Kakashi's Battle! (Seeking Follow-up and Monthly Votes)

Time slipped away bit by bit.

Uchiha Namiichi and Yamanaka En stepped off the field one after another.

However, both of them were just tagging along; facing the candidates truly aiming for promotion to Chunin this year, neither had used their full strength.

Among them, Yamanaka En had even lost outright.

"Hatake Kakashi, Shimura Torii!"

Finally, it was Kakashi's turn.

Shita Genichi felt a tinge of regret that it wasn't against him.

But, Shimura Torii?

The Shimura Clan... in the original work, there was almost no depiction of the Shimura Clan, as if they didn't exist.

But in reality, the Shimura Clan was much like the Sarutobi Clan, one of the main ninja clans of Konoha.

The Sarutobi Clan excelled in Fire Release, while this clan excelled in Wind Release.

In the current Konoha, Shimura Danzō could be called the number one practitioner of Wind Release, without a shred of exaggeration.

"Go, Kakashi!"

"Watch out for Wind Release!"

Shita Genichi watched as Kakashi leaped into the arena and shouted at the top of his lungs.

Kakashi didn't look back, merely raising a hand to make an OK gesture.

He was well aware that the Shimura Clan excelled in Wind Release.

Regarding the situation of the various clans in Konoha, he was actually more informed than Shita Genichi.

This was something Hatake Sakumo had told him since he was young.

After all, the Hatake clan could also be considered a small ninja clan in Konoha, though their numbers had dwindled significantly by now.

At the same time.

In the observation room, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Hatake Sakumo, and Shimura Danzō were all watching the display screen.

With his son and his apprentice both participating, Hatake Sakumo naturally had to come and watch.

As the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen also had to observe the performance of the newcomers, especially Kakashi and Shita Genichi, whom he kept an eye on.

As for Danzō, his expression was somber; he was likely there to see the performance of the young man from the Shimura family.

As for poaching geniuses, that was impossible.

Aside from the initial batch, the personnel of Root were all trained by himself.

The source of these recruits was primarily the various ninja clans.

For instance, the Ino-Shika-Cho, Shimura, Mitokado, and other clans would have members favored by Danzō, who would then enter Root from a young age to be trained.

Secondly, Danzō would select talented individuals from among commoners and orphans, who were also trained in Root from childhood and would not go through the Ninja Academy channel.

The headmaster of the Ninja Academy was the Hokage of each generation, meaning the Ninja Academy was the sphere of influence of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Of course, as Hokage, even Root ninja nominally belonged to the Hokage.

Therefore, even if they were trained in Root from childhood, the resumes of Root members would still include the process of studying at the Ninja Academy.

For example, the future Wood Style construction master Yamato had a resume of graduating from the Ninja Academy.

But in reality, he had never attended the Ninja Academy at all.

As for whether Danzō had planted spies among the Hokage's subordinates, or if Sarutobi Hiruzen had planted his own people in Root, only they themselves knew the truth.

On the screen, Kakashi and Shimura Torii, who had entered the arena, began their battle following the examiner's command.

Neither of them used ninjutsu at the start; in such an open space with such close proximity, there were no conditions for using ninjutsu right away.

Both drew their blades and charged, engaging in close-quarters Kenjutsu.

After a dozen exchanges, Danzō spoke up: "As expected of the son of the White Fang. Sakumo, this child has truly inherited your Kenjutsu!"

Hatake Sakumo was very humble: "Lord Danzō is too kind; Kakashi still needs a lot of effort."

Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed: "Kakashi is a hardworking child; his future achievements won't be any less than yours, Sakumo."

At this moment, Shimura Torii in the arena found an opportunity to retreat and form hand seals, opening his mouth to unleash Wind Release: Great Breakthrough. A violent gale surged forth, sweeping toward Kakashi.

Kakashi immediately formed hand seals as well, pressing his hands to the ground.

Earth Style: Earth Style Wall!

An earthen wall rose from the ground, blocking the incoming gale.

Shita Genichi also saw that after Shimura Torii performed the Great Breakthrough, he began forming hand seals again.

First, he created shadow clones, then his main body formed seals once more.

Wind Style: Wind Style: Gale Palm!

Shita Genichi saw air currents swirling around Shimura Torii, especially around his hands.

He drew his blade once more, airflow clinging to the steel to sharpen its edge, and charged toward Hatake Kakashi again.

Bolstered by Wind Style: Gale Palm, Shimura Torii's speed became noticeably faster.

Furthermore, he sent a clone ahead as a decoy, leaping over the high wall and firing shuriken at Hatake Kakashi the moment he appeared.

Clang!

Hatake Kakashi parried with his blade in one hand while flicking a shuriken out with his left.

Poof!

The Shimura Torii in mid-air burst into smoke, but the real one struck from the side.

Hatake Kakashi turned to meet the enemy, but he was forced into a continuous retreat by Shimura Torii's aggressive assault before being kicked away.

Poof!

As Hatake Kakashi slammed into the ground, Shimura Torii immediately used Body Flicker to pursue, pressing his ninja blade against Hatake Kakashi's throat.

But the next moment, Hatake Kakashi burst into a cloud of smoke.

"Shadow Clone!"

Shimura Torii's expression shifted slightly, and he moved to retreat, but the ground before him cracked open. Hatake Kakashi lunged from beneath the earth, slamming a fist into Shimura Torii's chin.

Seeing stars and stumbling, Shimura Torii was sent flying by another kick from Hatake Kakashi.

After rolling across the ground, Shimura Torii suddenly leaped to his feet, his hands weaving signs at high speed.

Shita Genichi watched in surprise, but upon seeing the blood at the corner of Shimura Torii's mouth, he immediately understood that the guy had bitten his tongue to force his brain to stay clear.

This reaction was nothing short of swift, and his fighting spirit was formidable.

Shimura Torii unleashed Wind Style: Gale Palm again, sending circles of gale-force winds straight at Hatake Kakashi.

Thinking he had already won and not expecting such tenacity from his opponent, Hatake Kakashi was caught in the gusts and could only cross his arms to defend.

Shimura Torii swung both hands, sending several shuriken flying, then clapped them together to manifest Wind Style: Gale Palm once more, imbuing the shuriken with extra speed and destructive power.

Crackle!

Electric light bloomed on Hatake Kakashi's hands, allowing him to forcibly break free from the gale.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Moving with a flicker, the faster Hatake Kakashi knocked away the shuriken one by one, though one still sliced through the sleeve of his left forearm, leaving a bloody gash.

Ignoring the wound, Hatake Kakashi leaped into the air and descended, slashing down at Shimura Torii.

Clang!

Shimura Torii held his blade horizontally to block.

At that moment, the electric light on Hatake Kakashi's hand surged, traveling along the blade to strike Shimura Torii.

Shuddering all over, Shimura Torii was instantly kicked away by Hatake Kakashi, who then closed the distance and held his blade to his throat.

"Hatake Kakashi, winner!"

The examiner announced.

Back at the spectator stand, Shita Genichi treated Hatake Kakashi's wounds: "Kakashi, you were careless!"

Hatake Kakashi nodded, though he replied, "No need to waste chakra; just use bandages for a minor wound like this."

Shita Genichi glanced at the electronic screen: "It's fine, it's not my turn yet."

"Besides, a wound like this won't consume much chakra."

Hatake Kakashi looked toward Shimura Torii, who had returned to his companions on the other side: "That guy is quite strong too."

Shita Genichi turned his gaze as well and nodded: "He is indeed good; his Kenjutsu and Wind Release are both excellent."

Although Shimura Torii lost, his strength was not to be underestimated.

Judging by his age, Shimura Torii was likely only a year or two older than them.

He might even have graduated later than them.

After two more matches passed, Shita Genichi finally saw his own name.

However, upon seeing his opponent's name, he couldn't help but freeze.

Uchiha Tekka!