"Yo! Naruto, Sakura, Sai, Yamato—finally back. Disappearing for two months really had everyone worried. Good thing you're all safe." Kakashi says, waving as he approaches, squinting slightly.
"But by the way, what did Tsunade-sama call me here for?"
"Kakashi, fight Naruto again, but this time it's just Naruto alone." Tsunade says.
"Hm? Another fight? Didn't we do this two months ago? Naruto, training with Jiraiya-sama, got way stronger." Kakashi says, scratching his head, a bit confused.
"This time's different. Naruto's super confident. He even thinks that even if you go all out, you're no match for him." Tsunade says.
"Oh? Looks like you've grown a lot during these two months, Naruto." Kakashi says, eyeing Naruto with surprise.
"Of course! Kakashi-sensei, don't be shocked later." Naruto says, rubbing his nose.
"Though it's a bit of a hassle, it's Tsunade-sama's order. Alright, let's get started." Kakashi says, slowly drawing a kunai from his waist pouch, holding it to his chest.
"Let's begin."
The word "begin" barely leaves his lips when Kakashi's visible pupil sharply contracts.
Tsunade, Shikaku, and Shizune react the same way.
All four think in unison: So fast!
'But attacking a ninja holding a kunai with just a fist? That's not the right move.' Kakashi thinks, raising his arm to block Naruto's punch with the kunai.
Just as he expects Naruto to pull back, an unexpected scene unfolds.
Naruto, previously unimpressive in taijutsu, lands a punch directly on the kunai.
A surge of immense force courses through Kakashi's body.
The kunai in his hand flies away.
'Such incredible strength. And Naruto's clearly not using the Nine-Tails' power… how's this possible? Could it be Super Strength? Did Naruto learn that technique too?' Kakashi wonders, his figure flickering as he prepares to retreat.
"Soru."
*WHOOSH!*
Naruto's figure vanishes from sight. A fierce gust whips up behind him.
'Really fast. But…'
*BAM!*
Naruto's kick lands squarely on Kakashi's back, sending him flying. Instantly, a lightning cage crackles, trapping Naruto.
Kakashi reappears behind him: "Your speed's way faster than before, but direct attacks aren't your style. Using Shadow Clones well would yield better results."
"Is that so, Kakashi-sensei? Then hit me again." Naruto says, unfazed despite the kunai at his back, his tone daring.
"Hm?"
Kakashi hesitates, then stabs with the kunai.
The strike doesn't pierce flesh; it CLANGs, like hitting metal, unable to penetrate Naruto's body at all.
"This… hardening technique?" Kakashi mutters.
Tsunade and Shikaku frown.
"What's going on? I can't sense any chakra… yet his skin hardens enough to block a kunai?" Tsunade wonders.
"Tsunade-sama, this is martial arts. This is inner strength. Its power far exceeds your expectations." Yamato says, sighing in awe.
"This is Tekkai. Next up, Rankyaku." Naruto says flatly.
He suddenly spins, his right leg sweeping sideways.
*SWISH!*
A crescent-shaped wind blade shoots from his kick.
Kakashi startled, dodges. His eyes catch the wind blade flying dozens of meters, slicing a large tree in half.
Cold sweat beads on his forehead: "Hey, what's that move?! No seals? And such terrifying power? If that hit, I'd be cut in two."
He clutches his head, looking pained.
"It's not over. Shigan." Naruto growls.
His thumb jabs forward repeatedly, firing a barrage of wind bullets at Kakashi.
"Another no-seal technique?" Kakashi thinks, shocked, swinging his kunai to deflect.
*CLANG!*
The first deflection shakes Kakashi's arm.
*CLANG!*
The second numbs his wrist.
*CLANG!*
The third shatters the kunai under the wind bullet's force.
*SWISH!*
The fourth wind bullet comes. Kakashi, not daring to block, sprints across the ground, dodging.
*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*
Wind bullets zip past Kakashi, punching small holes in the ground.
The fight's just begun, yet Naruto's already shown astonishing power, pressuring Kakashi and dominating the battle.
This scene furrows Tsunade and the others' brows.
This so-called martial arts seems way too strong…
Before, Naruto and Sakura together fought Kakashi evenly.
Now, Naruto alone has gained the upper hand so quickly…
"Kakashi-sensei's really impressive… facing martial arts for the first time and holding out this long. When we first encountered it, we lost instantly…" Sakura says from the sidelines, sighing in admiration.
Yamato and Sai nod beside her.
Kakashi, fighting Naruto in the distance, sweats coldly: "Sakura, what's with that tone? I'm an elite Konoha Jonin! Am I that easy to beat? And… I'm getting pressured by Naruto, and you're praising me for lasting long? That sounds so weird."
"I'm really being underestimated by these kids. This won't do. As their teacher, I need to keep some dignity."
Kakashi's eyes sharpen. He slowly lifts his forehead protector, revealing his Sharingan.
His movements shift, his dodges growing more precise.
"Finally getting serious, Kakashi-sensei? Then next is a martial arts combo. Here I come." Naruto says, charging at Kakashi again.
'Still so fast. Even with the Sharingan, it feels incredibly quick.' Kakashi thinks.
His kunai crackles with lightning, stabbing toward Naruto.
*CLANG!* *CLING!* *CLANG!* *CLING!*
The two clash fiercely. Kakashi dodges when he can, parrying with the kunai when he can't.
Though he holds on, he's clearly struggling.
Even using ninjutsu mid-fight to avert crises, it can't hide the fact that Naruto's overwhelming him.
Without the Mangekyou Sharingan, flipping the situation is tough.
"Naruto… he's really grown so much… even Kakashi's no match for him now…" Tsunade says, watching the scene, visibly impressed.
Shikaku frowns. "This is martial arts? It's incredibly strong… just by learning it, Naruto alone has power equal to, even surpassing, Kakashi…"
"That's not all, Tsunade-sama, Shikaku-senpai… Naruto's strength goes far beyond this." Yamato says, also in awe.