"Kakashi-sama, I'll help you!"
Kiyoda Shin shouted as he caught up, raising his blade and slashing toward Yuichi. Kakashi and Yuichi were still locked in a fierce sword clash. Hearing Shin's shout behind him, Kakashi's attacks suddenly grew even faster—almost as if he truly believed his ally had come to help.
But the next instant, Kiyoda Shin's sword flashed sideways like lightning—toward Kakashi!
However—
Splash!
His blade sliced through Kakashi's shoulder, and the sound of splashing water echoed.
What?
Kiyoda Shin froze in disbelief.
A Water Clone?
Impossible!
How could a water clone, with only a fraction of the original's strength, fight Yuichi for so long?
Did Kakashi form the hand seals for a clone in that instant just now?
No way.
Even if it was Kakashi, no one could perform seals that fast. That left only one possibility…
A chill raced down Kiyoda Shin's spine. He immediately turned to run.
But—
Clang!
"Kiyoda Shin! You traitors! I'll expose your crimes before Lord Mifune himself!"
Yuichi roared furiously.
Then, his sword flashed like lightning.
A diagonal slash split from Shin's forehead to his abdomen, blood gushing out in a crimson fountain.
Tenten and Tsukikage Kaza both froze.
What… what just happened?
"Kakashi went to support your teammates," Yuichi said, sheathing his blade before collapsing to the ground.
After days of fighting—and putting on that entire act with Kakashi—he was utterly spent.
"Lord Ishi, that brat—"
"After him! He must've overheard us talking. He can't be allowed to live."
Whoosh!
Kiyoda Ishi's speed suddenly surged.
Relying on his sensory abilities, Chiba could feel the change immediately.
As expected.
That old fox had been holding back—pretending to be slower to bait him in. In reality, this elder was a full-fledged Jōnin.
Chiba maintained about seventy percent of his Limit State, combining it with Body Flicker to flee in one direction.
Meanwhile, four other figures quietly moved closer, stepping into his sensory range.
But they didn't attack. Instead, they advanced a short distance and then went still , hiding and waiting.
Just as he'd guessed.
Chiba let out a silent breath of relief.
He'd read them right!
They didn't see him as a threat—they thought they were the true hunters lying in wait, ready to swoop in for an easy kill.
Perfect.
He ran toward the Binding Formation, deliberately slowing his pace.
"As expected," Kiyoda Ishi sneered, "a brat like you can't possibly maintain that speed forever. You must be using some kind of secret art."
"No secret art can last long. Tell me what technique it is, and I might spare your life."
A flicker of greed and cruelty gleamed in Ishi's eyes as he rapidly closed the gap.
"Heh."
Chiba didn't answer. He just gave a cold smile and kept running.
"This is your last chance."
Even as Ishi spoke, chakra was already building in his body.
Chiba knew perfectly well—the old bastard had no intention of letting him live. All that talk was just to make him drop his guard.
But what Ishi didn't realize was—
He wanted to hunt Chiba.
Yet Chiba wanted to hunt him.
The next instant, Ishi swung his blade.
It was fast—ferociously fast—and packed with tremendous force. Even with his Limit State, Chiba couldn't block it. His own sword was sent flying from his hands.
And Ishi didn't pause for even a heartbeat.
After the first swing, he immediately twisted his body, his blade drawing a perfect arc toward Chiba's neck.
So fast!
Chiba's eyes lit up.
That sword style—simple, efficient, pure. It resembled the Iaido techniques of the Land of Iron—no wasted movement, no ornamentation, just raw killing intent.
Too bad.
His opponent was a Jōnin, so he wouldn't get to see much more of that style.
Ishi moved with no unnecessary words, no wasted motion.
Every swing was meant to kill.
Direct. Brutal.
That was Chiba's assessment of Kiyoda Ishi.
And yet—it was precisely that kind of swordsmanship that made it so difficult to counter.
Good thing Chiba wasn't just a swordsman.
Binding Formation—Activate!
"Damn brat!"
"You think this'll save you? You can't move either—and my men will be here in seconds. What can you do then?"
Ishi quickly rereaped his calm after a flash of anger.
He had already analyzed the technique—
A Binding Formation, a sealing jutsu commonly used by Chūnin.
His subordinates were only a dozen paces away. If Chiba wanted to maintain the seal, he wouldn't be able to move.
He smirked.
In other words—Chiba was just waiting to die.
But then—
Chiba smiled slightly, too.
He stopped forming seals.
Ishi's grin widened. But almost immediately, his expression froze in utter disbelief.
Even though Chiba had stopped maintaining the formation, Ishi still couldn't move. His body remained bound, and when he tried to break free with chakra, the seal only tightened!
What… what is this?!
He stared blankly—
And in the next heartbeat—
Shnk!
A kunai slashed across his throat.
A swordsman of the highest caliber—cut down by a mere Genin.
Kakashi, who had been preparing to ambush from the shadows, stopped in his tracks.
This kid actually pulled it off.
Even if it was partly due to deception and a newly developed Binding Formation, killing someone on par with a Jōnin was still a remarkable feat.
"No… there are still three more. This kid… he's incredible."
Kakashi couldn't help but be impressed.
Even though he wasn't worried about the remaining enemies, Chiba's bold decision to take on that risk moved him deeply.
This kid will go far.
Just as he was debating whether to reveal himself—
"Kakashi-sensei," Chiba whispered, "four more are hiding nearby. They're closing in."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, then suddenly emerged from the ground, dragging a descending samurai into the earth—
—and instantly severed his head.
Earth Release: Heart Decapitation Technique.
The complete version.
Then came a storm of blades.
Kakashi, wielding his sword, moved like the reborn White Fang. His flashing fang carved through lives in an instant.
Within seconds, it was over.
Kakashi sheathed his blade, panting hard.
He trudged over to Chiba, lowering his forehead protector back over his Sharingan.
"I'm going to rest for a bit," he said, leaning akidnst a tree, completely drained.
Chiba was equally exhausted—the Transformation Technique Tsukikage Kaza had cast on him long since faded.
Then came the sound of slow, mocking applause.
Clap, clap, clap.
Three crisp claps echoed from the treetops nearby.
"As expected of Hatake Kakashi. Even with your chakra nearly spent, your taijutsu and swordsmanship are still terrifying. If you were at full strength, we wouldn't dare challenge you."
Four silhouettes appeared amidst the branches.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, forcing himself upright. "You're the Four Celestial Symbols Men of the Artisan Ninja Village, aren't you?"
"Don't let him recover. Be wary of that strange Binding Formation."
"Then destroy everything!"
The four moved instantly, not wasting a single breath.
The woman among them swung her twin blades—
—and in the next instant, a violent gale howled through the forest, uprooting grass and trees alike, leaving only barren devastation in its wake.
"There. Now there's nowhere left to hide."
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