Chapter 161: United
But what Kakashi didn't expect happened—Mugetsu, who had been standing right in front of him, also vanished into white smoke, just like his own Shadow Clone earlier. No bells fell to the ground.
"It's a Shadow Clone!"
Kakashi's pupils shrank. He immediately turned, preparing to slash behind him, but before he could move, a cold Kunai pressed gently against his neck.
"When you use the Shadow Clone tactic yourself, you should also consider whether your opponent might do the same," Mugetsu said calmly from behind him. "After all, I'm not always standing where you can see me."
Kakashi stayed silent. He had just finished lecturing Obito about being reckless—and now it was his turn to be taught the same lesson.
Hearing Kakashi get scolded, Obito couldn't resist rushing over to mock him.
"The enemy disappeared from your sight, and you still charged in without checking your surroundings. If Mugetsu-sensei were a real enemy, you'd already be dead!" Obito said smugly.
Seeing Kakashi fail made Obito's bruises hurt a little less. It didn't matter if he lost—as long as Kakashi didn't win either.
"At least I managed to destroy Captain Mugetsu's Shadow Clone. That's more than what you did—you were flattened before even landing a hit," Kakashi shot back without hesitation.
Mugetsu smiled faintly, saying nothing. If he didn't hold back, even one of his Shadow Clones could easily deal with all three of them at once.
Because Kakashi was personally assigned to him by the Third Hokage, Mugetsu had been careful not to reveal too much of his real strength. He didn't believe Hiruzen was idle enough to spend hours spying on them, but just in case the Hokage was using his Telescope Technique, Mugetsu suppressed his true power.
He had already checked the area earlier with both his Byakugan and sensory techniques—no Anbu surveillance.
"After all, Kakashi isn't his son," Mugetsu thought quietly, "so he probably won't be that concerned."
"I lasted longer against Mugetsu-sensei's real body! You couldn't even do anything once he appeared," Obito countered.
"Maybe the one who knocked you out first was also a Shadow Clone," Kakashi sneered.
"Absolutely not!" Obito denied instantly.
"You agree, right, Guy?" Obito turned quickly, hoping to pull Guy to his side.
"There's no point arguing about this," Guy said seriously. "We all failed."
His words caught Obito off guard. Guy had effectively created his own camp—one that sided with neither of them.
Mugetsu raised a hand to stop their bickering. "It's good to analyze your failures, but it's more important to reflect on your own shortcomings. There's still some time before sunset, so you still have a chance."
He looked at them with calm eyes. "Your individual strengths aren't weak among your peers. But perhaps you should consider teamwork. The power born from cooperation can make one plus one greater than two."
The bell test was, after all, a lesson in unity. No new Genin could ever snatch a bell from a Jonin alone. Instructors deliberately held back once they saw true cooperation—it was the heart of the exercise.
Mugetsu had chosen this test not just for tradition's sake, but to encourage interaction between Kakashi, Guy, and Obito—to remind Kakashi that his teammates were no longer the same as the ones he once lost.
Kakashi, being the most experienced, quickly grasped the meaning behind Mugetsu's words. Having been a Chunin for over two years, he understood the point of this training well enough.
"It seems we have no choice but to cooperate," he said quietly. For now, finishing the mission mattered more than pride.
On the other hand, Obito, though reluctant, quickly adjusted his attitude and walked toward Kakashi.
"Kakashi, now you should understand one person can't do it alone, right? Let's team up—all three of us will attack together."
"Let's burn our youth together!" Guy added enthusiastically, his eyes gleaming.
"Fine," Kakashi said flatly. "But I'll be the one making the battle plan."
"Why should it be you? Can't we decide together?" Obito argued.
"Two years as a Chunin," Kakashi replied coolly. "That should be reason enough."
He looked at Obito sharply. "Your plans are too crude. If Captain Mugetsu hadn't gone easy on you, you wouldn't have lasted a second."
Obito's mouth twitched. He couldn't find a comeback. Deep down, he regretted not becoming Mugetsu's disciple sooner—if he had, he might already be a Chunin himself.
Still, there was no way he'd let Kakashi have the last word. "Fine then. Just don't lose even with your fancy plan."
"We'll talk about it if we lose," Kakashi said calmly.
If they failed even after proper coordination, then clearly, Mugetsu had never intended for them to pass in the first place.
With that, Kakashi began leading Obito and Guy in setting traps, carefully explaining each step of the upcoming plan in detail.
"I already arranged a Shadow Clone beforehand to keep an eye on Captain Mugetsu," Kakashi said, his voice calm and strategic. "The one sitting over there right now is just a Shadow Clone. The real body has already moved into hiding. Later, I'll have another Shadow Clone lure Mugetsu's clone over—his real body will definitely follow. Then we'll…"
"Pay attention," Kakashi warned, interrupting himself, his tone sharp. "Don't do anything unnecessary."
After explaining the plan, Kakashi instructed Obito and Guy to hide. His real body also concealed itself, while his Shadow Clone moved ahead to lure Mugetsu.
When Mugetsu's Shadow Clone was drawn into the trap area, a barrage of Shuriken suddenly shot out from all directions, targeting both clones.
Kakashi's Shadow Clone knew his role perfectly. He didn't dodge—instead, he turned and released Lightning Release Ninjutsu to delay Mugetsu's clone. The next instant, both Shadow Clones were pierced through and dispersed into white smoke.
"That was a very clever tactic," Mugetsu said quietly, his voice calm as ever. "If that hadn't been a Shadow Clone, things might have turned dangerous."
Kakashi's eyes widened in alarm. Mugetsu had appeared beside him again without a sound.
He instantly used the Body Flicker Technique to retreat to the ground, putting distance between them. Mugetsu's compliment alone had made cold sweat trickle down his back.
But Mugetsu didn't attack. He leapt down from the branch and smiled faintly. "This was much better. You've learned from your last mistake."
Even though the situation wasn't ideal, Kakashi remained calm. He had faced true life-and-death battles before. Carefully watching Mugetsu, he suddenly shouted,
"This isn't the real body—it's another Shadow Clone! Don't come out yet! Keep waiting for the right moment!"
He remembered Mugetsu lying on the grass earlier. Even if he had brushed off the dirt, there should still be traces left—but the Mugetsu standing before him looked spotless, as if he had changed into a new set of clothes.
Kakashi's expression grew tense. Whether it was a clone or the real body, Mugetsu was formidable. His speed made him unpredictable.
"Are you sure you can handle this alone?" Mugetsu asked, dashing forward. "Have you already forgotten how you failed not long ago?"
His words barely left his lips before his fist was already swinging toward Kakashi.
Mugetsu's attacks were blindingly fast and heavy. Even as Kakashi fought back with everything he had, he was quickly overwhelmed—taking two punches and a kick that sent him stumbling backward, disheveled and breathless.
"Coming out now will just ruin everything," Kakashi muttered between breaths. "As long as they stay hidden, there's still a chance."
If they revealed themselves just to take down a Shadow Clone, their entire coordinated plan would crumble. A direct confrontation would end in certain defeat.
It was better for him to hold Mugetsu's clone here while Obito and Guy continued searching for the real body. That was their only shot at success.
But holding Mugetsu off was far harder than Kakashi imagined. His precise, ruthless blade techniques—his greatest strength—were completely useless. Mugetsu seemed to predict his every move. No matter how Kakashi attacked, he couldn't even graze his opponent's clothes, yet he himself had been struck countless times.
The gap between them was enormous—so much so that Kakashi couldn't understand why someone of this caliber was even teaching at the Ninja Academy. With strength like that, he could easily earn a fortune as an active Jonin.
As the fight dragged on, Kakashi's stamina waned while Mugetsu's strikes only grew faster and heavier. He was close to his limit.
Even covered in dust and dirt, Kakashi refused to call for help. In his mind, as long as Guy and Obito remained hidden, there was still a sliver of hope. If they came out now, that hope would vanish completely.
For the sake of the mission, he could sacrifice himself—just as he could sacrifice his teammates. After all, this wasn't a real life-or-death battle.
Thwack!
Mugetsu seized an opening, disarming Kakashi with a sharp strike that sent his blade flying. Before Kakashi could recover, Mugetsu's fist shot forward.
Just as Kakashi braced himself for the hit, a familiar, passionate voice rang out—
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Guy appeared out of nowhere, his kick slicing through the air. His foot connected with incredible force, pushing Mugetsu back and saving Kakashi in the nick of time.
Kakashi didn't smile. Instead, he frowned. "Didn't I tell you not to come out? Now that you've exposed yourself, there's no chance of success!"
"I don't understand what you're saying," Guy said firmly, standing between Kakashi and Mugetsu. "But I know one thing—training isn't just for myself. My strength exists to protect what I want to protect!"
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
A massive fire dragon roared to life behind them, twisting through the air and hurling itself toward Mugetsu. When he tried to dodge, the fire dragon curved midair and pursued him relentlessly, forcing him further back.
"What a joke!" Obito shouted, stepping into the open and hurling Shuriken toward Mugetsu. "If victory means abandoning my comrades, then I, Obito, don't need that kind of victory!"
Seeing Obito also appear, Kakashi's frown deepened. In his mind, the mission was already a failure.
But even so, he didn't give up. If this was how it had to end, then he would fight until the very last moment.
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