Outdoor Sparring!

That afternoon, Suzuki Nakamura entered the classroom with the attendance roster.

"Today's class won't cover theory."

He swept his gaze over the class.

"Outdoor sparring test."

The classroom immediately erupted with excitement, and Obito was the first to jump to his feet.

"Awesome! We finally get to fight for real!"

Suzuki Nakamura tapped the podium.

"Quiet, everyone."

"The rules are simple: stop at the point of contact. No attacking vital areas, and no deliberately seriously injuring your classmates."

"Everyone, head to the sparring grounds."

A group of students immediately followed their teacher out of the classroom.

The sparring grounds were behind the Ninja Academy, with packed dirt covering the ground, wooden posts around the edges, and a simple fence.

The moment they arrived, Obito rushed in front of Kakashi and pointed at him.

"Kakashi! Today, I'm definitely challenging you!"

Kakashi could not even be bothered to raise his eyelids.

"Win one match first."

"You!"

Obito was just about to retort when a green figure charged over.

Might Guy clenched both fists, his whole body so fired up he looked ready to steam.

"Wait!"

"Obito, Kakashi is the rival I've chosen for my life!"

"This battle of youth should be mine!"

Obito refused to accept that.

"Bushy Brows, don't steal him from me!"

Guy said seriously, "This isn't stealing. This is the destiny of youth!"

Suzuki Nakamura watched the two students argue, and a vein twitched on his forehead as he flipped open the roster.

"First match: Kakashi Hatake versus Might Guy."

Guy immediately gave a thumbs-up.

"Kakashi! Come on! Let our youth burn bright!"

Kakashi sighed.

"What a pain."

Elsewhere, Asuma walked up to Fang Xu.

"Fang Xu."

Fang Xu looked at him.

"What is it?"

Asuma lifted his chin.

"We're fighting later."

After saying that, he quickly glanced at Kurenai Yuhi again.

Fang Xu saw that little gesture clearly.

During the lunch break, Asuma had secretly gone to see Teacher Suzuki Nakamura.

After returning, he had kept staring at Fang Xu.

Now that the teacher had arranged an outdoor sparring test, Fang Xu was not surprised in the slightest.

"Fine."

Fang Xu nodded.

"If you want to fight, I'll oblige."

Asuma's heart warmed.

As long as he defeated Fang Xu in front of Kurenai, she would surely know that he was the stronger one.

In the center of the grounds, Kakashi and Might Guy had already taken their positions.

Suzuki Nakamura raised his hand.

"Begin!"

The moment he finished speaking, Might Guy kicked off the ground and shot forward.

"Kakashi!"

"Take this!"

"Leaf Hurricane!"

He leaped into the air, his right leg sweeping toward Kakashi with a fierce gust of wind.

That kick was fast and powerful, on a completely different level from an ordinary student's attack.

The surrounding students immediately cried out in surprise.

"Guy's Taijutsu is so strong!"

"If that kick lands, it'll definitely hurt!"

Obito gritted his teeth.

"When did Bushy Brows get so fast?"

Kakashi did not retreat.

His Short Sword left its sheath, and he blocked with the flat of the blade.

Bang!

Leg and blade collided. Kakashi's arm dipped slightly, but his feet remained firmly planted.

Guy did not stop after landing. His left leg swept out, his right fist shot forward, and his attacks came one after another.

"Youth never stops!"

Kakashi's Short Sword spun continuously.

The flat of the blade blocked the kicks, the hilt pressed down Guy's wrist, and Kakashi shifted with small steps, each one landing exactly where it was hardest for Guy to continue exerting force.

Clang! Bang! Smack!

Their movements grew faster and faster.

Might Guy relied entirely on Taijutsu to press the attack, his fists and kicks like a storm.

Kakashi responded with the Hatake Sword Technique. His movements were not flashy, but they were frighteningly precise.

Kurenai Yuhi watched intently.

"Guy's Taijutsu has improved so much."

Rin Nohara nodded.

"But Kakashi is steadier."

Fang Xu was watching too.

Might Guy had not yet reached the monstrous level he would attain in the future, but his Taijutsu foundation was already solid.

More importantly, every time he was blocked, he adjusted his angle slightly on the next attack.

This guy did not just shout passionately.

He was truly getting stronger.

Kakashi had clearly noticed as well.

His Short Sword blocked one of Guy's elbow strikes. He slid to the side, then pressed the flat of the blade down along Guy's arm.

Guy immediately withdrew his force, flipped backward, and retreated.

"Good!"

"Kakashi, you truly are worthy of my full effort to catch up to!"

A few minutes later, Guy's breathing grew heavier and heavier.

Kakashi suddenly seized an opening. His Short Sword slid past Guy's fist, and with a turn of his feet, he instantly appeared behind Guy's side.

The blade never left its sheath to injure him.

Instead, Kakashi pressed the flat of the blade against Guy's shoulder, holding the Short Sword across his neck.

"It's over."

Suzuki Nakamura immediately announced the result.

"Winner: Kakashi Hatake."

The surrounding students drew sharp breaths.

"So fast."

"I didn't even see that last move clearly."

Guy, however, was not discouraged in the slightest.

He turned his head, flashing a bright grin.

"Kakashi! I lost this time!"

"But next time, I'll definitely be stronger!"

Kakashi sheathed his sword.

"You say that every time."

Guy clenched his fist.

"Because youth never gives up!"

Kakashi turned and returned to the edge of the grounds. Though he called it troublesome, he could not afford to underestimate him.

Might Guy had improved again.

Fang Xu was catching up too.

If this continued, then if he kept training at the same pace as before, they would catch him sooner or later.

Kakashi touched the Short Sword on his back, already deciding to train extra tonight.

The following matches came one after another.

Kurenai Yuhi faced Rin Nohara.

Rin's fundamentals were solid, and she was skilled with both throwing weapons and the Substitution Technique.

But Kurenai caught the instant Rin lost focus, used basic Genjutsu to disrupt her vision, then stopped her Kunai in front of Rin's shoulder.

"I lost."

Rin smiled and raised her hand.

Kurenai Yuhi put away her Kunai as well.

"Let's do it again next time."

After several more matches, it was Ebisu and Obito Uchiha's turn.

Obito took the field brimming with confidence.

"Watch closely! I'm the future Hokage!"

Ebisu adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose, his tone anything but polite.

"A dead last like you shouldn't talk big."

Obito got angry.

"Who are you calling dead last?"

"You."

The moment Suzuki Nakamura called for the match to begin, Obito charged forward.

But he rushed in too recklessly, leaving far too many openings.

Ebisu first used Shuriken to force him to change direction, then used the Clone Technique to deceive his vision. Finally, he tripped Obito with a kick and stopped a Kunai behind his back.

"Winner: Ebisu."

Obito lay face-down on the ground, his face full of unwillingness.

"Damn it!"

"Next time, I'll definitely beat you!"

Ebisu put away his Kunai and looked down at him.

"A dead last will always be a dead last."

"If you want to surpass me, try not sleeping in class first."

Obito was so angry he nearly jumped up.

"Ebisu!"

Rin Nohara hurriedly persuaded him, "Obito, the test isn't over yet."

Only then did Obito grit his teeth and step back.

Nearly an hour later, Suzuki Nakamura turned to the next pair of names.

"Next match."

"Asuma Sarutobi versus Fang Xu."

Asuma rose to his feet almost immediately.

He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

The surrounding students perked up as well.

One was the Third Hokage's son.

The other was Fang Xu, who had just become the White Fang of the Leaf's disciple.

This match was more worth watching than most of the earlier ones.

Kurenai Yuhi's brows furrowed slightly.

"Asuma, don't do anything reckless."

Hearing her words, Asuma wanted even more to win beautifully.

"Don't worry."

After saying that, he jumped into the arena.

Fang Xu also walked in, Kunai in hand.