Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the battle unfold through his crystal ball. His brows rose slightly at the scene before him—then softened into a smile.
As expected of Kakashi.
In that fleeting moment, he had managed to use the Substitution Jutsu perfectly.
Shigure's swordsmanship was indeed terrifying. That thrust—lightning-fast, sharp, and controlled.
It looked gentle—like a trickling stream weaving through a summer forest.
But the power behind it was anything but gentle.
Boom!!
A surge of force erupted as the residual energy of Shigure's thrust blasted through the bushes.
Not only were they torn apart in an instant, but the ground behind them bore the aftermath—a deep gash stretching more than ten meters long.
Kakashi barely managed to roll aside in time, breaking into a defensive crouch. He turned to glance at the deep groove carved into the earth and felt a chill run down his spine.
If I hadn't dodged that… there'd be a hole through me right now.
Is this kid trying to kill me?
While Kakashi hesitated for a moment, Shigure showed no sign of stopping.
He was completely immersed in the flow of battle.
Carefree.
This was the first time Shigure could fight without holding back—without fear of killing his opponent.
He could finally let loose.
Strictly speaking, this was his first true battle.
"Third Form – Flowing Dance!"
Without pause, Shigure chained his attack into another.
Kakashi's expression darkened. He'd been on the back foot from the start.
Relentless.
Unyielding.
Shigure didn't give him even a second to breathe.
Doesn't he get tired?!
Since the moment Shigure began wielding his sword seriously, the power that exploded from his blade had left Kakashi shaken.
It wasn't just swordsmanship.
The ninjutsu-like force that erupted with each strike rivaled that of an actual elemental technique.
And yet, Shigure used no hand seals.
He channeled it all through the blade.
Seamlessly.
Most ninja require seals, chakra control, and mastery of nature transformation to produce this kind of output…
And yet he integrates all of that into pure sword technique.
Ridiculous.
Shigure surged forward again, this time riding along a stream of flowing chakra that shimmered beneath his feet.
It was as if a real river had emerged—every step echoed with the sound of rushing water.
And his blade—
Zangetsu—once again lunged at Kakashi with deadly speed, aiming straight for his face.
Too fast!
No time to dodge.
But Kakashi had already begun forming hand seals the moment Shigure moved.
Just as the blade tore through the air—
"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"
Crack!!
A slab of solid earth shot up before him. Chakra-reinforced and heavy, the wall blocked the strike.
Shigure's sword slammed into it.
The wall didn't shatter—but Shigure's sword wasn't aimed to break it.
This wasn't a power-based form—it was all about speed.
Swish!
A blur burst from behind the earth wall—Kakashi launched a counterattack.
He came in from the right, striking with a kunai.
Shigure met him head-on.
His blade moved fast, graceful, trailed by a soft ripple of water.
Clang!
Steel met steel.
Kakashi staggered back from the force of the strike—only to burst into white smoke a moment later.
A Shadow Clone!?
Before Shigure could refocus—
Crackling!
The unmistakable sound of lightning filled the air behind him.
Shigure turned sharply.
Kakashi stood behind him, the metal forehead protector lifted.
His Sharingan spun, staring directly at Shigure.
Lightning danced around his right hand, crackling with barely-contained energy.
"Shigure..."
Kakashi's voice was calm—but with a touch of admiration.
"You're incredible. I never thought I'd be forced this far… and you're fresh out of the Academy."
"And all of that… was just your swordsmanship."
He smiled beneath the mask, even as the chakra surged around him.
"But calling it just 'swordsmanship' isn't right anymore. This goes beyond kenjutsu."
"To be honest, your technique is closer to ninjutsu now."
Despite the circumstances, Kakashi was impressed—and genuinely happy. Having such a gifted ninja rise among the younger generation filled him with pride.
But admiration had limits.
He still had his pride as a Jōnin.
No matter how talented Shigure was, Kakashi couldn't let himself be defeated by a Genin.
He wouldn't allow it.
"But remember, a shinobi who relies only on taijutsu or kenjutsu… will eventually hit a wall."
"Let me show you a technique—my strongest ninjutsu. One that once severed a bolt of lightning itself…"
Before he could finish—
Shigure interrupted him.
"Raikiri?"
Kakashi narrowed his eyes slightly.
He even knows about Raikiri? That'll make things easier.
He smirked beneath the mask.
"Confident, are you? Think you can block my Raikiri?"
Shigure raised his left hand and formed the sword sign, gently sliding it along the blade of Zangetsu.
His tone remained calm.
"Who knows? You won't unless you try."
Kakashi chuckled softly.
That kind of answer didn't come from arrogance—it came from preparation. If Shigure dared to meet Raikiri head-on, it meant he still had something up his sleeve.
Interesting. Let's see what kind of sword technique you've been hiding.
"Alright then," Kakashi said, lightning starting to crackle at his fingertips.
"Let's find out."
Shigure held Zangetsu in one hand as chakra began surging through his body.
An overwhelming aura erupted from him—his Breathing Style passive skills activating all at once, releasing a torrent of refined chakra.
This is it—the final move of the Breathing Technique.
"Picking Form!!!"
Shigure's body began to rotate.
With each revolution, a dragon-shaped flow of water seemed to trace the path of his spinning blade. The sound of a stream began to rise—a soft trickle at first, then louder and more furious with each circle.
The creek became a rushing river.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!!
Zangetsu roared like thunder, the stream it conjured turning into a thundering surge.
Kakashi had originally planned to wait—observe the full extent of Shigure's attack before striking.
But now…
The more he spins, the stronger it gets. If I let this build up any longer—I'll lose.
"Shigure! I'm coming!!"
Lightning surged around Kakashi's hand as he charged forward, Raikiri flashing with deadly intent.
At that moment, Shigure opened his eyes.
A cold gleam flickered across them as he gripped Zangetsu with both hands.
The dragon-shaped torrent swirled violently—and with a roar, it opened its maw.
Seeing Kakashi rushing straight in, Shigure raised his blade high—
And brought it crashing down.
"Life Flow!!!"
His shout split the air.
A massive dragon of surging current burst forth, roaring toward Kakashi with explosive force.
"Raikiri!!"
Kakashi thrust forward at the same time.
Lightning met water.
Power met power.
And in the next instant—
BOOOOM!
The impact sent shockwaves rippling across the edge of Konoha.
Electric arcs exploded into the sky.
The raging torrent carved deep scars into the ground.
The clash created a vortex of energy that ripped through trees, shattered rock, and howled like a storm.
Nearly half the villagers in Konoha looked up in alarm.
"W-What just happened!?"
But the battle was far from the center.
On the outskirts of the village, where the dust and storm slowly began to settle…
The violent winds faded.
The lightning dulled.
The waters stilled.
In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage slowly lowered his pipe and gazed into the crystal ball.
"What a... magnificent battle."
Even he hadn't expected Shigure—a Genin fresh out of the Academy—to push Kakashi this far.
A monster in human form.
Then—
A figure began to emerge through the fading smoke and swirling dust.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
"Could it be…?"
...
TN:
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