Kakashi's Shock!!

"Hm?"

Hearing the sudden voice, Kakashi, Asuma, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, Shikaku Nara, Anko Mitarashi, and the other Konoha jonin...

All turned back in confusion, looking toward the source of the sound behind them!

The next second, they saw:

A man in a black tight-fitting outfit, draped in a Warring States-style red armor, wearing black gloves, with a striking mane of waist-length hair, Standing behind them—the group of jonin—without anyone knowing when he had arrived.

"When...?"

In that moment, Kakashi, Asuma, Might Guy, Kurenai, and the other jonin all felt a jolt of alarm.

He had gotten this close without any of them, a gathering of jonin, sensing a thing.

How could they have felt nothing?

If this man were an enemy, if he had targeted any one of them...

Just now...

Thinking this, Kakashi and the others couldn't suppress a wave of shock and uncertainty in their hearts!

At the same time, they stared curiously at the man before them.

And the one who had suddenly appeared behind Kakashi, Kurenai, and the others, Was naturally Chen Yiban, who had already obtained all the power of the founder of Konoha, Uchiha Madara!

"So, mind if I join you?"

Chen Yiban, clad in red armor, his long hair flowing, now looked at Kakashi, Might Guy, Asuma, Kurenai, and the others seated at the table before him.

A faint smile on his face, he asked again!

And it had to be said:

Madara's looks, when he smiled, were truly top-tier!!

Even Kurenai couldn't help but silently admire Chen Yiban's appearance.

"Hey, who are you? We don't want some stranger mooching off our food."

At that moment, Anko Mitarashi rested her chin on one hand, looking at Chen Yiban standing beside her in his red armor.

And:

"Speaking of which... I don't know why, but you look oddly familiar, like I've seen you somewhere."

Suddenly, Anko Mitarashi stared at Chen Yiban, feeling more and more like she recognized him.

"I feel the same way." Beside her, Kurenai Yuhi chimed in.

Similarly, Asuma, Shikaku Nara, Choji Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, and the other Konoha jonin all felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity when looking at Chen Yiban.

It really was like they had seen him somewhere before!

Indeed, Chen Yiban's completely identical appearance, looks, and attire to [Uchiha Madara]

Made them feel a strong sense of recognition.

But these jonin couldn't quite recall where they had seen him!

"Is that so? Seems like there's a special fate between us?"

Chen Yiban gave another faint, calm smile.

In his heart, though, he was thinking:

"Taking down all these Konoha jonin—would that be enough to earn an extra sign-in chance?"

His overwhelming strength gave Chen Yiban immense confidence.

It also made him appear to others as someone playing with the world, ignoring all worldly rules, looking down on everyone from above.

"Oh, I remember now!"

Just then, Anko Mitarashi suddenly shouted.

Then, pointing at Chen Yiban:

"That red armor you're wearing—it's an imitation of the old Warring States-style armor, isn't it?"

"No wonder it looks so familiar!"

→

Anko Mitarashi felt she had finally pinpointed what about Chen Yiban seemed familiar.

But...

Beside her, Kakashi had been observing Chen Yiban the whole time.

Kakashi thought: It wasn't just the old-style armor on Chen Yiban that felt familiar.

Just then:

"It really does seem that way. I think at the Valley of the End, the giant stone statues of the First Hokage and the Uchiha ancestor Uchiha Madara—those two super-strong experts—were wearing this kind of armor, right?"

Kurenai Yuhi, hearing Anko Mitarashi's words, added from the side.

Those few words...

Made something click in Kakashi's mind.

Then, his eyes snapped back to Chen Yiban, beginning to compare him with the "stone statue" of that man he'd seen in his memories.

But the more he compared, the more uncertain and shocked Kakashi grew!

His right eye even widened a fraction in disbelief!

"No way... it can't be!!"

Kakashi began to doubt himself inside.

Meanwhile:

"I see, so you like that old Warring States-era armor. Well, if you don't mind, have a seat!"

Kurenai felt it wouldn't look good to keep Chen Yiban standing in the aisle.

So, after a few casual words, without overthinking it, she made room for him.

"Ahem... friend, sit over here!"

Seeing Kurenai offer a seat to Chen Yiban, Asuma suddenly gave up his own spot instead.

He definitely didn't want Chen Yiban sitting next to Kurenai!

"Good, thank you!" Chen Yiban, still wearing a smile, nodded slightly.

Then he moved to take a seat.

But suddenly:

"Wait!"

Kakashi Hatake, his face a mix of shock, deep suspicion, and even disbelief, abruptly stood up and stared at Chen Yiban.

Chen Yiban's motion paused slightly.

"Who exactly are you?"

Kakashi's expression had already shifted to one of vigilance.

He was even ready to form hand seals at any moment!

Kakashi, at this point, looked like he was facing a major threat!!

Thus, The atmosphere at the scene suddenly grew tense.

"Hey, Kakashi, I'm a bit annoyed that we've got one more person to split the barbecue with, but you don't have to be this nervous, do you?"

Anko Mitarashi, watching the very tense Kakashi, found it a little amusing.

But she had no idea how shocked, doubtful, and incredulous Kakashi felt inside.

Nearby, Asuma, Shikaku, Inoichi, Choza, and the other Leaf Jonin were also looking at the suddenly tense Kakashi with confusion.

"Hey, Kakashi, what's wrong?" Might Guy, too, couldn't quite grasp what his close friend meant at this moment.

But knowing Kakashi, Guy felt there had to be a reason for his defensive stance.

To that:

"You're Kakashi, aren't you..."

"Heh."

"What did you see in me?"

Chen Yiban revealed an intrigued smile, his black pupils fixed on Kakashi Hatake.