The biting wind howled, and snow swirled wildly.
Tens of thousands of people from both sides clashed in a desperate struggle across this icy, snowy landscape.
They fought to the death against strangers they had never met before.
Even though they were complete unknowns to one another, hatred surged in their hearts, driving them to kill each other without mercy.
One, two, three... countless enemies had already fallen to Kakashi.
The white-haired youth's heart remained unmoved, his White Fang stained with the blood of many.
As chakra hummed through it, the blood on the blade dispersed, revealing a cold gleam from its edge that was even more chilling than the surrounding snow.
Until... with a sharp clang of metal.
White Fang was blocked.
"Yo, as expected of the famous Kakashi. If I kill him, my name should become even more renowned, right?"
A Kumogakure ninja, roughly Kakashi's age, with the same white hair but dark skin, blocked Kakashi with a greatsword.
His expression seemed lazy, but his body radiated killing intent.
Darui of Kumogakure.
"..."
Kakashi looked at him, with no intention of wasting words.
"Well, he's really cold. If..."
Darui was fending off White Fang, still trying to say something, when a sudden change occurred!
Kakashi pulled his blade back, creating a hair-raising screech as it scraped against the other ninja's sword, while continuous sparks flew from between the ninja blades!
The moment Kakashi drew White Fang, a streak of blood appeared on Darui's sword-wielding arm!
!
Darui's heart lurched.
A chakra ninja tool!
Without time to think, Darui instinctively retreated rapidly!
However, a spark landed right in front of him.
At the same time, Kakashi finally spoke.
"Rising Tiger: Fire Release: Sword Leap Flame."
In an instant, scorching heat dispelled the cold, and rolling heat waves erupted from White Fang's gleaming blade!
Crimson flames licked along the cold blade.
Facing the retreating Darui, Kakashi showed no intention of letting him go; lightning wrapped around his feet, his speed soared, and with a single step—a flash of electricity—he was already upon Darui!
White Fang was raised high, his eyes cold as he brought the blade down.
Heat waves surged, flames illuminated everything around, and even the snow underfoot began to melt in that moment!
The power of Fire Release was fully unleashed in this single strike!
Darui's internal alarm bells rang loudly; without time to think, he flung his ninja sword directly at Kakashi, while simultaneously forming hand seals rapidly, hoping to buy himself time to cast a ninjutsu!
White Fang descended, and the furious flames transformed into a sharp, scorching sword aura!
The chakra within his body unleashed the immense power of an extraordinary force in that moment.
The snow melted, then evaporated under the heat waves, revealing the bare ground as a massive, several-meter-high flame sword aura rushed toward Darui!
"Storm Release..."
Sweat beaded on Darui's forehead as he stared at the strike that had locked onto him, attempting to defend with his kekkei genkai.
But... it was too late!
"Darui!"
A voice suddenly rang out.
A Kumogakure ninja suddenly lunged toward Darui, trying to save him.
But the flame sword aura was fleeting, instantly cutting him in half at the waist, engulfing both the Kumogakure ninja and Darui in its attack range!
Accompanied by a violent explosion that soared into the sky, surging heat waves enveloped in flames rushed forward, scattering snowflakes, and several Kumogakure ninja were blown away by this single strike!
His white hair fluttering wildly, Kakashi watched the figures in the flames, their fates unknown.
Just as he was about to move in for the finishing blow, a shadow suddenly enveloped him!
"Brat!"
With a deafening roar, a giant cat's paw swatted at him!
Matatabi!
[Matatabi's emotions fluctuate...]
Matatabi?
It's not Yugito Nii; hasn't the jinchuriki of the Two-Tails changed yet?
Kakashi's eyes narrowed, and he rapidly retreated, dodging the Two-Tails' claw.
Once his body was stable again, Kakashi finally assessed the Two-Tails in front of him.
Its body was massive, entirely engulfed in captivating, ghostly blue chakra flames, and at the same time, he instinctively sensed the unparalleled chakra within its body.
This was Kakashi's first time facing a tailed beast directly.
Recalling the Tailed Beast Bomb that the Nine-Tails had launched across almost the entire Konoha in his memories, the current situation made him understand why the Five Great Ninja Villages almost unanimously regarded the tailed beasts as their most important asset.
However... "You've come at just the right time."
Lightning flashed in the youth's eyes as he walked step by step through the wind and snow toward the giant creature.
He needed power, and to acquire power, he needed resources, which in turn required military achievements.
The chakra he had accumulated in his body over three years would not allow him to back down here.
So... he met it head-on!
The lingering heat from the earlier flames gradually dissipated in the pervasive wind and snow, but now a new surge of power churned within Kakashi.
With a single step, the snowflakes beneath his feet scattered violently!
Kakashi actually charged alone toward that behemoth!
"Kakashi!"
Might Guy, not far away, was startled by this sight.
[Might Guy...]
Without time to think, surging chakra flames erupted around him!
Eight Gates: Sixth Gate: Gate of View—Open!
Might Guy transformed into a green stream of light, like a humanoid beast, charging recklessly!
Any enemy in his path died upon contact, perished upon being touched!
"Kakashi-senpai..."
Uchiha Shisui, from a distance, watched this scene with unspoken feelings.
He once again recalled Uchiha Fugaku's previous assessment of him.
Fierce and unyielding, ruthless in nature, not suitable for close acquaintance.
But this was a battlefield; even with reservations, Uchiha Shisui couldn't afford to dwell on them.
His hand rose and fell, swiftly dispatching the enemy in front of him, then he hurried toward Kakashi.
Meanwhile, the Two-Tails, seeing Kakashi not retreat but advance, showed a human-like look of disdain in its eyes.
Clearly, the one controlling this massive body now was not the Two-Tails Matatabi, but its jinchuriki.
In his view, Kakashi was simply seeking his own death!
No one but a tailed beast could withstand the power of a tailed beast!
Fierce, ghostly blue flames erupted from its cavernous mouth!
As if endless chakra provided him with ample power, the ghostly blue flames surged toward Kakashi like a sea of fire, covering the sky and earth!
Kakashi's gaze was like lightning, his body moving at extreme speed, White Fang humming and causing a chilling sensation.
A fierce wind swept over his body, and the abundant chakra within him seemed to transform into tangible flames burning around him, all converging on the blade in his hand.
Like golden flames burning on the ninja sword!
This was... Wind Release!
Terrifying Wind Release condensed on White Fang; even a glance caused pain in one's eyes!
Just as the ghostly blue sea of fire enveloped Kakashi!
"Rising Tiger: Wind Release: Severing Sky."
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