"As expected of you—you're the top student. Just being able to accurately deflect my kunai is impressive."
Kakashi praised, but in the next instant, his figure vanished.
Without a sound, Kakashi reappeared behind Kaito, his hand reaching for Kaito's neck.
"I already told you—don't rely on cheap tricks. I'm not like the others."
Kaito smirked. Just as Kakashi's hand was about to close around him, he vanished with a sudden burst of speed.
"He disappeared? That's an incredibly fast body flicker," Kakashi narrowed his eyes, a hint of shock flickering within them.
"Never let your guard down in a fight, Kakashi-sensei."
A calm voice came from above, followed by the piercing crack of air being torn apart.
A black whip-kick descended like a thunderbolt, carrying a terrifying sonic boom with it.
Kakashi's expression turned serious. He clapped his hands together over his head.
Bang!
The moment their attacks met, Kakashi's form puffed into smoke—Substitution Technique.
Kaito's leg slammed into the earth.
Boom!
The ground cracked beneath the impact. Spiderweb-like fractures spread outward as a pit formed amid the flying debris.
"Substitution technique, huh…" Kaito muttered, standing in the center of the small crater.
In the shadows of a nearby tree, Kakashi watched the aftermath of the kick. He couldn't help but smirk.
"This kind of power and taijutsu... it's beyond what a fresh Genin should be capable of."
He sighed. "Guess this won't be as quick as I hoped. I'll need to get serious. But first… let's catch those other two troublemakers."
With that, Kakashi blurred into motion, vanishing into the forest.
"He's going for Sasuke and Sakura? Good. That keeps them out of the way," Kaito murmured, sensing Kakashi's chakra moving away.
"Was that a fight just now? That noise wasn't Naruto's doing..." Sasuke clenched his fists, frustration burning in his eyes. "Kaito… I will surpass you!"
Sakura, meanwhile, had stars in her eyes. Kaito is so cool... so cool!
She didn't even try to hide the dreamy look on her face.
Back on the field, Kaito stepped out of the crater and leaned casually against a nearby tree, waiting.
Soon, Kakashi returned, holding Naruto and Sasuke—each tied and hung from separate trees.
"Sorry! Took me a minute."
"No worries. I've got time," Kaito replied with a shrug.
"Well then… show me what this year's top student is really capable of."
Kakashi drew a kunai and narrowed his eyes. In the next breath, he lunged like a panther, moving so fast only afterimages danced in the sunlight.
In today's Konoha, when it came to taijutsu, there was no one Kaito feared—except maybe Might Guy.
With a flash, Kaito drew a kunai from his pouch and shot forward like black lightning.
The two clashed in a blur.
Clang! Clang! The sounds of kunai striking filled the air.
Kakashi's blade moved with expert precision, targeting Kaito's joints—each blow aimed to disable. A direct hit could cut his combat power in half.
But Kaito met each attack calmly and precisely, deflecting every strike.
Both were speed-type shinobi. Their battle moved like a storm, with blows exchanged at lightning pace. In seconds, they had traded hundreds of strikes, their afterimages scattering through the forest.
Clang!
Sparks flew as kunai clashed once more.
Kakashi's arms trembled slightly. His chest ached. He couldn't hide the surprise in his gaze.
He's matching me... no, outpacing me in taijutsu. At this age? Even Guy didn't have this kind of power back then...
Realizing he couldn't win through pure taijutsu, Kakashi pushed his headband upward to reveal his Sharingan.
Now!
But just then, a black leg swept toward him, air screaming around it.
"You're getting distracted during battle, Kakashi-sensei," Kaito's voice rang out. "That's a bit arrogant."
With no time to swap out using the Substitution Technique, Kakashi crossed his arms to block.
Bang!
The sound of impact echoed through the forest.
The force of the kick sent Kakashi flying. He crashed through multiple trees, finally skidding to a stop near a large rock, carving a deep trench through the earth.
Moments later, Kaito followed the trail and arrived to find Kakashi in a heap, leaning against the boulder, blood at the corner of his mouth.
"You really don't hold back, huh?" Kakashi winced.
"Sorry! I got a little carried away," Kaito scratched his head with an embarrassed smile.
Getting a chance to spar with someone like Kakashi didn't come every day—he couldn't help getting excited.
"Alright, alright... you all pass this time. Just... send me to the hospital first," Kakashi muttered, clearly in pain.
"Kakashi-sensei, are you okay?" Kaito asked, concerned.
"Multiple fractured ribs, sharp pain in my chest, and I can't feel my arms. Nothing too serious." Kakashi said it so casually, it almost sounded like a joke.
"Let me help with that."
Green healing chakra gathered around Kaito's hands, and he pressed them gently over Kakashi's injuries.
---
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