Don't Make Me Too Expectant!!

Kakashi and Guy stood still, staring intently at the strange man who had just gotten up from the ground.

They had just witnessed that guy pass right through Kisame Hoshigaki's frontal slash without a scratch.

It didn't just block it... it penetrated it!

His body, like a ghost, simply pierced through Samehada's broad blade?!

"The Akatsuki members are all such a hassle..."

Kakashi murmured solemnly to himself.

He looked at Kai beside him and said very quickly:

"Kai, go help Kisame deal with that Akatsuki member. With you there, Kabuto's safety will be more guaranteed."

"Leave Koko to me for now. Once you and Mr. Kisame have taken down the masked man, then come and help..."

But before Kakashi could finish speaking, a crimson flame slash came hurtling towards him!

The crimson slash tore a scorching trail through the air, and the fallen leaves along the way were charred and curled up before they even came into contact with the flames.

The angle of this attack was extremely tricky, almost completely blocking all of Kakashi's dodge options.

"Kakashi, watch out!!"

Feeling the approaching heatwave, Kai clenched his fists tightly and shouted a warning to Kakashi beside him.

Kakashi's gaze remained unchanged, as if he were completely unaffected.

He gripped the hilt of the White Fang sword tightly with his right hand, and lightning-attribute Chakra instantly surged into the blade!

Countless blue-white arcs of electricity suddenly erupted from the silver-white blade!

"Hatake Blade Technique - Chidori Current - Slash."

His voice was low, his calm gaze fixed on the fiery strike that was inches away, filled with a deep chill.

The White Fang's Tanto, crackling with lightning, drew a silvery-white arc in front of it.

The fierce fiery slash was sliced into countless tiny sparks the moment it touched the Chidori Current blade, which then extinguished in less than a breath.

The scattered Kakkō illuminated Kakashi's face, which was mostly covered by a mask, making his right eye, which was exposed, appear exceptionally calm.

He held the Chidori Longsword, which was still faintly crackling with lightning, and stood quietly in place.

He didn't move an inch from beginning to end!

"Slap, slap, slap..."

A series of crisp clapping sounds came from ahead.

Kakashi raised his eyes and looked in the direction of the sound.

Kou stood still, his left hand gripping the Firebirth that had been drawn from its sheath at some unknown time.

The blade of that Chakra Blade still bore the embers of the flames that had just been unleashed.

Knocked on his hands slowly and deliberately, looking at Kakashi in front of him with a smile in his eyes.

That smile held admiration and satisfaction, but even more so, undisguised excitement.

"You've actually incorporated Lightning Release's nature transformation into your Hatake Blade Technique... It seems you haven't been wasting your talent all these years, Kakashi."

Kou's praise was devoid of any other emotion; his tone was full of genuine approval.

Kakashi held the White Fang horizontally in front of him, the lightning on the blade still flickering slightly.

He stared directly into Three Tomoe Sharingan, his tone becoming serious:

"After all, I underwent rigorous training over the years to bring you back."

Listening intently to Kakashi's words, he nodded seriously.

"Indeed, judging from your swordsmanship just now, you must have spent a lot of time learning your family's Swordsmanship from Uncle Sakumo Hatake."

"Although you still have a long way to go compared to the real ' White Fang of Konoha '."

But by incorporating the Chidori Current into the Hatake Blade Technique... you have indeed forged your own unique path.

Looking directly at Kakashi, he praised him with a firm tone:

"Now you truly possess strength comparable to a 'Shadow'."

"But..."

At this point, Kou abruptly changed the subject, his tone turning cold.

A terrifying wave of Chakra emanated from him and surged outwards, causing the nearby bushes to bend over in unison.

Kakashi's expression instantly turned serious.

Kou slowly raised the Firebirth, its crimson tip pointing directly at Kakashi's throat.

His demeanor was completely different from when he was clapping and praising just now!

"If you think you can easily win me over with these things... you're sorely mistaken."

Kakashi with a displeased expression and said in a deep voice:

"You think you can defeat me all by yourself, without Kai?"

"I was really underestimated..."

A smile curved his lips, a smile devoid of mockery, only ignited fighting spirit.

"Remember, you... are the challengers!!"

Not far away, Obito was engaged in a "fierce" battle with Kisame.

To be precise, it was Kisame wielding Samehada, slashing at him from various angles, while he maintained his intangibility and shouted in an exaggerated tone.

But the moment Kō released that wave of Chakra, Obito's movements clearly paused for a second.

He turned his gaze with great interest toward the direction of the knock, muttering to himself:

"He's actually getting serious? That's rare..."

Even when he's serious, it's been a long time since I've seen him.

"Kakashi, and Koko."

Beneath the mask, a subtle smile crept onto Obito's lips.

"Things are about to get interesting..."

Thinking of this, Obito gave Kisame a look.

Kisame instantly understood Obito's meaning, a knowing glint in his eyes.

The frequency with which he swung Samehada gradually slowed down...

The two continued their "intense" battle without tacit agreement.

But their attention was now entirely focused on the "battlefield" not far away, a battlefield truly ignited by the will to fight...

Kabuto, standing behind Kisame, held Kunai and stared at the two fighters in front of him with a strange expression.

"Strangeness..."

He murmured to himself, troubled:

"There's nothing wrong with it, but why... does it feel like something's not quite right?"

"Am I too weak to keep up with their pace...?"

He pushed up his glasses and fell into deep self-doubt.

On the battlefield, Kakashi felt the sharp, almost tangible pressure emanating from Kotori, and couldn't help but recall the words that Lord Jiraiya had solemnly spoken to him in the Hokage's office.

"Kou is very strong now, even... not inferior to me."

At the time, I was still skeptical about it.

But now... he's completely convinced.

Because the aura that Kou was releasing at this moment was no less than the oppressive feeling he had when he encountered Orochimaru head-on during his pursuit of the newly defected Orochimaru.

The current Koko is someone who can compete on the same stage as legendary powerhouses like Lord Jiraiya and Orochimaru!

"Call..."

Kakashi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging emotions within him.

He raised his eyes again, shifting his gaze from Kou to Kai, who was already prepared for battle beside him, and said solemnly:

"Kai, I take back what I just said. The current Kou is not someone I can handle alone."

I... need your strength.

As Kai listened to Kakashi's sincere words, the passion in his eyes was ignited.

He gave Kakashi a thumbs-up and shouted loudly:

"That's more like it, Kakashi!!"

"Let's use the passion of our youth to bring back the knight-errant!!"

Kakashi felt the reassuring, passionate aura emanating from Guy.

Beneath the mask, a reassuring smile involuntarily curved the corners of his mouth.

"As reliable as ever, Kai."

Kakashi muttered to himself, then looked solemnly at Koko in front of him and shouted loudly to Guy beside him in a serious tone:

"Kai, let's go!!"

"Europe!!"

Standing in front, feeling the aura emanating from Kakashi and Guy simultaneously, Koko couldn't help but smile a genuine, heartfelt smile.

"Really..."

Kō gripped the hilt of the Firebirth sword tightly, and his Three Tomoe Sharingan, which unconsciously materialized, glowed with a scorching crimson in the setting sun.

Don't make me get too excited!