Chapter 5: Hatake Sakumo's Power

Uchiha Kiyoshi felt relieved when he noticed that Might Guy's emotions weren't adversely affected by his earlier victory.

Might Guy spoke earnestly, "Although it's a bit hard to accept defeat, it's always good to learn something."

He smiled brightly at Uchiha Kiyoshi.

"It looks like I'll be adding challenging you to my daily training routine from now on."

Uchiha Kiyoshi shuddered, uncertain whether Might Guy was being serious or joking.

Might Guy, still full of energy, continued to reflect on their recent fight. "I should have done this, this, and that, and oh, this too."

Uchiha Kiyoshi  watched Might Guy's animated fist gestures with a tinge of fear, concerned that Might Guy might challenge him again after summarizing his experiences.

As Hatake Sakumo's surroundings became increasingly familiar, they approached his house.

Might Guy knocked on the door, and soon they heard footsteps from inside, followed by the door opening.

Kakashi stood behind the door, half of his face hidden behind a mask, and his left eye covered by an eye patch. His silver hair was a striking resemblance to what Uchiha Kiyoshi and Hatake Sakumo both shared.

[Gain 50 willpower.]

The system's voice sounded, and since Hatake Sakumo had successfully met Kakashi, to some extent, their wish had been fulfilled, allowing Uchiha Kiyoshi to also acquire wish power.

"Kakashi..." Hatake Sakumo murmured.

Kakashi's eyes were perpetually lazy, giving the impression that only "Make-Out Paradise" could rouse him. However, it would still be several years before Jiraiya penned the legendary ninja masterpiece, "Make-Out Paradise."

Kakashi blinked sleepily, looking as if he'd just woken up.

"Guy, it's you. Can we make today's challenge about who can sleep longer? Well, it's a valid proposal. I declare the competition starts now."

Kakashi mumbled to himself, as if he intended to go back to sleep.

Might Guy, brimming with energy, retorted, "Kakashi, I'm not here to challenge you today. He's the one here for the challenge."

"Huh?" Kakashi scratched his head and then turned his gaze toward Uchiha Kiyoshi, clearly puzzled.

He wasn't sure where this idea was coming from and was thoroughly confused.

"Why are you thinking like this? Did Guy influence you?" Kakashi inquired.

Guy responded, "It's not a disease; it can't be called an infection. It's more like... inspired."

Kakashi muttered, "It's practically the same thing."

Uchiha Kiyoshi remained silent, as Might Guy had already explained the situation on his behalf.

Kakashi displayed an expression of mild disgust, but deep down, he was genuinely curious about Guy's friends. He teased Guy habitually, but he took every competition with Guy seriously, including their playful barbecue-eating contests.

Kakashi yawned once more, ridding himself of the last vestiges of drowsiness, and his spirit noticeably improved.

Might Guy lightly draped his arm over Uchiha Kiyoshi's shoulder and said, "He just knocked me down with a few moves."

Kakashi was taken aback. "Really?"

He couldn't help but think that if this young ninja possessed such formidable strength at his age, he should have gained renown by now.

Kiyoshi introduced himself, saying, "Hello, I'm Uchiha Kiyoshi  . In addition to being a ninja, I also own a restaurant. I hope to have the opportunity to welcome you there."

Kakashi replied with a smile, "I'll definitely visit your restaurant."

After some more small talk and introductions, the three of them headed to an open area. Kakashi and Uchiha Kiyoshi stood facing each other at a certain distance.

Kiyoshi Uchiha stretched and then communicated with Hatake Sakumo through their shared consciousness.

"Uncle, you're fully taking over my body now. I'm going to step back."

Although Hatake Sakumo didn't fully understand the term "step back," he comprehended the context and meaning of the words.

Hatake Sakumo felt a sense of anticipation in his heart. Five years had passed, and he was eager to see how much his son had grown.

"What you can do is truly beyond my imagination. Thank you; this is fantastic. It's like I'm finally getting a chance to fight Kakashi in person."

"Alright, it's begun. Get used to it," Uchiha Kiyoshi responded with a mental nod.

With a single mental command from Uchiha, it was as if he pressed a confirmation button, instantly granting Hatake Sakumo not only shared sensory perception but also temporary control over his body.

Uchiha Kiyoshi's own consciousness took a backseat, merely observing silently.

Hatake Sakumo, now in control of Uchiha Kiyoshi's body, initially found it awkward. The size and capabilities of this body were vastly different from his own.

The hands weren't his own hands, the legs weren't his own legs, and the feeling of walking was strange.

Kakashi observed Uchiha Kiyo raising and lowering his hand, lifting and lowering his leg, and occasionally turning his head. He didn't understand the meaning behind these actions and assumed it was some sort of special Taijutsu initiation.

However, Hatake Sakumo was merely adapting to his new body.

Kakashi seized the opportunity and rushed forward, curious to see if Uchiha Kiyoshi truly possessed the strength that Might Guy had praised or if it was merely polite flattery.

Hatake Sakumo focused on Kakashi, intending to adapt while engaging in combat.

Kakashi launched several rapid attacks in succession. The first was slow, and Hatake Sakumo almost missed it, but he quickly adjusted and began evading the subsequent strikes.

The movements were precise, with no unnecessary motions, and perfectly timed. It was as if Kakashi could predict his every move.

This was distinct from Sharingan's predictive capabilities. Sharingan allowed the user to foresee actions due to its exceptional insight.

In contrast, Kakashi's responses appeared to stem from experience and awareness, as if he had already mapped out Hatake Sakumo's actions in advance.

Kakashi felt that this awareness surpassed what someone his age should possess. While the body could be trained, experience was something that could only be honed through countless battles.

The effectiveness of experience often varied from person to person. What worked against one individual might not be effective against another.

After several exchanges, Kakashi sensed that his attacks were consistently being countered by Hatake Sakumo. As they continued to spar, Hatake Sakumo gradually adapted to Uchiha Kiyoshi's body during their intense battle.

"Uncle is quite talented," Uchiha Kiyoshi  muttered.

Just as Yakushi Kabuto could analyze Tsunade's Nervous System Rupture due to his exceptional adaptability, intelligent individuals often exhibited remarkable adaptability.

Kakashi found it odd; he felt that this person was intimately familiar with his attack patterns, as if they had fought before.

Kakashi was prepared to change his tactics, and he had a plan.

"Even though you've copied many moves with Sharingan, your mastery still can't compare to my experience. Sharingan is merely imitation, different from true expertise," Hatake Sakumo mused.

What had initially been a desire to simply fulfill his wish of fighting his son was now evolving into something more profound as their battle progressed.

Uchiha Kiyoshi observed silently, wondering to himself, "Is my uncle gearing up to become an instructor or something?"