"Kyoichi-sensei and First Squad?"
Kakashi was momentarily stunned.
The next second, he saw Kyoichi arrive with three people—Asuma, Kurenai, and... a five-year-old Shisui?
Kakashi immediately felt a wave of indignation.
Shisui might be a prodigy, but so was he! Graduating at five, becoming a Chūnin at six, and having been a Chūnin for three years now, he couldn't believe such a team could pose a challenge. He could handle them on his own!
"Originally, I didn't want to step in," Kyoichi said, looking directly at Kakashi. "But your fight was just too messy, no teamwork whatsoever. I think it's time you learned what it means to work as a team."
Kyoichi’s gaze never wavered from Kakashi.
Yes, this was personal.
If Obito's foolishness was excusable, then what about Kakashi?
Kakashi, however, simply couldn't stand the idea of teaming up with Obito, feeling that cooperating with him would only hinder his own performance. This attitude had manifested in several missions before—always prioritizing what was best for the mission, even if it meant abandoning his teammates.
And far too overconfident.
Feeling Kyoichi's penetrating stare, Kakashi let out a cold snort, his defiance apparent.
"Alright, let’s begin. Fight as you will; I know some medical ninjutsu, so I can handle minor injuries."
With that, Kyoichi and Minato used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared.
Kakashi didn’t hesitate.
Back in the academy, he was already the strongest of his peers. Years later, he couldn't imagine losing to Asuma's group.
Both sides threw shuriken to disrupt each other while observing their opponents’ movements.
Kakashi wasn't reckless.
He kept an eye on Obito, Rin, and their enemies, carefully assessing their positions. But—
A smoke bomb erupted, and three "Team One" members emerged from the haze.
Kakashi immediately moved closer to Obito and Rin, but—
The clash of weapons echoed.
Shisui's blade came down from behind him.
The real one... Are they aiming for a decapitation strategy?
Dodging Shisui's slash with taijutsu, Kakashi quickly pieced together the enemy's plan.
"Decapitation? Perfect."
He drew his White Light Sabre and charged at Asuma.
Obito formed a series of hand seals, spewing a large Fireball from his mouth.
Kakashi cursed under his breath, forced to abandon his attack to avoid Obito's flames.
He noticed something wrong.
There were only two opponents.
Kakashi’s warning came too late.
In Obito and Rin’s view, a sea of cherry blossoms began to swirl.
Dancing Blossom Swarm Technique!
Kakashi immediately dispelled the genjutsu and moved to release his teammates, but—
Shisui and Asuma had already finished their seals.
Fireball Jutsu! Great Breakthrough!
Flames roared forward, merging into a massive inferno that engulfed the entranced Obito and Rin.
Cold sweat dripped down Kakashi's face as he swiftly formed hand seals, slamming his hands into the ground to raise an earthen wall that blocked the fire.
Obito and Rin finally snapped out of it, only to hear a voice from behind them—
It was Asuma’s shadow clone and Kurenai!
"Kakashi lost," Minato sighed.
Although Kakashi was still standing, his teammates had been "killed." Defeating the entire opposing team in such a situation was almost impossible.
Unless his strength far surpassed theirs.
But clearly, that wasn’t the case.
Speed alone wasn’t enough.
Asuma, Kurenai, and Shisui weren’t particularly fast, but their coordination, along with Kurenai's strong sensory abilities, left Kakashi perpetually on the defensive.
"All three are elite Genin. Kakashi is skilled, but as long as Asuma's team doesn’t try to kill him outright, they won’t have any major issues," Kyoichi remarked casually.
Splitting them up would have allowed Kakashi to pick them off one by one, but together, their teamwork made even Kakashi's speed insufficient.
Now, Kakashi’s blade crackled with electricity.
He’s pushing his limits?
Kyoichi watched as Kakashi charged toward Shisui, intent on ending the fight with one decisive strike.
Underground, a shadow clone burrowed forward.
"White Fang's Sword techniques? No... it’s just for show. Kakashi is going to lose," Kyoichi said, shaking his head.
Minato, however, wasn’t so certain.
Kakashi still had a chance. If he could defeat Shisui, taking down the remaining two one by one wasn’t out of the question.
But the next moment, he understood Kyoichi's confidence.
As Kakashi’s blade descended, Asuma blocked it!
Though Asuma’s arm was badly injured, bleeding profusely, his Wind Release Chakra neutralized Kakashi's Lightning Chakra.
Meanwhile, Shisui and Kurenai attacked Kakashi’s shadow clone and real body simultaneously.
"Enough. Stand down, Kakashi."
"Yes, sir," Kakashi said bitterly, lowering his blade.
If Asuma hadn’t protected Shisui, that last strike could have "killed" him.
"Not satisfied?" Kyoichi sneered. "Team battles are never about one-on-one. What good is being strong on your own unless you’re at Minato-sensei’s level? Otherwise, stop dreaming."
He wasn’t exaggerating.
Minato’s Flying Thunder God Technique made him nearly invincible in the right conditions, while Kyoichi’s Earth Spear Technique, combined with his other jutsu, gave him an edge over most opponents.
He was still just a "glass cannon"—fragile and easy to counter. Without the Sharingan, even his chakra reserves were merely adequate.
Why did he think he could take on three people alone?
Kakashi’s face darkened, but he couldn’t deny Kyoichi’s words. The fight had ended in an indisputable loss.
"Rin, your issue is taijutsu. You’re a medical ninja, but that doesn’t mean you can neglect close combat. Even Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin, is a terrifyingly powerful fighter. If necessary, you should consider learning the Chakra Scalpel technique."
Kyoichi turned to Rin, who seemed deeply shaken by her performance.
She hesitated before asking, "Sensei, do you mean... use the Chakra Scalpel to injure opponents?"
"Sever tendons, muscles, blood vessels—anything to restrict their movements. Isn’t that enough?"
Rin stared at him in shock. She had heard of the Chakra Scalpel but had never considered it as a combat tool.
But the more she thought about it, the more sense it made.
Who said the Chakra Scalpel couldn’t be used offensively?
"Sensei, what about me?" Obito asked urgently.
Rin had received advice, so he wanted to know his.
"You?" Kyoichi smirked. "Train harder, suffer more, and gain experience. You’re out of your mind."