How About It, Bro?

As Yuki Yuichi dodged, he swung his right leg up and kicked Kakashi's hand.

The kick was powerful. Even Kakashi, who Hatake Sakumo had taught never to let go of his sword, was sent stumbling, his grip broken.

If all Yuki Yuichi wanted was to dodge, he could have crouched down or moved to the side.

But being able to counterattack while dodging—that was the kind of romance Yuki Yuichi was after.

Kakashi's grip broke, and Yuki Yuichi tucked the wooden sword under his arm, finishing with a backflip.

The wooden sword that had been in Kakashi's hand now rested in Yuki Yuichi's.

Yuki Yuichi raised the wooden sword in his hand and flashed a mocking grin. "What's the matter? Can't handle it, little bro?"

"How about it, bro?"

"If you can't, go home crying to Mommy like those other losers and have your parents come complain to me."

"That kid is really asking for a beating." Umino Ikkaku stood by the office window. A teacher beside him couldn't help laughing as he spoke.

"Mr. Umino, aren't those students from your class?"

"Yeah." Umino Ikkaku rubbed his forehead, looking troubled.

Another teacher, who seemed a little older, blew on the thermos in his hands and shook his head. "Looks like this class has a lot of troublemakers."

"Umino, you're in for a rough time."

"Those kinds of gifted students aren't easy to teach."

From the office, they could see the whole thing. They had watched every moment of Yuki Yuichi and Kakashi's fight.

It had only been two or three simple moves, but after teaching for so many years, they could tell that both Kakashi and Yuki Yuichi were already at Genin level.

Out on the field, Kakashi heard Yuki Yuichi's taunts and couldn't take it anymore. He rushed forward.

He didn't have his sword, but he still had his fists and Taijutsu!

Yuki Yuichi stood right where he was, responding to every move without changing his stance, while continuing to taunt Kakashi.

"Can't handle it? If you can't, go home and drink milk for another couple of years."

"No way, no way. Did someone really just get their sword taken away?"

As Yuki Yuichi taunted him, Kakashi swung a fist at him.

This time, Yuki Yuichi didn't dodge.

He had taken Kakashi's sword because he wanted to test how much punishment he could take.

That was right—Nintaijutsu: Guard reduced damage by twenty percent.

He wanted to see exactly how it worked.

As Kakashi swung at him, Yuki Yuichi stayed put and threw a punch of his own.

Kakashi's eyes flashed with surprise, but then he grew even more excited.

"Come on! Let's see who can take a hit!"

"Then let's do it, Copy Ninja!"

In an instant, both attacks landed solidly.

Kakashi punched Yuki Yuichi in the stomach, while Yuki Yuichi kicked Kakashi in the shoulder.

They were both sent flying.

"Yuichi!" Seeing him, Yuhi Kurenai anxiously watched Yuki Yuichi from the side. Her little face was filled with worry, but she didn't step in to stop them.

This was a battle between ninjas—even if it was only a spar, and even if the fighters were two students who had just started at the Academy.

"Kurenai, I'm fine." Yuki Yuichi got to his feet and brushed the dust off himself.

Kakashi's punch had been powerful, and Yuki Yuichi had figured out how this so-called damage reduction worked.

When Kakashi's fist had struck him, Yuki Yuichi had clearly felt it lose some of its force.

The impact that reached his body had been reduced considerably, too.

Even so, his stomach still burned with pain.

But Kakashi had it worse.

If Yuki Yuichi felt like he'd been struck by a heavy object, Kakashi felt as though he'd been hit by a wagon.

He shakily stood up, clutching his left arm. It hung at an unnatural angle for everyone to see.

"Whoa, isn't that a bit much?"

"Is this what fighting is like?!"

"Stop it! You two, please stop fighting!"

The students around them urged them to stop, but neither Yuki Yuichi nor Kakashi paid them any attention.

Clutching his left arm, Kakashi gritted his teeth and jerked it upward. His bones made a sharp crack.

Yuki Yuichi's kick had dislocated his arm.

Kakashi panted heavily, held his left arm, and glared at Yuki Yuichi. Then he shouted through gritted teeth.

"Yuki Yuichi!"

"Ahhh, K-kakashi!"

Yuki Yuichi shouted back just as loudly.

The two yelled, howling each other's names. Just as everyone thought they were about to fight again,

they both took a step back at the same time.

Kakashi's left arm had been dislocated. Even though he'd put it back in place, it was still a little awkward to use.

Besides, he didn't want to fight Yuki Yuichi at close range again.

That kick had knocked most of the pride out of him.

Yuki Yuichi wasn't afraid of Kakashi's fists.

But he was a little afraid of pain.

"Why are you backing away?" Kakashi glanced at Yuki Yuichi without giving anything away and mocked him, imitating his earlier taunts.

"What, are you scared?"

"Don't give me that crap." Yuki Yuichi immediately cursed at him. "I'd never be scared of you!"

"Then why are you backing away?"

"You're the one who's scared, aren't you?!"

Yuki Yuichi pursed his lips and put on an obnoxious expression. "Kakashi-chan, you're so scary~"

Kakashi narrowed his eyes at Yuki Yuichi, who was still taunting him, and quietly began forming Hand Seals.

Yuki Yuichi narrowed his eyes too. He kept taunting Kakashi as he quietly formed Hand Seals.

The others saw them and assumed they were finally about to call it quits.

But just then, Kakashi took a deep breath and gathered chakra in his throat.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Crap!" Yuki Yuichi immediately bolted to the side, cursing as he ran. "You dirty sneak!"

"I hope your son's born without a dick!"

Yuki Yuichi formed Hand Seals as he ran.

Kakashi had already unleashed a Great Fireball, so he wasn't going to hold back anymore.

A fireball didn't just fly straight ahead after you spat it out.

The Great Fireball Technique was actually a lot like a flamethrower.

You gathered chakra in your throat, then spat it out. The chakra that left your mouth turned into flames and burst out in front of you.

That was also why Yuki Yuichi had to form Hand Seals while running.

It was mainly because that guy Kakashi kept breathing fire right at him.

"Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique."

Yuki Yuichi finished forming the Hand Seals and rushed into Kakashi's field of vision, waving at him.

Yuhi Shinku had taught this illusion to him and Yuhi Kurenai so they could practice against each other.

It had taken Yuki Yuichi over a year to master it.

It was a little difficult to learn, but the illusion was very effective.

Once caught in it, an opponent's sense of space became confused, making them think they were somewhere else.

Izumo Kamizuki had used this illusion in the original story.

The moment Kakashi saw Yuki Yuichi, he fell under the illusion.

Yuki Yuichi was on his left, but Kakashi pointed his mouth to the right.

"Now it's my turn, you little punk!"

Yuki Yuichi rushed forward and kicked Kakashi in the chin.

The powerful kick knocked Kakashi unconscious on the spot.

Seeing Kakashi fall, Yuki Yuichi rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. Then he grabbed the back of Kakashi's collar and ran toward the infirmary.