Chapter 17

Clang.

Sparks flew as Kyomu and Kakashi passed each other.

Such formidable strength!

Both of them exclaimed in their hearts. The desire for victory surged, and their attacks became fiercer and more ruthless than before.

Facing such an opponent, it would be a major regret in life if one couldn't unleash their full abilities in a thrilling battle.

Simultaneously, the two of them reached for their ninja tool pouches as they crossed paths, and in the blink of an eye, some kunai and shuriken were held between their left fingertips.

Swish, swish, swish.

They simultaneously hurled their kunai and shuriken, creating mysterious and unpredictable arcs, all aiming at vital points on each other's bodies.

Ding, ding, ding.

Kunai and shuriken clashed in the air, some knocked aside to the ground, others altering their original trajectories mid-flight.

Suddenly, Kakashi's eyes narrowed, sensing a danger that made the hairs on his back stand. A chilling feeling spread through his body.

Watching from the sidelines, Shuzo also noticed everything in the first moment.

"In the recent throwing technique exchange, Kyomu clearly outperformed Kakashi. Kyomu's throwing technique is similar to the Uchiha-style, though it relies on simple collisions between ninja tools, resulting in rough changes to their flight paths and attack angles.

However...

Except for the Uchiha with the awakened Sharingan or more powerful ninja, no one can gain an advantage in a throwing technique duel with Kyomu.

Even I... in terms of throwing technique, can't compete with Kyomu."

Glancing at Kakashi, Shuzo couldn't help but worry for him.

"Kyomu was suppressing Kakashi in the recent exchange, and those shuriken altering their trajectories and attack angles were closing in on Kakashi's defensive blind spots, posing a not insignificant—"

In an instant, Shuzo tensed his muscles, ready to intervene and rescue Kakashi at any moment.

However, Kakashi's subsequent response impressed Shuzo, and he abandoned the preparedness for an active rescue.

Kakashi executed several agile backflips, dodging the shuriken that came from behind. Additionally, he wielded a short ninja blade adeptly, deflecting the shuriken attacking from both sides.

Taking advantage of the backflip to defend, Kakashi also increased the distance between him and Kyomu.

"A brilliant defensive strategy!" Shuzo praised in his mind. "Even though Kakashi temporarily relinquished the initiative in the attack due to defense, because he timely increased the distance between him and Kyomu, he didn't fall into Kyomu's attack rhythm.

With proper adjustments, they are still on the same starting line. Even if Kakashi falls behind in the throwing technique competition, he still has a chance to turn the tables."

As Shuzo had predicted, Kakashi's dual-purpose approach disrupted Kyomu's planned offensive strategy.

At this moment, seeing Kyomu land steadily, crouching with a single knife held in one hand, another hand behind his back, vigilantly and earnestly watching Kakashi, Kyomu couldn't help but sigh.

"Kakashi, you truly deserve your reputation. Such excellent combat reactions and tactical intelligence. If you can't dominate your generation, that would be strange!"

Excitement tightened the grip on Kyomu's knife as he, with a trembling yet calm heart, swiftly moved forward.

Today, he must fight with all his might!

Watching Kyomu charge again, Kakashi's eyes gleamed with determination.

This was the feeling he sought; this was the opponent he had been anticipating!

The fighting spirit in the hearts of geniuses could only be ignited by fellow geniuses. Clearly, both of them were ignited by each other's recent performance, sparking the most primitive fighting spirit.

This battle, they would win!

Clang, clang, clang...

The frequent clashes of their blades increased in speed, almost creating a dizzying array of afterimages.

"Is this... something achievable within the first month of enrollment like us?"

"I don't know, but I'd rather believe this isn't true."

"Is the gap really that significant? I can't see the movements of their swordplay clearly, nor can I predict their next attack trajectory."

"Perhaps, this is a genius. How can ordinary people like us understand, let alone empathize with it?"

Amidst the chattering around, silence soon enveloped the surroundings, creating an eerie atmosphere.

No matter how much was said, it couldn't change reality. It was better to appreciate this spectacular duel between two geniuses.

Clang, clang, clang...

Kyomu and Kakashi exchanged dozens of moves, and the battle reached an intense state.

Kakashi finally understood what Kyomu referred to as the "Combination-Style," and Kyomu also learned the intricate and ruthless nature of Hatake's sword art.

"If Kyomu's so-called Combination-Style is this battle-hardened continuous combo, then our clan's Hatake Swordsmanship might be like a farmer harvesting rice?"

Such a thought crossed Kakashi's mind, but it didn't distract him. On the contrary, his offensive techniques became even more varied, and the use of Hatake Swordsmanship, combining with the short sword in his hand, was smoother and more proficient.

"Hatake Sakumo, who earned the title of Leaf's White Fang, truly has extraordinary skills." Kyomu gritted his teeth. "I have been studying under over a hundred different Leaf Shinobi, even Jonin, and blending their techniques together, he still managed to suppress me!

Ding, ding, ding...

While the battle continued, it became apparent that Kakashi's flowing Hatake Swordsmanship was forcing Kyomu into a steady retreat. The initial offensive had transformed into a defensive counterattack.

It was evident that in terms of the upper limit, Hatake Swordsmanship had the upper hand.

"In a simple swordplay comparison, Kyomu will lose in the next fifty moves!" Shuzo predicted the current situation. "Hatake Swordsmanship, one of Lord Sakumo's pillars shaking the Shinobi world, is beyond Kyomu's Battle-Hardened Swordsmanship.

However...

I see too many shadows of people in Kyomu's swordsmanship from the techniques he used. This shouldn't be...

Despite Shuzo's confusion, Kyomu's performance in swordsmanship was stunning.

However, Kakashi appeared to be stronger, and as Shuzo had expected, Kyomu was already on the verge of defeat.

Clang.

Barely holding off Kakashi's second strike from a tricky angle, Kyomu's forehead broke into a sweat.

The short and sharp blade was intentional; the small blade clearly suited Hatake Swordsmanship.

While the saying "the longer, the stronger" held true, taking an unconventional route was also a shortcut. Hatake Swordsmanship abandoned room for error and pushed combat techniques to the extreme. In close-quarters combat or ambush scenarios, combining Hatake Swordsmanship with a short blade slightly longer than a dagger could unleash terrifying power.

However, Kyomu couldn't exploit the weaknesses of Hatake Swordsmanship. Instead, he found himself being pushed back by the smooth and skilled techniques of Kakashi.

"That upcoming strike from Kakashi, I definitely can't block it!" Kyomu made a decisive decision. "Since that's the case, I'll have to use another method."

Barely fending off what seemed to be Kakashi's assured second strike, Kyomu made a peculiar eye contact with him.

Genjutsu: Placebo Technique!

A simple C-rank illusion that used chakra to interfere with an enemy's vision. By manipulating chakra on the cornea, an illusion that could convincingly replace what the enemy saw with what the caster desired could be created.

For a ninja who had learned genjutsu knowledge from the system, it was easy to discern and dispel. An experienced ninja could probably dispel it in the blink of an eye.

However, Kakashi was only four years old, and even with his genius, he was far from an experienced ninja.

Realizing he was under a genjutsu, Kakashi's offensive rhythm visibly hesitated. Although he still swung the blade he was confident would land a decisive blow, he hesitated.

Seizing this momentary hesitation from Kakashi, Kyomu took the opportunity to withdraw while forming hand seals.

"Kakashi's last strike was clearly a sure win, but..." Shuzo was surprised and puzzled. "Genjutsu? Did Kyomu use genjutsu?

Wait a minute!

The order of Kyomu's hand seals... Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu?"

Snake - Dragon - Rabbit - Tiger

Kyomu swiftly completed the hand seals in less than a second.

At this point, Kakashi had already dispelled the genjutsu Kyomu had cast on him, taking just a bit over a second.

Even such a small time difference in a tense and fierce battle was quite deadly. The previous victory was nullified, and what awaited was a decisive counterattack from the opponent.

Although for Kakashi, the Fire Release jutsu that Kyomu was about to use wasn't a fatal move, being caught off guard was inevitable.

Whoosh.

A straight line of fire shot toward Hatake Kakashi, and even from a distance, he felt the scorching heat.

But Kakashi's reaction was fast. Rolling abruptly on the ground, although his posture was awkward, the Dragon Flame jutsu, which could only attack in a straight line and couldn't change direction, was evaded by Hatake Kakashi.

Raising his head abruptly, Hatake Kakashi looked at Kyomu with a changed expression.

"You, you really hid it well!" He gritted his teeth. "Genjutsu, Fire Release. Don't you think it's a bit too early to use them now? But, don't underestimate me, Kyomu!"

Twirling a beautiful knife flower with his right hand, Hatake Kakashi sheathed the blade, rapidly moving toward Kyomu. Simultaneously, his hands were forming seals at an astonishing speed.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!

"These two kids..." Shuzo exclaimed, surprised and helpless. "They're only four years old, yet they've turned their first month of school exams into a Chunin selection exam. This is truly..."

Although Kyomu and Kakashi's strength wasn't on the level of Chunin, the combination of taijutsu, genjutsu, and ninjutsu showcased in their battle had already surpassed the majority of Genin, approaching the Chunin level.

"Whether it's a blessing or a curse to be their teacher, I'm not sure."

Muttering to himself, Shuzo watched the two entering version 2.0 of their combat, suddenly becoming one hundred percent focused.

In a comprehensive clash of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, a slight mistake could lead to death!

(End of this chapter)