Copy Ninja: Kakashi

"Yun Xi, stop! The Third Hokage already knows that Danzo wanted to take you and Karin into Root. Now you need to come with us to meet the Third Hokage!"

It hadn't been long since Yun Xi had left home with Karin and Pikachu.

The Anbu under the Third Hokage's command had finally appeared before Yun Xi.

They intended to take Yun Xi and Karin back to the Hokage Building and let the Third Hokage handle the matter.

"The Anbu are here?" Yun Xi smiled as he looked at the three Anbu Ninja before him.

"You're certainly quick to show up now. Where were you when the Root Division tried to take Karin?"

Yun Xi had never been fond of the Anbu.

If not for the Third Hokage's sake, he would have attacked them without hesitation!

"We only just found out about this, which is why we came right away. You have to trust that the Third Hokage will give you a fair explanation."

Perhaps they were affected by the dark aura surrounding Yun Xi.

The three Anbu Chunin trembled slightly as they spoke with him...

They even took a few steps back without thinking.

Yun Xi didn't care what they thought of him.

He simply said, his voice full of murderous intent, "I already gave you a chance. From now on, anyone who stops me from killing Danzo is my enemy!"

"This..."

Perhaps they sensed the killing intent in Yun Xi's words.

The three Anbu Chunin who had stopped him earlier didn't dare say another word.

They instinctively stepped aside and cleared a path for Yun Xi...

"You can't go today!"

Just as Yun Xi was about to leave with Karin, another Anbu suddenly appeared.

"Mask, Sharingan..." Yun Xi was a little surprised when he saw the Anbu Jonin who had suddenly appeared.

Those distinctive features were enough for Yun Xi to recognize the shinobi.

It was none other than the famous Hatake Kakashi, the future Sixth Hokage.

"You're much stronger than those three, but you're still not strong enough, Kakashi..."

Yun Xi wasn't being arrogant. He truly meant what he said.

Yun Xi actually liked Kakashi as a character, but when it came to strength...

Kakashi was no match for Yun Xi as he was now.

Yun Xi might even be able to kill him in an instant!

"We'll see if I'm strong enough after we fight!"

After hearing Yun Xi's words, Kakashi's expression changed.

His initial caution gave way to anger.

He couldn't see through the boy before him, but he refused to believe he was truly weaker than Yun Xi!

"Three-Tomoe Sharingan, activate!"

"Lightning Style: Earth Flow!"

As soon as he spoke, Kakashi attacked.

He activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, then launched a wide-area Lightning Release attack.

He intended to defeat Yun Xi in one strike and take him before the Third Hokage.

"You're definitely strong compared to those guys, but this attack isn't enough!"

Seeing Kakashi attack, Yun Xi didn't panic.

He casually tossed Pikachu, who was standing beside him, right into the area targeted by Lightning Style: Earth Flow.

"What's going on?"

The three Anbu Chunin watching from the side were shocked by Yun Xi's response.

They were elite Chunin who had fought in over a hundred battles, after all.

But they had never seen anyone throw their own summoning beast into an enemy's attack before.

"Is he trying to get himself killed?" Kakashi was surprised, too.

He knew just how powerful his Lightning Style: Earth Flow was.

And in his eyes, this mouse-like summoning beast was at best on the level of an elite Chunin.

It would surely die if struck by his Lightning Release Ninjutsu!

"Is the kid planning to use his summoning beast's life to block my attack?"

Kakashi considered several possibilities in that instant.

In the end, he decided Yun Xi was simply using his summoning beast to block the attack.

After all, a Chunin-level summoning beast was fairly valuable.

But Kakashi thought using one to gain an advantage in battle was a clever strategy.

Even if the price was steep...

Just as Kakashi was lamenting the fate of Yun Xi's rat-like summoning beast,

Pikachu came into contact with Kakashi's Lightning Style: Earth Flow.

A sight that shocked both the Anbu Chunin and Kakashi unfolded before them!

After taking the full force of Lightning Style: Earth Flow, the yellow-furred rat wasn't hurt at all.

In fact, it looked even more energetic than before!

Kakashi was a long-famous genius Jonin and a shinobi exceptionally skilled in Lightning Release.

Even an ordinary Jonin couldn't withstand Kakashi's full-power attack head-on, yet this mouse-like summoning beast...

It had taken a bath in the A-rank jutsu Lightning Style: Earth Flow and emerged completely unharmed.

It had even recovered some of its stamina...

"Could this summoning beast be immune to Lightning Release...?"

Seeing this, Kakashi felt as if his whole understanding of the world had been turned upside down.

"Come back, Pikachu."

After seeing Pikachu absorb all the Lightning Release chakra in Kakashi's Lightning Style: Earth Flow,

Yun Xi called Pikachu back to his side.

Seeing how energetic Pikachu looked, Yun Xi smiled...

"Getting a free charge for once. I came out ahead!"

Looking at the energetic Pikachu and Yun Xi's smiling face,

Kakashi finally realized he'd fallen for it.

His Lightning Release Ninjutsu hadn't hurt Yun Xi's summoning beast at all.

It seemed to have even restored some of its stamina and healed some of its injuries...

"Jokes aside, I hope we can resolve this through the Third Hokage. A peaceful solution would be best for everyone..."

At last, Kakashi grew serious.

He intended to persuade Yun Xi to come with him through sheer talk.

He wanted the Third Hokage to resolve the matter!

"Kakashi, you're too naïve. You're so naïve it makes me want to laugh."

Yun Xi felt a little helpless at Kakashi's words.

He hadn't expected Kakashi to be so naïve at this point.

Naïve enough to think some things could be resolved simply by smoothing things over!

The Konoha of the original Naruto story always gave people a bright, passionate impression.

But that was only the surface.

The White Fang's death and the Uchiha Clan Massacre,

along with the tangled relationship between the Third Hokage and Danzo, all served to remind Yun Xi how dangerous this world was.

There was darkness even in the brightest places.

Even the Third Hokage, portrayed as nearly flawless in the original Naruto story, had his flaws.

He had let Orochimaru go because his heart had softened, which led to a whole series of events later on.

In the end, he died at Orochimaru's hands...

That weakness, born of misplaced mercy, was the greatest flaw a Hokage could have!

And now Kakashi intended to take Yun Xi to meet the Third Hokage.

Then he wanted the Third Hokage to settle the matter through mediation.

How could Yun Xi possibly accept that outcome?

He wasn't really a three-year-old child who would abandon his desire for revenge after hearing a few simple words!