The next morning.
With Hiruzen Sarutobi presiding, Kōki's graduation assessment was about to begin. Spectators crowded around the training ground where the assessment would take place. They had heard from their children that a newly enrolled student wanted to graduate early and had come to watch.
They were all curious to see which ninja clan had raised the genius applying for graduation.
But when they saw the small figure standing on the field, they were a little disappointed. The genius applying for early graduation was not a member of any ninja clan they knew. In other words, this child was a civilian. That conclusion set them all talking.
"Is he really the one applying for early graduation?"
"He's so small, and his arms are so thin. He looks like an ordinary little kid. Can he really pass the assessment?"
"He does look very composed, though. Not like most children."
While the people on the sidelines discussed Kōki's strength, a young, white-haired figure who looked only about ten suddenly appeared opposite him.
"You're the candidate who wants to graduate early?" The dead-eyed ninja looked at Kōki expressionlessly.
Seeing Kakashi appear before him, Kōki's eye twitched slightly, and he could not help grumbling inwardly.
Old Man Sarutobi really is sly. He actually arranged for Kakashi to be my opponent. No wonder he agreed so readily. This was what he had waiting for me. And here I gave that impassioned speech yesterday. What a waste of breath.
Kōki knew that if Hiruzen Sarutobi truly agreed to let him graduate, he would never have arranged for Kakashi to be his opponent, much less repeatedly stressed that he could not use Wood Release. So this was what he had been setting up.
The spectators gradually fell silent when Kakashi appeared. They no longer believed Kōki could pass this assessment. They knew that, given Kakashi's strength, Kōki had no chance of defeating him. The only question was how many moves Kōki could last against Kakashi before losing.
Once the referee ninja standing to the side saw that both participants had arrived, he announced, "The graduation assessment is about to begin. Kakashi Hatake on the left will face Kōki Itō on the right."
Hearing the referee's announcement, the spectators perked up slightly and focused their attention on the field.
Kōki's expression grew somewhat grave. Although he had confidence in himself, Kakashi was no ordinary opponent. Restricted to ordinary Ninjutsu and Taijutsu, he was not completely certain of winning. At that thought, Kōki could only sigh. He still had a trump card, but that had originally been a surprise prepared for future enemies. If he truly ran out of options, he would have to let Kakashi experience it first.
"Begin!"
The moment he heard the referee's command, Kōki drew a kunai and charged at Kakashi.
Seeing Kōki move, Kakashi drew a short blade from his back and slashed at him. His movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Kōki hurriedly dodged the incoming blade, occasionally counterattacking with his kunai. But compared to Kakashi, who had undergone specialized, systematic training in swordsmanship, his attacks had no structure. He relied purely on his wits and eyesight to judge where to strike. That method might work against ordinary ninja, but it was useless against someone like Kakashi, who had inherited his family's skills.
In Kakashi's eyes, Kōki's attacks were full of openings, so he handled them with ease, keeping Kōki almost entirely on the defensive. Kōki also realized that the gap in their weapon skills was far too great and immediately abandoned the idea of continuing to trade blows.
Kōki blocked the short blade slashing toward his neck and shoved Kakashi away with a powerful push. His hands rapidly formed hand seals. "Snake-Ram-Monkey-Boar-Horse-Tiger. Fire Style-Great Fireball Technique!" A massive fireball hurtled toward Kakashi.
But Kakashi showed no sign of panic. He, too, formed hand seals. "Snake-Boar-Dog. Earth Release-Earth Style Wall!" A huge earthen wall rose from the ground, blocking the fireball. The fireball shattered on impact, and the scattered sparks danced around Kakashi in a dazzling display.
Before Kakashi could react, a small hand suddenly reached out of the earth and grabbed his right foot. With a forceful tug, it dragged him straight underground. "Earth Release-Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!"
After the Earth Style Wall rose, Kōki had recalled the tactic he had used against Obito. So, once the wall blocked Kakashi's view, he immediately used the Double Suicide Decapitation Technique to burrow underground and wait for an opening.
Unfortunately, Kakashi was also a veteran of countless battles. How could Kōki catch him so easily? The Kakashi dragged underground vanished in a puff of white smoke with a bang.
At the sight, Kōki instantly realized something was wrong and hurriedly turned to look behind him. A flash of steel entered his vision. Kakashi was slashing at him with his short blade. In that moment of danger, Kōki immediately burst chakra from his feet and threw his head back, dodging Kakashi's blade. But he had noticed too late, and the White Light Chakra Sabre still cut a gash across his face.
Rather than pressing his advantage, Kakashi explained, "A real battle between ninja is also a battle of information."
"Before our match, I gathered information on you. Did you think the tactic you used against that idiot Obito would work on me too? A real ninja keeps observing his opponent throughout a battle and never lets his guard down for even a moment."
Perhaps because he felt differently about Obito, Kakashi's tone was not quite so cold when he mentioned him.
Hearing Kakashi call him an idiot, Obito, who was watching from the sidelines, immediately shouted in anger, "You're the idiot, Kakashi! I only let my guard down for a moment! Otherwise, I wouldn't have lost so easily!"
"So that's how it is? Senior Kakashi, you really have taught me a lesson."
Only after hearing Kakashi's words did Kōki feel that he truly had been arrogant and underestimated him. After all, Kakashi was an acknowledged genius in the original story. Even as a child, he was no simple opponent.
Feeling the faint pain in his cheek, Kōki touched it and felt a little moisture. He brought his hand before his eyes and saw a smear of fresh blood. His gaze gradually turned cold, and a trace of anger entered his voice. He was going to reveal his trump card. With his current strength, he was no match for Kakashi without it.
"To thank you for the lesson, Senior Kakashi, I'll defeat you with everything I have."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kōki charged at Kakashi, moving at least two or three times faster than before. Kakashi was surprised by his sudden burst of speed, but when he saw Kōki abandon his weapon and charge with only his fists raised, he put away his short blade and prepared to meet the attack. He would not go so far as to use his family's swordsmanship to bully an unarmed new student.
Seeing Kakashi put away his weapon only deepened the anger in Kōki's eyes. The instant he closed in, he switched from a punch to a kick. His leg rose high, then came crashing down.
Kakashi, who had crossed his arms to block the blow, suddenly shuddered. His instincts told him this strike was dangerous and could not be taken head-on. Trusting his instincts completely, he immediately leaped backward at the warning.
The kick Kakashi dodged slammed straight into the ground, and a shocking sight unfolded. Kōki's kick shattered the once-level ground, leaving it looking as though an earthquake had struck. A deafening crash rang throughout the training ground.
The impact also sent the spectators staggering every which way.
"Hey, hey, hey. Taking that hit would be no joke." Seeing the shocking scene after dodging just in time, Kakashi could not help breaking into a cold sweat.