Kakashi Wanted to Challenge Kakashi

During break the next day, Shin-chan was napping with his head on his desk when someone suddenly shook him awake.

"Shin-chan! Shin-chan!"

"Hm?"

Shin-chan opened his eyes blearily and saw Might Guy looking incredibly excited.

"What is it?" Shin-chan yawned. "Is it lunchtime?"

"No." Might Guy clenched his fists. "I thought about it all night. Kakashi is obviously so strong, and he works so hard climbing mountains and training himself."

Shin-chan blinked. "So, you want to climb a mountain too?"

"That's not what I mean. I want to... I want to..." Might Guy was unusually embarrassed and stammered, unable to finish.

"What do you want to do?" Shin-chan tilted his head.

Might Guy's face visibly reddened, and his voice grew much quieter. "I want to make him my rival, but I'm embarrassed to go up and talk to him."

"Why are you embarrassed?"

"Because... because..." Might Guy lowered his head, his voice growing softer and softer. "He's so strong. He definitely won't pay any attention to me."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"I want to see how he trains and what he usually does. That way, I can learn from him and become stronger."

Shin-chan tilted his head, looking thoughtful. "So you're going to follow him?"

"I'm not following him," Might Guy said anxiously. "I'm... observing him. Yes, observing him. Will you come with me?"

"Ugh, that sounds like such a pain." Shin-chan shook his head.

Kakashi wasn't a pretty big sister. What was there to observe?

"Do you not want to go?" Might Guy's spirits sank. "Then after school, you can go straight to my dad's. I'll go by myself."

"Hm?" Shin-chan spotted a flaw in his plan. "Don't you have training this afternoon?"

"I just..."

Before Might Guy could explain, Shin-chan interrupted him. "Then I'll go with you!"

"Huh?" Might Guy froze, then happily threw his arms around him. "That's great, Shin-chan! You're my best friend!"

"Let go! I can't breathe..."

As soon as the school bell rang, Might Guy packed his bag at lightning speed, dragged Shin-chan out of the classroom, and began keeping watch at the School Entrance.

Before long, the Silver Figure appeared.

Kakashi carried a small bag and headed east through the village at an unhurried pace.

"He's moving. Quick, let's follow him."

The two began sneaking after him.

Keeping their distance, hiding around corners, and using passersby as cover, Might Guy had clearly done his homework. He was surprisingly convincing.

Shin-chan followed behind him, copying his every move.

The two followed Kakashi through the streets, around the market, and toward a residential area.

Kakashi walked ahead at his usual unhurried pace, but he had already noticed the two sneaky figures behind him.

That red shirt was especially conspicuous.

The corners of Kakashi's mouth lifted slightly. Without looking back, he continued on until he reached a fork in the road.

Ahead lay a bustling market, full of people and noise. Vendors sold vegetables, fruit, and dango as people came and went.

Kakashi suddenly quickened his pace and slipped into the crowd.

"Oh no!" Might Guy panicked. "He's gone!"

The two rushed into the market and looked around, but the Silver Figure was nowhere to be seen.

Might Guy frantically darted through the crowd, rising onto his toes and straining to see. "What do we do? What do we do?"

Shin-chan stood beside him and scratched his head. "If he's gone, do we still have to look for him?"

"Of course we do." Might Guy clenched his fists, his eyes full of determination.

"Okay, then." Shin-chan casually pointed in one direction. "Want to try going that way?"

"Did you see Kakashi?" Might Guy asked excitedly.

Shin-chan shook his head. "We can't find him anyway, so we might as well try a random direction."

"Okay." Might Guy had no better ideas, so he dashed off that way.

They crossed an alley and went around several old houses. An open space appeared before them.

A few large trees stood at the edge of the clearing, with several Wooden Stakes for training beneath their shade. In the middle of the clearing stood a small silver-haired figure, just about to begin training.

Might Guy froze.

Kakashi froze too.

He looked at Might Guy and Shin-chan running over, both out of breath, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He had clearly shaken them off, and had even chosen a secluded route.

"You..." Kakashi paused, his voice tinged with disbelief. "How did you find this place?"

"That's the guidance of youth." Shin-chan copied Might Guy's pose and gave a thumbs-up.

"Boring."

Kakashi turned around, intending to find somewhere else.

"Wait." Shin-chan pushed Might Guy forward. "Might Guy has something to say to you."

"Shin-chan." Might Guy hadn't expected this to happen so suddenly and was at a loss.

Shin-chan nudged him again and whispered, "You can do it!"

Might Guy hesitated, his face flushed, then walked up to Kakashi. "Kakashi."

"What is it?" Kakashi looked at him.

"I... I..." Might Guy clenched his fists, his voice growing louder and louder. "I want to challenge you!"

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Challenge me?"

Might Guy took a deep breath and struck the Taijutsu stance he had practiced countless times. "Please."

"Just once." Kakashi sighed and took up a stance of his own.

Might Guy shouted and charged straight at him.

Then he flew back even faster.

Kakashi moved so quickly that Might Guy couldn't even see what he was doing.

Might Guy lay on the ground, gasping for breath, but there was no disappointment in his eyes. Instead, they shone with a strange excitement. "Amazing! Kakashi, you're really amazing!"

Kakashi glanced at him without saying anything, then turned to Shin-chan.

Shin-chan was sitting on a nearby rock, chin in hand, enjoying the show. When he met Kakashi's gaze, he hurriedly waved his hands. "I'm not challenging you. I'm just here to watch!"

Kakashi ignored him and walked straight over.

"Hey, hey, hey." Shin-chan hopped off the rock and tried to run.

But Kakashi was faster. He reached out to grab him.

Shin-chan's body instinctively swerved aside.

Kakashi's hand closed on empty air. He paused for a moment, then reached out again.

Shin-chan dodged again.

It wasn't a coincidence.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes and launched a series of attacks, his hands striking as fast as lightning.

But Shin-chan was like an eel, slipping away at the last second each time—stepping back, ducking, bending, or twisting to the side.

Kakashi's hands always missed him by the tiniest margin.

Might Guy watched, dumbfounded. "Shin-chan, you're amazing too."

After missing yet again, Kakashi stopped and looked at Shin-chan. At last, a different expression appeared in his eyes.

Shin-chan, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief and patted his chest. "That scared me! I thought you were going to hit me."

Kakashi looked at him without saying a word, but a thought in his mind grew clearer and clearer.

There was definitely more to this guy than met the eye.

"Impressive."

A tall figure stepped out from behind a tree. He had silver hair and a hairstyle like Kakashi's, but looked more mature.