Returning to Konoha to Tattle

The short blade glinted coldly beneath the sunlight, lightning crackling along its edge as though urging Kakashi to strike.

Yet Kakashi was in no hurry. He slowly closed in on Murakami.

Murakami did not look at Kakashi before him. Instead, his eyes swept the surroundings, and he chuckled.

"A little trick like a Shadow Clone cannot fool me, Silver Lightning."

Murakami raised his long sword, blocking Kakashi's attack from the side.

Kakashi remained calm. He kicked Murakami's blade, then used the force to leap back some distance.

Sheathing his short blade, Kakashi swiftly formed hand seals.

"Ox—Rabbit—Monkey, Raikiri: Lightning Tiger Slaughter!"

Bolts of electricity emerged from Kakashi's hands, shifting through countless shapes in midair before finally lunging toward Murakami like a ferocious tiger.

Murakami reacted quickly. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Great Breakthrough was the most basic Wind Release, and its strength depended entirely on the amount of chakra used by its caster.

Murakami's Great Breakthrough was immensely powerful, disrupting the nearby air currents and destroying every medium through which the lightning tiger could travel.

"Well, Lightning Release really is at a disadvantage against Wind Release."

"The commotion from that fight was not small. Even with White Fang, I cannot guarantee I can take this guy down quickly. I can try that move and test the results of my recent training."

Kakashi quickly made up his mind and formed hand seals again. The violent lightning-nature chakra within him was nearly overflowing.

Murakami shook his head. "If Lightning Release is all you can use, then you will die by my hand today. I will treasure your blade properly."

"Heh. You will be the first ninja to die beneath this move. Feel honored." Kakashi spoke expressionlessly.

Murakami appeared unconcerned, but he had secretly played a small trick. He left a Shadow Clone behind to draw attention while his real body had already slipped near Kakashi.

Kakashi turned his head. "How dare you use that trick in front of the Sharingan?"

Kakashi had already completed his hand seals. Murakami was startled and immediately retreated.

"Too late! False Sage Art: Chidori Frenzy!"

Kakashi threw several shuriken from his hand. Then violent Lightning Release chakra condensed into several thousand shuriken in midair, descending upon Murakami like a net cast over heaven and earth.

The high-intensity current formed from lightning-nature chakra sounded like birds chirping, hence the name Chidori Frenzy!

Looking at the dense mass of Lightning Release shuriken overhead and hearing the bird cries filling the sky, Murakami's expression changed drastically.

Could such a terrifying technique truly be achieved by human power?

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Murakami poured nearly all the chakra in his body into this Wind Release. A gale several times stronger than before rose with a howl and charged toward the electric birds covering the sky.

Yet to Murakami's astonishment, this Lightning Release did not vanish completely. Several hundred electric birds still cried as they rushed toward him.

Lightning Release infused with Natural Energy could naturally not be completely canceled out by Wind Release!

"Blade Art: Heaven-Severing!"

Murakami raised his long sword and desperately blocked the incoming electric birds, but there were simply too many for him to stop.

Dozens of electric birds pierced Murakami's body, drilling his torso full of holes.

Murakami collapsed weakly. After waiting a short while and confirming that Murakami could no longer rise to counterattack, Kakashi slowly approached him.

"Cough, cough." Blood continuously spilled from Murakami's mouth. "As expected of Silver Lightning. Dying by your hand does not disgrace me."

"Then before you die, can you tell me your name and affiliation? Maybe I can write you down in my little notebook." Kakashi smiled.

"Heh... cough, cough. Even if I told you, would you believe me?" Murakami smiled as well.

"Ah, true enough. Then goodbye."

Kakashi raised his hand and drove White Fang into Murakami's chest. Only after confirming that Murakami was dead did he pull White Fang back out.

"Mm, this time I gained a little as well. I copied another decent blade technique, and there is this sword too..."

Kakashi picked up Murakami's long sword and put it away, then vanished after several flickers.

Inside Konoha's border defense base.

A ninja wearing an ANBU mask spoke respectfully to Kakashi. "Lord Kakashi, the Third Hokage has urged you to return as soon as possible. Our squad is responsible for taking over your post."

Although he held the same rank as Kakashi and was likewise an ANBU squad leader, there was no need for him to be so respectful.

But Kakashi's astonishing record was simply too dazzling, and reverence for the strong was an ANBU tradition.

Kakashi nodded. "It is time to return. Go gather my squad members for me. I will speak with Lord Gensaku first."

"Yes! You lot, go call Lord Kakashi's squad members over." The ANBU squad leader ordered.

Kakashi arrived at Hyuga Gensaku's office.

"Lord Gensaku, I am returning to Konoha. Perhaps I can deliver something to your family for you?"

Hyuga Gensaku froze for a moment, then was overjoyed. "Then I will trouble you with it, Kakashi."

Hyuga Gensaku immediately wrote a letter, carefully wrapped it, and handed it to Kakashi.

"I know you are very strong, but you must still be careful on the road, Kakashi."

"Do not worry, Lord Gensaku. I look forward to seeing you again next time." Kakashi smiled.

After leaving Hyuga Gensaku's office, Kakashi saw Kenpei Aburame and Sakura Hashimoto standing in the hall.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward. Sakura Hashimoto tried several times to say something to Kakashi, but Kenpei Aburame pulled her back each time.

Kakashi showed no reaction and said coldly, "Squad Three, return."

Perhaps because of Kakashi's recent efforts to clear out threats, the three of them encountered no danger on their journey back to the village.

Given Sakura Hashimoto's and Kenpei Aburame's status, they could not report directly to the Third Hokage. Only Kakashi entered the Hokage's Office.

"Ah, Kakashi, you have finally returned." Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was neither heavy nor light, yet it made Kakashi's heart tremble.

Kakashi explained, "My apologies, Lord Third. I encountered a troublesome opponent at the border. It took some extra days to deal with him."

"Haha, do not be nervous, Kakashi. I did not mean to blame you." The Third Hokage smiled and took a puff from his pipe. "I have read all your reports. The mission was completed very well."

Kakashi let out a breath. "You scared me to death, Lord Third."

Kakashi's slightly playful remark pleased the Third Hokage greatly. It showed that Kakashi regarded him as an elder, and the small displeasure in his heart had long since vanished.

"By the way, Lord Third, there is something I need to tell you." Kakashi's expression turned serious. "During the mission, Kenpei Aburame of our squad disobeyed orders."

"Oh, something like that happened?" The Third Hokage pondered for a moment but still could not recall who Kenpei Aburame was. "I understand. Transfer him out of the ANBU, then."