Chapter 118

Chapter 118

Haneda and Kakashi didn't move immediately. They gazed at each other, as if reminiscing about a battle from their childhood. When the hand seals for the confrontation were formed, both sprinted forward, closing the distance and drawing their blades.

*Clang!*

Their short swords clashed, sending sparks flying and kicking up dust from the impact of their intense auras. After the initial clash, they both retreated, only to close in again, their swords flashing even faster this time.

*Shing! Shing! Shing!*

As the blades crossed again, Haneda gave a slight smile. Seizing a moment between Kakashi's sword swings, he used his left hand to form seals with Kakashi's left hand.

"Borrowing your hand for a moment."

*Serpent, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse...*

As they completed the final seal, Haneda unleashed a powerful Fireball Jutsu from his mouth. Kakashi swiftly formed his own seals, summoning an Earth Wall just in time to block the incoming flames.

But just as the fireball hit, the familiar sound of chirping birds echoed in Kakashi's ear. He leaped back to avoid Haneda's *Chidori Blade*, but another figure emerged from the ground—it was Haneda!

"Leaf Secret Taijutsu Art—Thousand Years of Death!"

*Poof!*

Kakashi's figure dispersed into smoke; it was a shadow clone. Hidden behind the Earth Wall, the real Kakashi had a strange expression as he gripped his short sword. He activated his own *Chidori Blade* and struck.

*Poof!*

Haneda's shadow clone vanished as well.

"Is this the real you?" Kakashi turned to face Haneda and asked.

"You guess."

As Haneda spoke, he gestured to the ground. A hand suddenly emerged and grabbed Kakashi's leg, enveloping him in a Water Prison Jutsu.

"This tiresome probing ends here. What do you think, Haneda?" Kakashi said calmly.

The scene suddenly shifted back, with both standing on opposite sides of the arena, staring at each other once more.

"Looks like genjutsu alone isn't enough to take you down, Kakashi," Haneda said with a smile.

He pulled out several shuriken and flung them at Kakashi.

*Kshh, kshh, kshh!*

Kakashi dodged to the side, but one of the shuriken suddenly transformed into Haneda.

The sound of *Chidori* chirped once more!

It was the same tactic Haneda and Kakashi had used together twice in the past!

Kakashi smiled slightly and spun quickly, drawing his short sword. In an instant, several wind blades formed and deflected Haneda, sending him flying back.

*Poof!*

The sound of a shadow clone breaking. But then, a hand emerged from the ground again, grabbing Kakashi's leg once more!

"I've got you this time, Kakashi," came Haneda's voice from underground. But then the voice faded, and smoke rose from the ground. The underground clone had also been dispelled.

"You used a shadow clone during your spin?" Haneda asked.

"Just like you did with your genjutsu," Kakashi replied with a smile.

He then extended his right hand, and a *Chidori Sharp Spear* shot out at lightning speed, piercing Haneda. But at the same time, Haneda's own *Chidori Sharp Spear* found its mark. Neither dodged the attack, each taking a hit.

*Poof!* *Poof!*

Both of their real bodies emerged from the ground, confirming that the combat outside had only involved shadow clones.

The audience, having witnessed all of this, were left dumbfounded. After all this time, had they even really fought? It seemed so cautious that it felt like nothing had really happened.

Obito, watching Haneda and Kakashi's mental chess game, yawned out of boredom and muttered, "These tacticians have such dirty minds."

Next to him, Asuma slammed his hand on the railing and shouted, "My brother Haneda doesn't have a dirty mind! That's called being strategic and brilliant!!"

Obito glanced at the overly serious Asuma and sighed. Haneda's number-one mindless fan was a hopeless case.

After activating his three-tomoe Sharingan, Haneda looked directly at Kakashi. "It's time to get serious, Kakashi."

"Then you'd better be ready, Haneda."

Without saying much more, they collided once again, their movements amplified by the stimulation of lightning chakra. Their speed increased to such an extent that it was almost impossible to follow with the naked eye—flashes of blades, retreating, and striking again.

Sparks flew. Lightning crackled.

Such high-level ninjutsu, swordsmanship, and taijutsu caused the Sunagakure shinobi, including Pakura, to lose hope.

With abilities like Haneda and Kakashi were showing, could Suna even stand a chance against them? Based on their performance, both were clearly beyond the level of an ordinary Jōnin.

Even Pakura, a contender for the position of the Fourth Kazekage, had to admit that if she faced Haneda or Kakashi, she might lose.

In the stands, Terumi Mei of the Mist Village silently swallowed her earlier boasts. With the strength these two "handsome guys" displayed, they could definitely match her in battle. Even with her dual kekkei genkai of Lava Release and Boil Release, victory was not guaranteed!

"What high-quality men… perfect marriage material," Terumi Mei whispered, licking her lips.

Back in the arena, Haneda's blade suddenly halted. He stood about ten meters away, staring at Kakashi.

The intense battle they had just fought was advantageous to Haneda, who possessed the Sharingan and Sage Body. If the fight dragged on, he would inevitably win by exhausting Kakashi's chakra.

But Haneda wasn't just here to win. He wanted to experience the powerful technique Sakumo had spoken about and savor the thrill of battling Kakashi.

Yet, that thrill had not reached its peak.

Looking at Kakashi, Haneda said excitedly, "Kakashi! Even though this fight has been amazing—whether it's the clash of genjutsu, swordsmanship, or lightning techniques—it's not enough for us!"

Haneda knew that he and Kakashi shared many similarities. They both used various forms of *Chidori* and had been taught the Hatake family's swordsmanship by Sakumo. Kakashi excelled in these areas, just as he did.

But because of these similarities, the match had been too close. If things continued as they were, Haneda would win.

Gazing at Kakashi, who was panting while holding his short sword, Haneda continued, "Didn't you say you wouldn't lose this time?"

"Show me your strongest move, Kakashi!"

"I, Uchiha Haneda, will give you a fair chance to defeat me!!"

Haneda's fighting spirit surged, reaching an intensity unlike anything he had ever experienced. The chakra and aura he unleashed caused the entire arena to fall silent, stunned by his presence.

Facing Haneda, who seemed to glow in the sunlight, Kakashi smiled.

That promise from years ago had driven him to this moment. Now it was time to decide the winner.

Until now, Kakashi had been holding back, afraid of hurting Haneda with his strongest technique. But if Haneda was this confident, then it was time to go all out.

"Your *Chidori* is best used with the Sharingan, Haneda," Kakashi began. "I've spent years trying to overcome the weaknesses of its thrust speed and my own dynamic vision."

"So, I developed a new technique…"

"I call it *Purple Lightning*."

As Kakashi spoke, purple lightning coiled around his short sword like a snake, emitting an aura that rivaled a kekkei genkai in power.

In the stands, Pakura, Terumi Mei, Danzo, and the Third Hokage were all stunned by Kakashi's display of *Purple Lightning*.

This level of lightning chakra manipulation was something only someone who had pushed it to its limits could achieve. And the one wielding it was a ten-year-old prodigy—Hatake Kakashi!

"I can use it," Kakashi continued, "but I haven't fully mastered it yet. Which means I can't predict what will happen. It's dangerous."

"Are you sure you want to face this, Haneda?"

Haneda chuckled and replied, "With chakra like that, how could I back down, Kakashi?!"

"I told you before, I bear the name of Uchiha. I, Uchiha Haneda, cannot lose!!"

As Haneda finished speaking, the entire arena erupted in wild cheers. At that moment, everyone had firmly etched the name "Uchiha Haneda" into their minds.

Facing Kakashi's overwhelming *Purple Lightning* and the potential danger it posed, Haneda didn't retreat.

Instead, he pressed forward!

"Bring it on, Kakashi!!"

"With all my understanding, with every belief I've ever held, with my unrivaled talent, and with my boundless wisdom!!"

"Alright!" Kakashi said, his voice steady. With that, a purple dragon seemed to materialize from the lightning around his blade.

"This strike is called *Purple Lightning: Dragon Roar*!!!"

...