Yet even with all of Kakashi's strength, whether he was facing Uchiha Itachi or Orochimaru in the earlier footage, he clearly struggled. Both men were in a different league entirely.
And if Kakashi himself was already weaker than Itachi… then once Sasuke joined Kakashi's team, how was he supposed to surpass Itachi?
A heavy sense of despair settled over him.
Maybe Orochimaru's confidence in winning him over wasn't baseless. If the only way to gain power was to follow that path… then one day, he might truly seek him out.
He was an avenger. He would sacrifice anything for revenge. But unless he was completely cornered, he had never wanted to give up on himself.
While Kakashi in the footage analyzed Itachi's movements, Itachi looked at him calmly. "As expected of Kakashi Hatake. Your insight is impressive."
The moment the words fell, Itachi's shadow clone appeared behind Kakashi and drove a kunai straight through him.
"A shadow clone? That speed is insane," Kurenai said, shocked.
Fortunately, the Kakashi that was hit dissolved into water on the spot.
"A water clone? Hmph. Copy Ninja really has learned every jutsu in our village."
Kisame was startled as well. Kakashi's variety of techniques and the speed of his signs were impressive even to him.
In the water, Kakashi slipped beneath the surface, handing a kunai to Kurenai. But before she could act, Kakashi suddenly tackled her away.
"That one is a shadow clone," Kakashi said. His eyes were sharp. Even this Itachi was nothing more than a clone.
The moment he spoke, Itachi's clone exploded, sending waves crashing skyward.
The rapid chain of feints and counters stunned Sasuke. It only made him realize how laughable his academy training was.
Compared to these true shinobi—no, these top-tier monsters—his strength meant nothing.
Any one of them could kill him instantly.
"Damn it… am I really this weak?" Sasuke clenched his fists, humiliated. Was this all he had as the last Uchiha?
At this rate, how many years—how many lifetimes—would it take to avenge his clan? How long before he could restore the glory of the Uchiha name?
Then a floating line of text from Bei Yuan Feng drifted across the top of the video.
Honestly, this early Itachi vs Hatake 50/50 fight is peak excitement. Pure technique, pure strategy. Back when everyone still bothered to form hand signs, and Kisame didn't look like he was the 'responsible' one for doing basic ninja things.
Who even does proper hand signs anymore, right, Kisame?
Later on everyone's basically piloting mechs. Zero hand signs. Is this still a ninja fight? Looks more like immortal cultivation already.
Kakashi, watching these comments, felt helpless. Bei Yuan Feng's sense of humor really was something else. Who said hand signs were "old-fashioned"? Using hand seals to cast jutsu was basic academy knowledge.
Did his academy never teach him that?
And Kisame, responsible? That was the last word anyone would use on him.
He was a legendary criminal, rumored to have assassinated the Mizukage and the daimyō of the Land of Water. Actually… wasn't someone else also rumored to have done that?
Yes—Zabuza. Another of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and wielder of the Kubikiribocho.
Both had supposedly attempted to assassinate a Mizukage.
Considering Kirigakure's infamous Blood Mist era, it wasn't surprising. The village cultivated killing machines. Treating shinobi like disposable weapons only meant those weapons would eventually bite back.
There were only seven members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Each one was among the strongest Kirigakure produced. The fact that two of them had turned their blades on the Mizukage said a lot about how hated that position must have been.
Kakashi returned his attention to the footage as he saw himself facing away from Itachi, water still splashing from the clone's explosion.
"Stay sharp. He became an Anbu squad captain at thirteen," Kakashi warned.
"Didn't expect him to be this strong," Asuma said, shaken.
"That's nothing but the tip of the iceberg," Kakashi replied calmly.
He remembered the days he had worked with Itachi in the Anbu.
Outside the footage, Sasuke's fists tightened again.
He knew the Anbu. It was the gathering place of a village's elite, and even entering it required strength comparable to an elite chunin.
That was just to be a normal member. To become a squad captain… you needed power on par with a Tokubetsu Jonin or even a full jonin.
Which meant Itachi, at thirteen, already had that level of strength.
And him? Sasuke wasn't even sure he could take down a chunin instructor at the academy.
In the footage, Itachi said, "You are not of the Uchiha clan, yet you can use the Sharingan to this extent. But your body lacks the traits unique to the clan. You cannot support those eyes."
"As he said, I'm exhausted after just a short time," Kakashi admitted.
Simply keeping the Sharingan open drained huge amounts of chakra. Using it in battle pushed him toward his limit almost immediately.
It was why he had become a high-speed, high-power assassin type. If he couldn't finish the battle quickly, things would turn against him.
"Do you know why the Uchiha are called the strongest and feared?" Itachi closed his eyes. "Let me show you the true power of the Sharingan, of our kekkei genkai."
When he opened them again, his pupils had twisted into the pattern of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Among the three people before him, only Kakashi understood the danger. He shouted immediately, "No, don't look at his eyes! Both of you, close your eyes!"
Asuma and Kurenai shut their eyes without hesitation. They trusted Kakashi completely. If he sounded that serious, something was truly wrong.