Until now…
Shigure had never truly used his Breathing Sword Style seriously.
Since its development, the technique had mostly been integrated into passive skills—refined, upgraded, and strengthened little by little over time.
In recent days, the system's passive enhancements had continuously improved the effectiveness of his Breathing Style.
Not only his swordsmanship and ninjutsu, but even his reaction speed and reflexes were steadily evolving.
His previous opponents couldn't push him far enough to unleash his full power. Every time Shigure attempted a serious attack, they were either overwhelmed or fell before he could go all out.
But Kakashi… was different.
He wouldn't die so easily.
Shigure could finally wield his blade at full strength—without fear of killing his opponent.
At most… Kakashi would just be seriously injured.
Shigure's eyes narrowed sharply.
In that split second, something changed.
Even Kakashi, an elite Jōnin of Konoha, the famed Copy Ninja, felt a flicker of fear rise within him.
What the hell is this pressure...?
I'm Hatake Kakashi… how could I be shaken by a mere Genin's gaze?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
But there was no time to dwell on the feeling—Shigure was already closing the distance.
He swung his sword with devastating momentum.
The black blade of Zangetsu shimmered with faint blue streaks, its arc slicing the air with a piercing howl.
Clang!
Sparks erupted as Kakashi blocked the blow with both hands gripping his kunai.
Even so, the shock sent a numbing ache up his arms.
What strength…! He's not just skilled with the sword—he's physically powerful too!
Why does this feel like sparring with Guy… but if Guy knew kenjutsu?!
Forced to retreat from the impact, Kakashi barely managed to hold his ground.
And yet… Shigure smiled.
"A duel between the Hatake style and Kazuki style… looks like it's evenly matched. In that case—no need for restraint!"
He gripped Zangetsu with both hands.
A flash of eerie blue light shimmered in his eyes.
In that instant, his entire demeanor changed—like a demon emerging from the shadows of the night.
Even Kakashi couldn't suppress a shiver.
Swish—Swish—Swish!
Shigure charged like a man possessed, Zangetsu blurring in rapid arcs as afterimages of his blade assaulted Kakashi from every direction.
"What insane speed—he's attacking like a berserker!"
From the distance, Sasuke's eyes widened.
He couldn't follow the movements at all.
But one thing was clear: if he had been on the receiving end of that flurry, he wouldn't have lasted a second.
This guy… he used to be a nobody in the Academy. And now he's turned into a monster.
Was he just pretending to be average all that time…?
Letting me take the spotlight, become the so-called "genius"… while he lurked in the shadows, hiding his true strength…?
To Sasuke, it all looked like a carefully planned strategy—Shigure staying in the background while he took all the attention.
Suddenly—
Crack!
Snap!
A sharp metallic noise broke through the chaos.
Naruto and Sasuke both turned their eyes toward Kakashi.
Though Kakashi had managed to parry most of the onslaught, it was clear he couldn't hold out much longer.
A fragment of broken kunai spun through the air and embedded itself in the trunk of a nearby tree.
Kakashi's form leapt from the woods, landing in an open area near the riverbank—putting distance between himself and the students.
Clink—Clank—
Shigure followed slowly, dragging Zangetsu behind him.
The edge of the black blade scraped against the stones on the ground, kicking up sparks as he walked.
Kakashi exhaled softly, watching the boy approach.
"To think… someone so young has honed their body to this level. And your swordsmanship…"
"...It truly is exceptional. You've surpassed me in pure sword skill."
Shigure remained silent, unfazed.
But to Naruto and Sasuke, those words were shocking.
To hear a Jōnin instructor admit defeat—even if only in swordsmanship—was unheard of.
While kenjutsu wasn't the mainstream among shinobi, for a Genin to possess a skill that outclassed a Jōnin was still unbelievable.
Kakashi straightened up, his tone turning serious.
"Enough playing around. I'm done limiting myself to kenjutsu."
"Your self-created sword style… is terrifyingly powerful."
But I can't let myself lose here. If word spreads that I was defeated by a fresh Genin… how will I hold my head up in Konoha ever again?
If I lose like this… that guy Guy is going to laugh at me every day.
Kakashi sighed in his heart.
Then—
"Sensei! I haven't even used my personal sword style yet!"
Shigure grinned, eyes sharp and calm.
"But since you're interested, I'll show it to you now, Kakashi-sensei!"
What...?
Kakashi froze for a second.
Wasn't that storm of slashes just now already Shigure's original swordsmanship?
Each strike had precisely targeted the weak points in his defenses. That flurry, as wild and fast as a hurricane—that wasn't it?
That wasn't his real sword technique?
"Sensei, be careful!"
Shigure's voice snapped him back to reality.
At that moment, Kakashi felt something—like a ripple on a still lake, a drop of water falling into his heart.
A premonition.
Breath—
Bang!
Shigure stepped forward with heavy force and launched himself straight at Kakashi, his speed explosive.
Reacting instantly, Kakashi flung a handful of shuriken to slow him down.
But Shigure didn't slow down.
In fact… he got even faster.
"First Form – Face Slash!"
Shigure's voice echoed.
A surging current of energy seemed to materialize around him. As Zangetsu sliced through the air, the flowing blade produced a wide arc of pressure—an enormous slash wave swept out toward Kakashi.
The force was overwhelming.
Kakashi's shuriken were blown aside like leaves in a gale.
If he hadn't leapt high into the air in the next second, he would have been cleaved in half.
A single drop of cold sweat slid down Kakashi's cheek as a massive tree behind him was sliced clean through and collapsed with a deafening crash.
Whoosh—!
A sharp sound of wind splitting followed.
Kakashi's eyes darted—just a blur in his peripheral vision.
Shigure had already closed the gap.
He was beside Kakashi before his feet even touched the ground.
Both hands gripping his blade, Shigure crouched low—then suddenly snapped his head up, eyes locked onto his target.
"Fourth Form – Wave Strike!"
The instant he spoke, the black blade lashed forward.
Streams of energy spiraled around Zangetsu's trajectory as it twisted and surged like a fast-moving current.
Swish—Swish—Swish!
The moment the two figures passed each other, the spiral current exploded violently around Kakashi.
In that flash of an instant… Kakashi's body was sliced apart—
Ten segments flew through the air.
Naruto gasped hard.
It wasn't just Shigure's strength that stunned him now—it was the fact that…
He just killed Kakashi-sensei!?
Naruto was about to shout something, but—
Shigure turned sharply, eyes gleaming, and dashed forward again.
A slight smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he whipped his sword around once more toward a distant target.
"Seventh Form – Shizuku Wave Thrust!"
In the blink of an eye, he shot forward like a streak of light, blade aimed directly at the bushes nearby.
Flash—!
A stabbing motion so fast it almost disappeared—Zangetsu pierced the shrubbery without resistance.
And in that moment…
Poof!
Behind him, the Kakashi that had been cut into pieces turned into a chunk of wood, splitting apart with a burst of white smoke.
A Substitution Jutsu.
At that same instant, a shadow rolled out from the bushes, landing smoothly on the ground.
The real Kakashi.
...
TN:
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