Kakashi and Shimura Kaede stood opposite each other, the surrounding atmosphere heavy and deadly.
"Battle start!"
The moment Uchiha Obito's hand dropped, Kakashi moved.
He squatted slightly, his muscles tensed throughout his body, like a leopard that had been gathering strength for a long time, only revealing its sharp claws the instant it attacked!
"So fast!"
Seeing Kakashi's movement, Asuma Sarutobi clenched his fists, a hint of reluctance appearing on his face.
The pride and confidence of having just learned Chakra extraction...
...were instantly and ruthlessly shattered by Kakashi.
Asuma Sarutobi looked at Shimura Kaede's unmoving back with complicated eyes and muttered.
"Kaede, can you actually handle this?"
"Kaede! Be careful!"
Rin Nohara also clenched her small fists, her face full of worry.
"I will definitely hit you with this move!"
Kakashi's eyes were filled with determination; Shimura Kaede's strange strength just now prevented Kakashi from relaxing even slightly.
His first move was his strongest technique.
"Hatake Style - Drawing Sword Cut!"
Kakashi hadn't mastered this move yet.
But even as a half-finished product, it was still Kakashi's strongest technique.
"This child... actually used that move?"
Sakumo Hatake and Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but sigh.
Although Kakashi was not yet fully proficient, they could still see a trace of the White Fang's shadow.
This child Kakashi doesn't know how to hold back.
However, both of their interests were piqued.
Although this move was just child's play in the eyes of Sakumo Hatake and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
For this group of three-year-olds, however, it was already extremely dangerous.
"How is he going to dodge it?"
Sakumo Hatake and Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered simultaneously.
"I already said the winner has been decided. Is the wind too strong for you to hear?"
Shimura Kaede's lips curled up slightly. He bent his knees and jumped directly into the air, narrowly dodging Kakashi's slash.
"He finally fell for it!"
The corner of Kakashi's mouth under his mask curved up slightly.
His goal was never to kill in one blow.
Kakashi's previous attack sealed off the space to Shimura Kaede's left and right. Under that strike, Shimura Kaede had no choice but to jump into the air, other than taking the hit head-on.
And this was exactly what Kakashi had planned!
"Now let's see how you dodge this time!"
Kakashi's body immediately stopped. The speed at which he withdrew his strength showed that his previous move was merely a feint.
Top-tier combat intelligence was already being displayed.
"It was a feint?"
"This child Kakashi has strong battle instincts!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe, his face full of smiles.
Two geniuses have already appeared among the Village's children.
"Are you already getting complacent?"
"I told you, you're really lame!"
"What?!"
Just as Kakashi was about to turn and attack Shimura Kaede in mid-air, he met Shimura Kaede's calm smile.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Shimura Kaede, suspended in the air, quickly formed hand signs, his fingers flying at a speed of two signs per second.
It wasn't that he didn't want to be faster, it was mainly because he hadn't practiced much.
Boar - Snake.
In less than a second.
Shimura Kaede placed his fingers in front of his mouth and smiled at Kakashi.
"What?!"
Sakumo Hatake looked at Shimura Kaede in mid-air with disbelief.
"How is that possible?!"
Not only Sakumo Hatake, but even Hiruzen Sarutobi in his office couldn't sit still; he was so shocked he forgot to smoke the pipe in his mouth.
"At only three years old, he can actually use a C-Rank Ninjutsu?!"
"And Great Breakthrough requires three signs, right? Can he already perform it with two signs?"
Don't underestimate C-Rank Ninjutsu.
Some civilian Ninja might not even learn a single C-Rank Ninjutsu by the time they graduate from the Ninja Academy.
Some Chunin can only master three or four C-Rank Ninjutsu at most.
Leaving aside the restrictions on Ninjutsu that give civilian Ninja few opportunities to learn, the Chakra consumption alone is a headache for ordinary Ninja.
"You bastard!"
Kakashi stared dumbfounded at Shimura Kaede, an extremely dangerous aura instantly enveloping him.
"Damn it!"
"Move!"
Kakashi gritted his teeth, trying to dodge Shimura Kaede's attack.
Just as Sakumo Hatake was about to intervene, he saw Shimura Kaede suddenly turn his head toward an unoccupied area.
A hurricane erupted from Shimura Kaede's mouth. The surrounding trees wailed, and several small trees were instantly uprooted, kicking up countless grains of sand.
The fierce gale caused Kakashi's clothes to flap loudly.
Using all his strength.
He could only just manage to stay standing.
Kakashi turned his head in disbelief toward that direction, his eyes filled with lingering shock.
"If that attack had landed on me, I would have died..."
"Did this guy redirect his attack toward an empty area at the last moment?"
Kakashi felt a mix of emotions. Not only was his strength inferior to Shimura Kaede's, but he had completely lost in terms of magnanimity as well!
"Damn it!"
"Kaede! How did you already learn Ninjutsu?!"
"No way! I have to learn Ninjutsu too!"
Uchiha Obito's noisy voice came over.
Seeing how cool Shimura Kaede looked, Uchiha Obito was so envious he was almost drooling.
"Kaede! Are you okay?"
Rin Nohara immediately ran over, looking nervously at Shimura Kaede, her small hands frantically patting and checking his body.
"Cough, cough..."
Shimura Kaede gave an awkward cough and pressed down on Rin Nohara's small hands that were about to check lower.
"I'm fine."
Shimura Kaede waved his hand, pinched Rin Nohara's chubby little cheek, and said confidently.
"I told you, victory was already decided!"
Seeing the envious and worshipful gazes of Asuma Sarutobi and the others, Shimura Kaede felt incredibly pleased, but he still maintained a calm and composed expression.
"I lost..."
The wooden sword in Kakashi's hand dropped to the ground, and he said in a muffled voice, lowering his head.
"Thank you..."
"Thank you for holding back just now..."
Although Kakashi had an aloof personality, he wasn't truly malicious; he was just a child immersed in his own world, pressured by the title of genius.
Looking at the very awkward Kakashi in front of him, Shimura Kaede couldn't help but feel emotional.
Shimura Kaede also really liked the character Kakashi in his previous life.
What a pity.
His name proved true: the lonely scarecrow.
Kakashi's entire life was one of loss, a tragedy from beginning to end.
Shimura Kaede glanced at Kakashi, then looked at Uchiha Obito, who was still bouncing around.
These two lifelong friends and rivals were still just children now, and everything had a chance to change.
In Shimura Kaede's eyes, they were no longer just a few strokes on a manga page, but living, breathing people.
"You don't need to thank me. My Ninjutsu won't harm my Village comrades!"
"My name is Shimura Kaede, and I aspire to become the strongest shield to protect the Village!"
"In the future, you can hide behind me!"
Seeing Shimura Kaede's sunny smile, a flash of light appeared in Kakashi's eyes, and he nodded heavily, though he still spoke stubbornly.
"I won't hide behind you! I will definitely defeat you in the future!"
Kakashi extended his small hand and tightly linked fingers with Shimura Kaede's small hand, which was suspended in mid-air.
"The Sign of Reconciliation is complete!"
Shimura Kaede smiled, picked up the wooden sword from the ground, and gently placed it on Kakashi's back.
"I truly envy you for having such a gentle and powerful father as Lord White Fang. I wish I could also learn Swordsmanship from Lord White Fang!"
Although saying this felt a bit unfair to his own old father.
But the reward right now was the most important thing.
Shimura Kaede thought to himself secretly.
Sakumo Hatake and Hiruzen Sarutobi must be watching him from somewhere right now.
I'm sucking up this much; White Fang, if you still don't take the hint, don't blame me for having my dad make things difficult for you!
Clap, clap, clap!
The instant Shimura Kaede's voice fell.
A round of applause rang out.
"I'm honored to have your admiration!"
"However, your father, Lord Danzo, is also an excellent Ninja and someone I respect."
In Shimura Kaede's line of sight, a man with a gentle smile appeared.
The man was wearing the Konoha Ninja green vest, carrying a short blade on his back, and his white hair was very striking.
Although he was smiling, Sakumo Hatake's sharp aura constantly reminded Shimura Kaede that this man was terrifyingly strong!
"Lord White Fang?!"
"Father?!"
Two figures moved simultaneously.
Kakashi stared blankly for a moment at Shimura Kaede's rushing figure.
It was only for that instant.
His own father had his leg hugged by Shimura Kaede!
"Damn it, Shimura Kaede, you bastard!"
"That's my father!"