Hidden Strength

"That's... a Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"

Seeing the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in Mirai's eyes, Kakashi's gaze jolted.

With a snap, he closed the Icha Icha Paradise in his hand, his body instinctively becoming alert.

Kakashi knew the abilities of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan very well.

Because he himself possessed a Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and had relied on its power to shine brilliantly during the ninja world war.

Thus, Kakashi had earned a title in the ninja world: Copy Ninja Kakashi.

So, seeing that Mirai had also awakened a Three-Tomoe Sharingan, it would have been strange if Kakashi had not been shocked.

After activating his Sharingan, Mirai moved, his entire body shooting forward.

"Fire Style—Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Mirai immediately attacked with ninjutsu.

A massive fireball blasted out, flying toward the tree where Kakashi stood.

Boom!

The fireball struck the tree, which toppled over in an instant as blazing flames erupted across it.

With a whoosh, Kakashi burst out from the flames.

"Looks like I really can't underestimate you!"

Before Kakashi could finish speaking, another Great Fireball came flying straight at him!

Kakashi hurriedly retreated. After swiftly stuffing Icha Icha Paradise into his ninja pouch, his hands flashed through a series of seals.

"Water Style—Water Wall!"

Just as the fireball was about to hit Kakashi, he gave a low shout, and a wall of water suddenly surged up from below, blocking the fireball.

Seeing Kakashi effortlessly block his attack with Water Style, Mirai's lips curled slightly.

"In that case, I won't hold back, Kakashi!"

"Fire Style—Twin Dragon Fire!"

Mirai's hands flew through seals, and he exhaled, sending two fire dragons soaring forth.

The moment the fire dragons appeared, the air became scorching hot.

Watching the two fire dragons, Kakashi's mouth twitched beneath his mask. "A B-rank ninjutsu!"

The fire dragons soared through the air, charging toward Kakashi from the left and right.

Kakashi hastily dispelled his Water Style and rapidly retreated.

Mirai quickly closed in, controlling the two fire dragons to coordinate with each other and instantly surround Kakashi.

Crackle...

Suddenly, streaks of silver light appeared around Kakashi's body.

"Lightning Style—Chidori!"

The silver light blazed brightly as Kakashi transformed into a bolt of lightning, piercing through one of the fire dragons in the blink of an eye and escaping.

"Fire Style—Great Fireball Jutsu!"

The instant Kakashi broke free, he launched a Great Fireball at Mirai.

Mirai dismissed Twin Dragon Fire and flashed aside, dodging the Great Fireball.

After evading it, Mirai did not continue his attack. Instead, he stood where he was and looked at Kakashi ahead of him.

"Kakashi, I'm going to get serious now. Are you ready?"

Seeing the teasing look on Mirai's face, Kakashi was suddenly stunned. Clearly, Mirai had not been fighting seriously just now.

A sense of danger quietly spread over Kakashi, forcing him to become serious.

"Looks like I can't avoid getting serious either!"

His right index finger pressed against the forehead protector covering his eye, pushing it gently upward.

A crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan abruptly appeared.

"How is this possible?! How does Kakashi have a Three-Tomoe Sharingan from my Uchiha Clan?!" Sasuke stared at Kakashi in shock and cried out.

"This Mirai is way too strong!"

Uzumaki Naruto looked at the chaos around them—flames burning everywhere, scorched earth covering the ground.

As for Sakura, she had already been completely dumbfounded.

"Heh, you're finally willing to get serious? Then let me see just how strong you really are, Kakashi!"

When Mirai saw Kakashi reveal his Sharingan, he knew Kakashi had begun to take the fight seriously.

At this point, they were no longer fighting over some so-called bells.

Now, they simply wanted to see each other's strength.

Mirai wanted to test just how far his strength had progressed.

As for Kakashi, he wanted to probe Mirai and see exactly what level his strength had reached.

He had already received instructions from the Hokage to keep a closer eye on Mirai, who had specifically said that Mirai should possess the strength of a Chunin.

At first, he had not really believed it.

But after that brief exchange just now, Kakashi believed it. He believed Mirai truly possessed the strength of a Chunin.

In fact, his strength was already directly approaching the level of a Special Jonin.

"Fire Release—Great Dragon Flame Bullet Barrage!"

Mirai moved, opening with a powerful Fire Release technique.

Fireballs twice the size of a Great Fireball shot out in succession, five of them in a row.

As Kakashi watched the five enormous fireballs appear one after another, his pupils suddenly contracted.

"Water Release—Water Wall!"

"Earth Release—Earth Flow Wall!"

Kakashi was no slower. His hands rapidly formed seals, and two defensive ninjutsu took shape in succession.

A wall of water formed in front, with a wall of earth behind it, instantly creating a combined water-and-earth defense.

Bang!...

Sizzle!...

The fireballs slammed into the defensive water wall one after another.

The first fireball was more than half evaporated by the water wall, but the second had already arrived, followed immediately by the third, fourth, and fifth together.

Boom!

The water wall turned into steam, and the fireballs crashed straight into the earth wall.

Struck by four and a half fireballs, the earth wall exploded instantly. Rubble flew everywhere, and dust filled the air.

With a whoosh, the sound of something cutting through the air came from behind him.

A kunai appeared behind him, flying toward him.

Mirai's Sharingan shifted, clearly catching the kunai's flight path. With a flash of his body, he evaded it.

Whoosh!...

Then, just as Mirai dodged one kunai, he saw more than a dozen kunai surrounding him from all directions.

Amid a rapid series of clangs, Mirai drew a kunai and knocked away all the incoming blades.

At that moment, Kakashi suddenly appeared at Mirai's side.

Just as his sharp kunai was about to slash across Mirai's back, Mirai pushed off with both legs in rapid succession and soared into the air.

"Mirai, you miscalculated!"

Kakashi's voice sounded beside Mirai's ear, and a kunai was already pressed against his back.

With a bang, Mirai in midair turned into a puff of white smoke.

"Not good!"

Seeing Mirai turn into white smoke, Kakashi instantly realized something was wrong and hurriedly tried to pull back.

"Looks like you're the one who miscalculated!"

Before Kakashi's eyes, a rapidly spinning sphere of light formed out of nothing in an outstretched palm.

"Rasengan!"

With a low shout, Mirai drove the Rasengan toward Kakashi's face.

As Kakashi watched the Rasengan draw closer, his pupils contracted rapidly, and his heart began racing uncontrollably.

It was the feeling of danger—the feeling of death.

Cold sweat instantly covered Kakashi's forehead, while his heart pounded faster and faster.

Bang!

A violent explosion suddenly rang out!