Chasing Kakashi

Although various rumors circulated among the higher-ups, after personally interacting with Danzo, Sakumo found that the man wasn't as terrible as the rumors suggested.

However, Danzo was ultimately the leader of the hawk faction, inherently at odds with the steady Third Hokage, so Sakumo didn't want to get too deeply involved with him.

Therefore, in their conversation, Sakumo addressed Danzo with the attitude one would use when speaking to a superior.

Danzo, being incredibly shrewd, naturally saw through Sakumo's concerns and didn't pressure him, instead engaging in trivial small talk.

"No matter how many times I see him, I find Kazashiro's father a bit scary," Obito whispered to Rin, having come alone because his grandmother was too old.

"Honestly, I feel the same way. And don't let Kazashiro hear you say that," Rin whispered back.

"Uh, I doubt he can hear me," Obito's gaze drifted to the side, where Kakashi, having just been slapped, was in a full-on chase with Kazashiro.

"But I really didn't expect Kazashiro to be so fast, to be able to dodge Kakashi's pursuit," Asuma, also without parental supervision, chimed in.

Kakashi shared the same thought. He hadn't expected that even running at full speed, he was still a step behind Kazashiro. In other words, this guy's speed was...

"Hmph, this is interesting." Kakashi, his competitive spirit ignited by Kazashiro, saw he couldn't catch up and began forming hand seals.

With a "swish," Kakashi, who had been behind Kazashiro, instantly appeared in front of him.

"Body Flicker Technique?" Kazashiro slammed on the brakes and immediately changed direction.

But as soon as he turned, he found another Kakashi in that direction as well.

What the hell, no way, is that a Clone Technique or a Shadow Clone?!

Seeing Kakashi in two directions, Kazashiro panicked. This guy Kakashi is actually serious. And I don't know how to do either Clone Technique or Shadow Clone!

Regretting his impulsive actions, Kazashiro had no choice but to turn around again.

The result was another Kakashi on the other side.

"Shadow Clones?" Danzo's expression turned serious as he sensed the commotion.

One could say he lives up to his name as Konoha's White Fang, possessing such talent.

This guy, in the future, will likely become Kazashiro's...

Seeing how the two interacted, Danzo was suddenly reminded of himself and Hiruzen.

They had also grown up together, both geniuses far surpassing their peers...

In the end, it was the more powerful Hiruzen who became Hokage.

Danzo subconsciously clenched his right fist, his fingernails digging deeply into his palm.

"Yes, that's right." Sakumo, at this moment, didn't notice Danzo's subtle movement and looked at Kakashi with a hint of pride.

"Kakashi, you're forcing my hand!" Seeing Kakashi's clones begin to swing their fists at him, Kazashiro, who knew neither Body Flicker nor clones, had no choice but to use an offensive ninjutsu.

"Whoa, seriously? That hand seal looks like Wind Release..." Asuma, who had received Wind Release training at home, recognized Kazashiro's seals at a glance.

"Just try it," Kakashi said, showing no intention of stopping, instead provoking him, wanting to test Kazashiro's strength.

"Then don't blame me. Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!" Fearing he might accidentally kill Kakashi with one Wind Release, Kazashiro finished the hand seals at a normal speed and spat out a sharp wind blade from his mouth.

Three Kakashis were cut in half at the waist and then simultaneously dissipated into smoke.

"What the hell, all three were Shadow Clones?" Hearing the distinctive explosion of Shadow Clones, Kazashiro was stunned, then realized something and quickly jumped away from his spot.

As expected, as Kazashiro moved, Kakashi, forming the Tiger hand seal, lunged forward with a sudden thrust, nearly impaling Kazashiro's backside.

"You sneaky, repressed pervert, you were trying to use Thousand Years of Death on me!" Kazashiro protested loudly, recognizing Kakashi's attack method.

He knows Thousand Years of Death?

Kakashi glanced at Kazashiro with some surprise. But that Wind Release just now...

As expected, this kid has also been training diligently in private.

"To master Wind Release to this extent at such a young age, Kazashiro's talent is in no way inferior to yours, Lord Danzo," Sakumo said, flattering Danzo as he witnessed the terrifying destructive power of the Wind Release.

"Well, he's passable," Danzo said, loosening his clenched right hand after seeing Kazashiro's performance. Although his expression remained impassive, his tone became more relaxed.

Yes, my son, how could he possibly lose to Konoha's White Fang's son.

"Kakashi is so strong." Kurenai, who had sent her father home earlier, walked up to Asuma, her voice filled with admiration.

"I can do that level too," Asuma said, feeling a bit jealous seeing Kurenai praise another boy, unwilling to be outdone.

"Kazashiro is handsome too, especially with that Wind Release just now," Anko retorted defensively, seeing Kurenai only praise Kakashi and not mention Kazashiro.

"Yes, yes, Kazashiro is very handsome, so handsome that Anko is smitten, right?" Kurenai teased, exposing Anko's hidden feelings.

Anko was stunned for a moment after hearing Kurenai's words, then her small face visibly turned red. "You, you, what are you talking about!"

Anko, flustered and angry, ran up to Kurenai, wanting to teach her a lesson.

"Rin, I'll be even more handsome than those two in the future, believe me!" Seeing that Rin's gaze was entirely fixed on Kakashi, Obito tried to capture her attention.

"Mhm, I believe you, Obito," Rin said with a smile, glancing at Obito before her eyes returned to Kakashi.

At this point, Kazashiro and Kakashi had entered the stage of Taijutsu combat. With their experience from long-term beatings—no, long-term training—Kazashiro and Kakashi were fighting back and forth.

Or rather...

Isn't Kakashi's 50/50 physique activating?

Seeing as neither of them could gain the upper hand, Kazashiro, who had lived one life more and didn't care much for winning or losing, prepared to raise his hand and surrender.

But--

Father was watching from over there. If he surrendered now, wouldn't Father go wild on him?

He had no choice but to use this move!

Kicking Kakashi away, Kazashiro seized the opportunity to form hand seals.

"Are you going to use Ninjutsu again?" Kakashi saw this and rushed forward, attempting to close the distance between them and stop Kazashiro before he finished forming the seals.

This was exactly what he was waiting for!

Seeing Kakashi charge at him with a punch, a smile crept onto Kazashiro's lips.

His technique was already complete, after all, this technique only required one seal!

"Does anyone else feel a bit cold?" Kurenai Yuhi, breaking free from Anko's grasp, asked the others present, looking at the sun still radiating heat in the sky.

"Indeed, there's a chill..." Asuma's expression turned serious. The hand seal Kazashiro had just formed looked