Sin of Pride: Kakashi

The practical combat test was still underway on the training ground, but the murmurs around it had quietly shifted. The shock of seeing the black shadow technique had given way to something else.

"I think Kakashi has a point. That black shadow technique looks intimidating, but its defense is weak."

"Asuma scattered one with a single punch. Against Kakashi, those shadows wouldn't have time to surround him."

"It would throw anyone off the first time they saw it. But Kakashi's spotted the weakness now. Tsukimi definitely won't beat him."

The whispers reached Asuma, and his expression eased. He felt a little better about his loss. It wasn't that he was too weak; the other boy's technique was just too strange.

If Tsukimi had known what Asuma was thinking, he would have told him, Keep dreaming, kid!

Obito stood nearby, eyes wide as he looked back and forth between Tsukimi and Kakashi, muttering under his breath:

"Damn it... Kakashi's so full of himself. Tsukimi doesn't look like he can beat him either. Guess it's up to me."

"All right. Today's practical combat test has given me a rough idea of your abilities, and you should have a better idea of your weaknesses too. You'll have the next half month to work on them. After that, we'll hold combat matches," Takashi Murakami announced loudly. "Opponents will be drawn at random, and the results will determine the class rankings!"

The training ground erupted.

Combat matches!

This was no simple assessment. They would be ranked by strength. Once the matches were over, everyone would know who was a genius and who was dead last.

Obito's blood surged. He stood among the crowd, raised a fist, and shouted, "I'm going to beat Kakashi and take first place! Rin, then you'll see what I can do!"

"Then I'll look forward to seeing you in action, Obito," Rin said, encouraging him as gently as ever.

Asuma's sharp gaze swept over Kakashi and Tsukimi. He had only lost because he hadn't known how the black shadow technique worked. It wasn't a true defeat. At the ranking matches in half a month, he would prove himself again.

Might Guy had defeated his opponent too. Before reaching Chunin level, Taijutsu specialists held a clear advantage. Now he was staring at Kakashi and Tsukimi, his eyes blazing.

"Kakashi! Tsukimi! I'll give it everything I've got in half a month! Youth never admits defeat!"

His fervent shout rang across the training ground.

Tsukimi paid no attention to the chatter. All his focus was on the Shadowkhan's unlock progress. Asuma had the foundations of an elite Ninja, so fighting him had yielded far more than fighting those three sixth-year small fry.

A high-quality opponent meant a high-quality boost to his progress.

And Kakashi was the strongest beginner in their year. To anyone else, fighting Kakashi would be a daunting challenge. To Tsukimi, he was the best source of experience around.

After school, Asuma stopped Tsukimi, his tone utterly serious:

"I underestimated you in today's test. If we meet again in the combat matches, I'll win."

"I'll look forward to it." Tsukimi nodded with a smile.

Asuma gave him a long look, then turned and left. Being the Hokage's son brought him recognition, but it also brought pressure. He didn't want to lose to someone his own age.

He would go home and ask the old man how to beat Tsukimi.

Obito, who had been watching from the sidelines, came over too and casually threw an arm around Tsukimi's shoulders.

"Tsukimi! Good luck in half a month! You won't beat Kakashi, but I hope you can hang in there a while! I'm rooting for you!"

Tsukimi nearly laughed. Sure enough, before his descent into darkness, Obito was just an overconfident goofball.

"Then who do you think can beat Kakashi in half a month?"

"Me, of course! The future Hokage, Lord Obito Uchiha! Hahaha..."

Another dreamer after Asuma. I have to admire your commitment to wishful thinking!

Rin couldn't bear to watch Obito laugh so wildly. She hurried over and pulled him back, apologizing gently. "Obito can be a little blunt. Please don't mind him."

"It's fine. He's got spirit."

Tsukimi waved it off, unbothered.

Meanwhile, Kakashi had returned home.

Hatake Sakumo sat beneath the eaves by the back courtyard, wiping down the famed White Fang's Short Sword. Beneath his gentle manner lay an edge as keen as the blade in his hands.

When Kakashi came back, Sakumo stopped and looked up at him.

"How was school today? Did you meet anyone interesting?"

Sakumo knew his son well. Kakashi's extraordinary talent had made him somewhat proud, and Sakumo hoped he would make more friends at school.

"We had a practical combat test today. There's a boy from the Nara Clan who's pretty good."

"Oh? A Nara? The boy at the school gates the other day, the one with that unusual shadow technique?"

"That's him. He's about the only one in class with any real skill. But I've already figured out his weakness. He won't beat me in the combat matches."

Kakashi sat down beside his father and recounted what had happened at school, his tone a little lazy.

Sakumo toyed with the sword's hilt. He knew Kakashi's observations were usually precise, but he did not share his certainty.

"You mean his technique relies on numbers and concealment to surround and restrain opponents? And while I don't know exactly how strong each shadow is, given the boy's age, I doubt they're very strong. Is that right?"

Kakashi wasn't surprised. He had spotted the weakness after seeing the technique twice. Of course Konoha's White Fang could do the same.

"Exactly. Each shadow is extremely weak. You don't need a powerful attack to scatter one; ordinary Taijutsu will do. And they can't do much damage alone. He needs numbers to make the technique effective, so he can't manage both defense and offense at once."

Kakashi looked at his father, bold and utterly confident.

"I've already worked through every way the fight could go. There won't be any surprises!"

Sakumo frowned at his confident son.

"Your plan is to clear a path with Ninjutsu, break through with the Body Flicker Technique, then fight him up close. Right?"

Sakumo paused. When Kakashi nodded, he continued.

"Have you considered two things? First, you haven't seen him use the Nara Clan's traditional Shadow Secret Technique, have you? Second, do you know how good he is in close combat?"

"Uh..." Kakashi faltered, unsure how to answer. He had no idea.

"Just because he hasn't used the traditional technique doesn't mean he can't. And just because you don't know his close-combat ability doesn't mean he has none. The Nara Clan has always been known for its cunning and careful planning. The weakness in that child's shadows was easy to spot from the first time he used them, yet he remained perfectly calm. That means he isn't afraid of anyone noticing. Kakashi, you've grown arrogant lately!"