Disturbance

Demonic Illusion: Tree Bind Technique!

Kakashi's body was instantly immobilized, and his attack came to an abrupt halt.

The onlookers were all astonished, but Yuhi Kurenai alone understood exactly what had happened.

The two had learned genjutsu together, so Kurenai knew Toru's proficiency in genjutsu very well.

Kurenai's father, Yuhi Shinku, had once said that Kurenai possessed exceptional talent for genjutsu, no less than his own. Yet when speaking of Toru's talent for genjutsu, he had said that it was even a level above both father and daughter.

This Demonic Illusion: Tree Bind Technique was the finest proof of Toru's talent for genjutsu.

This genjutsu had originated in the era of the First Hokage. It made enemies see effects similar to the First Hokage's Wood Style, feel as if they were tightly bound by the branches of a huge tree, and even mistake it for the First Hokage's Wood Style, throwing their minds into disarray.

A genjutsu with such outstanding effects was naturally not easy to learn.

Kurenai had yet to master this technique, but Toru was already able to use it skillfully in actual combat.

Kakashi was strong in both ninjutsu and taijutsu. Only his genjutsu was somewhat lacking, making it his current weakness.

Of course, that weakness was relative. After all, most people his age had barely come into contact with genjutsu, while Kakashi had already grasped some of its fundamentals.

However, those basics of genjutsu were of little use against an all-around opponent like Uchiha Toru.

Toru had thought victory was already in his grasp, but at that moment, Kakashi actually broke free from the genjutsu. He retreated several steps in a row, opening up the distance between them once more.

Kakashi turned his head and spat out a mouthful of blood. "Just as the seniors said. When fighting an Uchiha, you must never look into their eyes. I just didn't expect your genjutsu to already be this strong."

Kakashi had recognized it as genjutsu, so he immediately bit through his tongue and forcibly used the pain to break free.

Toru was delighted by Kakashi's response and said excitedly, "Make me fall for you, Kakashi!"

Kakashi replied with a straight face, "Sorry, I don't like men." Toru really was a complete battle maniac.

Even Kurenai below the stage puffed out her cheeks in irritation. She had never imagined that one day Kakashi might become her romantic rival.

Toru's smile remained on his face, but his hands rapidly formed seals as he unleashed the Fire Style ninjutsu passed down through the Uchiha clan for generations.

Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!

Toru spat out an enormous fireball, blazing with scorching heat and more than two meters in diameter.

Obito, who was also an Uchiha, felt ashamed at the sight. At present, his Fireball Jutsu could only produce a tiny flame. The gap was enough to prove Uchiha Toru's strength and talent.

Kakashi did not dare relax in the slightest against the Fireball Jutsu. His hands formed seals just as swiftly, then he crouched and slapped the ground.

Earth Style: Earth Wall!

An earthen wall nearly the same size as the Fireball Jutsu rose from the ground, blocking the attack perfectly.

It was worth mentioning that a dog's head had been carved into the surface of the wall. Though it seemed meaningless, it displayed Kakashi's exceptional Chakra control.

The fireball slammed into the earthen wall. The remaining flames, along with the scorching dust blasted loose by the impact, swept backward and spread through nearly half the Training Ground, forcing the spectators behind Kakashi to quickly retreat.

Kakashi's figure was perfectly concealed within it.

Several more Shuriken flew out from the dust, attacking Toru from every direction.

Toru casually raised a hand and blocked every one of them with ease.

Then, at that very moment, a pair of hands suddenly emerged from beneath Toru's feet and grabbed for his ankles.

Yet Toru seemed to have anticipated this sudden move in advance. He immediately leaped up, evading the upward Earth Style: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique.

Kakashi's attack failed, instead placing himself at a disadvantage.

However, Kakashi had no other choice now.

At such close range, with his attack having missed and left a huge opening, his only chance of winning was to press forward and engage Toru in close combat.

Kakashi did not even have time to reach for his Ninja Tool Pouch. He could only face Toru empty-handed, because Toru had already landed right in front of him.

Toru swung his Kunai at Kakashi, but Kakashi grabbed his wrist with one hand and forcibly twisted it aside.

However, Toru's other hand opened and struck toward him. Kakashi was about to block it when a brilliant blue spiraling ball of Chakra suddenly formed in Toru's palm.

Rasengan!

Kakashi had never seen this technique before. His expression changed drastically. No hand seals?! How is that possible?!

Just like that, both of them stopped moving at the same time.

Kakashi held one of Toru's hands, their arms locked at their sides, while Toru held the Rasengan before Kakashi.

Although Kakashi had made a blocking motion, his iron Arm Guard and flesh-and-blood body clearly could not withstand this attack. If Toru had not stopped, Kakashi's arm would have been ruined.

"I lost," Kakashi said.

Toru replied, "Not necessarily. You could take this attack head-on. At worst, you'd lose one arm, but you'd still be able to fight."

Kakashi gave a bitter smile. "It's only a spar. Is there really any need to go that far?"

Toru answered righteously, "Every battle must be taken seriously."

Already aware of Toru's battle-maniac nature, Kakashi silently shook his head. Then he asked curiously, "What was that technique?"

Toru withdrew the Rasengan and said, "It's called the Rasengan. Chunin Namikaze Minato taught it to me. If you want to learn it, I can teach you, but Namikaze Minato has to agree first."

Kakashi's eyes lit up, clearly drawn to the technique that had defeated him. "Fine. In the future, if there's a ninjutsu I know that you like, I'll teach you one too."

The two reached an agreement to teach each other ninjutsu.

And so, the battle between Konoha's two genius ninja came to an end.

Toru went home to eat with Kurenai, while Kakashi also set off alone for home.

The result of this battle caused quite a disturbance throughout the village. Many believed that Konoha's two young geniuses had now definitively been ranked first and second.

Uchiha Toru was Konoha's number one genius, while Hatake Kakashi could only rank second.

Although Toru was still attending school while Kakashi was already a Chunin, Chunin was ultimately only a title, not a measure of strength.

Hatake Kakashi had lost to Toru twice. Thus, in the eyes of the villagers, Kakashi's talent truly fell short of Toru's.

Rin comforted Kakashi at once. Kakashi thanked her, but he was not actually that dejected. He merely made a resolution in his heart. It seems I can't neglect training while completing missions.

When Kakashi returned home, his father, the White Fang of Konoha, Hatake Sakumo, was watching him return with a smile.

"Lost?"

Hatake Sakumo clearly knew that his son had just gone to challenge Uchiha Toru.

As for the result, Sakumo did not seem to have heard the village rumors. It was as though he had made his own judgment from the very beginning.

When Kakashi nodded, Sakumo spoke again. "Kakashi, you need to understand that although you are very talented, there will always be people in this world with greater talent than yours. Uchiha Toru is one of them. I heard that a ninjutsu Minato took three years to develop was learned by him in just one week."

"To become strong, both talent and hard work are indispensable. If you neglect your training, then forget Uchiha Toru—in the future, you might not even be able to defeat that watermelon-headed boy in your class, Might Guy."

Kakashi felt that his father was underestimating him far too much. He could accept losing to Uchiha Toru.

But the thought that he might lose to Might Guy, who only knew taijutsu, was something Kakashi refused to accept.

Kakashi silently swore, From now on, I'll train properly and become a Jonin as soon as possible. I'll show Father my strength.

Hatake Sakumo's image in Kakashi's heart was immensely lofty. He was a hero of Konoha, so Kakashi desperately wanted his father's approval.

Thus, driven by the desire to make his father see him in a new light, Kakashi began intense special training while also working harder to complete the village's missions.

This state continued for an entire year, until another disturbance arrived in the village.