Hyuga Sho and Hatake Kakashi

Unlike the Dead Lasts, who were deeply moved.

The others had entirely different thoughts.

"What's with this Hyuga Sho?!"

"He seems to know all of our Taijutsu really well!"

"Isn't he the Dead Last of the Hyuga Clan?! Could even the weakest of the Hyuga Clan be this strong?"

Of course...

That was impossible.

The older children of the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family.

Stared at the scene with their eyes practically bulging out.

This Hyuga Sho trained every day. Aside from appearing in the cafeteria at mealtimes, he was basically nowhere to be found.

He was nothing but a Training Machine.

And now, he had actually achieved results.

The next moment.

Hyuga Sho swept his gaze over the crowd.

With just one look, he made them all retreat.

Once he saw that no one dared come forward again.

Hyuga Sho walked toward Hatake Kakashi.

"Hatake Kakashi, I heard you're a genius?"

[Doka Degree: 15%]

Hyuga Sho, whose basic qualities were close to those of an elite Genin, stared at the silver-haired boy before him.

A surging Killing Intent rushed forward.

It rubbed fiercely against Kakashi's cheeks, which were covered by a dark blue-black mask.

Kakashi, with only the upper half of his face exposed, had his cheeks twitch.

He felt immense pressure.

"What a powerful... presence..."

Presence.

It could also be called Killing Intent or murderous intent.

Of course.

Kakashi did not think Hyuga Sho had ever killed anyone.

He only felt that the force within Hyuga Sho was about to overflow.

BOOM!!

It was as though he had been struck by a colossal beast.

Hatake Kakashi did nothing, yet Hyuga Sho blasted him in the head, sending him flying backwards with no way to resist.

"Urgh...!"

The next second.

Kakashi came to his senses.

He suddenly realized that what had just happened was only an illusion.

"I actually... saw an illusion of myself being sent flying..."

In the Shinobi World.

There were four ways to create illusions.

1. Genjutsu skills like Yūhi Kurenai's.

2. Dōjutsu such as the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan.

3. Special drugs.

4. Powerful Killing Intent released like Hyuga Sho's.

"It's hard to believe... You actually possess such force. If I'm not mistaken, your presence comes from confidence in yourself. But you're neither a genius nor a prodigy, so how can you be confident to this extent?"

Kakashi frowned as he asked the question nearly everyone wanted answered.

Why?

How had Hyuga Sho risen step by step from being a Dead Last to where he was today?

What was it?

What had given him such immense confidence, allowing him to defeat other outstanding students?

"I really am not a genius... nor am I a prodigy..."

Hyuga Sho said.

As soon as he spoke those words, nearly everyone held their breath and quietly listened to him.

The campus...

Fell utterly silent for a moment.

"The only thing I can boast of is effort, effort, and more effort. Precisely because I'm not a genius, I can't walk the path you geniuses take."

"Every step I've taken is the result of my own hard work—my, Hyuga Sho's, hard work. Every footprint represents the countless sweat and hardships I've poured in."

"Without accumulating small steps, one cannot travel a thousand miles. Three feet of ice does not form in a single day. Day after day, I have never slacked off. Every bit of increased strength is proof of myself! I have worked hard until today, affirming myself countless times. With all that, do I not have enough reason for this kind of confidence?!"

With every sentence, Hyuga Sho's tone rose higher.

By the end.

That awe-inspiring presence surged in every direction, filling everyone with reverence.

"Very good..."

Kakashi nodded slowly.

A bright light flickered in his eyes.

"Hyuga Sho... I, Hatake Kakashi, acknowledge you. Among everyone our age whom I know, no one has worked harder than you. I, Hatake Kakashi, call you the strongest!"

Hatake Kakashi, who had always looked lazy, finally became serious today.

Fighting spirit burned in his eyes.

Just like when he had first entered the Academy and seen Hyuga Mami's grades surpass his.

Now.

Besides Hyuga Mami.

Hatake Kakashi had gained another opponent!

Wasn't that a good thing?

Hyuga Sho stepped forward and stomped on the ground, kicking up dust.

As Hyuga Sho assumed the stance of the Gentle Fist.

A battle that nearly represented the highest level among Academy Students of their year... began!

Hard work VS genius.

Which of them would win?

This was not merely a match that drew the Academy Students' attention.

Even the ninja teachers who arrived one after another, as well as those who remained in the teaching building to observe, were drawn to the match.

Whether it was a private spar or a public contest.

Ninjas were a martial profession by nature.

The teachers watched Hyuga Sho and Kakashi with great interest.

Some could not help but sigh.

"Teacher Funano, the Hyuga Sho from your class has finally been unable to hold himself back."

Inside an office in the teaching building.

The teachers looked out through the windows.

In fact, they had already seen Hyuga Sho stand up for Might Guy earlier.

The reason they had not stopped him.

Was that most of the teachers were interested in Hyuga Sho from Funano Daihoku's class.

From the start of the school year until now.

Story after story, deed after deed.

Had long since made Hyuga Sho a very famous student.

"So he's finally reached this point..."

Funano Daihoku wore a faint smile.

Ever since Hyuga Sho had recently defeated Sarutobi Asuma, he had known that Hyuga Sho's ultimate target would be Kakashi.

But he had not expected...

"It only took half a year... for him to reach this level. If I wasn't mistaken just now, Hyuga Sho already possesses Genin-level strength... He truly is... impressive..."

"But Hatake Kakashi isn't an ordinary kid either."

The other teachers smiled.

"Don't forget, Hatake Kakashi's father... is Sakumo-senpai..."

Hatake Sakumo, known as Konoha's White Fang, who intimidated the nations with a glowing white shortsword, was Kakashi's father.

Kakashi had inherited his father's silver hair and handsome face.

He had also inherited his father's talent.

That was why... he was called a genius boy and qualified for graduation early.

"A tiger father has no dog son. Hyuga Sho is only from the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family, so I think Kakashi is stronger."

Right there.

A teacher made his verdict, expressing support for Kakashi.

"Then let's make a bet."

Funano Daihoku suggested.

Meanwhile, on the campus.

Hyuga Mami, who was watching the scene, murmured that name.

"Hyuga Sho..."