Chapter 13 – A Strategy Bound by Trust
Silence once again filled the training field.
The wind blew, carrying the damp scent of the forest.
Kazuki, Hinata, and Shikamaru stood in a small circle, while Kakashi stood a few meters in front of them with two small bells gleaming in his hands.
His eyes narrowed sharply, yet his lips still curled into a relaxed smile behind the mask.
Kakashi: "Alright. Let's continue. You have… only five minutes left."
His tone was light, but the pressure of chakra he radiated made Kazuki's hair stand on end.
---
Secret Discussion
Kazuki took a deep breath, then turned to his two teammates.
Kazuki: "We won't be able to fight Kakashi-sensei if we act separately. So… we must unite our strategy."
Shikamaru snorted, then scratched the back of his head.
Shikamaru: "Hhh… such a drag. But that's the only way. Fine, I'll think quickly. Hinata, what's the range of your Byakugan?"
Hinata, though her face reddened from nervousness, answered softly:
Hinata: "A-about five hundred meters… I can read even the smallest movements."
Shikamaru nodded.
Shikamaru: "Good. That's our advantage. Kakashi will surely try to hide, so Hinata will be our eyes. Kazuki, you… your strength is strange, sometimes faster than a shinobi's normal reflexes. That could be our last trump card."
Kazuki was startled, his eyes widening.
Kazuki: "You… noticed?"
Shikamaru: "Of course. I may be calm, but I'm not blind. There's something different about you. I don't know what… but we don't have time to question it now."
Kazuki swallowed hard, then nodded firmly.
Kazuki: "Alright. So, what's the plan?"
Shikamaru bent down, drawing a quick sketch on the ground with a twig.
Shikamaru: "We'll use a shadow trap strategy. Hinata will mark Kakashi's position. Kazuki, you'll be the main distraction. Once Kakashi focuses on you, I'll lock him with my shadow. After that, we grab the bells together. The key is: no one moves on their own."
Hinata nodded, her face serious though her hands trembled slightly.
Hinata: "I-I'll do my best."
Kazuki gave a faint smile.
Kazuki: "Then… let's do this."
---
The Battle Begins
The three of them spread out according to plan.
Kazuki moved forward, his body agile with a kunai in hand.
Kazuki: "Kakashi-sensei! This time… I won't back down!"
Kakashi only raised an eyebrow, then briefly opened his book.
Kakashi: "Oh? Is that so? Well, go ahead. I won't hold back."
Kazuki dashed forward, the kunai lunging from the left. Kakashi easily deflected it with one hand, without even closing his book.
Kakashi: "Your movements aren't bad… but still too easy to read."
But suddenly—Hinata appeared from behind, her hand ready with Gentle Fist.
Hinata: "Byakugan! Hakke—!"
Kakashi spun swiftly, blocking her strike with his palm.
Kakashi: "Very good reflexes, Hinata. But…"
From underground, Shikamaru's shadow lunged quickly.
Shikamaru: "You're already trapped, sensei."
The shadow almost reached Kakashi's legs—
But in an instant, Kakashi's body vanished.
"Puff!"
Smoke billowed—a substitution log dropped onto the ground.
Kazuki: "Substitution!? He's still one step ahead of us!"
---
Pressure Rises
Kakashi's voice echoed from behind the trees.
Kakashi: "Your strategy is fairly neat. But… can it match the experience of a jonin?"
Kazuki clenched his teeth.
Kazuki: "We have no other choice. If we fail, everything ends here."
Hinata reactivated her Byakugan, her eyes glowing.
Hinata: "On the right! Ten meters! He's moving quickly toward Kazuki-kun!"
Kazuki turned—and indeed, Kakashi darted with incredible speed.
But this time, Kazuki was ready.
He blocked the first strike, then spun to create distance.
Kazuki (in his mind): "I can't normally read his movements… but somehow, my body reacts on its own. As if I… have faced this before…"
Shikamaru (yelling from afar): "Kazuki! Lead him toward my shadow! Quickly!"
Kazuki nodded, then pretended to stagger. He retreated toward where Shikamaru's shadow was already set.
Kakashi, spotting the opening, charged at full speed.
Just as Kakashi was about to reach Kazuki—
Shikamaru:
"Now! Kagemane no Jutsu!"
Shikamaru's shadow shot out—and this time it caught Kakashi!
Shikamaru: "Hhh… finally… got you…"
Hinata rushed forward, reaching for the bells in Kakashi's immobilized hand.
But… just as her hand was about to touch them—
Kakashi suddenly raised his head, his Sharingan eye glowing sharply.
Kakashi: "You forgot one thing."
Shikamaru's shadow quivered violently. Shikamaru cried out, clutching his head.
Shikamaru: "Tch… Sharingan… he's forcing me out of the technique!"
In an instant, Kakashi was free. He leapt back, still holding the bells with ease.
Kakashi: "You've worked together. That's good. But… teamwork alone isn't enough. You must trust each other completely, even to the point of risking your lives."
Kazuki fell silent, his chest tightening.
"Trust completely… even with my life… am I ready for that?"
Hinata clenched her fists tightly, her face flushed but her eyes shining with resolve.
Hinata: "We can do this, Kazuki-kun. The three of us… together, we can make it."
Shikamaru let out a long sigh, then glanced at Kazuki.
Shikamaru: "Hhh… fine. If it has to be this way, I'll be serious this time. So… Kazuki, are you ready to be the gamble?"
Kazuki nodded, his eyes blazing.
Kazuki: "Yes. I'll take the lead this time. For the three of us."
They exchanged looks—for the first time, truly feeling connected as a team.
Kakashi closed his book, then tucked it into his pocket.
Kakashi: "Good. Now… show me if you are worthy of being called true shinobi."
Kazuki, Hinata, and Shikamaru took their positions, forming a new formation.
The real battle… was just about to begin.
---
TO BE CONTINUED…