Kakashi at Twelve

The forest smelled fresh in the morning. Sunlight spilled through gaps in the leaves, illuminating the mist, while birdsong rang out all around, filling the woods with life.

Kakashi hid in a tree, his whole body tucked behind the trunk and concealed by dense foliage. He kept his breathing as shallow as possible.

The instant he heard a sound, he gently lifted the leaves, peering outside with only his eyes, while his other hand slowly drew the short blade at his waist.

It was a weapon inherited from his father, renowned as the White Fang. That man had once wielded this blade and nearly cut his way through the entire Sand Hidden front, earning countless merits for Konoha.

Then he died.

He died because of rumors and his comrades' accusations. He died after abandoning a mission to save his comrades. Even his former glory was swept into the dust and never mentioned again.

From then on, Kakashi took his father's fate as a warning and came to regard the father he had once been proud of as a disgrace.

The purpose of a ninja's existence was to complete missions. For that, they could abandon everything.

Anyone who broke this rule was trash!

The approaching footsteps forced Kakashi to put all such thoughts aside.

Figures flickered through the forest. Five Sand Ninja appeared behind him, one in front and two behind, with one on either side. Three moved by leaping from tree to tree, while the other two hurried along the ground.

The five Sand Ninja were cautious. They maintained a basic formation and quickly took cover after every move. They were clearly seasoned veterans with plenty of experience.

The Sand Ninja at the front was powerfully built, with a piercing gaze. Kakashi could sense a faint threat from him.

A Jonin!

Having identified the most dangerous target, Kakashi prepared to act.

The five Jonin passed beneath him, but he didn't strike at once.

The moment the last Sand Ninja came into view, Kakashi leaped from the tree and swung the White Light Chakra Sabre with all his strength.

Squelch!

A flash of white steel, and a spray of blood burst through the air.

The Sand Ninja had only just looked up before Kakashi killed him cleanly.

"An ambush!"

The remaining four Sand Ninja reacted swiftly, immediately pairing off and standing back-to-back in a defensive formation.

Seeing this, Kakashi realized there was no chance to attack in the confusion. He wisely retreated behind a tree, using it to block the enemy's line of sight.

"Are there no other enemies?"

After observing carefully and confirming this, the leading Jonin's face gradually turned livid. "So it's just one brat... Are you kidding me?!"

Did Konoha think so little of them that even some kid was arrogant enough to attack them alone?

"Get him!"

At his command, the four immediately split up and moved in from different directions.

The leading Jonin leaped straight onto the tree where Kakashi was hiding and looked down at him. He drew his Ninja Blade, a feral grin spreading across his face. "Die, you damn Konoha brat!"

As he landed, he brought his Ninja Blade down in a simultaneous slash.

Kakashi hurriedly jumped back to dodge, but the Jonin only grinned triumphantly.

The instant he landed, he shot forward. Chakra surged through his calves, multiplying his explosive power and driving him forward at incredible speed.

"Damn it!" Kakashi's pupils contracted. He had no time to react and could only grit his teeth and raise his blade to meet the attack.

But the Jonin was too fast. His Ninja Blade carved a pale arc through the air, slashing diagonally down from Kakashi's shoulder and cleaving through his entire torso.

Splat!

A huge wound split open Kakashi's chest.

Kakashi staggered and fell, his face full of terror.

Before he hit the ground...

Poof!

Kakashi burst into a cloud of smoke.

"A Shadow Clone? Watch out!" The Jonin's expression darkened. He turned and immediately shouted a warning, but he was still too late.

A pair of hands suddenly emerged from beneath one of the Sand Ninja, seized his ankle, and dragged him into the earth. Only his head remained aboveground.

Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!

Before the Sand Ninja could struggle more than a few times, a bright flash of steel swept past, taking his life.

Having killed another enemy, Kakashi didn't pause. He swiftly darted into the nearby woods, hiding as he looked for another chance to strike.

The next moment.

Boom!

A gale swept through, flattening the grass and trees. The area ahead became a vacuum.

Invisible blades of wind stretched out, slicing through everything they touched. Crisscrossing marks appeared on the thick tree trunks, and branches kept falling.

Wind Style: Wind Killing Array!

The Jonin who had just performed the jutsu released his hand seals, his face dark with anger.

"You two, support me from a distance. Don't get too close. I'll take that brat down myself!"

After just two exchanges, he knew the white-haired brat was no ordinary ninja. His subordinates couldn't handle him. If they wanted to kill him, he would have to do it himself.

After giving his instructions, the Jonin gripped his long blade and strode boldly toward Kakashi's position.

The two Sand Ninja followed behind, ready to provide support at any moment.

On a tree not far away, Sen Chisato and Minato stood atop the branches, silently watching everything.

They had already taken up position by the time Kakashi arrived. Though they had set out last, they had moved even faster than him.

From the moment Kakashi chose his hiding place until now, the two had watched his entire battle.

"His ninjutsu, swordsmanship, stealth, and combat intelligence... Hatake Kakashi performed flawlessly. He's already a qualified ninja," Sen Chisato said with the air of an old hand.

"I'm not worried about his abilities. I'm worried about his mindset and personality." Namikaze Minato gave a helpless, rueful smile.

"After Hatake Sakumo's suicide, the boy shut himself off. He became cold and sensitive, stubbornly believing that missions were everything. Even after spending five years with Obito and Rin, he still keeps them at a distance."

"Heartaches need the right remedy. Let Lord Hokage have a good talk with him," Sen Chisato immediately suggested.

"Uh..." Minato was speechless.

Hatake Sakumo's death had been connected to the Konoha High Command in the first place, and Lord Hokage already knew about Kakashi's problems... Asking Lord Hokage to discuss this with Kakashi would put him in a difficult position.

"Don't misunderstand. By Lord Hokage, I mean my teacher," Sen Chisato added when he saw Minato's reaction.

Clang!

The clash of blade against blade drew their attention back to Kakashi.

The Jonin had found Kakashi, and the fight had begun again.

The blades clashed repeatedly, sending sparks flying as the two exchanged blows at high speed. Their figures darted back and forth through the forest, shifting positions constantly.

Kakashi and the Sand Ninja were both skilled swordsmen, and neither had any obvious weakness in Taijutsu. Their moves were sharp and direct. Each strike was either meant to defend or aimed at a vital spot.

But little by little, Kakashi began to fall behind.

There was no difference between them in skill, but the difference in their bodies was obvious.

Kakashi's age was a real disadvantage. He was much weaker than his opponent, and had to put all his strength into every swing. As a result, he was quickly exhausting himself.

"Tch. He should be putting some distance between them and using ninjutsu at a time like this. If he keeps relying on swordsmanship and Taijutsu, it's only a matter of time before he loses." Sen Chisato spoke with displeasure.

"Ninjutsu consumes too much chakra," Minato said, understanding Kakashi's predicament.

"That's because he has too little chakra," Sen Chisato said, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

"Kakashi is only twelve. For someone his age, that's already a respectable amount of chakra."

Minato couldn't help twitching at the corner of his mouth. He said helplessly, "Not everyone can have as much chakra as you do at that age, Chisato!"

"Kakashi's going to lose." Sen Chisato didn't argue. He brought their attention back to the fight not far away.

Their conversation had done nothing to slow the battle. Kakashi had fought on without pause.

Just as they had expected, after fighting head-on until now, Kakashi was starting to run out of stamina.