He's stronger than me!

"Kakashi?"

Mu Feng was a little surprised to see Kakashi visiting.

"Mu Feng!"

Kakashi looked at Mu Feng. His eyes no longer held the same coldness as when they first met; instead, there was a hint of dejection.

"Can I come in?"

"Come inside first!" Mu Feng hurriedly invited Kakashi into the room. He welcomed Kakashi into his home.

Once they sat down, Kakashi glanced around Mu Feng's modest home before finally speaking first.

"Thank you for last night..."

Mu Feng smiled at his words.

In truth, according to the original story, Kakashi would not have died here even without Mu Feng.

But Hozuki Mangetsu would not have died here either.

Most likely, they would simply have fought, with Kakashi buying enough time to alert Konoha's Anbu or police force, ultimately forcing Hozuki Mangetsu to give up.

From Kakashi's perspective, however, Mu Feng really had saved him.

"You're welcome. There was no way I could stand by in that situation!" Mu Feng continued with a smile. "Besides, aren't we all comrades? Comrades should save one another!"

"Comrades should save one another?"

Kakashi trembled slightly at those words. Because of his father, White Fang, he still felt some resistance to the word "comrades."

But after last night's battle, Kakashi had clearly begun to think things through for himself.

"Of course! If you don't even cherish your comrades, wouldn't that make you worse than trash? Besides, you saw how things turned out last night. I won!" Mu Feng continued with a smile.

At those words, Kakashi's pupils contracted slightly, and he abruptly looked up at Mu Feng.

"Is that so?"

But soon, Kakashi sank into thought again.

Mu Feng naturally knew what Kakashi was thinking, but he would not deliberately point it out.

The two fell silent for a while.

"By the way, Mu Feng, that last move you used yesterday... what was it called?"

Kakashi broke the awkward silence.

He had come to visit Mu Feng for two reasons: first, to thank him for helping last night, and second, to ask about the Chidori ninjutsu.

"Chidori? It's a ninjutsu I developed myself. If you want to learn it, I can teach you!"

Of course, Mu Feng would never admit that he had simply copied Kakashi's ninjutsu.

"Chidori. That's a nice name! But there's no need. I got a clear look at it last night. I should be able to use it myself before long!"

Kakashi stood as he spoke.

Mu Feng marveled inwardly at that. He can develop it himself after seeing it just once? He really is a genius!

It seemed Kakashi's future title of Copy Ninja would not be down to his Sharingan alone.

Once on his feet, Kakashi seemed to have regained his confidence. Much of the dejection faded from his eyes, replaced by a hint of hostility as he looked at Mu Feng.

"Mu Feng, you're strong, but next time, I'll surpass you!"

Leaving those words behind, Kakashi walked out of Mu Feng's home.

His declaration left Mu Feng a little speechless.

As far as he remembered, Kakashi was not this sort of person!

Besides, he had only been in this world for a short time, yet more and more people in the village seemed to consider him a rival.

First came Obito, then Guy, then Asuma. Now Kakashi had joined that illustrious lineup too.

Still, Mu Feng was not worried in the slightest about any of them surpassing him. After all, I've got cheats!

How are you supposed to compete with that?

Just as Kakashi left Mu Feng's home...

Elsewhere, Kurenai Yuhi, Rin Nohara, Obito, Guy, and the others had rushed over after school, wanting to ask Mu Feng about the Chunin Ninja Exams.

They had only just reached Mu Feng's front door when they spotted Kakashi.

"That's Kakashi, isn't it?"

"What happened to Kakashi? Why is he covered in bandages?"

"Why did he come out of Mu Feng's house?"

Kurenai Yuhi and the others stopped, their curiosity piqued.

"Hey, Kakashi! Long time no see!"

The moment Guy spotted Kakashi, he greeted him enthusiastically and hurried after him.

Kakashi turned and swept his gaze over the street. Upon spotting Kurenai Yuhi and the others, he frowned slightly.

Because of White Fang's suicide, Kakashi had not been particularly personable as a child. Coupled with his reputation as a genius, this meant that although the others in his year knew him, they were not close.

Even after Kakashi reached adulthood, Guy was his only truly close friend.

"Guy just went charging straight over!"

"Oh no, he's spotted us!"

"Why don't we just go over?"

Since Kakashi had already noticed them, Kurenai Yuhi and the others could hardly stay where they were. They all walked over and greeted him.

"All right, Kakashi! What brought you to Mu Feng's house?" Guy asked bluntly.

"What about you?" Kakashi asked in return.

"We heard Mu Feng was going to take the Chunin Ninja Exams. We were a little worried about him, so we came to see him!" Kurenai Yuhi said softly.

"The Chunin Ninja Exams?"

Kakashi frowned at that. He had come straight from the hospital and had not heard that Mu Feng would be taking the Chunin Ninja Exams.

But on reflection, Mu Feng's current strength was clearly beyond that of a Genin. It really was time for him to take the Chunin Ninja Exams.

"If that's why you're here, there's no need to worry!"

As he spoke, Kakashi looked toward Mu Feng's front door.

"That guy... he's stronger than me!"

With that, Kakashi turned around and limped back toward the hospital.

"That guy's stronger than him? What does that mean?"

Obito and the others looked utterly bewildered by Kakashi's words.

"Hey, Kakashi, what do you mean by that? You're..." Obito jumped forward and called after Kakashi, who was already walking away.

But a moment later, as he stared at Kakashi's bandages and limping gait, Obito suddenly covered his cheek.

"Don't tell me Mu Feng fought a duel with Kakashi!" Obito exclaimed.

At his words, Kurenai Yuhi and the others immediately widened their eyes. Looking at Kakashi's battered state, they drew sharp breaths.

"Obito, are you saying Mu Feng gave Kakashi those injuries?"

Asuma exclaimed from beside him.

Then, as they watched Kakashi's receding figure, their gazes grew involuntarily complicated.

Creak...

Just then, the door to Mu Feng's house opened beside them.

Mu Feng appeared in the doorway and immediately saw Kurenai Yuhi and the others.

"Mu Feng?"

Everyone turned toward him. Kurenai Yuhi brightened slightly, but quickly hid her feelings.

"What are you all doing here?"

Hearing the commotion outside, Mu Feng had decided to come out and take a look.

"Mu Feng, did Kakashi just visit you?" Obito asked before anyone else could speak.

"That's right! You ran into him?"

At Mu Feng's reply, Obito and the others immediately took on strange expressions.

"What's wrong?" Mu Feng asked in surprise.

"Uh, nothing! Nothing!" Asuma said. He certainly would not ask whether Mu Feng was already stronger than Kakashi. That would only give Mu Feng a chance to show off.

"Mu Feng, we heard you were going to take the Chunin Ninja Exams! So we came to see you!"

Just then, Kurenai Yuhi stepped out from the group and spoke with concern.

"That's right! Mu Feng, I heard the Chunin Ninja Exams are really dangerous. People usually spend some time doing missions after graduating before taking them! You've only been out of school for a month, and you don't even have a mentor. If you insist on taking them..."

Rin Nohara stepped forward too, looking at Mu Feng worriedly.

With the conversation back on track, everyone's attention returned to their original concern.

When Kakashi had taken the Chunin Ninja Exams, Obito and the others had not actually been as surprised as they were now.

First, Kakashi had always been the top student in their class, a genius.

Second, Kakashi had also spent some time honing his skills before taking the Chunin Ninja Exams.

There were probably very few people like Mu Feng who took the graduation exam almost immediately after graduating.

"Looks like I've worried everyone!"

Seeing their concerned faces, Mu Feng gave them a warm smile.

"All right, everyone, come inside first!"

Then Mu Feng invited everyone into his room.

"Wow, Mu Feng, is this your room?"

"It looks so tidy! There isn't much furniture, though!"

Once inside Mu Feng's room, the girls looked this way and that, utterly consumed by curiosity.

Mu Feng welcomed everyone and fetched a few stools.

After they sat down, the conversation returned to the Chunin Ninja Exams.

"Mu Feng, the Chunin Ninja Exams are really dangerous. You need to think this through! You could wait a little, too. Once we graduate, we could all take the Chunin Ninja Exams together!"

Rin Nohara offered the suggestion thoughtfully.

Mu Feng smiled faintly.

"I'm afraid that won't work. Lord Hokage personally selected me to take the Chunin Ninja Exams this time!"

"Lord Hokage personally selected you!?"

At those words, everyone's eyes lit up.

They understood perfectly well what that meant.

If the Hokage wanted Mu Feng to take the Chunin Ninja Exams, it meant he recognized Mu Feng's strength.

At once, everyone's gazes filled with envy and admiration, and they felt somewhat reassured.

In their eyes, the Hokage represented the authority of Konoha.

The Third Hokage also enjoyed great prestige in Konoha. If even the Hokage recognized Mu Feng's strength, what did they, seven- or eight-year-old students who were not even Genin, have to worry about?

However, after hearing Mu Feng's words, one person in the room wore a different expression. Rather than showing much envy, he gave a cold snort.

That person was the Third Hokage's son, Asuma.

"Tch, that old man just loves doing this sort of thing!"

"Hey, Mu Feng, since you've earned his approval, I suppose the Chunin Ninja Exams won't be a problem. But I'm still not giving up! Sooner or later, I'll get you back!" Asuma declared.

His words immediately fired up Obito and Guy beside him.

Both stood and made declarations of their own.

At the sight, Mu Feng did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"All right! Then you'd better work hard!"

He tossed out a casual response, but the three opposite him took it very seriously.

With the Third Hokage's name brought into the conversation, Kurenai Yuhi and the others relaxed, and everyone moved on to a variety of other topics.

The girls began asking about the things Mu Feng usually liked to do, while the boys imagined what it would be like when they took the Chunin Ninja Exams themselves.

Time passed quickly as they chatted.

Seeing that it was getting late, Mu Feng stood to see everyone out.

Outside the door.

Mu Feng said goodbye to Obito and the others one by one, but Kurenai Yuhi hung back behind the group, deliberately staying until last.

"Mu Feng, um... this is a Peace Charm I made myself!"

"I hope you'll take it with you when you go to the Chunin Ninja Exams!"

As the sun sank in the west, Kurenai Yuhi held out a yellow charm sachet in both hands, her cheeks flushed and her eyes full of shyness.

Mu Feng paused in surprise.

A moment later, he reached out and accepted it.

"All right. I'll definitely take it with me!"

"Once the Chunin Ninja Exams are over, I'll treat you to ramen!"

"Sure!" Kurenai Yuhi agreed without hesitation. Her red eyes and radiant smile left Mu Feng momentarily dazed again, and he stared at her for a while.

Seemingly startled by the intensity of Mu Feng's gaze, Kurenai Yuhi glanced away, then immediately ran off toward her home.

"Seriously, I actually got charmed by a seven- or eight-year-old girl!"

Watching Kurenai Yuhi's lively figure, Mu Feng could not help sighing.

Then he looked down at the charm in his hand and tucked it close to his body.

For Mu Feng, what he felt toward Kurenai Yuhi was only affection for now.

But no matter how fond he was of her, he was still only a seven- or eight-year-old child himself, so he could not do anything beyond that.

Besides, the Third Shinobi World War would probably begin soon.

Mu Feng's most urgent task remained to improve his strength as quickly as possible.

Before long, however, Mu Feng's thoughts turned to how Kurenai Yuhi and the others would be assigned to teams after graduation.

Maybe I could find a chance to speak to the Third Hokage!

See if I could get assigned to the same team as Kurenai!

Mu Feng understood perfectly well that staying close to someone gave him a head start in winning her affection.

After letting his thoughts wander for a while, Mu Feng finally returned to his room and began preparing for the Chunin exams.