Chidori!

The rain poured.

Kakashi sat hunched over on a park swing, his eyes vacant. Rain fell on him, trickling down his hair and over his face, but he seemed unable to feel it anymore.

Only when someone walked past him did Kakashi look up. Even then, it was just a glance before he lowered his head again.

"Why are you here?"

Akiyama Shun leaned against the swing set, holding an umbrella.

"I heard you were feeling down, so I came to check on you. After all, I promised Lord White Fang I'd take good care of you."

At the words "Lord White Fang," Kakashi parted his lips as if to say something, but in the end, no sound came out.

Before, if Kakashi had heard Akiyama Shun say that, he would definitely have snapped, "Who asked you to take care of me?"

But now, Kakashi didn't argue at all. He just looked up at the sky, letting the rain fall on his face. After a long while, he finally spoke.

"If something unexpected happened while you were on a mission, and you had to choose between protecting your comrades and completing the mission, which would you choose?"

Ever since his father died, Kakashi had been thinking about this question. He thought Akiyama Shun would ponder it too, but as soon as Shun heard it, he answered:

"There's no choice to make. I wouldn't put myself in that position, because I can protect my comrades and complete the mission at the same time."

Kakashi grew agitated at Shun's answer, his words speeding up. "What if you did? You have to pick one!"

Seeing how worked up Kakashi was, Akiyama Shun knew he'd achieved his goal.

He had never intended to talk Kakashi around. He knew that Kakashi, at this point in his life, wouldn't listen to anyone trying to reason with him.

In the original story, it took Obito's words to get through to Kakashi during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, when Nohara Rin was captured. But even then, they only had an effect. Kakashi's real change came after Obito gave him his eye.

And this Kakashi hadn't been through any of that yet. The conflict between comrades and missions existed only in his thoughts. Until he faced a real choice, there was no way he could work it out!

So Shun would use the simplest method: provoke Kakashi and make him let all his emotions out!

Letting out the feelings bottled up inside him would be much better than this.

So, in response to Kakashi's question, Akiyama Shun simply looked at him calmly.

"There is no what if."

Kakashi whipped around to look at Akiyama Shun. Shun had answered the question that had troubled him for so long in such a calm voice. For some reason, it made Kakashi see red.

"That's a cheap answer!"

With a roar, Kakashi sprang to his feet and swung a fist at Akiyama Shun's face!

But Shun simply tilted his head and dodged the attack with ease.

When his attack was evaded, and he saw the amusement in Shun's eyes, Kakashi grew even angrier. He threw punch after punch, but Shun easily dodged every one. Finally, Shun leaped backward, putting distance between them.

Kakashi said nothing. He simply drew the White Fang Blade from his waist.

"Fine, then. I'll fight you."

Seeing that, Akiyama Shun knew he'd succeeded. With a laugh, he tossed his umbrella aside, letting the rain soak him too. Within a few breaths, the torrential downpour had drenched him from head to toe.

He pulled out a scroll. With a "poof," a chakra blade identical to the White Fang Blade appeared in his hand.

The moment Kakashi saw the White Fang Blade, his pupils contracted. He stared at Akiyama Shun in disbelief.

"How did you get that blade?"

"Oh, this? After you used the White Fang Sword Style last time, I wanted to learn it too, so I got myself a similar chakra blade."

That was a lie.

In truth, he had received it as a bonus after drawing [Hatake Kakashi (Young)]. It was the genuine article.

But Kakashi grew even angrier when he heard that.

What did he mean, he wanted to learn it, so he just went out and got one?

Was his sword style really that easy to learn!?

The moment that thought crossed Kakashi's mind, he vanished from where he stood. But this time was different from before.

Last time, Akiyama Shun had stood still and waited for Kakashi to attack. This time, Shun moved at the same instant Kakashi used Body Flicker!

He was even faster than Kakashi!

While Kakashi was still searching for him, Akiyama Shun had already appeared behind him and slashed!

Kakashi didn't react until he heard the blade whistle through the air. He hurriedly raised the White Fang Blade behind him, barely blocking the attack. But his defense had been rushed, and even though he'd blocked the strike, Akiyama Shun's tremendous force threw him off balance.

Shun followed with a kick, sending Kakashi flying more than ten meters!

Kakashi spun 360 degrees in the air before landing. He had only just pushed himself up from the mud when Akiyama Shun was already in front of him, swinging the White Fang Blade again!

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

The constant clash of metal rang throughout the park.

The White Fang Blade was a chakra blade, and it was meant to be used with chakra flowing through it. But neither Akiyama Shun nor Kakashi was using chakra now. They were purely testing their swordsmanship!

But after only a little over twenty exchanges, Kakashi realized something deeply frustrating.

Though he hated to admit it, Akiyama Shun was even better at the White Fang Sword Style than he was!

How was that possible?!

The style's creator had trained him from the time he was little!

How could this guy become so proficient after only one fight?!

Kakashi knew he couldn't keep this up. If they continued to trade sword strikes, he would never beat Akiyama Shun!

Seizing an opening in Shun's attack, Kakashi quickly used Body Flicker to get out of range.

Once he had reached a safe distance, Kakashi thought he would do what he'd done during their last practical exam and use a jutsu. That would be the perfect chance to show Akiyama Shun that he was working hard too, and that he'd learned a new jutsu!

He was a genius too!

Unfortunately, Akiyama Shun wasn't going to give Kakashi the chance to use a jutsu this time.

Just as Kakashi began gathering chakra and preparing to form Hand Seals, a "zzzzzz" suddenly rang in his ears.

The sound was dense, as if thousands of voices had been layered together. It even took on a sharper, explosive shriek!

It sounded just like...

Birdsong!