A came at him wreathed in lightning, his heavy fist hurtling toward his face!
A noticed the Mangekyō reflected in Kakashi's eyes, but scoffed!
"Fool! You think a mere Mangekyō Sharingan will let you dodge my fist at close range? Your perception and reflexes are nowhere near good enough!"
Until... the leading edge of that fist came within an inch of Kakashi's mask, he made no move to evade it!
"Got you!" Just as A gloated over the prospect of killing the Hokage with his own hands, his expression turned ghost-stricken!
His fist... had stopped!
Right in front of Kakashi's mask...!
He could clearly feel his muscles still exerting force...!
There was nothing ahead of him but air to block his path...!
Yet he simply could not make his fist... touch that damned masked face before him!
"What the hell!" he shouted, retracting his right fist and throwing a left jab. The same thing happened again!
His fist stopped just before it touched Kakashi's cheek!
Refusing to give up, A unleashed hooks, swings, elbow strikes, sweeping kicks, and even attempted a grappling throw... the flurry was dizzying!
The pampered daimyo had never watched ninja fight at such close range. Their eyes went wide!
The Land of Earth's daimyo waved his little fan and declared with an air of authority, "This Raikage looks reckless, but he's pulling every strike just short! By contrast... the Hokage seems to have run out of tricks. I heard he was Konoha's master technician. Why is he standing there motionless? Have the Raikage's attacks frightened him stiff?"
Barely had he finished when Ōnoki's low voice came from overhead. "No, that's not it. From the very start, A's attacks have had no effect on Kakashi!"
"What!?"—Boom!!!
An explosive crash rang out across the open floor of the