The onlookers instinctively let out a chorus of gasps.
Ever since enrollment, Hatake Kakashi had been invincible. This was the first time they had seen him come up short.
Obito Uchiha rubbed his eyes. He simply could not believe what he was seeing.
Rin Nohara clasped her fingers together tightly, her face full of tension.
The battle continued.
Before Hatake Kakashi could steady himself, Hikawa charged forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.
He raised the sword in his hand high, then brought it down.
Danger!
Hatake Kakashi did not dare take it head-on. He rolled awkwardly across the ground, then swiftly turned his short sword and slashed at Hikawa's thigh.
A fierce gust swept toward him.
Hikawa circulated his Chakra and leaped straight up.
In midair, he spun his right leg and struck Hatake Kakashi in the chest.
With a bang.
His body rolled backward.
Hikawa landed and did not pause for even a moment, slashing at him with the samurai sword.
The gasps rang out again.
Hatake Kakashi narrowly avoided the sword.
The sword struck the ground, leaving behind a slash mark.
Before Hatake Kakashi could catch his breath, another flash of blade light appeared before his eyes.
He hurriedly raised his short sword and precisely blocked the sword.
"Ah!"
Hatake Kakashi gripped his sword with both hands and roared as he withstood the immense force.
But he knew this was not a good solution.
After holding on for only half a second, he suddenly let go, and the short sword was knocked away.
Caught off guard, Hikawa's body pitched forward.
Hatake Kakashi sprang up, pulled a Kunai from his waist, and stabbed at close range, going straight for his kidney.
"Hikawa!"
Yuhi Kurenai cried out instinctively.
"He won!"
Obito Uchiha was overjoyed.
Naturally, he hoped Hatake Kakashi would win.
If Hikawa took first place, the threat he posed to him would be far too great.
He did not want to watch Rin Nohara become attracted to him.
Sarutobi Asuma's body trembled in shock.
Why were these two guys both so strong?
Hatake Kakashi was understandable. After all, his father was Konoha White Fang Hatake Sakumo.
But what was going on with Hikawa?
Kidney strike!
Hikawa's heart jolted. It was already too late to adjust his body.
He made a snap decision, twisting his right hand and throwing the sword like a ninja tool.
What?!
Left with no choice, Hatake Kakashi could only turn and use his Kunai to block the sword.
At that moment, his pupils contracted.
Hikawa used his astonishing waist strength to spin his body and seize the sword with his right hand.
Under his control, the sword scraped against the Kunai, sending sparks flying.
Then came a half-moon slash aimed at Hatake Kakashi's body.
Clang!
Hatake Kakashi pulled out another Kunai with his left hand and blocked the sword in time.
Hikawa pressed down with his right hand, forcing both of Hatake Kakashi's Kunai to brace the sword, then swung his left fist.
Hatake Kakashi watched helplessly as the fist drew closer and closer before finally making intimate contact with his mask.
The strength that far surpassed that of his peers made his cheek swell, and his body toppled backward.
Hikawa stepped forward, pointing the sword at him and preventing him from getting up.
The training ground fell completely silent.
"Konoha-Style Swordsmanship?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his beard and said in surprise.
Hikawa's proficiency was higher than he had imagined.
More importantly, the same was true of his genjutsu and ninja tools.
To reach this level in less than a year was simply beyond his expectations.
"What excellent swordsmanship!"
Hatake Sakumo's eyes lit up as he said, "Kakashi did not lose unfairly."
But that did not mean the Hatake Swordsmanship was lacking.
If their proficiency had been equal, Konoha-Style Swordsmanship might not even have had a chance to parry.
"Nicely done!"
Yuhi Shinko, who had been keeping a stern face, could not help but say.
He truly had not expected Hikawa to defeat Hatake Kakashi.
After all, this man's reputation as a genius had spread even among jonin.
The only thing troubling him was that Hikawa had used Konoha-Style Swordsmanship rather than ninjutsu.
Obito Uchiha took two steps back.
How could this be?
The invincible Kakashi had fallen?
Why had he been so useless today?
"Yay!"
Yuhi Kurenai looked thrilled.
Rin Nohara looked at Hikawa and slowly let out a breath.
Everything felt dreamlike to her, and her impression of him was changing without her realizing it.
"Ah! Hikawa!"
The next second, countless girls screamed.
Strong and handsome, he made them switch sides on the spot, sending Hikawa's popularity soaring to its peak.
"The winner is Hikawa!"
After a long while, Eiichirō came back to his senses and announced the result.
Holy Turtle Turtle!
Comparisons really could make people furious!
Was this the world of geniuses?
But on second thought, this was his opportunity.
Teaching a student like this would surely lead to promotions, raises, a beautiful wife, and the peak of life.
"Are you all right?"
Hikawa walked over and held out his hand.
"..."
Hatake Kakashi silently grabbed his arm and climbed to his feet.
He had considered the possibility of losing, but he had thought he would lose to genjutsu, not swordsmanship.
Losing at the Hatake Swordsmanship he was most confident in left him with no excuse at all.
With a thought from Hikawa, a new entry arrived as expected.
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