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(Flag, Wooden Kakashi)
At extreme speed, Chen Xing finally crossed into the Land of Fire.
He exhaled helplessly — making money was never easy. Even with the flying speed of the Malachite, far faster than any ordinary bird, traveling still took its toll. Legends claimed that the best shinobi could cross nations in a day, but reality was far less convenient.
By afternoon, he reached an open stretch of woodland in the Land of Fire.
"Bingqi City… still half a day away at this pace."
Feeling hungry, Chen Xing caught a few wild hares. He cleaned them with a little water, then skewered them over a fire. Golden oil dripped from the roasting meat, sizzling on the embers. The aroma curled upward through the trees, enough to make anyone's mouth water.
Chen Xing's cooking wasn't restaurant-quality, but in the wilderness, even simple roasted game was a small luxury.
He didn't notice that deep in the forest behind him, a black shadow was observing in silence — jotting in a small notebook from time to time. Whoever it was moved with the precision of a trained shinobi. Normally, Chen Xing's senses were sharp, but focusing on his meal dulled his awareness.
If he knew someone was tailing him, he would have been shocked. His location should have been a mystery even to the underground world, yet here someone was — watching him.
The observer wore an animal-pattern ANBU mask and a grey-white flak vest, his build tall and lean. Silver hair glinted faintly through the mask's straps. His left eye was closed, his right eye dull and heavy-lidded — the infamous "dead-fish eye."
If Chen Xing had seen his face, he would have recognized him instantly: Hatake Kakashi.
Kakashi's pursuit hadn't been easy. Ever since Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, ordered surveillance on Chen Xing, Kakashi had used Konoha's intelligence network to track him. But Chen Xing's flying ability always put him one step ahead. By the time Kakashi arrived, his target had already moved on.
This time, intel placed Chen Xing near the border of the Land of Craftsmen. Kakashi rushed here, and upon arrival, the scent of roasting meat from the forest caught his attention. Investigating, he finally found the "Peacock King" himself.
After finishing his meal, Chen Xing stood, stretched, and washed his hands and face in a nearby stream. Suddenly, his expression turned cold. His gaze shifted sharply toward the jungle where Kakashi was hidden.
"I didn't expect… I've been watched for this long without noticing."
His mood darkened. If it weren't for a sudden shift in the surrounding chakra flow, he still wouldn't have detected the tail.
In the shadows, Kakashi adjusted his stance — but the moment he moved, Chen Xing's right hand flashed. The Sword of Thunder appeared in his grip, arcs of violet lightning crawling along the blade's length. The surrounding air hissed with static.
"Perfect chance to test this sword."
Kakashi sensed the killing intent and moved to dodge, but Chen Xing's slash was already in motion. A horizontal sweep unleashed a wave of violet lightning, tearing through the forest.
"Tch—!" Kakashi's right eye widened, the Sharingan beneath his headband snapping open. The tomoe spun rapidly.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Slamming his hands to the ground, Kakashi raised a thick wall of packed stone in front of him.
The lightning blade struck, exploding against the wall in a deafening BOOM. Chunks of stone shattered, scattering into the trees. Smoke and dust billowed.
"You think you can hide?" Chen Xing's voice came from the haze. In a burst of speed, he appeared directly before Kakashi, his violet sword carving another arc through the air.
The slash ripped apart trees like paper, splintering trunks and sending debris flying. When the smoke cleared, Kakashi stood on torn ground, Sharingan glaring at the Sword of Thunder.
Even the Third Hokage wouldn't have recognized this transformed weapon. Its raw power unsettled Kakashi.
"Hatake Kakashi?" Chen Xing narrowed his eyes. The ANBU presence here confirmed it — Konoha's attention was on him. Otherwise, the Hokage wouldn't have sent one of his elite.
"Remember me, do you?" Kakashi asked evenly. His exposed Sharingan was undeniable proof of identity.
"Why are you watching me? If I don't like your answer… you won't leave here today." Chen Xing's tone was ice. He had no desire to start a fight with Konoha — but fear of them was not in his nature.
"I'm not here to harm you," Kakashi said carefully. Hiruzen had ordered him to avoid direct conflict if possible.
"Oh? So spying on someone counts as harmless?" Chen Xing scoffed. He was already certain this was Hokage business.
Before Kakashi could finish explaining, Chen Xing's free hand formed seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A blazing sphere roared toward Kakashi.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Kakashi's hands blurred through seals, summoning a massive dragon of surging water to clash with the incoming fireball.
The collision erupted in steam and shockwaves, shrouding the area. But the moment the smoke swirled, Kakashi realized Chen Xing had vanished.
A violet flash appeared right in front of him. Kakashi's instincts flared — he raised his leg in a kick, meeting Chen Xing's whip-like strike midair.
CRACK! The force sent Kakashi flying, his leg numb from the impact.
"That strength…!" He gritted his teeth mid-flight.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Before Kakashi could land, Chen Xing was already above him, exhaling a massive serpent of flame.
From within the blaze, the sound of a thousand birds screeched.
Kakashi burst forward in a blur — Lightning Cutter in hand, his Sharingan locking on to Chen Xing. Sparks swirled around his arm as he drove the crackling blade straight toward his opponent's heart.
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