there."

Kyoichi readily agreed.

However.

He wasn't worried, nor did he truly plan to go. He could just send a Shadow Clone at the time.

Kakashi wasn't stupid.

It was normal for him to lose to Minato today. He had lost to Shisui and the others because he had underestimated Shisui, Asuma, and Kurenai, while also overestimating his own strength.

In tomorrow's battle, he wouldn't be so careless again.

"Thank you!"

Kakashi bowed solemnly.

He didn't remember clearly, but he vaguely had the impression that he really had once been on a team with Kyoichi. It seemed to have been one or two years ago, when Kyoichi had only just been promoted to Chunin.

In only one or two years, the other man had already become a Jonin!

"No need. You were once a genius I admired. I don't want to see you become useless... Jonin Minato, we won't disturb your team's training any longer."

"Kyoichi, thank you very much!"

Minato Namikaze said solemnly. If not for Kyoichi, he really wouldn't have known how to deal with this matter.

The effect was still unclear.

But.

Kakashi was clearly no longer as rebellious as before.

After all, even the Third Hokage had been unable to do anything about him before. Otherwise, there would have been no need to send him to Minato's team to serve as a "Genin."

Kyoichi really was impressive!

He felt both grateful and impressed.

Kyoichi then left with his three disciples, whose expressions were rather strange.

Rin vaguely felt that something was off about Kurenai Yuhi and the others' expressions, but she didn't think much of it. As Minato continued reprimanding and educating them, she stopped dwelling on the matter of Kurenai Yuhi's expression.