Sasuke Thinks He Can Win!

Sasuke Thinks He Can Win!

By now, the morning sun had fully risen, its golden light shining over the empty forest.

Several people stood to the side, watching the confrontation that was about to begin.

Genin Sasuke versus Jonin Kakashi!

If Sasuke won, he would be allowed to leave Team 7.

The atmosphere of the duel gradually intensified.

However, every spectator felt differently about it.

Naruto plopped down on the ground, still looking quite grumpy.

Sakura walked over to him and said hesitantly, "Naruto, if Sasuke really defeats Mr. Kakashi—"

Before she could finish, Naruto immediately shouted, "That's impossible, impossible! He couldn't even get the bells last time."

Sakura recalled the recent bell-grabbing battle and seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

But then she turned her head and glanced at the smiling Shen Mo.

Her heart grew tense again.

Although the jars from yesterday had only contained ingredients, their miraculous nature had left a deep impression on her.

"Let's begin." Third Hokage's slightly aged voice rang out.

Sasuke and Kakashi formed the Opposition of Hands.

Then, the instant he raised his head, a piercing flash of light appeared before Sasuke's eyes.

It was sunlight reflected from Kakashi's forehead protector!

In that instant,

Kakashi had already thrown three Kunai, sealing off all of Sasuke's movements. Then he charged out with another Kunai in hand. The Jonin's speed exploded completely, and he actually reached Sasuke's back before the other Kunai, accompanied by the whistling pressure of the wind.

It's over!

Kakashi thrust the Kunai toward Sasuke's neck.

Against a mere genin,

he had not only chosen the direction that could make use of the sunlight from the start, but had also seriously brought out seventy or eighty percent of his strength and speed, intending to end the battle quickly.

If this had been the Sasuke from before, that attack would indeed have ended things.

However—

With a clang, the sound of metal colliding violently rang out.

The broad sword in Sasuke's hand not only knocked away the three Kunai, but also blocked Kakashi's attack at an extremely tricky angle! A string of sparks even burst from the friction.

At the instant of the collision, the eye visible outside Kakashi's mask seemed to widen abruptly.

"This strength!?"

Although it was still not enough to surpass him, it had barely reached the level of a Jonin!

Kakashi knew very clearly how strong Sasuke had been before.

And this had happened in just one night!

What exactly had given Sasuke such strength?

Kakashi was not the only one shocked.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was standing to the side, was shocked as well!

"His strength has actually become this powerful too?" Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to draw in a faint breath as he stared intently at Sasuke in the arena.

"Mr. Kakashi." Sasuke seemed very pleased by Kakashi's shock, an irrepressible smile on his face. "I've said it many times already. I'm completely different from before!"

On the final word, he flicked up his long sword, easily deflecting Kakashi's force, then leaped backward.

Then—

he stepped forward and charged at incredible speed, taking the initiative to attack!

The long sword moved like a phantom in his hands. Every thrust, lift, and sweep displayed exquisite swordsmanship.

Most importantly, his speed and strength actually seemed evenly matched with Kakashi's.

The battle had already spread across the entire clearing, with the two of them repeatedly crossing and clashing.

The sound of ringing metal was endless.

This was only a genin!

"Just how many jars did he open?" Even Tsunade was somewhat amazed.

The strength Sasuke was displaying now was certainly not enough to make him her opponent.

But considering Sasuke's age, he was a genius even in the entire Ninja World.

"It's not merely a matter of quantity." Shen Mo shook his head, deliberately raising his voice slightly. "There's also the variety. The jars Sasuke opened belonged to a series specially prepared for battle. They're different from your Medicine Chest, so it's only natural that his strength would increase so greatly."

"A series? Judging by the way he looks..." Tsunade looked at Sasuke again. "The series of jars he opened should be related to the sword, right?"

That was easy to see.

Sasuke's profound swordsmanship—

everything else, including his movement techniques and taijutsu, served the sword in his hand. Until now, he had not used ninjutsu, and he had not even used a Kunai once.

"The sword?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had also heard their conversation, and his eyes filled with deep solemnity.

Indeed.

Sasuke's current strength was basically concentrated in that sword.

But the key point was this:

His performance was completely unlike that of a novice swordsman who possessed nothing but strength. He was more like a powerful swordsman who had trained for more than a decade, with every swing of his sword appearing extremely experienced.

What had changed was not only his body, but also his experience!

That was what Hiruzen Sarutobi found most unbelievable.

Strength, moves, skills—everything could be obtained easily by opening jars. What meaning did all the painstaking training of ninjas have, then?

Clearly,

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had bitterly cultivated for his entire life, had been shaken by the power Sasuke had obtained in a single night.

And he was obviously not the only one affected.

Naruto clenched his fists and jumped up. "Mr. Kakashi, what are you doing? Hurry up and defeat him!"

Although Naruto was somewhat careless, he actually possessed a powerful competitive spirit. Otherwise, he would not have constantly kept his dream of becoming Hokage on his lips.

And now,

Sasuke, who had previously been defeated effortlessly alongside him by Mr. Kakashi and taught that ninjas had to work together, was actually fighting Kakashi to a standstill?

How was that possible?!

Kakashi did not know whether he had heard Naruto's words, but his gaze sharpened. Seizing an opening, he raised his leg and kicked upward fiercely.

Shadow Leaf Dance!

A taijutsu technique from Konoha. It kicked toward the enemy's chin, and after sending them flying, there were follow-up attacks.

However, Sasuke narrowly blocked the kick with the flat of his sword.

His entire body was sent flying backward.

Not only was he not disappointed, but the smile on his face was impossible to suppress.

Instead of rushing to attack further, he held the sword in one hand and covered his forehead with the other, his shoulders trembling slightly as he laughed excitedly. "Hehehe, Naruto, haven't you figured it out yet? The current me won't lose to Kakashi anymore! No, victory in this battle will definitely be mine!"

Even though he was confident that he could win as he was now,

the battle just now

still brought him immense pleasure!

The strength in his body, his keen reaction speed, the sword-training experience that seemed engraved into his soul, and the sword techniques that came naturally to him were all experiences he had never had before!

Especially—

his opponent was Kakashi, who had effortlessly defeated him as if he were merely playing with him not long ago!

The feeling of possessing such powerful strength was like a dream.

He still had a trump card he had yet to use.

With this level of strength, he might actually be able to take revenge. Just you wait, Itachi Uchiha!

Shen Mo looked at the smug Sasuke, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Kakashi had not even used ninjutsu yet.

Forget it.

The strength Sasuke was displaying was already astonishing enough. He had even reached the point where he could fight an ordinary Jonin, which was sufficient proof of how powerful his jars were.

But was Kakashi an ordinary Jonin?