Duy's heart pounded in disbelief.
Beside him, Nonō let out a sharp scream—
"Kaito-sensei!"
Her voice startled Mikoto mid–fire jutsu.
The flames at her lips sputtered and faded as she blinked toward the clearing smoke.
She didn't notice the shadow slicing forward on her left flank, accelerating beside the scorched ground.
Kaito saw the substitution seal forming at her fingers.
Smooth as water, still moving at high speed, he flicked out three shuriken in a single motion.
The shift in his posture dissolved the afterimage trailing behind him.
Nonō finally spotted him—
"Kaito-sensei… over there?!"
Kaito is less than fifty meters from Mikoto now.
At the same time, the girl saw three dark arcs converging on her from different angles.
"Watch out, Mikoto!"
Children without strength always panic the loudest.
Duy, on the other hand, remained strangely calm.
Because in his eyes, Kaito's movements…
Already exceeded the standard of a special jōnin.
Why… Why is someone this strong still a genin?
THUNK. THUNK. THUNK.
The clean sound echoed through the trees.
The three shuriken stuck into "Mikoto's body"—
But her expression of despair was almost comical.
Because Kaito had already seen through her trick.
She had used a substitution prop, accelerating her escape, a neat high-level misdirection for a new genin.
Right now she was perched silently in a tree on his right, regulating her breath, waiting for an opening.
At an actual jōnin's level, this speed was nothing special.
But to Genin?
Mikoto's and Nonō's eyes simply couldn't follow the exchange.
Only Duy—a taijutsu specialist—saw fragments of the truth.
A moment later:
POP.
White smoke billowed.
The "girl" turned into a wooden log, three shuriken embedded in it.
Kaito didn't pursue.
He simply called out to the two still watching:
"Come at me together.
If it's just Mikoto… this might be a little too hard for her."
He tapped the three bells hooked at his waist.
They jingled lightly, tauntingly.
"Damn it… he's provoking me!"
Hidden in the leaves, Mikoto clenched her fists.
That speed—
If Nonō hadn't shouted, she wouldn't have noticed Kaito had flanked her at all.
A genin?
If someone told her he was a jōnin specializing in Body Flicker, she would believe it.
"No more holding back, then."
Mikoto dropped lightly to the ground.
"This is the third time we've fought, Kaito.
You've changed a lot since two years ago."
Duy finally stood, eyes bright and serious.
Nonō checked her gear, nodding to him.
"Then we won't feel bad about three-on-one."
"Mm."
Kaito nodded.
"Good. Show me the teamwork you built from all those D-rank missions."
"Prepare to be shocked!" Mikoto boasted.
"You were always slacking while we analyzed strategies, but we've gotten used to fighting together!"
Kaito didn't mind being treated like a lazy teacher.
It made playing weak easier.
"You get one minute to plan."
"Okay!" ×3
They huddled and whispered intensely.
"His speed is insane! You tricked us, Duy! You said his taijutsu was only 'pretty good'!" Mikoto hissed.
Duy looked embarrassed.
"Our last spar was two years ago. Back then he only barely beat me…"
"So I really didn't know he'd become like this."
"One more thing," Nonō added.
"He said his chakra nature was Fire before… but earlier the paper showed five natures. Could he have awakened some kind of kekkei—?"
Duy: "Huh?
Wasn't that MY result?"
Both girls rolled their eyes at him so hard they nearly fell over.
This guy who can't even use the three basic techniques properly has FIVE natures? Yeah right.
Realizing Kaito had done it to encourage him, Duy's heart warmed.
"This is youth! Then I won't hide anything either!"
He told them about the technique he'd been developing—
"The Eight Gates…
I can open the First Gate."
He explained quickly—
Longer than a minute, but Kaito didn't interrupt.
Let them bond.
Team cohesion mattered.
After a while—
"We're done. Move according to the plan."
"Mm!" ×2
They split apart.
Two vanished into the trees.
Duy stepped toward the tree where backpacks rested…
And began removing all his hidden weights.
Kaito whistled softly.
"Going all out, huh?
The last time we fought was two years ago. Let's see your progress."
"My progress is nothing compared to yours," Duy said earnestly.
"But—I've perfected a technique that will surprise you!"
He planted his feet.
"Eight Gates Released Formation…
First Gate—OPEN!"
If someone with Byakugan were watching, they'd see his brainstem flare with violent chakra.
His muscles amplified, veins bulging as his body overclocked.
Kaito raised an eyebrow.
He really can open the Gate of Opening now… impressive.
"Now!"
Hidden in the grass, Mikoto struck—
A kunai whistled toward his ribs.
Kaito sidestepped without effort.
Duy seized the opening, surging in.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
His low sweeping kick tore across the ground.
Kaito leapt back, evading cleanly.
Duy lunged again.
The two clashed—
Punches, kicks, blows, landing with explosive force.
Each impact sent dust spiraling.
Acting is a Skill
From above, watching the clash of fists—
One could see the subtle control Kaito exerted.
He allowed himself to be pushed…
Only to sell the illusion of struggle.
A hit landed against his crossed forearms—
He skidded back, heels carving twin lines in the dirt.
"Impressive.
So this is your Eight Gates?"
Kaito analyzed him calmly.
At Gate One, Duy could dominate an ordinary chūnin.
But he couldn't sustain it for long.
Sure enough—
After a few exchanges, Duy's aura dimmed.
His legs trembled; his body sagged.
He'd pushed himself to his limit.
But his goal was achieved.
He shouted:
"Nonō—NOW!"
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