24: You Were Beaten By Genin Who Just Graduated

Uzumaki Naruto: "Wow! Mr. Kakashi is going to be killed just like that!"

Inuzuka Kiba: "No way, he's a Jōnin!"

Aburame Shino: "When you shoot a Muji Great Fireball head-on, and the steel wires around you are about to trap you, ordinary ninjas wouldn't be able to dodge it at all!"

Nara Shikamaru: "Kakashi-sensei is also a well-known Elite Jōnin in Konoha, so he should be able to handle it..."

---

[A golden frame appears on the screen.]

[The huge Great Fireball engulfed Kakashi's position.]

[At the last moment before being hit by the fireball, Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique, soaring into the air instantly.]

[Cold sweat dripped from his forehead!]

[Too close!]

[If I'd been hit, I might have been severely burned!]

[What kind of Uchiha is this Sasuke? A Great Fireball with no hand seals?]

[Whoosh!]

[The sound of cutting wind reached his ears.]

[Kakashi's senses sharpened, and he noticed several shurikens flying toward him.]

[This brat!]

[He predicted my movements!]

[It makes sense though.]

[Given my previous situation, surrounded by steel wires with a fireball in front of me, my only option was to dodge upwards.]

[It's not surprising he predicted my actions.]

[The shurikens came from all directions, and Kakashi, mid-air with no room to dodge, quickly performed hand seals:]

["Earth Style: Rock Shelter!"]

[Kakashi spat out a mass of earth-colored rocks, enveloping himself completely.]

[Boom! Boom! Boom!]

[The shurikens collided with the rock shield, deflected.]

[Kakashi landed on the ground, letting out a slight sigh of relief.]

---

Might Guy: "As expected of Kakashi, his reaction speed is incredible!"

Hatake Kakashi: "Guy, this isn't the time to compliment me..."

Being pushed this far by a Genin—what's there to compliment?

Namikaze Minato: "Actually... I think Sasuke is holding back."

Orochimaru: "I agree. Sasuke has already mastered Lightning Style Nature Transformation. He could have attached Lightning Chakra to those shurikens and pierced through the Earth Style defense."

Jiraiya: "Are you overthinking this? After all, he's just a Genin who recently graduated. It's entirely possible he didn't think that far ahead."

It's a tight battle!

It's normal not to have time to think of everything!

Fourth Raikage: "Even though that Uchiha Sasuke is a genius, he hasn't experienced this level of intensity in a fight before!"

Terumi Mei: "How would he know Kakashi would defend with Earth Style and even think of using Lightning Chakra ahead of time?"

Onoki: "Heh! That's simple. When defending in mid-air, Earth Style is the only real option."

Namikaze Minato: "Also, notice how Sasuke didn't predict where Kakashi would land after blocking the shuriken. He didn't continue attacking. I don't think he missed it."

Jiraiya: "But why would he do that?"

Orochimaru:

"Heh, I can probably guess what he's thinking."

"The Sasuke from that world likely doesn't fully understand his own strength yet. He might be using this battle with his Jōnin instructor to clarify just how strong he really is."

"So, he wants to push Kakashi to fight seriously and have a fair match."

Whoa!

Everyone was stunned.

No way! Isn't this supposed to be the Jōnin testing the strength of his new Genin team?

Now, it seems like the Genin is trying to test himself by fighting the Jōnin instructor instead!

Namikaze Minato: "Kakashi, you've underestimated your opponent!"

Hatake Kakashi: "..."

Kakashi smiled wryly.

Who would have thought that his students would be this outrageous?

---

[Kakashi and Sasuke stood facing each other from a distance.]

["Mr. Kakashi, are you going to take this seriously now?"]

[Sasuke asked.]

["..."]

[Kakashi silently adjusted his forehead protector, revealing the Sharingan beneath it.]

["It seems I've underestimated you. The next part won't be so easy."]

[Sasuke activated his Sharingan as well: "Just what I wanted!"]

[Three Tomoe Sharingan?!]

[Kakashi's eyes widened.]

[This Genin just graduated?!]

[Sasuke launched another attack on Kakashi, starting with another Muji Great Fireball.]

[This time, Kakashi was prepared:]

["Water Style: Water Wall!"]

[Sizzle!]

[The fireball clashed with the water wall, creating a thick mist.]

[Kakashi's figure disappeared into the mist.]

[The three tomoe in Sasuke's eyes spun rapidly, tracking Kakashi's movements.]

[Front, back, left, right—he wasn't there!]

[Below!]

[Sasuke guessed Kakashi's location, mobilized his lightning attribute chakra, and once again used a Muji jutsu:]

["Lightning Style: Current!"]

[A web of fine lightning threads spread across the ground.]

[Boom!]

[Kakashi burst out from underground, his body slightly twitching from the electric shock.]

[This kid knows Lightning Style too?!]

---

Uchiha Sasuke: "Kakashi, were you trying to use Earth Style: Head Hunter Jutsu again?"

He was buried in the ground by Kakashi during his earlier training!

Seeing himself in another world counter that same move, Sasuke felt a surge of pride!

Namikaze Minato: "Even though you're getting serious, Kakashi, you lack intel on your opponent. You didn't even know he could use Lightning Style."

Jiraiya: "And Sasuke is even better at Lightning Style!"

Hatake Kakashi: "..."

Come on!

Who would gather intel on a bunch of fresh Genins before fighting them?!

Isn't this getting ridiculous?

---

[Kakashi, who had just leapt out from the ground, ran directly into Sasuke's next attack.]

["Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"]

[Several shurikens, wrapped in searing flames, shot toward Kakashi.]

["Phoenix Flower Jutsu... That's a B-Rank Fire Style!"]

[Kakashi's eye twitched slightly.]

[What kind of student did I end up with?!]

[With quick hand seals, Kakashi raised an earth wall carved with four dog heads to block the attack.]

[However!]

[Before Kakashi could catch his breath.]

[The solid earth wall in front of him started to crumble, piercing through as if it were tofu!]

[Boom!]

[The earth wall collapsed, and two sharp lightning spears shot forward.]

["Lightning Style: False Darkness!"]

["What?!"]

[Kakashi's eyes widened in shock.]

[This is advanced ninjutsu, with added Lightning Attribute Nature Transformation?!]

[The lightning moved too fast, and there was no time to dodge. Kakashi quickly performed Raikiri to block it.]

["No, this isn't enough!"]

[One Raikiri wasn't enough to stop this jutsu!]

[Double Raikiri!]

[Kakashi's hands went numb as he struggled to resist the intense lightning in front of him.]

[Not good!]

[A realization hit him.]

[What will Sasuke do after launching this jutsu?!]

[It was already too late when he figured it out!]

[A faint whistling sound came from behind, and Sasuke appeared, delivering a powerful kick that sent Kakashi flying!]