The Gatekeeper Mini-Boss

Suifeng's injuries looked severe, but they were really just superficial wounds. Wako didn't even use the Mystical Palm Technique; ordinary Healing Technique was enough to take care of them quickly.

She neither agreed nor objected to Suifeng's request to learn Medical Ninjutsu. After all, he was still just a child, and he was prone to changing his mind on a whim. If he still felt the same way after his duel with Kakashi, she wouldn't mind teaching him. Ordinary Medical Ninjutsu wasn't a secret, anyway.

"So the Six Powers really do work in this world!"

After a day of training, Fushan had beaten him black and blue. But toward the latter half of the session, Suifeng had followed what he remembered and slowly learned to control the flow of blood through his body, speeding up his muscles. His defenses had indeed improved. He couldn't exactly call himself as hard as steel yet, but he could take a beating better. He could feel the difference.

That got him excited.

The Naruto world had Body Techniques, too, but as far as he was concerned, aside from the Eight Inner Gates and the Seven Heavenly Breaths, the rest were trash. Ninjas were far too focused on powerful ninjutsu.

It made sense, when he thought about it. Who would care about Body Techniques that took such grueling practice when they had powerful ninjutsu?

The Eight Inner Gates were out of the question for now. Relations between the Uchiha and the Hokage's faction were far too strained, so getting his hands on that forbidden technique wouldn't be easy. But he could try for the Seven Heavenly Breaths.

Of course, a technique on par with the Eight Inner Gates wouldn't be easy to master. Like the Eight Inner Gates, it required a long period of grueling training. Besides, he only knew the principles behind the Seven Heavenly Breaths. He hadn't even figured out how to train in it yet.

In the end, Kakashi was still the roadblock.

In other words, Kakashi had become the first hurdle in front of him. Whatever plans or grand ambitions he had, he had to deal with Kakashi first.

"Kakashi, looks like you're the first mini-boss I have to beat. I wonder what I'll get for taking you down."

Because of the upcoming duel, he'd gotten all the information on Kakashi's career since graduating from Fushan, including accounts of his battles during the missions he'd completed.

Just as he'd expected, Kakashi wasn't yet the chakra-starved, fifty-fifty fighter who would later get wrecked by Obito. He'd inherited the Hatake Clan's swordsmanship and footwork, making him something of a cheat among the Genin, but that was about it.

To put it simply, he was a nobody who'd made a name for himself because there were no heroes around.

Kakashi was called a genius only because this generation's mediocrities made him look good. He was a whole tier below Shisui and Itachi, who came later.

His footwork was fast, but not as fast as Shisui's would be. At the Genin level, he barely counted as an expert.

As for swordsmanship, it was decent at his level, but you couldn't expect a six- or seven-year-old kid to have mastered the blade. And Lightning Release? Come on, how much chakra could he have at that age? How fast could he make Hand Seals?

In other words, Kakashi was a top student with no cheat skills. Suifeng wasn't exactly a top student, but after all this training, he was at least one of the best among kids his age. And besides, he had cheat skills of his own. He couldn't use his biggest one yet, but he still had the Sharingan and his imagination.

He was confident he could beat Kakashi.

If he managed to figure out Iron Body in such a short time, he might even be able to take Kakashi out in one hit.

Could Kakashi use a sword?

No.

Looking over Kakashi's history—not counting his missions—he'd been a shining prodigy ever since he entered the Ninja Academy. Whenever he fought a classmate, he usually settled things with one kick and almost never needed a second. The last time he fought Suifeng had been the same: one kick had killed him, making way for the Suifeng who was here now.

In other words, he'd never considered kids his own age to be opponents. They were just props for him to show off his strength.

What's more, he was now a Genin and had already completed two C-rank missions. If he'd once looked down on his peers, now he must have felt he was already far above them. Why would he use a sword against his former defeated opponent, a loser who hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy?

Kakashi had never known hardship, and things had gone far too smoothly for him. He could hardly imagine anyone being his equal.

So he wouldn't use a sword.

Kunai, Body Techniques, Three Body Technique!

He could practically picture the moves Kakashi would use. If Suifeng still couldn't win, he might as well bash his head against a block of tofu and die.

"Kakashi, listen, don't underestimate Suifeng. I heard he's been training hard lately, with a jonin from his clan giving him special instruction. He's been working his butt off. Every time he comes back from the training ground, he's covered in bruises!"

Konoha, barbecue restaurant.

Obito's mouth was stuffed with barbecue, and he was still as loud and excitable as ever.

Kakashi had just gotten back from a mission today when Obito caught him and dragged him straight to the barbecue restaurant. Rin was there, too.

Kakashi looked at Obito, speechless. You're a member of the Uchiha Clan, too. Is this really a good idea?

"When did I agree to duel him?!"

Kakashi said glumly. "He's just a defeated opponent."

"Come on, Kakashi, everyone in Konoha's talking about it. They say Uchiha Suifeng wants to challenge you again."

Obito looked surprised. "You're not going to refuse, are you?!"

"Why should I agree?" Kakashi replied, still wearing his dead-fish eyes.

"Exactly! Why should you agree? Ignore him. Ignore that bastard. Let's see what he does then!" Obito got worked up again, spraying bits of meat and saliva everywhere as he spoke.

Rin tugged at him from beside them, and he finally calmed down, looking a little embarrassed.

"Hey, Kakashi, I heard you're going to duel Uchiha Suifeng again!"

"Asuma, what are you doing here?!"

Seeing the newcomer, Obito started shouting again. The kid in front of them, dressed like a delinquent, was none other than the Third Hokage's son, Sarutobi Asuma.

"If you can come here, why can't I?" Asuma, the son of a Hokage, was just as cocky a kid at this age. He walked right up to the table, sat down, then raised his chin and looked at Kakashi. "Suifeng hasn't been to school for over a month. I heard he's training with his clan, and he won't be satisfied until he beats you!"

"Hey, Kakashi already said he won't accept Suifeng's challenge again!"

"Oh?" Asuma looked confused. "No way. I just heard the old man say that once this term ends, Uchiha Suifeng will apply for early graduation. Then you'll be the one assessing him!"

"What?!"

"You can do that?!"

Kakashi stopped mid-motion, his dead-fish eyes suddenly frozen in place.

"Hmph, Kakashi, you'd better not go easy on him then. Damn it, I want to graduate early, too, but the old man won't let me!" Asuma wailed, oblivious to everyone around him.