I Am the Hokage (Bonus Chapter)

Chapter 38: I Am the Hokage (Bonus Chapter)

The watching crowd let out an instinctive gasp.

Since enrolling, Hatake Kakashi had been an invincible presence—this was the first time they had seen him at a disadvantage.

Obito Uchiha rubbed his eyes, hardly believing what he was seeing.

Rin Nohara clasped her hands tightly together, her expression tense.

The battle continued.

Before Kakashi could steady himself, Hikawa shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.

The samurai sword in his hand was raised high, then brought down.

Danger!

Kakashi dared not meet it head-on. He rolled awkwardly across the ground, then swiftly reversed his short sword, slashing toward Hikawa's thigh.

A sharp gust of wind rushed in.

Hikawa channeled his chakra and leaped straight up from his spot.

In midair, his right leg spun around and struck Kakashi square in the chest.

With a heavy thud.

Kakashi's body tumbled backward.

Hikawa landed without a moment's pause, swinging his samurai sword toward him.

Another round of gasps rose from the crowd.

Kakashi barely dodged the blade by a hair's breadth.

The samurai sword struck the ground, leaving a gash in its wake.

Before Kakashi could catch his breath, another flash of steel gleamed before his eyes.

He hurriedly raised his short sword, blocking the samurai blade with precision.

"Ah!"

Gripping his sword with both hands, Kakashi let out a roar as he held back the overwhelming force.

But he knew this wasn't a good strategy.

After barely half a second of resistance, he suddenly let go. The short sword was sent flying.

Caught off guard, Hikawa's body lurched forward.

Kakashi leaped up, pulled a kunai from his waist, and thrust it in close, playing the part of a kidney-snatcher on the spot.

"Hikawa!"

Yuhi Kurenai called out instinctively.

"He's won!"

Obito Uchiha's heart surged with joy.

Of course, he wanted Kakashi to win.

Hikawa taking first place was far too great a threat to him.

He didn't want to watch Rin be drawn to that guy.

Sarutobi Asuma flinched, his body trembling.

How were both of these guys this strong?

Kakashi he could understand—his father was Konoha White Fang Hatake Sakumo.

But what about Hikawa?

Kidney strike!

Hikawa's heart jolted. Adjusting his body in time was impossible.

He made a snap decision, twisting his right hand and hurling the samurai sword like a thrown ninja tool.

What?!

Kakashi had no choice but to redirect, using his kunai to block the samurai sword.

Just then, his pupils contracted.

Hikawa, relying on his astonishing core strength, spun his body mid-motion and caught the samurai sword with his right hand.

Under his control, the blade scraped against the kunai, sending sparks flying.

Then came a half-moon slash, aimed straight at Kakashi's body.

Clang!

Kakashi pulled out another kunai with his left hand, just barely blocking the samurai sword.

Hikawa pressed down with his right hand, forcing Kakashi to brace both kunai against the blade, then swung his left fist.

Hatake Kakashi watched the fist grow closer and closer, until it finally made intimate contact with his mask.

Strength far exceeding that of his peers sent his face swelling and his body toppling backward.

Hikawa stepped forward, his samurai sword aimed at Kakashi, pinning him down and preventing him from getting up.

The training ground fell into dead silence.

"Konoha-Style Swordsmanship?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his beard, speaking with some surprise.

Hikawa's proficiency was higher than he had imagined.

And more importantly, his genjutsu and ninja tools were on the same level.

To have reached this point in less than a year was completely beyond his expectations.

"Excellent sword!"

Hatake Sakumo's eyes lit up as he said, "Kakashi lost without grievance."

But that wasn't to say the Hatake Swordsmanship was lacking.

At equal proficiency, Konoha-Style Swordsmanship might not even have a chance to parry.

"Well done!"

Yuhi Shinko, his face tight, couldn't help but say.

He truly hadn't expected Hikawa to defeat Hatake Kakashi.

After all, the latter's reputation as a prodigy had spread even among the jōnin.

The only thing that troubled him was that Hikawa had used Konoha-Style Swordsmanship, not ninjutsu.

Obito Uchiha took two steps back.

How could this be?

Invincible Kakashi had fallen?

Was he really this useless today?

"Yeah!"

Yuhi Kurenai was brimming with excitement.

Rin Nohara looked at Hikawa and slowly let out a breath.

She felt like she was dreaming; her perception of him was subtly shifting.

"Ah! Hikawa-kun!"

The next second, many girls let out screams.

Strong and handsome, they defected on the spot, sending Hikawa's popularity soaring to its peak.

"The winner, Hikawa!"

After a long pause, Eiichirō snapped back to reality and announced.

My turtle turtle!

Comparing people only makes you mad!

Was this the world of geniuses?

But on second thought, this was his opportunity.

Teaching a student like this would surely lead to a promotion, a raise, a beautiful wife, and the peak of life.

"You okay?"

Hikawa stepped forward and extended his hand.

"..."

Hatake Kakashi silently grabbed his arm and stood up.

He had thought he might lose, but to genjutsu, not swordsmanship.

Losing in the Hatake Swordsmanship, his greatest confidence, left him with no excuse to argue.

Hikawa's mind stirred, and a new entry arrived as expected.

code
[E-Rank Talent Entry: Thunderclap Sword.]
[Trigger Condition: Defeat young Hatake Kakashi.]
[Effect: Lightning Release talent and swordsmanship talent increase by 10% from their original base.]

Hikawa was a little surprised.

A dual effect?

As expected of Kakashi.

"What a splendid match."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said with emotion, "The future of Konoha is in their hands."

What pleased him most was Hikawa's attitude after the battle.

Neither arrogant nor overbearing, he perfectly demonstrated what it meant to put competition second.

The practical exam continued.

The remaining matches felt like a clash of rookies pecking at each other.

After watching them, Sarutobi Hiruzen left the training ground.

"Hokage-sama."

Before the Hokage Office, an Anbu ninja appeared. "Danzo-sama is waiting for you inside."

"Danzo? What does he want?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered as he pushed open the door.

Shimura Danzo heard the footsteps and reluctantly rose from the Hokage's seat.

"What do you want with me?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen walked over and sat down in the Hokage's chair.

He sat in my seat again?

He felt a faint trace of body heat and couldn't help but fall silent.

Oh, my old friend, I'm going to kick your ass hard!

"Hand Hikawa over to me! Yuhi Shinko can't possibly unlock his potential!"

Shimura Danzo cut straight to the point. "With my training, he will surely become a sharp blade for Konoha!"

The reason he brought this up again was that he had just received news of Hikawa defeating Hatake Kakashi.

Hatake Kakashi was a genius he coveted, but his father was Hatake Sakumo—hard to control—so he had to let it go.

Hikawa was different. He had no backing; all he needed was to convince Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"What I need is not a sharp blade."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and said, "It's the future of Konoha."

"You're too naive!"

Shimura Danzo said forcefully, "Emotions only get in the way for a ninja!"

"Words are useless."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at him. "If there's nothing else, don't disturb my work."

"Hiruzen! You'll regret this!"

Shimura Danzo's face darkened as he said angrily.

"I am the Hokage."

Sarutobi Hiruzen replied calmly.

Bang!

Shimura Danzo stormed out the door.

I should be posting three chapters a day recently. If something comes up and I can't, it'll still be two. Everyone, please leave plenty of comments and keep reading.