A Match with Kakashi

A Match with Kakashi

"Leave the Team!?"

As expected, Naruto had the strongest reaction.

"Sasuke, what's going on? Why are you suddenly saying you want to leave the team?"

Naruto shouted at Sasuke. Although he had not wanted to be assigned to the same class as Sasuke at first, during Kakashi's Team Entry Trial, Sasuke had already become a companion in Naruto's eyes.

Not just a companion, but someone he wanted to compete with.

Sakura clenched her fists as well, looking like she wanted to ask but did not dare to speak.

Sasuke did not answer.

Shen Mo actually saw a trace of guilt in his eyes?

So this was what Sasuke was like at this point in time?

The smile on Shen Mo's face seemed to deepen. Tsundere types were naturally more likable when they had more of the sweet side.

"Sasuke." Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke at this moment. His slightly clouded eyes looked at Sasuke as he asked, "Why do you want to leave the team? Since you passed Kakashi's trial, he should have already conveyed the meaning of a ninja team to you."

"Exactly!"

If Sakura had not been holding Naruto back, he probably would have rushed over to question him.

As for Sasuke—

After a moment of silence, he became even more certain of his choice.

"Because—" He raised his head and coldly glanced at Naruto and Sakura. "Their strength is no longer on the same level as mine. The gap is too great. They cannot keep up with my pace, and I cannot stop for them either, continuing this meaningless Companion Game!"

A brief silence fell over the scene because of Sasuke's words.

Then—

"You bastard!" Naruto suddenly broke free from Sakura and lunged viciously at Sasuke. "Stop acting like you're better than everyone else!"

What Naruto hated most was Sasuke acting like this.

He had been like this back in class too!

But just as Naruto was about to reach him—

Whoosh—

At a speed Naruto could not even see, Sasuke merely shifted his footing and instantly appeared behind him. He even reached out, grabbed the back of Naruto's clothes, and gave a light lift before he could fall.

"Naruto." Sasuke's cold voice came from behind him. "I'm not looking down on you. I'm only stating the facts!"

"Sasuke—!"

Naruto twisted around, seemingly wanting to say something else, but the world suddenly spun around him, and he flew straight toward Kakashi.

Very strong!

Everyone present—Kakashi, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Tsunade—could see it.

Sasuke was already far stronger than Naruto. That speed was not something a Genin should have been capable of.

"This brat..." Tsunade was the only one who immediately reacted. She looked at Shen Mo. "Did he buy Jars from you?"

"That's right." Shen Mo wore a brilliant smile. "Sasuke wished to change his fate and paid the price. Naturally, I would not refuse business."

"Just as I thought..." Tsunade looked at Shen Mo meaningfully. "Only your Jars could cause someone to change so much overnight."

Of everyone present, Kakashi was probably the only one still completely bewildered.

What Jars?

What were they talking about? The reason Sasuke had become stronger was Jars?

Even Naruto, whom Kakashi was holding, stopped struggling at this moment and stared wide-eyed at Sasuke.

Those miraculous Jars Uncle Teuchi bought? Sasuke had bought them too?

"That's exactly it, Lord Hokage." Sasuke raised his head, his face full of confidence as he looked straight into the Hokage's eyes. "I am completely different from yesterday. Staying in the team would only waste time. I request to leave the team."

He submitted his request once again.

No one spoke anymore.

Everyone looked at the Third Hokage.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat hesitant as well.

He had not expected this.

Sasuke had actually bought Jars from this mysterious merchant too. Had they not stripped the Uchiha clan's assets cleanly enough back then?

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of smoke, then slowly exhaled. Without drawing attention to it, he glanced at Shen Mo, who seemed to be smiling as he watched.

He had already made his decision.

"Sasuke, I have received your wish and your request." Hiruzen Sarutobi paused briefly before continuing, "However, you need to prove that, just as you said, you can no longer gain any growth from a ninja team."

"I can prove it!"

Sasuke replied without the slightest hesitation.

Anyone could see the confidence he had at this moment, like a Sharp Sword revealing its edge.

"Do you know why every ninja team needs a Jonin as its supervising instructor?" Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked unhurriedly. "Jonin are the elite among ninja. Whether in strength or mission experience, they far surpass Genin. The so-called supervising instructors are meant to help you learn something from Jonin."

Sasuke said nothing.

He remembered before.

During the Bell-Stealing Battle, he had possessed no ability to resist Kakashi at all and had even been easily pinned beneath his foot.

But he was different now.

"If you truly want to leave the team," Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "then have a match with Kakashi. If you win, I will approve your request."

A Genin competing against a Jonin, and being required to win.

No matter which Ninja Village it was in, that would have been an unimaginable matter.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's main reason for making this suggestion was to see—

Sasuke.

Just how much this mysterious merchant had strengthened him, in what direction he had been strengthened, and by what method.

Right now, what he needed most was information about Shen Mo!

"Fine!"

Sasuke agreed without the slightest hesitation.

He was even full of anticipation.

He turned around and looked at Kakashi.

"Kakashi-sensei, please have a match with me."

"So that's how it is..." Kakashi looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and seemed to sigh. "Since it's the Third Hokage's order, there's no helping it. Come over here."

He handed the Naruto who had stopped struggling to Sakura, then walked toward an open area nearby. Sasuke followed behind him with his sword on his back.

At this moment, Tsunade moved close to Shen Mo.

"How many Jars did that Uchiha brat buy from you?" she secretly asked.

"That is a customer's privacy. I won't reveal it casually." Shen Mo looked at Tsunade's eager expression and spoke as though helpless. "However, Tsunade, of all the customers I've done business with, you bought the fewest Jars."

Veins immediately bulged on Tsunade's forehead.

Damn it! Even a brat had more money than her?!

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the two of them, then turned his attention to the field. He silently smoked, unknown what he was thinking.

Sasuke and Kakashi had already taken their positions.

"This sword of mine is called Green Edge." Sasuke slowly removed the sword from his back. "It was forged from a fine sword blank and four or five kinds of rare ore. It is incomparably sharp, and ordinary bladed weapons cannot withstand it. Kakashi-sensei, you had better be careful."

Kakashi looked at Sasuke's well-intentioned warning and did not know what expression he should make.

Was he being looked down on like this by a Genin?