Kakashi's True Strength

Kakashi's True Strength

Some people, no matter how much stronger they become, will still end up getting beaten to a pulp.

Because they always run into enemies stronger than themselves.

Sasuke was undoubtedly one of those people.

If you asked why,

the answer was probably his fate.

A fate so troublesome that even Shen Mo found it difficult to deal with. From this display of being completely unable to see the gap in strength, even the gods would be powerless to save him.

Sure enough.

Kakashi let out a low sigh.

"Ugh—"

He glanced at the Kunai in his hand, which was already badly damaged, then looked at Sasuke, who was standing before him with a smug expression. "I originally only wanted to deal with you easily using taijutsu, but if I let you leave the squad now, you'll definitely die!"

"What are you talking about, Kakashi-sensei?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Of course I'm not arrogant enough to think I'm invincible, but I'm an avenger, so I'll definitely become stronger!"

First, he would surpass Kakashi, then become even stronger, until he was stronger than that man!

How could he possibly die after becoming stronger?

"No, you don't understand at all what kind of strength that man you hate possesses." Kakashi still gripped the Kunai covered in notches.

However, the aura around him gradually changed. Even Sasuke instinctively sensed that something was wrong.

What's going on?

I just feel that...

Kakashi standing before him seemed somehow different.

"Sasuke."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke at just the right moment. His aged voice, carrying a hint of reminiscence, reached everyone's ears.

"Your teacher, Kakashi, is different from ordinary Jonin. He can be called a true genius. He graduated from the Ninja Academy at the age of five, became a Chunin at six, and became a Jonin at twelve. He also made a great name for himself on the battlefields of that time, earning the title—Copy Ninja Kakashi."

Kakashi's record was absolutely astonishing when recounted in this peaceful era.

At the age when ordinary students had only just graduated from the Ninja Academy, he had already become a Jonin.

He had even earned a reputation on the battlefield.

"That's amazing." Naruto seemed startled. "Kakashi-sensei was actually that incredible? Even though he's usually like that."

"So I was also surprised that he acknowledged you and was willing to become your team leader," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, seemingly with a sigh of emotion.

What are you surprised about?

Shen Mo rolled his eyes inwardly.

It had clearly been arranged long ago.

But at a time like this, all he could do was watch. Only after being beaten down a little would Sasuke realize that he still had a long way to go in opening chests. And Hiruzen Sarutobi's sudden praise was clearly also a hint to Kakashi that he should start taking this seriously.

As for Sasuke,

he seemed to have been shocked by Kakashi's unbelievable record as well.

Unlike himself, who had grown stronger through opening chests,

Kakashi had relied on his own abilities to become a Jonin at the mere age of twelve.

Just like that man.

Both were geniuses among geniuses.

In that case...

"If I defeat you!" Sasuke raised the Sharp Sword in his hand and pointed it at Kakashi, his eyes carrying a trace of fervor. "Doesn't that mean I'll already be strong enough to find that man, Itachi Uchiha, and take my revenge?"

He had actually called Itachi Uchiha by name directly.

That was right. Although he had yet to obtain the Sword Body and could still become stronger,

Sasuke simply couldn't endure the thought of revenge any longer.

However, Kakashi denied it.

"If your enemy is Itachi Uchiha, then even I don't have much confidence in defeating him." Kakashi's tone was firm. "What's more, you can't possibly beat me right now. So if you leave the squad to find Itachi Uchiha, you'll definitely die, Sasuke!"

Kakashi was someone who cherished his comrades.

He would never let a disciple he acknowledged throw away his life for nothing.

So—wake him up with a beating!

"Then let's continue!" Kakashi's words seemed to have provoked Sasuke, and clear anger appeared on his face. "That just now wasn't my full strength!"

He had indeed kept many abilities hidden and had not used them.

"Then I'll let you truly experience a life-and-death battle between ninjas." Kakashi raised a hand and slowly moved it toward the forehead protector covering his eye.

He pushed it upward.

Then he abruptly opened the eye with the scar.

That was—!

Sasuke's pupils abruptly contracted as he stared at Kakashi's crimson eye in disbelief.

The Sharingan! That was the Sharingan!

Even within the Uchiha Clan, only a small number of people possessed this dojutsu, the Sharingan!

Why? Why did Kakashi have the Sharingan?

Sasuke opened his mouth, just about to ask, but the words suddenly became impossible to utter.

Because of the killing intent.

Kakashi formed the hand sign for releasing a ninjutsu, and the Chakra around his body surged wildly, even whipping up a whirlwind.

At that moment, Sasuke truly felt it.

Kakashi standing before him seemed to have turned into a beast, a cheetah lying in wait, ready to hunt.

Even a single disordered breath or a single movement of the eyes could result in his being killed through carelessness!

Even the hand gripping the sword seemed to tremble slightly.

"Sasuke, if you call yourself an avenger, then regard me as the person you hate most." Kakashi's voice seemed to drift through the wind from all directions, surrounding Sasuke. "And I'll also hold the resolve to kill you, just as I would against a true enemy!"

Whether Kakashi was telling the truth or not,

this killing intent he had gained from the battlefield—

Sasuke felt it for real.

"Damn it, damn it!"

Sasuke gritted his teeth, tightened his grip on the Sharp Sword, and suddenly stepped into an enigmatic pattern. In an instant, several phantom images resembling clones split off and charged fiercely toward Kakashi.

Seven Star Steps!

A footwork technique used in coordination with swordsmanship, it was the best movement technique Sasuke had drawn the previous night.

Illusory and real, crisscrossing in every direction.

Hiruzen Sarutobi saw at a glance that this was definitely a movement-based taijutsu technique that could be rated B-rank or higher. It also had extremely high potential for cultivation and might even grow to A-rank or higher.

What kind of power had Sasuke obtained during this single night?

At that moment,

facing Sasuke's fierce assault, Kakashi seemed not to have noticed anything at all.

"I've got you!"

With a phantom image in front and his true body behind it, Sasuke's long sword came to rest against Kakashi's neck. With only a little force, Kakashi's life would disappear beneath his hand.

"I still won." Sasuke spoke confidently.

"Sasuke." Kakashi, whose neck was being held at swordpoint, spoke in a low voice. "As a member of the Uchiha Clan, don't you even understand what effects the Sharingan possesses?"

"What!?" Sasuke's gaze sharpened.

Suddenly, a hand drilled out of the ground and seized his lower leg.

The Kakashi before him directly dissolved into blue smoke.

A clone? When had he formed the hand seals?

Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!

Kakashi would not give him time to think. He immediately activated the ninjutsu.