Kakashi, You're a Bit Fierce Today

Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage sat before his desk, puffing on his pipe while processing the documents piled before him.

Knock! Knock!

The sound of knocking echoed, and the Third Hokage said without looking up, "Come in."

Creak!

With silver hair, a black mask, and a forehead protector tilted to cover his left eye, the person who entered was none other than Kakashi.

"Ah, it's you, Kakashi. Has the mission been completed?"

"Lord Hokage," Kakashi remained deeply respectful toward the Third Hokage. He approached, knelt on one knee, and handed over a scroll containing intelligence regarding the Land of Snow.

"Very well. You've worked hard; go back and get some rest."

"Yes."

With that, Kakashi departed.

As for Naraku, upon returning to the village, he went straight to Konoha Hospital. After visiting Kushina, he collapsed onto a bed to rest; the days of travel had long since exhausted his young body.

Reporting on missions was a task best left to Kakashi alone; besides, he had no desire to see the Third Hokage.

Just as Kakashi stepped out of the Hokage Building and prepared to head home, a familiar figure blocked his path.

"Yo, isn't this my eternal rival, Kakashi? Let us have a youthful duel!"

"Ugh," Kakashi rolled his eyes with a deadpan expression.

Without a word, he turned and walked away, his pace quickening until he was practically fleeing the scene.

"As expected of you, Kakashi. So you wish to compete in a test of speed?"

A fire of youth ignited in Guy's eyes. "I won't lose to you, Kakashi!"

He pushed off with both feet, his entire body transforming into a green blur as he sped after Kakashi.

Soon, through Guy's efforts, the distance between them closed. Just as he was about to catch up, Kakashi suddenly spun around. Seeing this, Guy slammed his feet into the ground, coming to a halt like a car hitting the brakes.

"Guy, let's have a real duel!" Kakashi said with a serious expression.

"Ah? A duel? Not a test of speed?" Guy looked bewildered.

However, there was no challenge he would ever refuse.

"Yosh! Bring it on, Kakashi!"

"Right."

The two of them arrived at a training ground within the village and commenced a genuine duel.

Originally, Kakashi had no intention of sparring with Guy, but he had changed his mind.

Feeling the abundant chakra within his body, a smile tugged at the corner of Kakashi's mouth. "Guy, the me of now... is the true me!"

"Kakashi..."

Although Kakashi wore his mask, Guy still sensed something amiss; he felt that the Kakashi before him was different from the one he knew.

"Watch yourself, Guy."

Just as Kakashi spoke, he vanished from sight. The next moment, Guy felt the air before him ripple violently, and a dark shadow appeared in his vision.

Guy had no time to think; he exerted force into his right leg and unleashed a Konoha Whirlwind.

Bang!

With a ripple of air, Guy's attack was blocked by Kakashi's arm.

"As expected of you, Guy."

"But this is only the beginning!"

Pale blue chakra suddenly surged over his arm. Kakashi exerted force, grabbed Guy's right leg with a backhand motion, and pivoted at the waist, intending to hurl him away.

As the master of taijutsu, Emperor Guy naturally wouldn't lose his composure so easily.

Guy planted his standing foot, leaned backward, and kicked out with his left leg toward Kakashi's arm.

Seeing this, Kakashi was forced to release his grip and step back to evade the strike.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Almost instantly, Kakashi completed the hand seals and spat out a massive fireball.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

Just as the fireball surged forward, he completed another jutsu, sending a violent gale of wind crashing into the flames.

The wind fueled the fire.

The fireball grew even more ferocious, hurtling toward Guy.

A wave of heat washed over him. Guy's expression turned grave, and he pushed off the ground with both legs. "Konoha Strong Whirlwind!"

Guy's legs were like true axes, cleaving the fireball in two, and he then surged toward Kakashi at high speed.

"Earth Style: Underworld Swamp."

Suddenly, Kakashi let out a sharp shout and slammed his palm onto the ground.

Rumble!

In an instant, the surrounding ground began to churn, transforming into a literal swamp.

Guy did not dare to be careless; pale blue chakra emerged around his feet. While chakra alone could not allow him to stand on the swamp, it provided him with enough leverage to push off.

With just two large strides, he appeared before Kakashi, his whip-kick—sharp as an axe—lashing out fiercely toward him.

Kakashi was unable to react in time; struck by the kick, he was sent flying backward.

Bang!

Suddenly, the Kakashi in mid-air transformed into a puff of smoke, and a log fell to the ground.

"Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique."

Kakashi's voice came from not far away, accompanied by a massive fire dragon.

The crimson flames rolled toward Guy, dancing like a violent dragon.

Guy was a bit bewildered at this moment. He and Kakashi had sparred countless times, but Kakashi had never been in a state like this before.

"Kakashi, you're a bit fierce today!"

"Since that's the case, I'll have to get serious too." A cyan flame flickered in Guy's eyes.

"Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life, open!"

Pale green energy emerged around Guy's body, and his short black hair stood on end without a breeze.

Guy then transformed into a green blur, charging directly toward the fire dragon; the massive beast was like nothing before him.

"I've gone too far," Kakashi exclaimed, watching Guy pass through the fire dragon completely unscathed.

He had only intended to test his current strength, and with the sudden influx of chakra, he had simply cast a few extra ninjutsu. He hadn't expected Guy to actually use the Eight Inner Gates.

"If that's how it is, then let's fight!"

Blue electric arcs flickered over Kakashi's body as he unleashed the Chidori Current once more, though unlike last time, the amount of chakra within him remained abundant.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The two engaged in a clash of taijutsu, and for a time, the sound of air exploding echoed across the field as the green and blue figures collided repeatedly.

"Ha, ha."

"Ha, ha."

By dusk, both men were panting heavily as they collapsed onto the ground.

Kakashi felt incredibly invigorated. Ever since he had the Sharingan of Obito implanted in his left eye, he had never fought like this.

"Teacher, I think I might have found my own path."