Chapter 3 – Cutting Through Fire
Kakashi Hatake caught the White Fang from Mawari Yasu, face twisted with a puzzled expression and a hint of annoyance.
But the moment his eyes landed on the weapon in Mawari Yasu's hands, he froze.
Although Kakashi hardly ever used White Fang anymore, he treated it almost like an antique keepsake.
Yet, to remember his father, Sakumo Hatake, he often took it out and just stared at it for a while.
Apart from reading "Icha-Icha Paradise," White Fang was the thing Kakashi had studied more than anything else. He knew it down to every nook and cranny.
And the weapon in Mawari Yasu's hands, its shape, size, even the faint white glint—it matched White Fang perfectly.
"Kid… hope you don't die. You'll have to explain this to me later!"
[Ding! Kakashi Hatake's affection +1. Current: 68 points!]
Mawari Yasu's eyes lit up. He didn't know why, but Kakashi's affection had increased. Just two more points and another sign-in would be possible.
But the thought of the 100-point reward sent a chill down his spine.
Mawari Yasu gripped White Fang expertly, eyes scanning the three remaining ninjas he was facing.
Sure, one had already been taken care of, but expecting Kakashi to lend backup immediately? Not happening.
These three ninjas Yasu was facing weren't just any ordinary ninjas—they were skilled and dangerous.
Why hadn't they attacked yet? Mawari Yasu's previous direct attack had stunned them, and they didn't yet fully understand him—they still lacked information about him.
Still, by giving them time to form a strategy, his situation would get worse by the second.
Mawari Yasu knew exactly what to do.
Take out at least one before they can coordinate.
He held White Fang in front, then spun and charged toward a ninja behind him.
Better to cut off a finger than lose the whole hand—he aimed to kill this ninja outright.
This target was the same ninja who had attacked him earlier, alongside the one who had just died, and was now heavily injured.
The ninja's eyes flared with infuriation.
Being treated like an easy target by a kid? That was an insult to his pride.
"Come on! Let me show you what a real ninja can do!"
He shouted, forming hand seals rapidly.
Although more than ten ninjas were surrounding Kakashi, Kakashi's eyes never left Mawari Yasu.
Judging by the seal sequence… though it was not the strongest fire jutsu, it could still do some serious damage.
"Kid, run! It's a fire style jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Mawari Yasu froze for a split second, then smirked.
Ninjutsu undoubtedly a ninja's greatest weapon. By the later parts of Naruto, a single jutsu could flatten a forest, reshape terrain.
And among them, Fire Style jutsu could easily turn a forest to ashes.
Yet, Mawari Yasu wasn't afraid—he actually relaxed.
Because Fire Style, as deadly as it was, rarely killed a person outright.
He charged toward the ninja as flames erupted, engulfing him and the surrounding trees in the fireball jutsu.
"Damn it! Son of a—!"
Kakashi, usually calm and collected, shouted in hysterical alarm.
Though they'd only been together a short while, Kakashi's left eye throbbed at the sight of Mawari Yasu surrounded by enemies.
Lightning sparked across Kakashi's hand as he charged forward. It wasn't about the kid personally—it was his Ninja Way. No ninja, no matter if he knew him or not, could be abandoned. Those who do are worse than scum. And this one… this boy had shown potential. Let him die here? That would be unforgivable, worse than failing a teammate.
Kakashi couldn't let it happen.
"Not good… Kakashi's going all out!"
"Who is this kid to him? He's completely focused!"
"Keep your distance—he's not holding back!"
The ninja casting Fireball Jutsu felt his stomach drop. Two waves of killing intent surged toward him.
One—unmistakably Kakashi, fully focused and going all out.
The other—not as strong, but striking with deadly precision, right through the middle of the Fireball Jutsu.
Suddenly, a flash of white light cut a perfect arc through the blazing fireball, splitting it in half.
And from the severed flames leapt Mawari Yasu.
The ninja gaped, frozen.
Being approached while casting a ninjutsu is fatal. Generally, one must immediately abandon the ninjutsu, either using a kunai to defend or employing a substitution jutsu to create distance.
But the ninja stood there dumbfounded, leaving the final seal unfinished.
Suddenly, the ninja's mask split in two. Blood gushed from his chest, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to his knees, succumbing to his injuries.
Kakashi exhaled, relief flooding through him—but then frowned at the fallen ninja.
"The technique… he's... using it perfectly!"
"No… he's just a kid. There's no way he should be able to move like this."
"But to cut through a Fire Style attack… his skill is beyond his age. This kid isn't normal."
Seeing the hesitation among the remaining ninjas, Kakashi's Chidori flared with electricity, his dead-fish eyes scanning the group calmly.
"Still want to continue?"
The enemy leader's aura darkened.
Their sure-kill plan against Kakashi had been ruined by a single kid. Two ninjas already gone.
They could still try to kill Kakashi—but at a heavy cost.
And now, with someone showing skill far beyond his years, the outcome of any attack was uncertain.
The ninjas exchanged glances, then vanished in a flash.
Kakashi lowered his Chidori, eyes fixed on the retreating ninjas. His hands clenched into fists with tense focus as he scanned their surroundings, calculating whether they would return and from which angle they might strike next.
Thunk.
Mawari Yasu twisted his ankle and collapsed pale to the ground.
Kakashi rushed over, checked him, then shook his head with a soft laugh.
"Out of chakra."
Chakra is a basic resource for ninjas—but not exclusive to them.
Even ordinary humans have chakra, though far less than that of trained ninjas.
White Fang requires chakra to wield. Mawari Yasu's single strike exhausted him completely—a civilian taking out two ninjas in succession.
"Alright, kid… let's head back to Konoha."
[Ding! Kakashi Hatake's affection +1. Current: 69 points!]