Wolf Demon vs. Kakashi
At that moment, in the Hidden Mist spectator section...
Mangetsu saw Ye Tong claim the first victory. He kept peeling his orange, though the corner of his mouth twitched.
Beside him, Wolf Demon said nothing. He tapped the back of his blade with a whetstone, producing a clear ring.
Ye Tong had done well. Now it was his turn!
In the second match, Wolf Demon faced Kakashi Hatake.
The moment the announcer called their names, the stands erupted, the first match all but forgotten.
Kakashi Hatake. The Copy Ninja. Wielder of the Sharingan. Son of Konoha's White Fang. A prodigy who had become a Jonin at twelve during the Third Shinobi World War.
Now he faced Wolf Demon, captain of a Land of Water ANBU squad and a Swift Release user. The roar of discussion in the stands nearly drowned out the gong.
Kakashi emerged from the contestants' passage looking much as he always did. His hands were in his pockets, his shoulders slightly slumped, his pace unhurried.
After a few steps, he even raised a hand to yawn. The right eye visible above his mask was half-closed, as though he had slept badly.
But those in the stands who knew Kakashi understood: the more relaxed he looked, the deeper he was slipping into battle mode.
Kakashi stopped at the center of the arena. He pulled his right hand from his pocket and lifted one side of his Forehead Protector, revealing his crimson Sharingan. Its Three Tomoe slowly revolved.
At the same time, Wolf Demon strode up from the Hidden Mist side, his blade already drawn and held in a reverse grip.
The X-shaped scar on his face looked especially vicious in the sunlight. For once, he had no Shredded Squid in his mouth. His usual