You Don't Deserve That Sword

"You see that? The Hyuga Ninja and Kakashi are about to fight."

"Another good show? First Uchiha, then Hyuga—does Kakashi plan to challenge every great clan today?"

Kakashi's battle with Uchiha Rin had drawn plenty of ninja. More and more were gathering at the Task Management Office, excitedly discussing it among themselves.

Unlike the other ninja who were simply there to watch the show, the surrounding Hyuga Ninja couldn't help but worry.

"Can Hyuga Satoru beat Kakashi?"

"He's the clan's first ninja with a Dual Bloodline Limit. There shouldn't be a problem, right..."

Their voices lacked confidence and were nearly drowned out by the noisy discussions.

Kakashi's reputation was far too great. A genin at five, a Chunin at six, the youngest Chunin in Konoha's history, the Son of White Fang—any one of those titles could crush Hyuga Satoru.

The only thing Hyuga Satoru could match him in was his Dual Bloodline Limit.

If he lost to Kakashi head-on, the Hyuga Clan would undoubtedly lose face.

"Is Wu really a match for Kakashi?" Might Guy was worried as well.

Kakashi had been the opponent he'd constantly chased after during their academy days, but the changes he'd undergone over the past two years were so great that Guy could barely recognize him.

"He can!" Anko declared with absolute certainty.

"Why are you so sure?" Guy looked at her. Kakashi might be inhuman, but his strength was unquestionably among the very best of the New Generation.

"He can, that's why! Wu definitely won't lose, even if his opponent is Kakashi!" Anko shouted loudly, drawing quite a few sidelong glances.

In his current condition, his body could only exert limited strength, so he needed to avoid Taijutsu battles as much as possible. Hyuga Satoru briefly assessed his situation and settled on a rough strategy.

Kakashi gripped the White Fang Short Sword. Infused with Chakra, its blade emitted a faint white glow.

"I'd advise you not to use that sword." Hyuga Satoru raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?" Kakashi frowned in displeasure.

"You'll find out soon enough."

Kakashi stomped off the ground, his body shooting forward like an arrow released from its bow. The White Fang Short Sword in his hand became a streak of white light as it slashed straight at Hyuga Satoru.

Hyuga Satoru didn't dodge. He didn't even move.

It was as though an invisible hand had lightly nudged the short sword, causing its trajectory to shift in an unbelievable way. It cut down past his body.

Kakashi frowned. Unwilling to give up, he swung again.

Hyuga Satoru shook his head and leaned slightly aside. The ninja sword missed once more.

He swung, and missed.

Missed, swung, and missed again...

Kakashi seemed to have transformed into a master of outlining human figures, wildly attacking the air around Hyuga Satoru's body. The sight was downright comical.

"Can I take that to mean you're trying to slash away all the air around me so I'll suffocate to death?" Hyuga Satoru shrugged helplessly.

Uchiha Rin snorted with laughter. Wu was too wicked. His words were too cutting.

Kakashi took a breath, and the gravity in his eyes deepened.

"Magnet Release? I didn't expect it to affect my swordsmanship this much."

He knew Hyuga Satoru's Magnet Release could interfere with Shuriken. But compared to Shuriken, a ninja sword wielded by someone was far harder to disrupt, and Hatake Swordsmanship was known for its sharpness.

But now, it seemed he'd underestimated Hyuga Satoru's Magnet Release.

Silently sheathing the White Fang Short Sword, Kakashi clenched his fists and charged at Hyuga Satoru.

Hyuga Satoru raised an arm to block Kakashi's attack. When that strike failed, Kakashi shifted his momentum, twisted his body, and delivered a spinning kick. Hyuga Satoru leaned aside and narrowly avoided it.

A faint stabbing pain ran through his arm, making him grimace slightly. His body hadn't fully recovered yet, and Taijutsu combat tugged at the pain.

He pushed Electromagnetic Sense to its limit, dodging before Kakashi's attacks even arrived. Only when an attack was impossible to avoid did he have no choice but to defend.

Yet in the eyes of the surrounding ninja, that forced restraint looked like something else entirely.

"Too... too strong. Kakashi can't touch him at all."

"He's dodging so calmly. He hasn't even counterattacked once. Is that Hyuga ninja provoking Kakashi?"

The discussion shifted from skepticism toward Hyuga Satoru to amazement.

Kakashi's relentless Taijutsu attacks put Hyuga Satoru under immense pressure. Catching a gap in his opponent's assault, he stepped slightly aside, changed his fist into a palm, and fiercely struck Kakashi in the chest.

A dull impact rang out. Lightning arcs burst from where his palm landed, and Kakashi's body was flung away by the pulse, crashing heavily into the ground and kicking up dust.

"Was that... Gentle Fist?"

The watching Hyuga members' eyelids twitched.

"The stance looked like Gentle Fist, but the attack was completely different."

"I heard Iroha mention it before. It seems to be called Magnetic Storm Fist. As for the principle, uh... it sounded pretty complicated."

"Hyuga Satoru has never properly studied the clan's secret techniques..."

Kakashi struggled to rise from the ground. Lightning arcs continued to jump over his chest, making his body convulse.

I can't fight him head-on. A plan silently formed in his mind.

He reached for the Ninja Tool Pouch at his waist, pulled out two small balls, and slammed them down. Thick smoke immediately swallowed his body—and Hyuga Satoru as well.

Inside the dense fog, Hyuga Satoru shook his head. "It's useless."

Hokage's Office.

The image in the Crystal Ball showed Hyuga Satoru sending Kakashi flying with Magnetic Storm Palm.

"Is that a technique combining Magnet Release and Gentle Fist? This child Hyuga Satoru is remarkably proficient at combining the powers of his Dual Bloodline Limit."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly in praise.

The Task Management Office was an extremely important location in Konoha Village. As early as the beginning of Uchiha Rin and Kakashi's battle, Anbu had reported the news to him.

Then Hyuga Satoru's arrival immediately piqued his interest.

The image in the Crystal Ball continued changing, showing Kakashi throwing down two small balls as thick smoke enveloped both of them.

"Who will win this battle between the strongest of the New Generation?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze gleamed.

Within the thick fog, Hyuga Satoru watched his surroundings vigilantly.

Suddenly, a disturbance came from behind him. Hyuga Satoru immediately turned and drove his palm into the incoming figure.

The figure turned into white smoke.

"A Shadow Clone? Looks like he finally couldn't hold himself back."

The instant he shattered that Shadow Clone, the ground behind him abruptly split apart. A figure shot high into the air, his right palm wrapped in lightning and emitting a piercing shriek.

Chidori.

At this distance, there's no way I can miss!

Kakashi's heart leaped with joy.

Just as he was about to strike, Hyuga Satoru moved as if he'd anticipated it all along. His body twisted in an unbelievable arc, slipping sideways past Chidori.

His hand suddenly clamped around Kakashi's wrist and gave it a slight push forward. Kakashi immediately fell flat on his face, while Chidori blasted a large hole through the ground.

At that moment, the smoke dispersed, revealing the battle's outcome to everyone.

"W-What happened?"

"Is it already over?"

Kakashi lay sprawled on the ground in a sorry state, his face still holding a trace of shock at his easy defeat. His right hand was deeply embedded in the ground.

Behind him, Hyuga Satoru stood impassively.

"Do you understand why I told you not to use that sword earlier?"

"Because it's White Fang's sword. You don't deserve to wield it."

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